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 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 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.

Key dates

• The next taught PG Certificate course starts 15 September 2022 with an application deadline of 2 September 2022. 
• The next Distance Learning course starts 4 October 2022 with an application deadline of 23 September 2022.

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 through 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 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 the 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) 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, which is a further 60 credits that can then lead to an MSc (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 Diplom which is a further 60 credits, in total amounting to 120 credits. A student attaining the Diploma can then progress to a MSc (180 credits in total).

MSc: There are no formal taught modules within the dissertation.

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). 

The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests.

If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes.

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.

Funding

Note: PgCert and PgDip pathways are made up of modules 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 MSc 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

We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our scholarships and bursaries webpage for more information.

It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in this case, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.

Our expertise

Academic staff in the School of Medicine for Clinical Education include:

Course Director: Dr Clive Gibson (c.gibson@keele.ac.uk)

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.

Module Lead: Effective Clinical Teaching, Vikki Foley (v.foley@keele.ac.uk)

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.

Module Lead: Effective Educational Supervision and Professionalism, Dr Sheena Gibson (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.

Teaching Fellow: Dr Eliot Rees (e.rees@keele.ac.uk)

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.

Lecturer in Clinical Education: Dr Toni Robinson (t.robinson@keele.ac.uk)

Dr Toni Robinson joined the Clinical Education team in 2021 after completing her Masters in Medical Education and obtaining Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2019. Her masters dissertation was a realist review focussed on medical students opinions of general practice.  Toni is the module lead for Simulation in Clinical Education, teaches on the 'Teaching the Teachers' courses and supervises masters dissertation students. Toni works clinically as a junior doctor, teaches medical students on the wards and is interested in how the clinical environment can best support medical students transition to junior doctors. 

Lecturer in Clinical Education: Dr Preanka Chandan (p.chandan@keele.ac.uk)

Dr Preanka Chandan was appointed to the School of Medicine in 2021 as a Lecturer in Clinical Education and aims to support students with a range of teaching sessions across the programme. Preanka works as a General Practitioner in the West Midlands, and has a specialist interest in Women’s Health. As Clinical Lead for the Primary Care Workforce in the Black Country region, Preanka is an integral member of the Training Hub, supporting workforce retention. Working as a single point of access for GPs and other colleagues at practice, network and ICS level, she encourages professional development among health care professionals through active involvement in creating, promoting and evaluating local fellowship schemes, as well as addressing their educational needs.

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.