Trauma and Orthopaedics (Online Learning) ChM (Trauma & Orthopaedics)

Our online learning technology is fully interactive, award-winning and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.

As an online student, not only will you have access to Edinburgh’s excellent resources, but you will also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.

Studying online at Edinburgh

Find out more about the benefits and practicalities of studying for an online degree:

• Postgraduate online learning

How will I learn?

The programme runs on an annual three-term basis, over two years, and involves approximately 10 to 15 hours of study each week.

The online distance learning nature of this programme is perfect for doctors working unsociable shift patterns.

You will have access to high quality, interactive online resources, ejournals and online textbooks, as well as dedicated technological support.

Year 1

Compulsory courses:

• Basic Science 1 & 2
• Adult Reconstruction Trauma
• Shoulder and Elbow
• Hand
• Spine
• Knee
• Ankle and Foot
• Paediatric
• Hip

You are supported throughout the programme through asynchronous discussions with tutors who are all leading clinicians in their field.

Year 2

Compulsory courses:

• Basic Science 3
• Specialist Academic Activity
• Core Academic Activity

Compulsory courses cover the core elements of the subsections of the orthopaedic syllabus.

You will have the opportunity to complete an academic research project and there will be a written Multiple Choice Question examination (Single Best Answer and Extended Matching Item).

• Read more about the programme structure

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

On completion of this programme, you will be able to:

• demonstrate in-depth knowledge of your chosen surgical subspecialty
• be able to apply this knowledge to the systematic assessment and management of surgical patients in the elective, urgent and emergency clinical setting
• recognise the leadership contribution and responsibilities of the surgeon in the multidisciplinary management of complex surgical disease
• critically reflect upon day-to-day surgical practice in the context of recent advances
• engage in critical dialogue with peers and experts in other sub-specialties
• apply the general principles of clinical study design, ethics, and statistics to critically evaluate the scientific literature in surgical research
• make informed judgements on new and emerging issues in surgery
• exercise a high level of autonomy and initiative in professional activities at a level of independent surgical practice

As a graduate of this programme, you will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of your chosen surgical subspecialty.

You will also be able to apply this knowledge to the systematic assessment and management of surgical patients in the elective, urgent and emergency clinical setting.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A medical degree (MBChB or equivalent) recognised by the General Medical Council.

Should have also acquired MRCS (or equivalent assessment milestone).

UK applicants must be an Advanced Trainee in Trauma and Orthopaedics, with a minimum of 3 years' experience.

Candidates outside the UK should have equivalent experience.

Surgeons who have a consultant or career grade post (or equivalent) in Orthopaedic Surgery are also eligible for entry.

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Tuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money

  • taking out a loan

  • family support

• personal savings

• income from work

• employer sponsorship

• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

The University of Edinburgh offers a small number of scholarships to outstanding candidates. These are very competitive. We publish data on the success rate for scholarship applications to help you understand the level of demand.

• Scholarship applications - success rates

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK's governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on your programme, the duration of your studies, and your residency status.

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

• Online Learning Scholarships

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding