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.

Assignment following simulation workshop: Midday, Friday 2nd December 2022

Quality Improvement Project: Midday, Monday 5th June 2023

Quality Improvement Project to be presented on Friday 9th June 2023

Assignment: Midday, Friday 24th March 2023

Assignment: Midday, Friday 23rd June 2023

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 2022 will be £5301 per annum (UK) and £9501 (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 (£75 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 2022. 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 2022.

Admissions and questions about applications: For any queries or information about the admissions procedure, making an application or your application itself - please contact the admissions team by email to: pgadmissions@ice.cam.ac.uk

FAQs

Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked question or FAQs, relating specifically to the PG Certificate in Clinical Research, Education and Leadership. Please do read through these and you should find the answers to most questions.

Admissions and questions about applications: For any queries or information about the admissions procedure, making an application or your application itself - please contact the admissions team by email to: pgadmissions@ice.cam.ac.uk

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

Is this course available online?

No, this is not a distance-learning course. Even with the pandemic in mind, we plan to deliver our postgraduate and MSt qualifications in-person in the academic year 2022-23. Please note that this will be reviewed in line with the latest public health guidance available at any given time. If required, to ensure the health and safety of students, we may look to utilise alternative teaching formats and will contact students if we expect changes to the course delivery.

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 PG Certificate course?

Applications for an 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 2022 start, applications open September 2021.  Please see our Courses pages for when courses are open for application here. 

When is the deadline for applications?

Applications for 2022/23 entry for the PG Certificate in Clinical Research, Education and Leadership can be submitted online until 31 May 2022.

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 with 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?

Applications are invited from healthcare staff including doctors, dentists, nurses and allied health professionals.

Am I suitable for the PG Certificate in Clinical Research, Education and Research?

The entry requirements for this course are outlined under the Entry Requirements of the course page here.

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 modules?

The Postgraduate Certificate comprises three modules.  Module 1 (Clinical Leadership) and Module 3 (Clinical Education) are available as a stand-alone study option, for Continuous Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) only (not for credit).

However, should the PG Certificate course in Clinical Research, Education and Leadership be pursued at a later date, any modules studied previously as a stand-alone option would still have to be repeated and all teaching sessions attended, with all assignments submitted and no reduction in the course fee.

I have a 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 PG Certificate in Clinical Research, Education and Leadership combines face-to-face study days with on-line activity, study and assignments, supported through a virtual learning environment [VLE].  There are approximately 10 contact teaching 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.

What are the Fees?

The fees for 2022 entry for the PG Certificate in Clinical Research, Education and Leadership, as detailed on the course page, are £5,301 per annum for Home students and £9,501 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 (£75 online) and any costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence during residential sessions in Cambridge. 

Is there any funding available for the Clinical Medicine courses? 

There is currently no funding available for the PG Certificate in Clinical Research, Education and Leadership.  It may be possible to secure funding through your employer or healthcare organisation. Please note that places 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; 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/EU 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:  ice.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk 

Progression 

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

Planning is currently underway to introduce an MSt in Clinical Medicine in 2022/23.  Please keep an eye on the ICE website for further updates.