Healthcare Quality Improvement PgCert

Entry requirements

• 2:1 honours degree, or equivalent, OR
• Postgraduate diploma award or a professional qualification recognised as being equivalent to an honours degree
• Applicants with a 2:2 honours degree or below, an ordinary degree or DipHE in a relevant subject, plus relevant professional experience may also be considered through successful completion of the admissions essay
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and/or Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) may also be claimed
• All students should be in employment and/or engaged in voluntary activities

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

Are you interested in influencing or effecting changes that will lead to better outcomes for patients or users of health and social care services? Do you wish to encourage quality improvement across your organisation? If you would like to be a future quality improvement leader then this PgCert Healthcare Quality Improvement will be of interest to you.

There is increasing interest across the world in innovative approaches to improving quality, and reducing waste, harm and variation in both the public and private sector. Despite a decrease in mortality from cancer, heart disease and stroke, and an associated increased life expectancy, there is a growing demand for health and social care services. There is therefore an urgent need to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of health and social care services to ensure they meet the current and predicted future needs of the population.

This programme will give you the opportunity to learn quality improvement methods and approaches. You will combine the practical application of several quality improvement methods, including the Model for Improvement, Lean, and Patient Safety approaches, with a deep theoretical understanding that can be applied to a wide range of health and social care contexts. The course includes an emphasis on the critical analysis of improvement methods and the use of quality improvement tools and techniques, to address waste, harm and variation in the health and social care system. It also reviews person-centred quality care including principles, key drivers and the impact of human interactions on adverse events.

The course is open to a wide range of individuals including nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, care workers, health care scientists, health care managers and administrators, facilities and estates staff. It is also suitable for people working in health and social care settings in charities or the independent sector, and who have an interest in, or responsibility for, quality improvement.

Special features

• PTES 2022 results 100% overall satisfaction
• PTES 2021 results 100% overall satisfaction
• The course is delivered part time, online, which means you can fit your studies around your work and personal commitments
• Developed and taught in collaboration with a team of healthcare professionals, academic and industry experts
• You will develop a toolbox of techniques that can be applied to a wide range of health and social care contexts
• You will have the opportunity to meet fellow students and tutors by attending the online virtual induction, usually held early September. This is a half day event, and we strongly recommend that all new students attend
• You can study individual modules for personal or professional development, or work towards the full PgCert
• Successful completion of this programme will allow you to progress on to our MA Health and Wellbeing.
• Staff teaching on the programme won the UHI HISA Award for Best Online Tutor in 2019 (and were Highly Recommended in 2020)

Fees and funding

For information, please view our Fees/Funding tab: PgCert Healthcare Quality Improvement (uhi.ac.uk)