College of Life Sciences
Dissection Room short courses
Leicester Medical School has produced skilled, professional doctors for over 50 years. As part of their learning experience, our students are taught in our Human Tissue Authority (HTA) licensed Dissecting Room. A division of the College of Life Sciences, we also help with training and educating other healthcare professionals including: midwives, nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers and pharmacists. We are proud to study human anatomy through traditional methods with a commitment to provide the highest quality clinical education and training. Guided by a team of expert instructors and professionals, our curriculum emphasises real-world applications, fostering both confidence and competency in anatomy.
About the Dissecting Room
As part of the Medical School, the University of Leicester Dissecting Room specialises in delivering hands-on, practical anatomy courses designed to provide an immersive learning experience. Our programmes are ideal for those who want to move beyond theoretical knowledge and gain practical skills through direct application. If you’re looking for an exceptional, hands-on learning experience in anatomy, the University of Leicester Dissecting Room is the perfect location.
As an HTA-licensed facility, we have a spacious Dissecting Room (444m²) currently accommodating 46 body donors. We blend the direct educational benefits of this facility with use of pre-dissected specimens, real bones and plastic models (many of which are 3D-printed in the department). We are therefore able to offer in-depth exploration and learning opportunities covering all major body systems.
Anatomy courses tailored to your needs
We understand that every course has unique goals and requirements. We can be flexible in allowing you to focus on the areas most relevant to your career or studies with expert guidance from anatomists who are able to cover every aspect of basic and clinical anatomy, tailored to your specific goals. We also have an option which allows you to host and deliver the teaching for your own course if you prefer.
Whether you are looking for an anatomy refresher course to deepen understanding of clinical anatomy for a small group of healthcare professionals, or looking to host your own clinical/surgical specialised training course, our facility is able to ensure all your needs are met.
With the added value of a central demonstration area equipped with an overhead camera and eight wall-mounted TV screens, our facility enhances group learning by ensuring clear visibility for all participants.
All-inclusive support
From personal protective equipment (PPE), including disposable gowns and eye protection, to basic dissecting instruments, we’ve got all your essentials covered. Our highly experienced technical and administrative staff ensure that every session runs smoothly, leaving you free to focus on your training.
Specialised customisation
Our HTA licence covers all human tissue for training and education purposes. While we don’t hold fresh-frozen tissue on site, we can work with the Nottingham National Repository to organise delivery of fresh-frozen specimens - ideal for surgical training courses.
If your course requires specialist equipment (such as Ultrasound machines) we can work with sponsors and companies to take delivery and collection of any equipment you may require, ensuring its safe storage ready for use during your course.
Convenient location
Leicester is centrally located, easily accessible from many major cities by train or motorway, and just 65 minutes from London St Pancras. The Dissecting Room is in the Maurice Shock Medical Sciences Building.
Additional facilities
The University of Leicester can provide catering options and break-out rooms outside of the dissecting room (if available) to provide refreshments if required.
Fees
The fees we charge for external courses are carefully calculated to ensure that they reflect as accurately as possible the true costs of running each course. We do not make profit from the use of body donors in our courses. Conduct of external courses, like the teaching of medical students and all other activities in our facility, is regulated by the Human Tissue Authority. All of the donors used in our courses are registered in England and Wales. All donors consented for their bodies to be used for education or training relating to human health.
Testimonials
Dr Sadiq Bhayani, Staff Physician & Consultant Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia, Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi
“It was a great pleasure to host our course in the Dissecting Room in the University of Leicester.
The staff are very friendly, prompt and approachable. They are very professional and give all the health and safety instructions in a detailed manner.
They pay utmost respect to the cadavers, whilst making sure the learning experience for the course participants is of a high standard. The quality of the cadavers is also excellent.
The DR staff, Ian, Rearden and Hazel, are amazing - looking after the organizing team, faculty members and the workshop participants. They make the workshops run flawlessly by making sure everything that is needed is in place.
I would highly recommend the University of Leicester’s Dissecting Room to anyone who wants to hold a cadaver course. It’s a great facility.”
Major HC, Senior Medical Officer, British Army
“As an alumnus of Leicester Medical School, when the requirement for cadaver training military medics came about, I thought of the excellent Dissection Room facilities at LMS. The DR staff were on-hand throughout, always happy to step in with their encyclopaedic anatomical knowledge (when even the surgeons got stuck!) and to provide high-quality prosections on-demand. ‘Soft-fix’ cadavers were also available upon request for conducting surgical skills practice.
In commissioning this training, we approached several medical schools, and the University of Leicester proved – by a large margin – to be the best value for money. We hired out half of the extensive DR room, which included AV equipment of lectures and side-rooms for break-out activity. An option of lunch catering was also provided.
Conducted with the highest level of respect for the cadavers, this incredibly professional team provided several days of unique, interesting and excellent learning opportunities. We have been back three years in a row, and plan to continue to for many years to come.”
Dave Patel, Consultant Anaesthetist, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
“As a faculty on the ultrasound in perioperative care course, we collectively feel that the staff in the Dissecting Room have been outstanding, professional and have always demonstrated a pleasant demeanour whenever we have visited with delegates. The level of knowledge displayed is of the highest calibre and we look forward to working with you later this year! Many thanks for all your help, support and expertise throughout the years!”
Contact us
Contact us today drcourses@le.ac.uk to learn more about our facilities or to organise a visit. At the University of Leicester Dissecting Room, we’re here to help you shape the future of healthcare anatomy training and education.