MSc in Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy

Course content

The MSc in Medical Visualisation & Human Anatomy is the first taught Masters programme in medical visualisation in the UK. Offered jointly by the Glasgow School of Art and University of Glasgow, it combines actual cadaveric dissection with 3D digital reconstruction, interaction and visualisation. 

Why this programme

• You will examine human anatomy and reconstruct it in a real-time 3D environment for use in education, simulation, and training. 
• You will have access the 3D facilities at the Glasgow School of Art's School of SimVis, including stereo 3D projection, full body motion capture system, haptic devices and ambisonic sound. 
• You will also have access to the Laboratory of Human Anatomy at the University of Glasgow,, one of the largest in Europe. 
• The programme has excellent industry connections through research and commercial projects and there are possible internship opportunities. You will benefit from guest lectures by practitioners, researchers and experts from industry. 
• This programme is accredited by the Institute of Medical Illustrators, the professional body for Medical Illustration in the UK. 

Programme structure

You will split your time between The Glasgow School of Art (School of SimVis) and the University of Glasgow (Laboratory of Human Anatomy). The programme is structured into three stages. 

Stage one: digital technologies applied to medical visualisation (delivered by the School of SimVis at the Glasgow School of Art) 

Core courses 

• Academic Skills for Masters Research
• Medical Visualisation (incorporating 3D modelling and animation, applications in medical visualisation, volumetric and 3D surface visualisation)

Stage two: human anatomy (delivered by the Laboratory of Human Anatomy at the University of Glasgow). 

Core courses 

• Introduction to anatomy 
• Structure and function of the human body 
• Cadaveric dissection techniques. 

In stage three you will complete a self-directed final project, supported throughout with individual supervision. 

Career prospects

Career opportunities exist within the commercial healthcare device manufacturer, the public and private healthcare sectors, as well as in academic medical visualisation research and in medical illustration. Students with medical, biomedical, anatomy, or health professional backgrounds will be able to gain 3D visualisation skills that will enhance their portfolio of abilities; students with engineering, computer science or 3D graphics background may also be involved in the design and development of healthcare related products through digital technology, eg diagnostic and clinical applications, creating content involving medical visualisation, simulation, cardiac pacemakers, and biomechanically related products for implantation, such as knee, hip and shoulder joint replacements. 

Here are some examples of roles and companies for our graduates: 

◾Interns, Clinical Assistants and Clinical Researchers at Toshiba Medical Visualisation Systems 

◾Research Prosector (GU) 

◾3D printing industry 

◾Demonstrators in Anatomy 

◾PhD studies - medical history, medical visualisation 

◾Medical School 

◾Dental School 

◾Digital Designer at Costello Medical 

◾Lead Designer at Open Bionics 

◾Founder of Axial Medical Printing Ltd 

◾Digital Technician at University of Leeds 

◾Digital Project Intern at RCPSG 

◾Researcher and Factual Specialist at BBC 

◾Graduate Teaching Assistants 

◾Freelance Medical Illustration / Medical Visualization

◾Numerous successful placements on PhD programmes (medical visualisation, anatomy, anatomy education, medical humanities) 

◾MBChB, BDS courses 

Please visit the programme page on the Glasgow School of Art website for more details! http://www.gsa.ac.uk/medvis

Scholarships and Funded Places

Information on funding and financial support can be found in the fees and funding pages on the GSA website.

Visit the MSc in Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy page on the Glasgow School of Art website for more details!