Teaching & modules
Modules
PG Certificate: 60 credits
Required modules
You are required to take:
- Learning and Teaching in Healthcare: Theory and Practice (45 credits)
Optional Modules
In addition, you need to take 15 credits from a range of optional modules that may typically include:
- Interprofessional Education in the Clinical Context (15 credits)
- Models of Expertise (15 credits)
- Simulation in the Clinical Education (15 credits)
- Assessment in Clinical Education (15 credits)
- Clinical Communication – Approaches to Teaching & Learning (15 credits)
PG Diploma: 120 credits
Required Modules
In addition to meeting the requirements for the PG Cert, you are also required to take:
- Using Research in Clinical Education (15 credits)
If you wish to continue to MA level, you are also required to take:
- Researching Clinical Education (15 credits)
Optional Modules
In addition, you need to take between 30 and 45 credits from a range of optional modules that may typically include:
- Interprofessional Education in the Clinical Context (15 credits)
- Models of Expertise (15 credits)
- Simulation in the Clinical Education (15 credits)
- Assessment in Clinical Education (15 credits)
- Clinical Communication – Approaches to Teaching & Learning (15 credits)
MA: 180 credits
Required Modules
In addition to meeting the requirements for the PG Dip and having already taken the module Researching Clinical Education (15 credits), you are also required to take:
- Dissertation (60 credits)
Teaching methods - what to expect
Programme modules are required face-to-face postgraduate seminar and workshop sessions, which require advance reading and preparation, as well as self-study outside the seminar sessions.
Some assigned group activities and self-directed activities must be completed outside seminar sessions.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Most participants start with the Postgraduate Certificate and begin with the required module, which starts in late September or early October, and an options module, which can start between February and April, meaning that they would likely finish the Postgraduate Certificate in about 12 months.
The Postgraduate Certificate is 60 credits, which generally corresponds to about 600 hours of work. That breaks down typically to about 70 hours of postgraduate seminar sessions (at which attendance is mandatory; generally these are study half-days which are spread over the academic year), and a further estimated 530 hours consisting of self-study, assigned group activities, reading, consolidating learning from previous study days, and preparation for and writing of assessments.
The most challenging thing for most people is that they find it difficult to balance work and postgraduate study. It is an academically rigorous course, but people who are currently on the course and have finished the course have rated it very highly and feel that their teaching practice has improved as a result of the course. You are required to have an educational component to your professional role as part of this course. This means that you have some ongoing opportunities to teach, so that you can meaningfully put the ideas in the programme to use on a regular basis (and bring your experience as a teacher into your learning and your participation on the programme).
Assessment
- Coursework
- Essays
Assessment is by coursework; no examinations are conducted on this programme. Written assignments include academic essays; compilation of and reflection on evidence of teaching; successful completion of teaching observations.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect.
Course accreditation
The programme is accredited: on completion of the postgraduate certificate, you will become a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). You will also be eligible to become a Member of the Academy of Medical Educators (AoME) upon application.
Application closing date guidance
We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed. We may need to request further information from you during the application process.
- Our first application deadline is on 25 July 2026 (23:59 UK time)
- The final application deadline is on 25 August 2026 (23:59 UK time)
After the first application deadline:
- if the programme is not yet full, we will continue to accept applications until all available places are filled up to the final application deadlines above
- if the programme becomes full before the final application deadlines stated above, we will close the programme to further applications
Please note: Students apply via our experienced Distance Learning partner, Informa Connect, who deliver the Diploma programme in conjunction with King’s. Informa will guide you through the application process.
Key Information
Course type:
Master's
Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Part time
Duration:
PG Cert one year, PG Dip two-three years, MA three-four years
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2026