Public Administration and Management

This comprehensive programme is intended for professionals specialising in paediatrics and child health and is based at the Institute of Child Health, which sits in a unique position in UK paediatrics because of its strong links to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and UCL.

Students on this pathway gain an understanding of the principles of evidence-based paediatrics, and of the impact of molecular genetics on diagnosis and management of the child and family. They will build an awareness of current and future developments in paediatric medicine and child health and gain the skills necessary to critically appraise practice and policy, and undertake independent research if the full MSc is taken.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time 9 months, flexible 2-5 years) is offered. The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits) and four optional modules (60 credits).

A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, part-time 1 year, flexible 1-2) is offered. The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits).

Core modules

• Evidence-based Child Health
• Research Methodology and Statistics
• Students must also choose at least two further core modules from the following:
• Molecular Biology of Normal Development and Birth Defects
• Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Childhood Cancers
• Clinical Genomics, Genetics and Rare Diseases
• Please note: those modules not taken as core will still be available as options

Optional modules

• Students must take at least two modules from those available across the other pathways of the Paediatrics and Child Health MSc, with the following modules particularly recommended for students in this area:
• Stem Cells and Tissue Repair
• Molecular Aspects of Cell and Gene Therapy
• Clinical Applications of Cell and Gene Therapy
• Applied Genomics

Dissertation/report

All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and research project supervision. Assessment is through a combination of multiple choice questions and short answer questions, essays, posters, presentations, reflective portfolios, critical appraisal of the literature and, for the full MSc, a dissertation and oral presentation.

Medically qualified applicants should have post-qualification experience in paediatrics or child health. Non-medically qualified applicants should normally have a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, and several year's specialist experience of working in hospitals, community child health or public health services for children and families.