The Master of Surgery (MChir) by thesis is a research degree which is open to clinicians only and serves an important role in the development of the career of trainee surgeons, affording them an opportunity to carry out academic research, in a clinical (or laboratory) setting across a broad range of departments and faculties. This degree would be attractive to surgeons who would like to pursue a clinical career but would also like to formalise research effort and experience during training. This would be well suited to all types of rotational trainee surgeons in the East of England, who rotate through Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH). Similarly, it would provide an opportunity for clinical surgical fellows, for example those attached to CUH for 2 years, to undertake translational research in Addenbrooke's and have this recognised by the University of Cambridge.