Paediatric Infectious Diseases

The Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Paediatric Infectious Diseases is a part-time course designed to provide a variety of different teaching methods, both face-to-face and online, directing students through the syllabus required in the EU for clinical training in the subspecialty. The course is appropriate for those outside the EU. 

Most part-time students commencing this programme are already in full-time employment. The PGDip aims to prepare trainees for work in the sub-specialty of paediatric infectious diseases.

The Postgraduate Diploma is a two-year, part-time course taught via a blend of online and residential components, providing you with an in-depth understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of paediatric infection. It also places the practice of paediatric infectious diseases in the broader context of applied sciences, such as pathogenesis, population biology and epidemiology. 

The course will appeal to doctors who have experience in paediatrics, including trainees in paediatrics who have a specialist qualification equivalent to the Membership Examination of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH), specialist trainees in paediatric infectious diseases or relevant medical subspecialties, and clinical research fellows. 

The syllabus covers the following topics:

• infectious syndromes
• therapeutics and infection control
• epidemiology, immunity and immunisation
• bacterial infections
• viruses
• imported tropical disease and mycobacterial infection
• congenital and neonatal infection, sexually transmitted diseases and parasitic disease
• the immunocompromised host
• fungal infections
• PENTA-ESPID Tr@inforPed Paediatric HIV Infection Course

The majority of the teaching takes place online through a virtual learning environment (VLE), with online teaching discussions, interaction with tutors and other students, and access to an extensive resource library. This enables students from around the world to participate in the programme. In addition to the online teaching, you are also required to attend three residential courses during the two years – two in Oxford and one in Rome. 

To complete the PGDip in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, you will need to: 

• complete three 4,000-word written assignments, a short oral presentation, and an examination consisting of multiple choice questions;
• attend two Infection and Immunity in Children (IIC) residential courses, held in Oxford;
• attend the PENTA-HIV (Tr@inforPedHIV) residential training course in paediatric HIV medicine, held in Rome;
• complete the online PENTA-ESPID (Tr@inforPedHIV) module and online case discussion in paediatric HIV medicine;
• participate in seven ESPID Online Case Rounds; and
• participate in six online multiple choice sessions.

The course is a result of a close collaboration between the University of Oxford Department of Paediatrics, the Department for Continuing Education and the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID).

The international panel of tutors is led by Andrew Pollard, Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity at the University of Oxford, and Honorary Consultant Paediatrician at the Children’s Hospital, Oxford. 

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in an appropriate subject. All applicants should have an appropriate medical qualification equivalent to MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery).

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.6 out of 4.0.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

All applicants should also hold a specialist qualification equivalent to the Membership Examination of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH).

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Statement of purpose/personal statement:One page
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level