Interventional Nephrology, PGCert

Overview

Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (IN) forms the core of a unified care service for patients with kidney disease. It is vital in providing rapid diagnoses and treatment for patients presenting to renal units.

Diagnostic and interventional procedures are often undertaken exclusively by radiologists, vascular surgeons, or transplant surgeons in the UK. This can lead to fragmented service provision and prolonged procedural waiting times for patients.

It can also lead to inconsistent and inadequate exposure to procedural training for renal trainees.

This unique course provides comprehensive theoretical and practical interventional nephrology training.

You will experience training in all aspects of nephrology-focused point of care, including:

• ultrasound
• haemodialysis access management
• renal biopsy
• PD catheter management

This course would help trainees develop into interventional nephrologists.

Important information

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

You'll learn the theoretical basis underpinning the diagnostic and interventional nephrology procedures.

You'll also experience hands-on training, including utilizing simulation models and participating in the interventional lists. These sessions are delivered at Newcastle University and the Sunderland Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology Unit.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Interventional Nephrology, PGCert

You take the following compulsory modules:

Year 1

• Point of Care Ultrasound for Interventional Nephrology
• Renal Biopsy and Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters
• Haemodialysis Vascular Access
• Clinical Practice 1

Year 2

• Clinical Practice 2

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

You’ll be taught using a range of methods, including:

• lectures
• seminars
• practical lab/workshop sessions
• group work

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Computer assessment
• Observation of professional practice
• Oral examination
• Portfolio
• Problem-solving exercises
• Reflective log
• Written examination
• Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Our staff

Dr James Andrews, Consultant Interventional Nephrologist and Module Lead (POCUS)

Dr Rauri A. Clark, Consultant Interventional Nephrologist and Module Lead (HD Vascular Access)

Dr Saeed Ahmed, Consultant Interventional Nephrologist and Module Lead (Renal Biopsy and Peritoneal Dialysis)

Dr Sarah McCloskey, Consultant Nephrologist and Simulation Lead (across modules)

Dr Shalabh Srivastava, Degree Programme Director

Your development

Professional skills

In addition to practical and theoretical aspects of DIN, this course would help you develop your skills in establishing and managing an interventional nephrology service.

Research skills

Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology remains poorly served by researchers. There is immense potential for basic and clinical research. This is a PGCert course, so you will not need a research project. However, you will be encouraged to identify areas of research as we aim to develop a master's course and apply to national funding bodies for doctoral research.

Practical skills

This hands-on and practical course will help you further your interventional nephrology skills. You will gain a comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of interventional nephrology service provision.

Work experience/placement opportunities

You will be attending the Sunderland Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology Unit.

Overseas study/fieldtrip opportunities

We are in the process of setting up an ISN-sister unit in Mwanza, Tanzania. Once this unit is fully established, we aim to provide overseas study opportunities.

Your future

Further study

This course provides the basis for a future master's course.

Careers

The course prepares you for a career as an interventional nephrologist. It also helps those pursuing other specialities such as acute medicine, Intensive Care Medicine and accident and emergency an opportunity to hone their practical skills.

Careers support

Interventional Nephrology skills are often an essential requirement for Consultant Job applications. This course would provide you with all the requisite skills.

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

The Sunderland Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology department is based at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

This day case facility has access to its own dedicated fluoroscopy suite and procedure room. This is a 52 week, 5/7 day service serving the population South Tyneside and Wearside.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

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How to apply

Using the application portal

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You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

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