Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Orthopaedic and Trauma Medicine PhD, MScR

Awards: PhD, MScR

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Orthopaedic and Trauma Medicine

We offer a comprehensive research programme suitable for PhDs and MSc students, covering a diverse range of musculoskeletal disorders.

There are ongoing projects in the following areas:

  • musculoskeletal tissue engineering
  • stem cells
  • regenerative medicine
  • orthopaedic engineering
  • modelling of the musculoskeletal system
  • osteoporosis
  • fracture repair
  • clinical outcome studies

On entering the programme, you are assigned to the relevant research group. Your progress is monitored by a thesis committee convened from members within these groups.

You will participate in a monthly graduate seminar programme, presenting your analysis of original research.

You are encouraged to present your findings at national and international conferences. You are also encouraged to publish your findings in international journals, in advance of the submission of your PhD theses for examination.

The orthopaedic engineering unit, musculoskeletal research unit, and Micro-CT facilities are based in the Chancellor's Building, at the Little France medical campus.

Facilities for collaborative projects are based in the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and the Centre for Integrative Physiology. Both of these Centres are also located at Little France.

The outcome performance assessment facilities are based within the clinical department in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that 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 62 with at least 59 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:

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).

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. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Additional programme costs

Additional fees vary depending on the research undertaken.

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
PhDOrthopaedic and Trauma Medicine3 YearsFull-timeTuition fees
PhDOrthopaedic and Trauma Medicine6 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
MScROrthopaedic and Trauma Medicine1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
MScROrthopaedic and Trauma Medicine2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees

Featured funding

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.)

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Professor of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Professor H Simpson
  • Phone: +44 (0)131 242 6464
  • Contact: hamish.simpson@ed.ac.uk
  • School of Clinical Sciences
  • Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
  • Little France
  • Edinburgh
  • EH16 4SU

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

You must submit two references with your application.

Before making your application, you must make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss your research proposal. Further information on making a research degree application can be found on the College website:

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Professor of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Professor H Simpson
  • Phone: +44 (0)131 242 6464
  • Contact: hamish.simpson@ed.ac.uk
  • School of Clinical Sciences
  • Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
  • Little France
  • Edinburgh
  • EH16 4SU