Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education

Who is the course designed for?

The Postgraduate Certificate is aimed at doctors and other professionals allied to medicine who have a teaching role and/or a role in training and appraising healthcare professionals. This includes doctors working in: primary care; secondary care at all levels from foundation year 2 to consultant grades; and other professionals allied to medicine that have a role in teaching both undergraduates and postgraduates. Hear what our current students have to say and our Academic Director, Dr Kalman Winston

Applicants may wish to continue onto the linked Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education which provides a further 60 credits at FHEQ Level 7.

Aims of the programme

The programme is designed to provide practical solutions to teaching undergraduates or postgraduates as individuals, small groups and larger groups. It will look at the theory behind teaching in medical settings and how these apply in real life situations. It is also designed to provide help in developing skills in giving feedback, appraisal and assessment. Where possible the teaching will be adaptable so that it can help specific groups of teachers in their particular environment.

The programme is designed to meet recommendations of the GMC and Advanced HE, and aims to contribute to continuing professional development of doctors and allied professionals in an integrated clinical and teaching environment to stimulate more inter-professional education; and to develop a cohort of professionals who will pursue and develop their roles as teachers in the field of medical education. Students successfully completing the programme will have gained skills and knowledge to:

• Ensure safe and effective patient care through training
• Establish and maintain an environment for learning
• Teach and assess learning and apply core theoretical principles to their own educational contexts
• Support and monitor educational progress
• Guide personal and professional development

Upon successful completion of the programme you may apply for membership of the Academy of Medical Educators (AoME); you may also apply for Fellowship status of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

Learning support 

We welcome learners of all backgrounds and abilities at the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), and for this reason we have robust learning support in place for any student who needs it.

The Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) provides advice, guidance, and resources to disabled students on ICE award-bearing undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

If you have a disability or medical condition including a mental health condition, then please indicate this on your application form so we can work with you on supporting your studies. If you would like to access support from the ADRC please complete their online Student Information Form as soon as possible. If you are able to, please upload your evidence (written in English) within the Student Information Form where prompted. The following links to guidance on medical evidence or diagnostic evidence will help to answer any questions you may have. 

If you have any questions concerning disability support then please contact the ADRC NMS team via adrc.nms@admin.cam.ac.uk or view their website via https://www.disability.admin.cam.ac.uk/non-matriculated-students

You can also disclose a disability at any time during your course by contacting either the ADRC NMS team, or ICE’s Student Support team via da@ice.cam.ac.uk

Student wellbeing is a key priority at ICE, and we have a dedicated Student Support team who can provide wellbeing support and guidance. Please contact the team via studentwelfare@ice.cam.ac.uk

Teaching and learning

The Postgraduate Certificate comprises three modules and combines face-to-face study days with additional between-module reflection, study and assignment work. The three modules are detailed below. 

Please note, all date information and teaching delivery will be provided here before the course start date and may be subject to change

Core skills in medical education

• TBC October 2025 (two day teaching block)
• TBC November 2025 (one day teaching session)
• TBC December 2025 (one day teaching session)

Applying teaching skills to practice

• TBC January 2026 (one day teaching session)
• TBC February 2026 (one day teaching session)
• TBC March 2026 (one day teaching session)

The role of assessment, evaluation and feedback

• TBC April 2026 (one day teaching session)
• TBC May 2026 (one day teaching session)

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

The course requires a commitment to reading and pre-class preparation, including some specific reading between class sessions.  There are also a number of written assignments:

Assignment 1 - Core skills in medical education (submitted in the January)

This assessment will consist of two parts:

1. Evidence of involvement in ongoing reflective learning.
2. A written assessment structured according to given guidance, totalling 4,500-5.500 words or the equivalent. 

Assignment 2 - Applying teaching skills (submitted in the March)

There is no summative assessment for this module but participants should provide evidence of ongoing involvement in reflective learning.

Assignment 3 – The role of assessment, evaluation and feedback (submitted in the June)

This assessment will consist of two parts:

1. Evidence of involvement in the peer review process both as an observer and when being observed. Students complete and submit a peer review form for a person they are observing, asking the observed to provide evidence of their observations when they in turn watch the teaching of the original observer.
2. A written assessment of between 4,500 and 5,500 words. 

Fees and funding

The fee for 2024 will be £5,225 per annum (Home) and £10,340 (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 (£50 online) and any costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence incurred during teaching sessions in Cambridge.

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

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

How to apply

Applications will be accepted until 30 April 2025. Please click the APPLY NOW button at the top of the page and follow the steps.

The programme is likely to be oversubscribed with suitably qualified applicants and, within a context of a balanced cohort, preference will be given to those who meet the academic criteria and those able to demonstrate a clear commitment to the programme of study. Candidates must be available to attend all of the teaching sessions and meet assessment deadlines. All eligible candidates will be considered for interview, which will be scheduled in June and early July 2024. Candidates will be informed of final decisions towards the end of August 2024.

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.

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 clicking on the 'Ask A Question' link at the top right-hand side on this page.

FAQs

Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked question or FAQs, relating specifically to the Postgraduate Certificate 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.

Is this course available online?

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

Students often take a combination of annual and study leave to meet their face-to-face teaching commitments, attending teaching sessions in Cambridge.

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 in Medical Education course?

Applications for the course 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.

When is the deadline for applications?

Applications for 2025 entry for the PG Certificate in Medical Education will be accepted online until 30 April 2025.

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.

Who is the course aimed at?

The Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education is aimed at doctors and other professionals allied to medicine who have a teaching role and/or a role in training and appraising healthcare professionals. This includes doctors working in: primary care; secondary care at all levels from Foundation Year 2 to consultant grades; and other professionals allied to medicine that have a role in teaching both undergraduates and postgraduates. 

Am I suitable for this course?

The entry requirements for this PG Certificate in Medical Education course are outlined under the Entry Requirements of the course page here.  Applications can be made during a doctor’s Foundation Year 1 or 2.  However, the course could not be commenced until Foundation Year 2 or beyond.

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 study the Medical Education PG Diploma or MSt courses without having first to study the PG Certificate course?

In order to apply for the PG Diploma in Medical Education, you need to have first successfully completed the PG Certificate in Medical Education course at ICE, University of Cambridge.  Upon successful completion of the PG Diploma in Medical Education at ICE, students could then apply to progress to the MSt in Medical Education course.

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 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.

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. 

How is teaching delivered?

The PG Certificate in Medical Education comprises three modules and combines face-to-face study days (providing a total of approximately 90 contact hours) with additional between-module reflection, study and assignment work, supported through a virtual learning environment [VLE]. 

A provisional guide to 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 PG Certificate in Medical Education and then, on successful completion, apply to progress through the PG Diploma.  Upon successful completion of the PG Diploma in Medical Education, 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 Certificate in Medical Education are detailed at the top of the course page. 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 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

Some students receive funding or sponsorship from their employers.

Please note that places on the Postgraduate Certificate 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.  Ice.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk 

Progression

Upon successful completion of the PG Certificate in Medical Education, students can apply to progress to:

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

Other Courses

Enquirers may also be interested in viewing details of the PG Certificate in Clinical Research, Education and Leadership (CREL) by viewing the ICE website pages here.