MSc Chiropractic (Paediatrics)

About the course

The practice of paediatrics, regardless of professional discipline, is based on the dictum that children are unique individuals undergoing the process of human development and not little adults. Paediatrics began to emerge as a medical specialty late in the nineteenth century in response to the growing appreciation that the health problems generally seen in children are different from those affecting the adult population. Chiropractors have treated children in the course of their general practice since the inception of the Chiropractic profession. It is only after a century of Chiropractic care of children that paediatrics is beginning to emerge as a discreet discipline within the wider scope of Chiropractic practice.

There is an ever-increasing body of knowledge in chiropractic paediatrics and there continues to be a paucity of training at undergraduate level in the fundamentals of safe paediatric health care practices.

The scheme of study is there foreseen as being of major significance and value in providing for those Chiropractors who wish to deliver high quality of care to the paediatric population. It offers a systematic approach to the body of knowledge and an opportunity to participate in the ongoing process of standardisation of the application of that body of knowledge to the individual case presentation.

The importance of the safety of the child is inculcated throughout the course, from medicolegal considerations including the nature of valid consent, failure to inform or warn and safeguarding in the very first module of the course, through clinical diagnostics, recognition of serious illness and interprofessional referral as the course continues. The course therefore enables the practising Chiropractor to identify, in a systematic manner, the boundaries of safe practice and the clinical parameters that identify the need for referral to other health care providers.

The course has been designed with the following two inter-related necessities in mind:

• The need to meet the stringent academic requirements for qualification at Master level, and
• The need to provide a course of study which is clinically relevant to the Chiropractor in general practice who regularly consults patients from the paediatric population presenting with a wide range of health problems.

As a consequence of the above, a blended clinical education design has been adopted. Summer Schools provides the candidate with an opportunity to be instructed face-to-face and to seek feedback on the quality and correctness of acquired skills, while the coursework offers the candidate an opportunity to apply the acquired skills and clinical knowledge in the practice setting.

Throughout the course, each subject calls upon the candidate to utilise skills and knowledge gained from some or all of the previous subjects undertaken. In particular, the subjects in year 2 require the candidate to apply the skills and knowledge gained in the subjects that collectively make up year 1 of the course.

In making the coursework clinically relevant to the Chiropractor in practice, assigned tasks require the implementation of learned procedures into daily practice routines. This is then supported by the use of clinical case problem solving from data gleaned on actual patients and that provided in hypothetical scenarios. This combination ensures an adequate coverage of the full range of common presentations affecting each body system.

How the Course is Taught

The MSc Chiropractic (Paediatrics) course offers a pathway towards achieving Membership and Fellowship with the Royal College of Chiropractors and the Specialist Faculty of Paediatrics. This comprehensive course is designed with the overarching goal providing growth and professional development of students, focusing on the following key facets:

• Discipline of mind.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, the ethos of professionalism and ethical behaviour.
• An attitude that enables the candidate to adapt to developments in health care in general and chiropractic paediatrics in particular.
• A commitment to lifelong learning and development.

Term time schedule:

• The course runs from September to August.
• Most of the course is delivered and supported online with face-to-face tutorials and on-campus summer schools typically spanning three to four days.

Years 1 and 2:

• Students engage in face-to-face teaching on campus at one summer school weekend, fostering skill acquisition through hands-on experiences.
• Students benefit from real-time online tutorials and mentoring, enhancing their learning journey beyond the classroom.
• Students experience a comprehensive mix of directed and self-directed clinical education, promoting structured growth and development.
• Students must pass the clinical examination at the end of each year to progress on the programme.

Year 3:

• Students will engage in a supervised research project encompassing design, implementation, and reporting, adhering to publishable standards.

Clinical Training

Year 1:

• During the Summer School weekend, the face-to-face teaching programmes are focused on skill acquisition. Intensive teaching in these skill areas is critical to the success of the student. They will embark on the Year 1 practice learning that is strongly oriented toward applying what is learned at the clinical interface between patient and practitioner.
• Further supervised clinical training is undertaken in the form of collecting clinical data from patient consultations, recording it in a required format and reporting on it to the study supervisor via a series of structured assignments.

Year 2:

• During the Summer School weekend, students are grouped into small study cells. Each cell is asked to work as a group in solving clinical problems in an interactive learning environment in addition to consulting patients as a group at the paediatric outpatient clinic.
• As in the first year, the study materials are designed to focus the candidates learning on the patient-practitioner interface and all the assignments are designed to reinforce the process of clinical decision-making.

Clinical Exit Examination

• At the end of the second year and after the satisfactory completion of all clinical learning assignments and the Summer Schools, candidates may undertake their exit examination. This examination takes the form of a structured clinical challenge conducted by a study supervisor. The exam is based on one long case and a series of shorter cases. In addition there is a viva voce examination that focuses on the candidates general paediatric knowledge drawn from the entire course.

Throughout the course, students are expected to see an increasing number of paediatric patients in their private practices. These patients provide a rich source of learning for the candidate as they apply the skills they have acquired to each patient presentation. Support for the candidate is provided in the form of an on-line clinical advisory service.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be 21 years or over when the course starts.
• Hold a first professional qualification in chiropractic.
• Hold registration with the relevant Chiropractic governing body in their country of residence.

The College reserves the right to request candidates to sit an entrance examination.

All students are expected to have the facility and the ability to study in their own home and will be required to purchase certain equipment and textbooks throughout the duration of the course. While tablets may seem convenient, many students encounter limitations that prompt them to favour the versatility and functionality of laptops. We strongly recommend that students use a laptop throughout their studies. Additionally, access to the internet is compulsory, as it becomes progressively an essential tool to facilitate learning.

All students are expected to be practising chiropractors with access to children in their own clinic.

If English is not your first language

If English is not your first language and you do not hold an honours degree that was delivered in English, you will be required to provide certified proof of ability in written and spoken English to, at least, IELTS 6.0 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in each component).

Entry Test

We reserve the right to ask you to sit an entrance exam.

Interviews

No offers are made without interview. Candidates will be selected to progress to interview based on the qualifications, work experience, personal statement and reference provided in their application. Interviews take place throughout the year.

Applicants called for interview are assessed by a panel for their sense of vocation, motivation and qualities of determination and aspiration.

Application Process

All applications for the MSc Chiropractic (Paediatrics) course must follow the application process below to be considered for enrolment.

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Intake Dates

Course Progression

*Clinical Paediatrics I content:

• Clinical epidemiology in chiropractic practice
• Recognizing serious illness in the young child
• Pain assessment and management in chiropractic paediatrics
• Cancer in children
• Rheumatic disease in children
• Advanced clinical case problem solving

*Clinical Paediatrics II content:

• Paediatric gastroenterology
• Allergy, endocrine and metabolic disease
• Common infectious diseases of childhood
• Paediatric dermatology
• Rheumatic disease in children
• Advanced clinical case problem solving
• Paediatric outpatient clinic

*Clinical Paediatrics III content:

• Clinical nutrition in childhood
• Non-accidental injury and the at-risk child
• Clinical conditions of non-organic origin
• Advanced clinical case problem solving
• Paediatric outpatient clinic

*Clinical Paediatrics IV content:

• Diagnostic recognition and chiropractic management of common ear, nose and throat disorders
• Diagnostic recognition and chiropractic management of common respiratory disorders
• Diagnostic recognition and chiropractic involvement in the management of cardiovascular disorders
• Advanced clinical case problem solving
• Paediatric outpatient clinic

Course Modules

Please note that courses may be subject to change. These changes could occur if the General Chiropractic Council recommends or directs any modifications. However, we understand the importance of keeping such changes to a minimum and keeping you well-informed. If there are any significant changes, we will provide you with written notice so that you are aware. We also make sure to consult with students who may be affected by the change before making any final decisions.

Assessment

You will be assessed in a variety of ways depending on the module and stage development. You will also be encouraged to reflect and feedback on your own experiences, learning and development.

Forms of assessment can include:

• Coursework
• Exams
• Research dissertation
• Clinical examination

Location

The Master of Chiropractic (Paediatric) course is primarily delivered online with the inclusion of the Summer School weekend at our Oxford location near Abingdon.

Tuition Fees & Associated Costs

A deposit of £200 will need to be paid within 48 hours of accepting your offer, in order to secure you place.

In addition to your course fees, there may be additional charges associated with your studies, which include:

Textbooks:

Textbooks are available in the library and electronic versions may also be available in the online library resources. Students may choose to acquire their own copies of important books both for study and for their future practice.

Tuition Fee Funding & Maintenance Loans

Students intending to study at the college are eligible to apply for a Post Graduate Loan up to the maximum £11,570. These can help cover tuition fees and living costs whilst you are studying.

How you apply for student finance varies depends on where you live. You will find detailed information on the application process and the amount of funding you will be entitled to on the following sites:

• Postgraduate Master’s Loan
• Student Finance Applications – England – or for further information and guidance please visit the dedicated microsite.
• Student Finance Wales
• Student Finance Northern Ireland

You can apply for funding online and it is recommended that you submit your application early to ensure that your funding is with you by the time you commence your studies.

Please note, if at any point during your studies you change modes of study or the speed at which you complete your studies, we will be required to notify the Student Loans Company as this may have funding implications.

For additional information regarding financial assistance for international students, please visit student finances.

Payment Plans

If you are self-funding, we offer flexible payment plans that let you spread the cost of your course across the duration of your studies.

For advice and further information on any of the above, please visit student finances or contact us.

Postgraduate Studies

After Graduation, Chiropractors must complete annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements in order to maintain their registration with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC).  They may also choose to pursue their particular interests by completing postgraduate Masters level programmes. The College offers postgraduate programmes for children and animals.

This programme will count towards CPD for the GCC and also Members and Fellows of the Royal College of Chiropractic.