Depending upon the degree, it may be abbreviated ChM, MCh, MChir or MS. At a typical medical school the program lasts two to three years.
The possession of a medical degree is a prerequisite.
The regulations[1] may ask for surgical experience and a thesis topic that is not purely medical.
There are number of Master of Surgery Courses across the UK and Internationally, these are level 7 programmes (UK/Wales).
Whilst most MS/MChir courses distinguish target professional practicing clinicians, there is not a harmonised definition of the qualification and different courses target different cohorts of students with different learning objectives, e.g., to prepare advanced surgical trainees for their FRCS examination, professional development of the surgeon approaching independent consultancy, engagement with surgical research or developing specialist surgical skills.