Clinical Education - PgCert, PG Cert DL, PG Dip, MA
Mode of study
Part time
Start date
The next taught PG Certificate course starts on 17 Sept 2021 - applications close 3 Sept 2021. This will depend upon the latest advice concerning social distancing when teaching in small groups with regard to COVID-19. Teaching, tutorials, and workshops may be delivered synchronously but virtually. The next Distance Learning course starts on 4 Oct 2021 - applications close on 20 Sept 2021
This course aims to develop your skills as a health professional involved with teaching and supervising students, or if you are wishing to progress your career. The General Medical Council has recognised that educators should have the necessary knowledge and skills needed for this role and that there is a need for greater professionalism and accountability as clinical teachers.
Through our various pathways (distance learning or face-to-face) for PGCert, PgDip and Master's, you will gain the necessary skills and development, as determined to be needed (by the GMC), to successfully teach in a variety of medical settings.
"This course has given me invaluable insight into many aspects involved with medical education"
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About the course
Overview
PG Certificate:
The 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
PG Diploma:
The course will cover more advanced aspects of clinical education, building upon the foundations of the Certificate Course. It 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.
Master's:
Achieving the MSc in Clinical Education 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.
The total academic credit rating for the MSc Clinical Education degree is 180 credits, of which the taught modules comprise 120 credits and the dissertation 60 credits.
On completion of Dissertation, the student will 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 the Keele University School of Medicine, which is one of the top ranked universities in the UK. Students have access to university libraries (online facilities for distance learning) facilities and enjoy the support of the wider university. Teaching Faculty include specialist medical educators along with educationally qualified clinicians working in both Primary and Secondary care who ensure the course is relevant to the clinical environment.
Course structure
How the course is taught
MSc, PG Certificate and PG Diploma:
By Attendance (Face-to-Face): The course is taught though subject–centred presentations, seminars and small group activities (maximum 18 students for face-to-face). Learning and teaching methods include problem-based learning, tutorials, peer and self-assessment, evaluation, feedback, micro-teaching and reflection. Following the teaching blocks, students are supported with online materials. Students are required to conduct extensive independent study.
Distance Learning pathway: The online delivery of this course is via a bespoke state of the art web platform, designed specifically for this course. The course is taught though subject–centred presentations and seminars and virtual small group activities. Learning and teaching methods include webinars (both live and recorded), blogs, interactive discussion forums, narrated short presentations, animated videos and video presentations. Students are required to conduct extensive independent study.
MSc:
The emphasis is on self-directed learning supported by individual educational supervisors. It is essential that Clinical Education students identify a local topic-specific supervisor of their project. The topic-specific supervisor should be a senior member of staff within their local NHS Trust or Keele University or equivalent academic institution. Where students are supervised by clinicians who do not hold an academic or teaching post within the university, then a member of academic staff from Clinical Education course must also oversee the project. The Course Director can assist students in identifying a supervisor.
Assessment
Certificate: Modules will be assessed by a variety of assessment methods including written assignments, reflective diaries, reflective audio and video diaries, presentations and case studies.
PG Diploma: Modules will be assessed by a variety of assessment methods including written assignments, reflective diaries, presentations and case studies and production of educational media
MSc: The length of the dissertation should be 15,000 to 18,000 words. The specific word allocation for assignment is the absolute maxima. For submissions over the word limit the maximum mark attainable will be 50%. Referencing within the text is included in the word count; however, the reference list does not count within the word limit. All coursework must be submitted in the required format. Students are advised to keep a copy of their work.
The dissertation is marked by two internal examiners, one of whom will have an interest in the specific area of research. The examiners agree a mark for the thesis and this is then ratified by the external examiner.
Progression and Affliation:
The Postgraduate Certificate (by attendance (face-to-face) pathway only) in Clinical Education is accredited by Advance HE (formally the Higher Education Academy {HEA}). Successful completion of the course entitles participants to be recognised as Fellows of the HEA and use the post-nominal FHEA.
Students who successfully complete the 60 credit Certificate course are able to opt to proceed to a Diploma in Clinical Education, which is a further 60 credits that can then lead to a MSc in Clinical Education (180 credits in total).
Taught Modules
Certificate: comprises four core 15 credit modules, amounting to 60 credits total to gain the Certificate.
Certificate – Distance Learning: comprises of one core 30 credit module plus two selective 15 credit modules, amounting to 60 credits total to gain the Certificate.
PG Diploma: there are eight modules for you to choose, four optional 15 credit modules, with a research module being one of them. There are four modules that are delivered via distance learning only. The four modules will amount to 60 credits total (this is based upon the individual already attaining a Certificate). To progress to master's level, students must include a research (only) module.
Students who successfully complete the 60 credit Certificate course are able to opt to proceed to a Diploma in Clinical Education, which is a further 60 credits, in total amounting to 120 credits. A student attaining the Diploma can then progress to a MSc in Clinical Education (180 credits in total).
MSc: There are no formal taught modules within the dissertation.
This may be research or 'desk' based. The School has a number of defined projects or you can write your own research proposal.
Entry Requirements
Academic entry requirements
This degree is designed for those individuals with a recognised degree level award in their chosen area of healthcare.
English Language Entry Requirement for International Students
The course will be delivered in English. If English is not your first language, you must either hold a degree from an institution where English was the language of instruction or take the IELTS (overall score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component).
During your degree programme you can study additional english language courses. This means you can continue to improve your English language skills and gain a higher level of English.
Fees and scholarships
Fees (2021/22 academic year)
UK students £9,000 (MA) per year
PgCert - £3,000
PgDip - £6,000
Note: PgCert and PgDip pathwaysare made up ofmodules of 15 and 30 credits and the PgCert is required, in order to progress onto the PgDip.
The PgCert consist of 60 credits. The PgDip consists of 120 credits. The MA consists of 180 credits overall
Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines, we do not anticipate any additional costs for this postgraduate course.
Living costs
Keele University is located on a beautiful campus and has all the facilities of a small town. Student accommodation, shops, restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance of the teaching buildings. This is a very cost effective way to live and to reduce your living costs.
Scholarships and Funding
The University is committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Each year we offer a range of prestigious scholarships;
UK/EU students - more information on scholarships and funding
Dr Clive Gibson was appointed to the School of Medicine in 2008 and is Director of the programmes leading to the MSc in Clinical Education and Academic Staff Development. Clive as a general practitioner completed his Masters in Medical Education in 2005 worked in the West Midlands and has taught extensively both locally, nationally and internationally and published in the area of clinical education. He is currently the External Examiner for the Clinical Education programmes at Bristol Medical School and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Vikki Foley was appointed to the School of Medicine in 2016 as a Lecturer in Clinical Education and provides Academic support for Staff Development initiatives within the Medical School. Vikki has an NHS background where she worked in Clinical Science and has substantial experience of work based teaching and learning in clinical environments. She has several years of experience as an academic, teaching at DeMontfort University and as a Teaching and Learning specialist at Warwick Medical School before moving to Keele University. She is a Senior Fellow of the HEA and module leader for a range of modules across Postgraduate medicine courses. Vikki is actively researching in the field of Clinical Education.
Dr Sheena Gibson. Module lead Effective Educational Supervision and Professionalism (s.gibson@keele.ac.uk)
Sheena Gibson joined the Clinical Education team in February 2020 as a Lecturer but has been Module Lead for the Professionalism Module since 2007. She has experience in the Undergraduate Medical Programme at Keele having previously been Year 5 lead (2008-2012). She is a GP near Stafford, a Locality Lead Appraiser and a GP Trainer. In addition she has been a RCGP examiner since 2O05 so she has a strong interest in assessment . Her Masters in Medical Education is from Cardiff and her dissertation looked at the “Educational needs of Primary Health care teams” and was very much focussed on interprofessional education.
Dr Eliot Rees was appointed as a teaching fellow in Clinical Education at the School of Medicine in 2018, after having contributed to teaching on the MSc in Clinical Education during his academic foundation programme. Eliot works as a junior doctor in the NHS, and is undertaking a PhD in Medical Education investigating widening access in undergraduate admissions. His previous research focused on community based medical education and peer teaching in medical education. He currently serves on the education research committee of ASME, is vice chair of TASME, and is an editorial board member for Education for Primary Care.
Careers
On completion of the PG Certificate, you will be able to teach in a range of medical settings, with a broad range of expertise and sector specific knowledge attained.
Students may choose to extend their skills and depth of knowledge by progressing to a diploma or master's, which will provide you with the ability to communicate and analyse proposed research, and provide professional judgement at a higher level for critial evaluation and assessment to enable you to progress in your career in clinical education across the healthcare sector.
