Medical Education

Entry requirements

• Applicants should hold at least 2:2 degree in a medical or dental course or equivalent.
• Applicants must be actively engaged in medical or dental or healthcare practice.
• A detailed admissions procedure will be forwarded on application.
• IELTS: Score of at least 6.5 or equivalent.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

Our MSc in Medical Education introduces the principles of teaching, learning and assessing others. Modules can be studied through blended learning (some face to face sessions and synchronous online teaching) or wholly distance learning (self-directed with tutorial support).

This programme is also available to study as an online distance learning course, giving you a flexible route to study your degree.

Designed for doctors and other healthcare professionals who are responsible for teaching, assessing and supporting students and trainees, both in educational institutions and in the workplace, the course will enhance your confidence and skills in medical education.

It offers a mix of theoretical and practical skills that build from basic to advanced levels. The emphasis will be on effective evidence-based education for practitioners who are committed to the provision of high-quality learning opportunities for their students, colleagues and patients. It focuses on developing competent, reflective, yet critical practitioners who, through study, practice and research, can contribute effectively to medical education.

You’ll study with peers from the healthcare sector who also have an educational role, exploring ways of developing and delivering effective medical education, addressing challenges and investigating different approaches.

WHY STUDY WITH US

• Much of the course content is delivered via the University’s eLearn system, which means you can prepare work ahead of the on-campus study and undertake additional work independently from home.
• Our programme equips healthcare professionals with an educational role with the knowledge and skills to build on their current experiences and enables explicit use of these experiences within module assessments.
• You’ll learn what’s needed to facilitate effective learning within and outside of the workplace. And you’ll be able to select and apply best practice principles to teaching, assessing, supporting learning and giving feedback to others.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• You’ll have multiple opportunities to learn educational practices from experts in their fields.
• Study a flexible programme that allows several pathways through to MSc: formal healthcare education, educational research, educational assessment, work- and practice-based mentoring / preceptorship.
• You will have the benefit of close support and supervision at all stages of the course.

LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT

Choose to study largely, or wholly, online at your own pace either part-time or full-time, to ensure success alongside your own professional practice.

We use a variety of assessment methods and much of that assessment will be closely linked to your own practice.

Assessment strategies can include online presentations, written exercises and the designing of materials that you’ve created specifically for your own context. All assignments can be submitted online.

The learning environment uses a range of technologies from video and audio to interactive exercises that check your understanding.

On the blended pathway, communication will be both asynchronous and synchronous and you will have the opportunity to collaborate both with your fellow students and course tutors.

Self-directed distance learning students will have the opportunity for tutorial support as required.

GRADUATE CAREERS

On completion, you will be well placed to influence the role and the research of medical education in patient care at a local, regional and national level.

The PGCert offers a foundation in critical aspects of medical education: professionalism (and the teaching of it), educational theory and assessment practices. The assignments for each module are designed to enable students to reflect on their own practice and research topics in a targeted way. Therefore, you will be able to explore aspects of the subject area that are relevant to your own practice.

Within the PGDip and MSc there are opportunities to tailor your learning further, enabling an extended exploration into the topic areas relevant to your own career and practice.

PATHWAYS

The MSc Medical Education provides an ideal base from which to progress to our Clinical Studies, DProf.

There are two alternative exit pathways:

• Medical Education, PGCert
• Medical Education, PGDip

INDUSTRY LINKS

The programme has been developed in close liaison with GPs, NHS Trusts, CCGs and clinicians to ensure it meets the needs of the health economy.