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Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Medical Education

BSMS > Postgraduate > Medical Education

Medical Education

Key areas of study

  • Professional identity as a teacher
  • Learning and teaching in medical education
  • Pedagogical practice in medical education
  • Advanced communication skills and strategies in medical education
  • Medical education research

Course overview

The course aims to promote knowledge of learning and teaching theories in a medical and health context and to facilitate a reflective awareness of the student’s own teaching and learning practice, ensuring that the teacher is also a learner.

Students gain an overview of medical education theory and practice in a supportive environment, which helps to develop confidence in teaching. The course has been designed using an interprofessional framework and participants are encouraged to share their teaching experiences and to transcend professional barriers in their learning.

The Academy of Medical Educators (AoME) has fully accredited the course and successful completion now entitles participants to Membership of the Academy of Medical Educators (MAcadMEd). This qualification allows all holders to use the MAcadMEd post nominals, and is specifically recognised by the GMC. For further information visit the AoME website www.medicaleducators.org/

Students in a seminar setting

“The PGCert Med Ed was a good opportunity to ground my teaching in education theory and to reflect on my current practice. The modules were varied in their teaching and the portfolio exercise provided a great opportunity to look forwards as a medical educator.”

Sam Wickham, PGCert Medical Education graduate

Course structure

Most modules are assessed by 3,000 word written assignments which are centred on a topic relevant to the student’s own practice. Students also develop a personal Educational Portfolio of about 5,000 words.

PGCert

  • Learning and Teaching in Medical Education (20 credits)
  • Pedagogical Practice in Medical Education (20 credits)
  • Advanced Communication Skills and Strategies in Medical Education (20 credits)

Career opportunities

This course provides health professionals with a firm base and accredited professional standards to underpin their role as medical and clinical educators.

Entry requirements

The PGCert course is open to post-registration doctors, nurses, midwives and other health practitioners who contribute to the education of medical students and/or doctors. A first degree is not essential but evidence of ability to study at Masters level and a current teaching commitment are desirable.

OR

For intercalating MSc medical students, successful completion of at least three years’ basic medical science at a UK medical school (having gained at least 360 credits) with a guaranteed place to continue medical studies on completion of the MSc.

The course forms one of two validated routes for entry to the PGDip or MSc in Clinical Education, the other being via the PGCert in Simulation in Clinical Practice.

This course is open to UK applicants only (and EU applicants who are appointed to a post within HEESE). 

The deadline for applications is the end of July preceding the September commencement of the course.

Fees and funding

The fees listed below are the overall costs for full-time courses taken in the academic year 2022/23. Where courses are taken part-time over more than one academic year, fees are usually charged pro-rata for the modules taken during each academic year.  

PGCert

UK £3,084 (fee based on 2021/22 and yet to be updated)

Scholarships

All BSMS students on Masters courses accredited jointly by the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton are eligible to apply for University of Sussex postgraduate scholarships in 2022/23. 

Read more about fees and funding >