Clinical Professional Development (Clinical Education) PGDip
Enhance your professional development and prepare for future facing roles in healthcare with this Postgraduate Diploma in clinical education for experienced health professionals. Tailor this highly flexible course to your individual requirements and develop advanced research skills.
Overview
| Course length: | 18 months - 3 years part-time 18 months- 3 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Start dates: | September 2025 February 2026 September 2026 |
| Location: | Edge Hill University |
| Subject(s): | Health and Social CareMedicine |
| Faculty: | Health, Social Care and Medicine |
| Department: | Medical School |
Support your professional development on our PGDip Clinical Professional Development (Clinical Education) course. Aimed at a multi-professional audience, the course offers a supportive and challenging learning environment in which you can critically review and develop theoretical perspectives and practical skills.
The clinical education PGDip will be run on a multi-professional basis. This means health professionals will share knowledge, experience and skills in teaching, as well as supporting learning, assessment or evaluation of teaching. You will improve your teaching skills and develop a critical understanding of how individuals learn in a clinical environment.
Offering a unique, diverse and flexible portfolio of modules within a multi-professional framework, you are able to choose modules that support your ongoing professional development in clinical or medical education.
We also offer a Masters in Clinical Professional Development (Clinical Education).
What you'll study
Students will normally study 60 credits in each academic year.
A typical student journey of two years is summarised below. Examples of the module combinations are:
Year 1
If you’re entering this PGDip directly you will study 60 credits worth of optional modules (this may include the compulsory Research Methods module) as identified in the list below. This must include a minimum of 40 credits focused on clinical or medical education.
Year 2
If you’re entering this PGDip after completing the PGCert Teaching and Learning in Clinical Practice or PGCert Medical Education, you will enter directly into Year 2.
You may be able to enter directly into Year 2 if you have studied an equivalent or relevant Postgraduate Certificate from another university, however this would be reviewed on an individual basis.
You will study 60 credits worth of modules. This must include Research Methods (if this was not selected in Year 1), plus two additional optional modules. If Research Methods was studied in Year 1, three optional modules would be studied from the list below.
For more information about each module, including the dates and times of module sessions, please see our Continuing Professional Development Modules for Health and Social Care Practitioners pages.
Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply.
How you'll study
The programme applies a blended approach, combining a mix of face-to-face and online delivery, allowing a wider reach and flexibility in terms of individual/group engagement and support. Appropriate technology will be utilised to support and enhance learning with sessions typically being recorded, permitting a useful flexible learning resource and, with elements of in person teaching supported by the appropriate use of activities relevant to specific modules. Some sessions will be delivered live and others will be available to watch in your own time.
How you'll be assessed
Assessment methods vary according to the demands of the module but can be through assignments, portfolios, case studies, reports or presentations.
Who will be teaching you
The academic team is comprised of highly experienced tutors from Edge Hill University. Many of the team are research active in the field of clinical education and are University Teaching and Learning Fellows with an extensive publication record. Some of the academic tutors are, or have been, practising clinicians who have specialised in clinical education practice and others are experienced educationalists from a range of backgrounds.
Entry criteria
Entry requirements
To join this course, prospective participants are expected to be experienced professionals in a medical, dental, nursing or allied health speciality, with some responsibilities for education within the workplace. You must be able to evidence that you have access to appropriate workplace opportunities that will provide the specific experience relevant to the student’s pathway at application.
Entry to this course can be as a progression route from an Edge Hill University Postgraduate Certificate in Medical or Clinical Education or alternative routes such as the Postgraduate Certificate Teaching and Learning in Clinical Practice or the Postgraduate Certificate Postgraduate Medical Education. Or, you can enter this course with an equivalent or relevant Postgraduate Certificate from another university.
Please note, if you wish to access any of the modules on a stand-alone basis you do not need to have completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Clinical Practice or an equivalent course of study. These applications will be considered on individual merit.
You will be asked to provide a suitable reference (normally from your current line manager), to evidence your suitability to enter and complete the intended programme.
An interview process will also form part of the selection criteria.
English language requirements
While international students who are not resident and working in the UK cannot currently join this course, if you are working and resident in the UK but your first language is not English, you will need IELTS 6.5 overall, with a score no lower than 6.0 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.
How to apply
There is an online application process for this course. Please choose the application link for your preferred intake.
Apply for February 2025 Part-Time
Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.
There’s plenty of opportunities to come take a look around campus. Attend one of our open days to see what life at Edge Hill University is all about.
Book an open day
Facilities
The Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine offers outstanding facilities for the education and training of health and social care professionals. 
The contemporary teaching and learning resources include leading edge clinical skills facilities, an 860-seat lecture theatre, and a variety of teaching rooms and social learning spaces.
Where you'll study
Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine
Finance
Tuition fees
UK Part-Time
Typically £51 per credit
for 120 credits
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students joining postgraduate courses at Edge Hill University.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please see our EU student finance page for further details.
Your future career
On completion of this programme you will be able to demonstrate critical insight of yourself and your teams/other professions educational and development needs, taking account of organisational culture, and promulgating the ethos of life-long learning.
The PGDip Clinical Professional Development (Clinical Education) programme will provide specialist knowledge that would be useful for any career that involves the support of learning and assessment in practice. In addition, the programme will enable you to develop skills of critical analysis and research.
