MSt in Medical Education

Educational Aims

The programme aims to develop individuals who are able to recognise and respond to opportunities to develop their own and others educational practice through the considered design and implementation of a small-scale educational research or development project.

This will include

• Exploration of project design principles, including methodological choices
• Familiarisation with a range of educational research, development and evaluation methods
• Purposeful and in-depth engagement with their chosen project design methodology and linked methods
• Purposeful engagement with approaches to data selection, data generation and data analysis methods (linked to their chosen design)
• Rehearsing different ways of communicating complex ideas in written/verbal/graphic form for different audiences (eg academic audience, professional audience, members of the public etc) 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the MSt in Medical Education, within the constraints of the course, students should be able to demonstrate:

1. a capacity to purposefully design, implement and critically appraise an educational project that has the potential to inform or change practice
2. an ability to position their project in relevant policy/practice context and to provide a coherent account of the conceptual and methodological choices they have made in design and implementation
3. the ability to communicate complex and novel ideas in accessible ways, for a range of audiences and purposes
4. awareness of personal responsibility and professional codes of conduct throughout all stages of the project, working in transparent and ethical ways.

Teaching

This is a part-time course designed to fit with the demands of full-time employment.

Each module has been designed to link firmly to the next, supporting the design, implementation and write up stages of the project. For each module there is shared learning in 2-day face-to-face teaching blocks. 

Please note, all date information and teaching delivery may be subject to change

Teaching delivery:

• Wednesday 01 & Thursday 02 October 2025 (two day teaching block)
• TBC November 2025 - ASME RME conference 
• Monday 19 & Tuesday 20 January 2026 (two day teaching block)
• Tuesday 30 March 2026 (one day synchronous online teaching session)
• Monday 01 & Tuesday 02 June 2026 (two day teaching block)

The contact days during the sessions are designed to be interactive, recognising the rich resources students offer to the learning process. There will be opportunities to rehearse aspects of project design, including data collection and analysis methods; these will be explicitly linked to student project choices. Teaching methods include formal input (micro-lectures), case study work, small group work and peer presentations.

Each student has a named supervisor and will work with them to identify preferred ways of working (face to face or remote supervision) and patterns of supervision over the year. 

Supervision

Each student is allocated a named supervisor and should expect to access up to 12 hours of supervisor time, which includes supervisor time to read and respond to draft work but does not include time to mark summative assessment submissions.

Assessment

There are three linked assessment points, designed to support student development and progression:

1. A project proposal of between 3,000 - 4,000 words.
2. A project presentation of no more than 15 minutes duration accompanied by a short reflective piece (1,500 - 2,500 words) focussed on their learning from the task
3. A project report is the final submission and should ‘tell the story’ of the student's project work in an appropriate form that allows them to evidence achievement of the programme learning outcomes. The project report and any adjuncts should be the equivalent of 8,000 - 10,000 words.

The Dissertation

All students will undertake an educational project, either research or development  The project report and any adjuncts should be the equivalent of 8,000 - 10,000 words.

With both types of projects,  students’ are required to produce work that meets all programme outcomes at masters level. This includes working ethically, even if formal ethical permissions are not required.

If they elect to undertake an educational research project (ERP) (using either primary or secondary data) they would be required to seek formal ethical permissions. If undertaking an educational development project (EDP), this may not be required.

Other Assessment

Attendance at all of the units in Cambridge and full and active participation in all elements of the course is compulsory.

Fees

The fees for 2025-26 entry will be £5,169 per annum for Home students and £10,341 per annum for overseas students. The combined graduate fee includes College membership

The fee status of EU nationals for 2021 entry onwards will be International by default until the UK government announce further details and amendments of the current regulation. EU students should regularly check for updates at: www.cam.ac.uk/eu

Bursary funding for a limited number of places will be available from Health Education East of England (HEEoE) . If you wish to apply for the bursary please ensure you follow the HEE EoE process (deadline for bursary applications to be announced but likely to be end of March; more details can be found here https://heeoe.hee.nhs.uk/faculty-educators/educators-bursaries

Other Costs

Students will be expected to cover the application fee (£50 online) and any costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence during the course and sessions in Cambridge.

How to apply

The programme is only open to those who have successfully completed the ICE Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education. In addition applicants will be medical, dental or healthcare professionals who are engaged in education and training activities commensurate with their level of experience and as is relevant to their professional roles and responsibilities. The MSt is suitable for ‘early career’ educators as well as those with more experience.

Additional guidance on completing your application (including restrictions associated with the use of AI) can be found here

FAQs

Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked question or FAQs, relating specifically to the MSt in Medical Education. Please do read through these and you should find the answers to most questions.

However, if you still cannot find what you are looking for then please click on, the 'Ask a Question' link at the top right of this page to send the course team a message and we will respond as soon as possible.

Can I study the MSt in Medical Education without first having to study the PG Certificate or PG Diploma in Medical Education courses?

In order to apply for the MSt in Medical Education course, you need to have successfully completed the PG Certificate course at ICE, University of Cambridge, progressing to then successfully complete the PG Diploma in Medical Education. 

Is this course available online?

No, this is not a distance-learning course. We plan to deliver our postgraduate and MSt qualifications in-person and full attendance is mandatory. 

Is this course available full-time?

This course has been designed for part-time delivery in order to permit students to work around their employment commitments. It is not possible for it to be studied on a full-time basis. 

When can I apply for the next Medical Education course?

Applications for the MSt, PG Certificate and PG Diploma starting in the Michaelmas term (October) of any given year, open in the September/October of the previous year. So, for example, for an October 2025 start, applications open September 2024.  Please see our Courses pages for when courses are open for application here. 

Please note that an entry requirement of the MSt in Medical Education is that applicants should first have successfully completed the PG Certificate in Medical Education at ICE, as well as successful completion of the PG Diploma in Medical Education at ICE. 

When is the deadline for applications?

The application deadline has now been extended to the 30th May 2025 with applications dealt with in two batches; any applications received up to the 30th April 2025 will be considered in batch one, and any applications received between the 1st and 30th May 2025 in batch two. We may carry over applications received in the first batch over to the second batch. Interviews will be held approximately 3-4 weeks after each batch deadline. 

Should the course become full, we reserve the right to close for applications early. As a result, we would encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.

When will my application be considered? 

All applications will be reviewed at the close of the applications window after the submission deadline, irrespective of when they are received.

When can I expect to hear back on a decision?

Decisions on applications will be made approximately 6 weeks after the relevant closing date.

Final decisions regarding admissions can only be made on the full and final applications and the offer of places will depend on the strength of applicants in any one year. 

Who is the course aimed at?

The MSt builds on and provides progression from the very successful PG Certificate and PG Diploma courses in Medical Education. 

Increasingly, doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals are seeking flexible career pathways that allow them to develop a portfolio of work in areas of specialty or interest– education being one of these. The part-time MSt in Medical Education has an emphasis on educational development and research activity, providing opportunities for participants to put their educational knowledge to use in their own context(s) of practice.  

The programme is only open to those who have successfully completed the University of Cambridge Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education.

Am I a suitable candidate for the MSt in Medical Education?

In order to apply for this course, you must previously have completed the PG Diploma in Medical Education at ICE.

English is not my first language - can I still apply?

All applicants are required to demonstrate competency in English at a high level before commencing the programme. Students whose first language is not English must be able to satisfy the necessary requirements, even if they have worked or studied in English previously.  Please refer to the ICE website here for further information, following any extra links there for further, added advice.

Can I transfer credits from my current/previous university?

We are currently unable to accept any transfer of credits from other universities.  

Can I study individual Medical Education modules?

Currently the units/modules are not offered for individual study but this may change, so please keep looking at our web pages for updates.

I have question about my application, whom should I contact?

For any queries or information about the admissions procedure, making an application or your application itself - please contact the admissions team by clicking on the 'Ask A Question' link at the top right-hand side on this page.

How is teaching delivered?

The MSt in Medical Education combines face-to-face study days with on-line activity, study and assignments, supported through a virtual learning environment [VLE].  There are approximately 7/8 contact days in total.

A provisional guide of the number of teaching days is provided under the Teaching & Assessment tab of the course page.  Teaching day attendance is in Cambridge and students should ensure they are able to meet all teaching obligations before starting the course.

I want to study the PG Certificate in Medical Education and do the MSt later on – is that possible?

It is possible to complete the Postgraduate Certificate and then, on successful completion, apply to progress through the PG Diploma.  Upon successful completion of the Diploma, students can then apply to undertake the MSt in Medical Education. It is not possible to go straight from the Certificate to the MSt course. 

What are the fees?

The fees for 2025 entry for the PG Diploma in Medical Education, as detailed on the course page, are £5,169 per annum for Home students and £10,341 per annum for Overseas students. The fee status of EU nationals for 2021 entry onwards will be International by default until the UK government announce further details and amendments of the current regulation. EU students should regularly check for updates at: www.cam.ac.uk/eu. Students will be expected to cover the application fee (£50 online) and any costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence during residential sessions in Cambridge. 

Is there any funding available for Medical Education courses? 

Bursary funding for a limited number of places may be available from Health Education East of England (HEEoE) . If you wish to apply for the bursary please ensure you follow the HEE EoE process (deadline for bursary applications to be announced but likely to be end of March; more details can be found here https://heeoe.hee.nhs.uk/faculty-educators/educators-bursaries

Please note that places on the MSt in Medical Education are offered on merit rather than funding.

Information about Bursaries at the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) can be found here: www.ice.cam.ac.uk/bursaries The Graduate Admissions Office website provides information on funding administered centrally within the University and you may find the following link helpful :http://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/funding 

How are fees payable?

Once you have arranged any funding, payments can be scheduled through a payment plan, of up to four instalments per academic year;or for the whole course (the latter is sometimes the preferred method by sponsoring organisations).  You can discuss this with the course team prior to course start.

What is my fee status?

Guidance on fee status, whether Home or Overseas can be found on the University website here.  Your fee status will determine the fee that you are liable to pay for your course of study.  If in doubt or you require further advice regarding your fee status please contact Admissions at   ice.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk 

Progression 

Upon successful completion of the PG Certificate and PG Diploma in Medical Education, students can apply to progress to the MSt in Medical Education, 1 year, part-time.  Further details available here.