Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education

Who is the course designed for?

The Postgraduate Diploma is aimed at doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals involved in supporting the learning and development of students and/or more junior colleagues. This includes those working in primary /secondary/ community care settings, at all levels from Foundation Year 2 onwards. The programme is open to those who have successfully completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education at the Institute of Continuing Education, University of Cambridge.

This means they are 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. It is suitable for ‘early career’ educators as well as those with more experience.

Aims of the programme

The programme aims to develop individuals able to adopt an informed and critically reflective stance to their own and others practice as medical educators and leaders.

This will include:

• consideration of strategies to create and sustain safe working and learning environments, including supporting and developing faculty to deliver high quality education and training
• the features of high quality formative and summative assessment practices and how these are used to assess performance and support the development of students and trainees (including differentiation of performance and supporting trainees who are failing to progress)
• a focus on curriculum and course design at two levels i.e. firstly, to enable an informed critique of adopted curriculum, their limits and potentials and secondly to familiarise participants with core curriculum design skills

Entry requirements

The programme is open to those who have successfully completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education at the Institute of Continuing Education, University of Cambridge. This means they are 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. It is suitable for ‘early career’ educators as well as those with more experience.

Eligible candidates will be required to participate in a selection interview.

The fee for 2019 will be £4,000 per annum (home) and £6,000 (overseas).

Students will be expected to cover the application fee (£65 online) and any costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence incurred during teaching sessions in Cambridge.

Bursaries may be available for qualifications in medical education, some deaneries, for example the  Health Education East of Engalnd (HEEoE) may offer bursaries for qualifications in medical education, and enquiries should be directed to the relevant Postgraduate Centre in your region. It is also worth investigating what funding is available from your employer if you teach regularly.

Applications will be accepted until 31 May 2019. 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:

·      Copies of 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. Interviews may be conducted on 26 and 27 June 2019 in person, by telephone or by VOIP (e.g. Skype).  Candidates will be informed of final decisions towards the end of August.