Clinical Education

Clinical Education - PgCert, MSc

This course is an excellent opportunity for a range of health professions, including medicine, nursing, paramedicine, radiography, pharmacy and other allied health professions who are involved with teaching and supervising students to strengthen their skill-set and progress their career. The General Medical Council and other health profession regulating bodies recognise that educators require the necessary knowledge for this role and that there is a need for greater professionalism and accountability as clinical teachers.

Month of entry

October

Mode of study

Online programme, Part time

Location

Online

Subject area

Health and Rehabilitation, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy

Fees for 2026/27 academic year

Fees

View course fees

Duration of study

Postgraduate Certificate, Part time: 1 year, | MSc, Part time: 3 years

This course is no longer accepting applications from international students for the 2026/27 academic year.

Apply for PG Cert (distance learning) Apply for MSc (distance learning)

Why study Clinical Education at Keele University?

Our teaching Faculty include specialist clinical educators along with educationally qualified clinicians, working in both Primary and Secondary care

The Postgraduate Certificate pathways are accredited by both the Academy of Medical Educators, and Advance HE (formally the Higher Education Academy), HEA

On successful completion of the PG Certificate, you will be able to teach in a range of clinical settings, with a broad range of expertise and sector specific knowledge

Option to choose a MSc in Clinical Education (with simulation) pathway

About the course

This course will introduce you to the latest theoretical base and expose you to the challenges of teaching students in the clinical environment. The overall aim of the course is to improve the quality and effectiveness of clinical teaching. Participants will develop expertise and specialist knowledge in their chosen areas of clinical education.

The course is divided into two levels: Postgraduate Certificate and full MSc, with optional simulation pathway. Students can step off at any level.

Postgraduate Certificate

Open to Home (UK) and international students part time as a distance learning (online) course.

This course will cover the fundamentals of clinical education, introduce you to the latest theoretical base and expose you to the challenges of teaching and assessing students in the clinical environment. The overall aim of the course is to improve the quality and effectiveness of clinical teaching through:

Understanding a learner-centred approach
Developing practical teaching and assessment skills
Promoting understanding of educational theory
Promoting reflective practice in education and clinical practice
Promoting evidence based education

MSc

Open to Home (UK) and international students part time as a distance learning (online) course.

Achieving the MSc will develop your knowledge and necessary skills to ensure professionalism is reached and maintained for clinical leaders. It will provide the individual with advanced expertise and specialist knowledge in clinical education and enable you to display critical analysis and independent thinking, to progress you in clinical education teaching. To complete the masters, you undertake a clinical education-based research project.

The total academic credit rating for the MSc degree is 180 credits, of which the taught modules comprise 120 credits and the research project 60 credits. You must choose the Designing and Delivering Simulation optional module for the MSc in Clinical Education (with simulation) award.

On successful completion of your research project, you should be able to:

Communicate a framework of reference (such as a literature review), to show the relevance of the proposed research.
Display evidence of critical analysis, independence of thought and an understanding of advanced concepts and methods related to research.
Demonstrate the appropriateness and intellectual coherence of the research design/plan of argument for linking questions to methods and conclusions.
Select appropriate information gathering methods and implement these effectively and with a high level of judgement.
Show evidence of advanced methods of analysis and of a high level of skill in their execution.
Where appropriate, evidence of critical evaluation and reassessment of results and techniques during the research period.
Show evidence of intellectual rigour in the interpretation of the results of the analysis.
Analyse ethical issues (where appropriate).
Produce a report of appropriate style, organization and structure.
Display a high level of written English and expository methods.

Teaching facilities

The course is hosted by Keele University's School of Medicine, which is one of the top ranked universities in the UK. You will have access to university libraries (online facilities for distance learning) facilities and enjoy the support of the wider university. Teaching Faculty include specialist clinical educators along with educationally qualified clinicians working in both Primary and Secondary care who ensure the course is relevant to the clinical environment.

Next steps

Enquire about this course Join a Postgraduate Open Event How to apply

insert-a start

Accreditation and Professional Recognition

The Postgraduate Certificate pathways are accredited by both the Academy of Medical Educators, and Advance HE (formally the Higher Education Academy), HEA. Successful completion of the course entitles participants to be recognised as Fellows of the AoME and / or HEA and use the
post-nominals MAcadMEd and / or FHEA.

Academy of medical educators logo

insert-a end

Course structure

All modules on the Postgraduate Certificate are compulsory, whereas on the Masters programme you will have one optional module choice. The Postgraduate Certificate modules are studied in the first year, taught Masters modules in the second year and then the Clinical Education Research Project in the final year.

What you will study

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Compulsory modules

PgCert modules

Effective Clinical Teaching and Assessment (30 credits)
This module will enable you, to interpret and build upon the theoretical frameworks that apply to learning, teaching and assessment and develop understanding in the areas that are relevant in clinical education.

Theoretical Perspectives on the use of Simulation-Based Education (15 credits)
This module explores the theory that underpins the use of simulation-based education. There is a focus on pedagogical principles, educational assessments, and integration of simulation into a clinical curriculum to simulate real-life scenarios, particularly those involving patient interactions, communication, and clinical skills to teach healthcare professionals.

Learning and professional development in the clinical environment (15 credits)
This module is designed to help you to develop the practical skills and knowledge needed to be an effective teacher specifically within the clinical workplace, supported by underpinning educational theory and the latest pedagogical literature.

MSc modules

Theoretical Perspectives on the use of Simulation-Based Education (15 credits)
This module explores the theory that underpins the use of simulation-based education. There is a focus on pedagogical principles, educational assessments, and integration of simulation into a clinical curriculum to simulate real-life scenarios, particularly those involving patient interactions, communication, and clinical skills to teach healthcare professionals.

Research Methods for Clinical Education (15 credits)
This module allows you to develop an understanding of the principles of research, the appropriate use of methodological approaches, and to understand how selected methods may be applied to researching practice.

Clinical Education Research Project (60 credits)
In this module you will design and undertake an original research project, addressing a novel and important problem in clinical education. You will prepare your research report as a dissertation or in a journal style article suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal. You will be supported in disseminating your findings at conferences and as a journal article.This module allows you to develop skills in research design, writing for publication, project management, and presenting.

Principles of Curriculum Design and Assessment (30 credits)
The module will enable the you to link the principles of curriculum design with assessment practice and design curricula that use the relevant assessment strategies to assess knowledge and competence which are aligned with ILOs, teaching and learning.

Optional modules

MSc modules

Digital Education for Clinical teachers (15 credits)
You will explore, and critique extant theory and practice pertaining to digital education and use this knowledge to design and develop your own digital education approach to address a perceived gap in knowledge or practice for a group of learners.

Designing and delivering Simulation (15 credits) (optional or core for Simulation route)
Simulation has an increasing role in clinical education across a variety of professions as it addresses learning needs in a safe environment. Simulation-based education utilised replication of real-life scenarios to guide learning and facilitate skill development. Clinical educators who are engaged in simulation as an educational tool are required to have the knowledge and skills to deliver effective teaching. This module focuses on the design and delivery of simulation-based education into a clinical curriculum.

insert-b start insert-b end

Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.

Typical offer

Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.

Typical offer: A recognised degree level award in your chosen area of healthcare Additional criteria apply

Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information