Postgraduate study
Source: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/medicalvisualisation/ Parent: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/
Medical Visualisation & Human Anatomy MSc
Offered jointly by The University of Glasgow and the famous Glasgow School of Art, the aim of this programme is to dissect and examine human anatomy and reconstruct it in a real-time 3D environment for use in education, simulation, and training.
- Academic contact: \ University of Glasgow: jenny.clancy@glasgow.ac.uk \ Glasgow School of Art: m.poyade@gsa.ac.uk
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Teaching start: September
- MSc: 12 months full-time
Why this programme
- Learn to combine actual cadaveric dissection with 3D digital reconstruction, interaction and visualisation.
- Undertake cadaveric dissection of key areas of the human body and examine prosections.
- Gain 3D visualisation skills specific to applications in the medical, biomedical, anatomy, or health domains.
- Get access to a wide range of digital interaction technologies including virtual and augmented reality, stereographic 3D and haptic devices and become involved in the design and development of related visualisations and/or applications eg visualising current life science research, creating patient information applications or training applications for medical practitioners, diagnostic and clinical applications, medical visualisation and simulation.
- Each student has a dedicated PC for their studio work due to the studio based teaching approach at The Glasgow School of Art.
- Access is available to the Laboratory of Human Anatomy at The University of Glasgow, one of the largest in Europe.
- Opportunities are avalailable to have your work published in journals, books and conference proceedings / presentations through collaborative research projects.
- Benefit from guest lectures by practitioners, researchers and experts through our excellent industry connections from research and commercial projects.
- Projects are supervised by leading scientists across the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences.
- This programme and teaching staff are accredited by the Institute of Medical Illustrators.
- The staff in Simulation and Visualisation have expertise in 3D modelling, Human-Computer Interaction, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and in the use of games and related technology to support education and learning.
Watch the programme directors and students tell you more
Video: Medical visualisation and human anatomy
Programme structure
Your time is split between The Glasgow School of Art (School of Simulation and Visualisation) at Pacific Quay in the City Centre and The University of Glasgow (Anatomy Facility), Gilmorehill Campus in the west end.
The programme is structured into three compulsory stages:
- Stage 1: digital technologies applied to medical visualisation (at The School of Simulation and Visualisation)
- Stage 2: human anatomy (Anatomy facility at The University of Glasgow)
- Stage 3: self-directed final project, supported throughout with individual supervision.
Stage 1
- Academic Skills for Masters Research -Here you will be taught core research skills for masters research. You will conduct a literature review and develop a research proposal for a project of your choosing. This review and project proposal may optionally be taken further in Stage 3 of the MSc
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Medical Visualisation -This course is taught in three distinct strands:
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Volumetric Visualisation will show you how to work with 3D medical scan data (such as CT, MRI or confocal microscopy image) and transform these into 2D images for easily interpretation or 3D models for use in the creation of animations or interactive applications
- 3D modelling focusses on the creation of 3D models for use in animations or interactive applications. Models can be created from scratch, working from reference drawing, photographic images, or from 3d models generated from volumetric visualisation. Attention to detail in use of professional workflows and processing for optimization and efficiency are important considerations.
- Interactive application development uses modern ‘game engine’ technology (e.g. Unity3D) to develop 3D interactive applications for desktop or mobile devices. Tools such as Unity are now widely used across many disciplines for creating 3D applications for training, education and visual communication.
- During Stage 2, additional classes in the creation of Augmented and Virtual Reality applications are offered, and have proven very popular.
### Stage 2
Introduction to anatomy
- Examine key concepts in anatomy, learning about the broad structure and organisation of the human body and examine the different systems. Designed to enable those not familiar with the human body with an excellent overview of the terms and definitions of anatomy
- Learn about how legislation and laboratory practice, and health and safety is practiced and conducted in a human anatomy laboratory
- Explore the ethical issues around body and organ donation
- Interactive sessions will ensure there is active student engagement and participation while you learn about the human body from enthusiastic and experienced staff
- Examine prosections and become introduced to anatomical specimens
Structure and function of the human body
- Examine a wide range of body systems and receive exposure to many prosections across all areas of the human body
- Examine related clinical imagery and visualisations and illustration techniques related to identifying anatomical structures and relevant clinical applications
- Learn anatomy using specimens that have been professionally dissected and preserved. This gives an unrivalled learning opportunity and exposure to the anatomy of the human body.
- Cadaveric dissection techniques
- Undertake cadaveric dissection on specific areas of the human body
- Experience immersive anatomy with hands on experience of dissection
### Stage 3 Research Project
In stage three you will complete a self-directed final project, supported throughout with individual supervision.
Past projects have included:
- Numerous life science projects from anatomical, anthropological, molecular, cell biology, genetics and virus research
- Patient education tools
- Public engagement activities
- Clinical applications across surgical specialties including plastics, otorhinolaryngology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics and dentistry
- Applied veterinary medicine, surgery and public health projects
By utilising tools like 3D visualisation, augmented and virtual reality, confocal microscopy, animations, cross platform apps and interactive educational tools, these cross College projects have been brought into the digital age.
Working with active researchers and subject specialists across such a diverse range of areas, these projects undertaken in the last third of the degree offer an opportunity to engage much more deeply with educational and research activities from a chosen speciality.
All students have two supervisors – one from the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences and one from The School of Simulation and Visualisation of The Glasgow School of Art. This offers subject specialists to facilitate your development as an independent researcher developing digital tools and technologies within your chosen domain.
Programme alteration or discontinuation\ The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.
Career prospects
Career opportunities exist within diverse fields like and many of our graduates have gone on to work in a range of areas related to anatomical education, medical illustration, digital life sciences and interactive media.
Other former students now work in teaching roles in Universities across the world or have progressed onto Doctoral, Medical or Dental studies.
Graduate employers include:
- 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 Specialist at Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians Glasgow
- Researcher and Factual Specialist at BBC
- Graduate Teaching Assistants
- Freelance Medical Illustration
- Numerous successful placements on PhD programmes (medical visualisation, anatomy, anatomy education, medical humanities)
- Canon Medical Research Europe
- Outcome Health (formerly ContextMedia)
- SensiBlu Pharmaceuticals
- Touch Surgery
- Infineon Technologies
Fees & funding
Tuition fees for 2026-27
MSc
Fee information is available on the Glasgow School of Art website
Fee status
Additional fees
- Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
- Registration/exam only fee: £170
Funding opportunities
Glasgow School of Art Scholarships
The Glasgow School of Art administers a range of scholarships that students on this programme can apply to. These are normally published in March/April for students starting in September.
Please see visit the Glasgow School of Art scholarship webpage for more details.
The Humanitarian Scholarship
We are delighted to announce the launch of the University of Glasgow Humanitarian Scholarship, created to support Displaced and Conflict-Affected (DACA) applicants applying for Postgraduate Taught (PGT) programmes for 2026 entry.
This scholarship reflects our commitment as a University of Sanctuary to removing barriers to education for those impacted by war and displacement. Successful applicants will receive a full tuition fee waiver, a living stipend, accommodation and travel support, ensuring they have the resources needed to thrive academically and personally. Full eligibility criteria are listed below.
Through this initiative, we aim to provide meaningful opportunities for talented individuals whose education has been disrupted by conflict, enabling them to build a secure future and join our global #TeamUofG community.
The University is offering the Humanitarian Scholarship to 9 postgraduate taught applicants. Please note that you must have a programme application in progress before applying for this scholarship. If you have not yet started a programme application, please submit this first and then return to complete the scholarship application.
This scholarship is only available to applicants living out with the United Kingdom. If you have been displaced or conflict affected and are currently residing in the United Kingdom, you may be eligible for you Sanctuary Scholarship. Details of this scholarship can be found here.
This scholarship is not available to PhD, PGdip, PDGE or part time programmes.
This scholarship can not be combined with any other University of Glasgow scholarship. In the event you are offered 2 scholarships, the lower value scholarship will be removed from your student account.
India Excellence Award
This scholarship is now closed.
The India Excellence Award aims to support exceptional students from the country in their journey to become Future World Changers. We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study (postgraduate diploma or certificate programmes are not eligible for this scholarship), to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.
The University is offering up to 10 scholarships for International students from India, starting a one year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2026/27. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee waiver of £12,500 for one year only.
575th Anniversary World-Changer Scholarship
For those ready to create the change the world needs
The University of Glasgow has been changing the world for 575 years. With 2026 marking the founding of the university in 1451, we are delighted to announce the 575th anniversary scholarship, empowering exceptional world-changers of tomorrow, at a pivotal moment in our history.
Established in 1451 in service of our people and our city, we have evolved from being the university for Glasgow, to the university for the world. During this landmark year, we are reflecting on centuries of impact locally, nationally and internationally, celebrating our achievements to inspire the world-changers of tomorrow.
Open to students looking to make positive change through their chosen area of study, successful 575th anniversary world-changers will join an international community that cross centuries and span continents, at a special time of celebration and reflection.
The University’s Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Andy Schofield, said:
“This milestone is not just about our past, it’s about the opportunities ahead and the future impact we can make together. Not only are we one of the oldest universities in the world, but one of the first to provide greater and fairer access to education. The 575th anniversary world-changer scholarships enable us to continue that legacy, while supporting students who will shape the world in the centuries to come.”
The scholarship offers at £15,000 discount to international students holding an offer for a PGT programme for the 2026-2027 year. Mphil 24-month Masters students can be awarded this scholarship for 1st year of study only.
DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Master’s grant
The University of Glasgow will offer a full tuition waiver to those students that successfully apply and are nominated by DAAD to the University. DAAD offers a monthly stipend and travel bursary, as well as health, accident, and personal liability insurance coverage in addition to the full tuition fee waiver from the University of Glasgow.
Wichtige Hinweise zu DAAD-Stipendien - DAAD (general info on DAAD tuition fee reimbursement)
Current list of tuition reduction / waiving offers (not including U Glasgow yet) : Stipendien für ein Masterstudium im Ausland - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
Travel Bursary for Forced Migrants
The University of Glasgow is offering travel bursaries to assist with public transport travel costs, to support undergraduate and postgraduate students are currently asylum seekers and who could face financial difficulties in taking up their place to study at the University for 2026 entry. The value of the bursary is 50% of your monthly public transport travel costs to get to University, up to a maximum value of £50 per month.
The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database
Entry requirements
You should have an Honours degree or equivalent in the following disciplines:\ \
English language requirements
For international applicants, GSA requires evidence of English language proficiency. More information on accepted English language qualifications is available on GSA website.
The GSA’s preferred test is the IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test taken at a UKVI approved test centre.
GSA requires an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in each component.
For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form
International students
We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.
- Find out more about entry requirements and other country-specific information
- International student support & visas
How to apply
Please apply through Glasgow School of Art.
Glasgow School of Art MSc Medical Visualisation & Human Anatomy programme page
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Related links
- Taught degree programmes A‑Z
- How to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
- Postgraduate research opportunities A-Z
- How to apply for a postgraduate research degree
- Fees and funding
- Erasmus Mundus