Medical Education MMedEd, PGDip, PGCert
Gain a global perspective as a medical education practitioner at a School of Medicine that has been training medical professionals since 1834.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2025
Overview
Medical education is at the centre of all medical training around the world. As a medical educator, you will be training, motivating, and engaging the next generation of medical professionals in your area of expertise. Our team will help you to draw on your existing experiences. This will help you to excel in your educational practice.
At Newcastle University, we take students from all backgrounds in medical education, not just doctors. Students have joined us from disciplines including:
- nursing
- dentistry
- pharmacy
- podiatry
- veterinary sciences
You’ll be part of a global community, with students joining us from all over the world. This adds to the shared experiences and global outlook of our graduates. You’ll study with a broad range of peers, from intercalating medical students to senior clinical staff. These perspectives allow our students to develop their values and skills as part of their learning experience.
Our course is tailored for the working professional. You can start with a PG Cert and build up to a full master’s on a schedule that suits you. Our flexible programme allows you to fit your learning around your commitments. There is no need to relocate to Newcastle upon Tyne as the programmes are fully distance learning.
The Medical Education programme is part of the School of Medicine at Newcastle University. This means our expert teaching team are integrated in undergraduate medical teaching and postgraduate physician associate teaching. Our Faculty of Medical Sciences practices interdisciplinary learning. This means you will benefit from expertise in other areas, including our Dental School.
We deliver a modern curriculum. We make sure regular changes, reflect current issues in Medical Education. This ensures appropriate content within our programme to support you in your career. We engage at a national level with professional organisations. This allows us to make sure our programme continues to be relevant for our students. These include:
- The Associate for the Study of Medical Education
- The Academy of Medical Education
- Advance HE
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Important information
We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
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 fundamentals of ‘how to teach’. More importantly, we give you the knowledge and skills to manage unusual educational situations. We do this by introducing you to the literature on ‘how we learn’. If you understand more of how your learners learn in a particular scenario, it becomes easier to teach them.
Qualifications
MMedEd – Postgraduate Masters (full-time)
This qualification is awarded if you successfully complete six 20-credit taught modules plus a 60-credit dissertation module (180 credits). If you do not complete all the modules you can exit with:
- a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) if you successfully complete three 20-credit taught modules, including the core module for the PGCert (Teaching and Learning in the Classroom)
- a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) if you successfully complete six 20-credit taught modules
MMedEd – Postgraduate Masters (part-time)
This qualification is awarded if you successfully complete the PGDip (120 credits) plus one 60-credit dissertation module.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) (part-time)
A PGDip is awarded if you successfully complete the Certificate plus three 20-credit taught modules (120 credits).
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) (part-time)
A PGCert is awarded if you successfully complete three 20-credit taught modules (60 credits).
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.
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.
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Scholarship in Medical Education | 20 |
| Advanced Study Module (Full-Time Delivery) | 60 |
| Teaching and Learning in the Classroom | 20 |
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Scholarship in Medical Education | 20 |
| Advanced Study Module (Part-Time Delivery) | 60 |
Accelerated Masters students complete the 60 credit Advanced Study Module (the dissertation module), plus three of the above 20-credit taught modules. They will have previously completed 60 credits of taught modules whilst studying on the PGCert.
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Scholarship in Medical Education | 20 |
The following module is also compulsory if you want to progress to the Masters: Scholarship in Medical Education
PGDip students complete three of the above modules. They will have previously completed 60 credits of taught modules whilst studying on the PGCert.
The following optional module is also available Scholarship in Medical Education (this module is compulsory if you want to progress to the Masters)
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Scholarship in Medical Education | 20 |
| Teaching and Learning in the Classroom | 20 |
The following module is also compulsory if you want to progress to the Masters: Scholarship in Medical Education
The following optional module is also available: Scholarship in Medical Education (this module is compulsory if you want to progress to the Masters).
Accelerated PGDip students complete six of the above 20-credit taught modules.
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Teaching and Learning in the Classroom | 20 |
PGCert students complete three of the above modules.
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Advanced Study Module (Part-Time Delivery) | 60 |
Compulsory modules
You take the following compulsory module:
Teaching and Learning in the Classroom (20 credits)
How you'll learn
The e-learning Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and Master's are studied completely via distance learning. Overall 20-credit modules run over either 11 or 12 weeks. The 60-credit dissertation module runs over the full academic year.
Each module will be in two-week strands. They have various activities and you can complete them at any time. There are also weekly tutorials which are optional. We record these in case you are unable to be present. There is a day of practical activity and further discussion, for each module. This will be accessible face to face but is also recorded.
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Essay
- Oral examination
- Oral presentation
- Written examination
- Written exercise
Assignments focus on the application of content to your own educational circumstances. This helps develop deeper insights into educational challenges in your own practice.
All assignment structures and expectations are available at the start of each module. You'll show your understanding and application of module content to their own teaching.
There is an opportunity to discuss draft work with tutor support before submission.
For the Utilising Technology in Medical Education, you submit a portfolio assignment including a written component and one component in a technology of your choosing eg video, PowerPoint
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 teaching staff includes:
- Dr Bryan Burford, BSc (Hons), MSc (Eng), PhD. Lecturer in Medical Education
- Dr Sonia Bussey, SFHEA, Degree Programme Director for Medical Education
- Dr Fiona Clarke MBBS, FRCP, MMedEd. Lecturer in Medical Education
- Dr Sophie Hill, PhD, PgCert, BSc (Hons). Lecturer in Medical Education
- Dr Gwyndaf Roberts PhD, MA, PGCE, BSc (Hons), FHEA. Lecturer in Medical Education
- Dr David Thewlis MBBS, FHEA, MEd, Lecturer in Medical Education
Your development
Upon completion you'll be able to:
- use theories and principles of medical education to inform your own practice and others'
- show advanced knowledge in specific areas of professional relevance. This is for diploma and master's
- justify the decisions made when designing methods for investigating medical education. This applies to master's
- relate educational issues in clinical practice to a wider educational context
- appraise theory, ‘evidence’ and empirical data, as well as your own practice
- take a strategic approach to your own identified educational needs
- plan to address these needs
- engage in academic debate about educational research and educational practice. This is for diploma and master’s
- contest and contribute to the body of knowledge about medical education. This is for master's
- design and deliver educational interventions
- select the most appropriate educational strategies or methods for specified contexts
Your future
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.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)
Home and international fees are the same for our e-learning courses.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
How to apply
Using the application portal
The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.
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.
Apply Online
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Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
School of Medicine
Email: emeded@ncl.ac.uk
Online
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