Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Research, Education and Leadership

Who is the course designed for?

The Postgraduate Certificate is part of the Clinical Medicine Programme, a suite of part-time courses designed to enhance the specialist skills of senior healthcare professionals in training and broaden their understanding in healthcare education, research, leadership and management. The modules are designed to complement postgraduate curricula.

The programme has been developed by Cambridge University Health Partners, (the academic health sciences centre), in conjunction with the School of Clinical Medicine and the Institute of Continuing Education, University of Cambridge.

Aims of the programme

• Provide professionally relevant teaching and learning informed by research in an integrated clinical and teaching environment

• Create an international cohort of healthcare professionals able to pursue and develop their roles in a rapidly-changing and challenging environment of clinical medicine

• Develop the confidence within this cohort to lead service improvement for safe and high quality patient care, with the required knowledge, skills and capability to have a positive personal impact on the work of others in their clinical team and wider service

• Develop clinicians with an understanding of teaching, professional development and assessment in the field of clinical medicine

• Develop clinicians with an understanding of research methodologies and ethical considerations relevant to clinical medicine

• Encourage participants to develop as reflective practitioners with the emotional intelligence, resilience and astuteness required to be effective clinical leaders

• Encourage a commitment to intellectual challenge and evidence-based clinical practice informed by the latest conceptual and theoretical knowledge of clinical education, research methods, ethics and clinical leadership and governance

For further information please see our FAQs below.

Teaching and learning

The Postgraduate Certificate comprises three modules and combines face-to-face study days with on-line activity, study and assignments. Please note that all dates below are provisional and subject to change.

Module 1: Clinical Leadership (available as stand-alone study)

• Monday 27 - Thursday 30 September 2021
• Thursday 18 November 2021
• Thursday 2 June 2022 (project presentations)

Module 2: Clinical Research

• Monday 17 - Thursday 20 January 2022
• Thursday 17 February 2022

Module 3: Clinical Education (available as stand-alone study)

• Monday 11 - Thursday 14 April 2022
• Thursday 5 May 2022

A virtual learning environment will support students’ learning throughout the programme.

Assessment

Students are assessed formatively throughout the course using a variety of techniques and interrelated strategies including evidence of regular reflection. Demonstration of active participation in the programme will be required. There may also be a requirement for the students to take part in peer review of other students.

Students will be required to submit :

• two assignments for summative assessment, each 3,000 words or equivalent;
• one assignment from the leadership simulation workshop of 1,000 words or equivalent; 
• a Service Improvement Project including a presentation, poster and written element.

Fees and funding

The fees for 2021 will be £5000 per annum (UK) and £9000 (overseas).

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 (£70 online) and any costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence incurred during teaching sessions in Cambridge.

How to apply

Applications will be accepted until 31 May 2021. Please click the APPLY NOW button at the top of the page and follow the steps.

Applicants will be required to either submit or provide details of the following as part of the application process:

·       Original qualification transcripts

·       Employer letter of support to confirm release of time to study.

·       Evidence of funding

·       Details of two academic referees

·       If applicable, appropriate visa to attend the course.

All eligible candidates will be invited to interview. Candidates will be informed of final decisions towards the end of August 2021.