Medical Education

Designed by the Royal College of Physicians and UCL to meet the requirements of doctors who are intending to have a significant role in medical education, these programmes are taken sequentially starting with the Postgraduate Certificate in year one, the Postgraduate Diploma in year two, and finally the Master's in year three.

Participants develop the ability to: adopt a learner-centred teaching approach, structure teaching, and set objectives that enhance their students' learning; apply educational theory and research to their own teaching practice; recognise how assessment theory should inform practice in assessment of medical competence; and appraise both medical trainees and peers.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The MSc programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits), and a research project (60 credits).

A Postgraduate Diploma comprising eight core modules (120 credits, part-time two years) is offered.

A Postgraduate Certificate comprising four core modules (60 credits, part-time one year) is offered.

Core modules

• Teaching and Learning in Medicine I
• Teaching and Learning in Medicine II
• Assessment in Medical Education
• Educational Supervision and Clinical Teaching
• Advanced Teaching Skills
• Research Methods in Medical Education
• Course and Curriculum Design in Medical Education
• Advanced Clinical Education

Optional modules

• There are no optional modules for this programme.

Dissertation/report

All MSc students undertake an individual research project which culminates in a dissertation of 15,000 - 20,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programmes are part-time, requiring onsite attendance only during the contact days of teaching sessions and tutorials, which include workshop style discussion and practical application 'simulation' sessions. Assessment is through evaluative reports, investigative study proposal and report, a viva during the final course and the dissertation. 
UCL regulations require attendance for 70% or more of the module's face to face teaching before a student is eligible to submit the assessment for that module.

Entry to the Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education requires a primary medical qualification. Eligibility for the Postgraduate Diploma requires successful completion of the RCP/UCL Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education. Eligibility for Master's level is dependent on successful completion of the RCP/UCL Postgraduate Diploma.