Overview
The Ultrasound Guided Injection Therapy in the Foot and Ankle course is an advanced, Level 7 course designed for medical and allied healthcare professionals seeking to develop specialist competency in ultrasound‑guided corticosteroid injection techniques for foot and ankle conditions. The course combines rigorous academic study with highly practical skill development, enabling you to build expertise in applied anatomy, physiology and pathology of the musculoskeletal foot and ankle, as well as the pharmacology, regulation and safe use of injectable medicines.
A key focus of the course is the development of precise technical skills, including accurate needle visualisation under ultrasound and the performance of a range of ultrasound guided injection techniques. Through the course, you'll gain advanced clinical reasoning abilities, learning to identify conditions suitable for injection therapy and to make evidence informed treatment decisions.
What makes this course unique is its integration of technical training with professional, legal and governance considerations, ensuring practitioners can work safely and effectively across diverse clinical settings. You'll benefit from access to expert clinicians and practical teaching using specialist equipment, alongside 30 hours of supervised work‑based learning to consolidate applied skills in real practice environments.
By the end of the course, you'll be equipped to deliver safe, effective and clinically reasoned ultrasound‑guided corticosteroid therapy of the foot and ankle as part of a comprehensive musculoskeletal (MSK) rehabilitation pathway.
You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.
Course content
The work‑based learning element of this module requires you to complete 20 supervised ultrasound guided corticosteroid injections in the foot and ankle, enabling you to apply guided injection therapy skills directly within your workplace or clinical setting.
Through hands‑on scanning and injecting, you'll consolidate the technical and clinical reasoning skills taught in lectures and workshops, while receiving formative guidance from experienced practitioners. This supervised practice allows you to engage with real patient cases, refine your ability to identify complex MSK pathology, and develop high‑level professional behaviours, communication skills and reflective practice.
By working within multidisciplinary environments, you'll also gain insight into the wider patient pathway and the clinical impact of advanced ultrasound assessment and reporting.
This practical component is essential for developing confidence, autonomy and competence at an advanced level, ensuring that theoretical learning is fully integrated into day‑to‑day clinical decision‑making.
An agreed clinical supervisor must be arranged prior to starting the course to supervise the performance of 20 ultrasound guided injections.
The clinical supervisor must meet the following criteria:
- Allied health professional who holds a CASE accredited / PgCert in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and has been performing ultrasound guided injection techniques for a minimum of 2 years.
- Musculoskeletal Radiologist with two years experience using Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and guided injections.
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
Through this course, you'll gain advanced knowledge of applied anatomy, physiology and pathology specific to the musculoskeletal foot and ankle, enabling you to understand conditions amenable to ultrasound‑guided corticosteroid injection therapy. You'll also acquire detailed understanding of pharmacology, including the medicines used in MSK injection therapy, their indications, contraindications, and the legal and regulatory frameworks governing their safe use in clinical practice.
You'll develop a strong grounding in the physics of ultrasound, including how ultrasound behaviour affects needle visualisation, image artefacts and the accuracy of guided procedures. You'll also gain the ability to critically analyse how 'ultrasound imaging supports differential diagnosis and treatment decision making in the foot and ankle.
In terms of practical capability, you'll acquire technical proficiency in performing a range of ultrasound guided corticosteroid injection techniques, alongside the skills needed to manage complications, emergencies and patient aftercare. You'll learn to visualise needles accurately, optimise probe handling and make advanced clinical judgements about when injection therapy is appropriate.
Additionally, you'll develop high‑level communication and documentation skills, enabling you to work collaboratively with patients and multidisciplinary teams and create accurate clinical records. Throughout the course, you'll also strengthen your professionalism, ethical awareness and ability to integrate injection therapy into comprehensive rehabilitation plans.
UK entry requirements
2026/7 entry
You must be working in one of the following areas: General practitioner; Rheumatologist; Orthopaedics; Sports and Exercise Medicine; Neurologist; Anaesthetist; Emergency medicine; Physiotherapist; Paramedic; Nurse; Orthotist; Physician Associate; Podiatrist; Radiographers; Sonographers.
Your full application must demonstrate that you:
- Hold PG Cert MSK Ultrasound or have a minimum 2 years evidenced musculoskeletal ultrasound experience and training.
- Are registered with the HCPC, GMC or CORU .
In addition, we require that you provide us with the following information in your application:
- A comprehensive personal statement
- Your HCPC, GMC or CORU registration number – this information should be detailed at the top of your personal statement.
- An up to date CV
- A supportive reference from an appropriately qualified professional
- It is mandatory for applicants to complete this form in full as part of their application. Once complete, please upload this to your My Applications portal.
EU and International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 7 (min 6.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 64 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 68% (63% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 5 (min 5 in all areas)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2026/7 entry
UK
£1,200 part-time
International
£2,065 part-time
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
Teaching on the course is delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, practical scanning sessions and seminars, supported by directed reading to reinforce key concepts. You'll take part in hands‑on practical learning to develop advanced technical skills and clinical reasoning, alongside interdisciplinary peer activities that emphasise professional communication and collaboration.
Throughout the course, you're expected to engage proactively with resources and identify your own learning needs, with formative feedback provided to support your progress. Teaching is complemented by work‑based supervised practice, allowing you to apply ultrasound guided injection skills in real clinical environments.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
Progress is assessed through four core components:
- Practical demonstration of an ultrasound guided injection technique
- Needle visualisation demonstration
- Safety viva
- Submission of your work-based learning portfolio
All assessments are worth 25% of your overall mark and must be passed at a minimum of 50/C‑ to achieve an overall pass for the module.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.