About your PGCert medical education course
Our inter-professional online course is designed for registered healthcare professionals from across the medical sector, who are engaged in clinical and healthcare teaching or learning as part of their professional role. You will be provided with an excellent grounding in methods of learning and teaching within the healthcare context.
Course highlights
- Accredited by Advance HE and Academy of Medical Educators (AoME)
- Aligned to the UK Professional Standards Framework for Higher Education
- Progress to the full Master's Award in Medical and Healthcare Education
How you'll study
This course is studied 100% online
Course length
Study this course over 1 year
Start in January or September
30th April 2024
Fees: £2,733
Professional accreditation
Course overview
Designed to reflect the current trends and practices in health professions education, this PG certificate in medical education is aligned to the UK Professional Standards Framework for Higher Education allowing you to apply for Fellowship with Advance HE. The course is also accredited by the Academy of Medical Educators (AoME), allowing successful graduates to take the fast-track route to AoME membership.
This postgraduate certificate in medical education will provide opportunities for you to engage with key principles and philosophies of teaching and learning, which you can apply in your specific professional context. You'll be supported through this process through a range of activities and formative assessments, complemented by individual tutorials that encourage personal reflection and goal setting, developing you as an independent learner.
Studying alongside GPs, junior doctors, consultants, nurses, dentists, midwives, paramedics and other allied health professionals, discussion and inter-professional learning are key to the vibrancy of this course, enriching your student experience.
On completion of the PG Cert you may wish to continue your studies and progress to the full Master's Award in Medical and Healthcare Education
Modules
Principles of Medical and Healthcare Education
Introducing you to some of the key principles within medical and healthcare education. Encouraging you to reflect upon your own experiences, both as a learner and as an educator. Develop and enhance your own teaching practices, exploring principles, incorporating critical analysis of relevant literature. You'll address practical aspects of teaching, from motivating learners through to designing effective learning resources to enhance your teaching strategies and we'll provide guidance on planning, delivering and reflecting on teaching sessions to maximise the quality of your learning experience.
There will be 5 taught webinars with further complementary resources and activities available online.
The overall aims of this module are:
- To allow you to critically examine your role as an educator in your profession
- To critically enhance your understanding and implementation of principles of learning and teaching in relation to your target group.
Philosophies of Medical and Healthcare Education
Engage with fundamental questions concerning the aims, values and outcomes of education, within your sphere of practice. You'll be encouraged to reflect on your role within the educational process and how your personal aims and values might influence your practice. You'll explore incidences of when policy and practice are misaligned and the practical implications of this within your field, drawing on your understanding of educational theory to propose solutions.
There will be 5 taught webinars with further complementary resources and activities available online.
The overall aims of this module are:
- To allow you to critically examine your role within the education process
- To critically enhance your understanding of the socio-cultural aspects of education and how key philosophies of education impact on student learning.
Assessment
Assessment methods vary according to module selection, but will include written essays, teaching observations, research proposals, educational portfolios and research reports.
Meet your tutors
Dr Rahul Pathak
Course Leader Postgraduate Medical and Healthcare Education
Rahul is the course leader for our PG Cert and MSc in Medical and Healthcare Education and a member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.
Rahul graduated with a degree in medicine from King George Medical University India in 1993. He worked in the Department of Surgery in a hospital in India, and then moved to South E Africa where he worked in the Department of Forensic Pathology.
He completed postgraduate qualification in forensic science from University of Strathclyde Glasgow.
Rahul joined Anglia Ruskin University (Cambridge Campus) in 2007 and until Sept 2022 he worked in the School of Life Sciences as a Senior Lecture and Course Leader for postgraduate forensic science.
How you'll study
Our Medical and Healthcare Education PG Cert is studied 100% online.
You’ll study through Canvas, our world-class online Learning Management System (LMS), which can be accessed from your phone, pc or tablet at home or on the move. Canvas provides instant access to study materials, forums, and support from tutors and classmates, as well as enabling easy submission of your assignments.
On successful completion of your studies you’ll be invited to attend a graduation ceremony on campus. If attending the ceremony in person is not possible then we’ll arrange to have your certificate sent to you.
Supported distance learning
We understand that distance learning is different to traditional campus study and if you’re new to online study you may have concerns or apprehensions about studying your PG Cert medical education online, and that’s natural.
To help put your mind at ease we have a dedicated Distance Learning Support Team to help and support you throughout your time at ARU, starting with your first online induction and staying with you right through to graduation. In addition, you’ll also be supported by specialist course tutors who are well experienced in teaching techniques for distance learning students.
Once you start your PGCert medical education, we encourage the creation of online communities and many of our learners find these connections with others invaluable, helping them to stay motivated, share concerns or make new friendships.
Contact us to talk through any questions or concerns or visit our support page for more information about the support services available.
Be part of the University of the Year
We're proud to be the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year 2023.
The prestigious THE awards honour ’exceptional performance during the 2021-22 academic year, and reflect ARU’s success in delivering high-impact projects during this period, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The award recognises the difference we make in the region and our communities – while also acknowledging the broader impact of our world-leading research, and the contributions our students and graduates make to society.
Accreditation
AOME Accredited
AOME accreditation of our Medical and Healthcare Education PG Cert means the course has been independently validated for its quality, judged against the Academy’s Professional Standards. This also means that, upon successful completion, you will be able to apply for Membership of the Academy which offers many additional benefits including signifying that you have been judged to meet the Academy’s Professional Standards for Medical Educators at an appropriate level.
Advance HE Accredited
Accreditation by Advance HE means that our Medical and Healthcare Education PG Cert is aligned with the Professional Standards Framework (PSF).
PSF is the standards framework for the teaching and learning sector in the UK. Accreditation is a recognition of quality and indicates a clear commitment to the enhancement of teaching and learning.
Careers
What could a PG Cert medical education do for my career?
As a practising clinician engaged in teaching and learning in a clinical or academic setting, this course will provide you with the key principles and philosophies of education in a healthcare context and meets the educational training requirements for GP Associate Trainer and GP Trainer. The course is also aligned to the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching in higher education, giving you the option to gain Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy on successful completion.
Furthermore, because our PG Cert course in Medical and Healthcare Education is accredited by the Academy of Medical Educators (AoME), you will be eligible to apply for the full membership of the AoME. ARU's Accreditation Plus status, which is the highest level of accreditation, allows graduates to take the fast-track route to AoME membership.
What skills will I get from a PGCert medical education to help my career?
You’ll enhance your CV with a higher-level award that includes both deeper knowledge of the subject and added transferable skills such as:
- Be able to critically analyse, examine and review educational theory, principles, and professional standards
- Integrate theoretical concepts into educational practice
- Develop strategies to become an educational role model
What can I study after a PGCert medical education?
Medical and Healthcare Education PG Cert students have the option of topping-up their qualification to full postgraduate level with the MSc course.
Careers Advice Service
Once you become an ARU student you will be able to access our Employability service to help you whatever stage of your career, whether that’s landing your dream job or the next progression step.
We offer:
- careers advice, including one-to-one online and telephone appointments with our experienced advisers
- help with your CV, job searches, applications and interview preparation
- an online portal packed with useful careers resources
- our Employability Programme, which helps you hone the skills employers say they want in graduates.
Entry requirements
- Applicants will require a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree, or primary medical qualification. You must be registered practitioners in the field of health or social care and will be engaged in facilitating teaching and learning as part of their professional role. Non graduates with extensive relevant practical and continuing professional development experience will be offered the opportunity to complete the Non-Graduate Entry Profile in accordance with the University regulations with guidance from the Pathway leader/Programme leader.
- The Personal Statement will be assessed for academic writing skills, relevance to the role and commitment to study.
- You will need to provide evidence that a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance has been undertaken.
- If you have lived outside of the UK for 6 months or more within the last 5 years then you will need to provide a police check from the country/countries previously resided in
- If you are completing placements overseas you will be required to obtain a police check/certificate of good conduct from the relevant country
If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 7 (Academic level- with no individual score being lower than 5.5) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
As a distance learner, you'll also need a suitable computer with internet connection, together with sufficient IT competence to make effective use of our online learning management system (LMS) with high-speed internet and email.
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements. Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course, please email distancelearning@anglia.ac.uk for further information.
Fees & funding
Fees
The full tuition fee for this PG certificate in medical education is £2,733.
Approved prior learning may reduce the tuition fees. This will be confirmed once your application has been submitted.
Funding
We offer payment by instalments, so you can spread the cost of studying with us.
For military students: You can use your ELCs towards this course. ARU is a recognised ELCAS provider (number 1007). Please contact your Learning Centre for details of ELC, eligibility and how to apply.
For more information on how you fund your studies please see our funding page.
What our students say
I would recommend this course to any fellow nurses or other professionals in the medical field who train others. It’s an affordable course that captures the essence of what you need to know as an educator.
Despite studying online in a different part of the world and a different time zone, this was never apparent. Whenever I needed support and advice it was always swift and very helpful.
For a mature student, distance learning is a match made in heaven. The Learning Management Systems are state of the art and the course tutors are committed to their responsibilities and care about you.
I found the support services always willing to help and there was always lots of positive communication from ARU which felt inclusive and made remote learning feel less remote!
Frequently Asked Questions
Next application deadline:
30th April 2024
Further reading
