PDIP Clinical Education (Part Time)
Course options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Postgraduate Diploma
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Course Overview
Studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Education at UEA will set you apart as a leader and educator in your field. Designed for health and social care professionals, it’s a great way to develop your teaching, support and supervision skills, so that you can help others to learn, whether in clinical practice or higher education.
Our course offers you the ideal opportunity to learn from experienced clinical educators in an inter-professional context. Our teaching combines workshops and distance learning. And our course activities are designed to facilitate critical thinking, collaboration, workplace-based reflection and learning, and professional development.
You can complete your Postgraduate Diploma in two years part-time or one year full-time, during which you’ll explore clinical education theory and practice, and apply your knowledge and skills to work-based projects. You’ll develop fresh insights and a new level of critical thinking, and you’ll also get to grips with research methodologies. You’ll also develop fresh insights and get motivated to bring about change and promote excellence in clinical education.
The course attracts students from various professional backgrounds across health and social care, including intercalating MBBS students. This rich mix of student knowledge, skills and experience is an incredible resource, challenging you to think about the different ways different people learn and helping you grow into an adaptable and creative teacher in the future.
If you're an excellent communicator and have a desire and aptitude for teaching, our course will open new doors for you. You could become a full-time educator, a mentor, or a supervisor in a health care setting. Either way, you’ll graduate ready to train and inspire the healthcare workforce of the future.
Placement Year and Study Abroad
You’ll need to have access to teaching opportunities while you're on the course, to enable you to make concrete theory-practice links, and to facilitate work-based projects.
If you don’t have access to such opportunities for teaching, your course director will endeavor to identify suitable teaching opportunities for you. However, you'll need to notify us about this before commencing the course.
Accreditations
Complete our PGDip programme successfully and you’ll be eligible for professional recognition as a Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA), and membership of the Academy of Medical Educators (MAcadMEd) as the course is accredited by both organisations.
Study and Modules
Structure
You can complete your Postgraduate Diploma by studying for two years part-time or one year full-time.
During your time with us you’ll need to complete a number of compulsory modules and further research modules.
Within your compulsory modules you’ll explore advances in both theory and practice in clinical education, and you’ll learn to apply your knowledge to the practical design and development of teaching and inquiry methods.
The clinical education modules are designed to help you reflect on your own learning in order to support learning in others. They'll also help you develop the skills you need to design your own teaching programmes and techniques, in a way that is relevant to your discipline and clinical area.
The research modules will reinforce your skills and understanding of research methods, critical appraisal of research evidence and theory, and application of research evidence to education practice.
You’ll need to have access to teaching opportunities while you're on the course, to enable you to make concrete theory-practice links, and to facilitate work-based projects. If you don’t have access to such opportunities for teaching, your course director will endeavour to identify suitable teaching opportunities for you. However, you'll need to notify us about this before commencing the course.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
This programme is a collaborative initiative between the Norwich Medical School and the School of Health Sciences within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMH) at UEA. The faculty has an excellent reputation, and this course offers you the ideal opportunity to learn from experienced clinical educators in an inter-professional context.
Teaching
Teaching in the first year consists of a blended approach combining workshops and distance learning, with activities designed to facilitate critical thinking, collaboration, workplace-based reflection and learning, and your professional development as an educator.
Face-to-face contact hours vary between modules, ranging from three full contact days to eight half-day sessions.
Independent study
As well as hours spent in the classroom, you'll undertake pre- and post-class activities, independent study, and spend time preparing assignments.
Assessment
Assessment
Assessment in this year consists of mid-module formative assessments to prepare you for your end of module assessments. The end-of-module assessments include a critical and reflective essay on your development as an educator; an oral presentation on your work-based education improvement project, and an essay discussing the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of your work-based education improvement project.
Feedback
Feedback and feedforward comments will be provided on your formative assessments so that you're made aware of areas that need improvement when writing/presenting your summative assessments. The marking rubrics are made available to students so that you're clear about the marking criteria. Feedback on summative assessments is provided within twenty working days.
Structure
You can complete your Postgraduate Diploma by studying for two years part-time or one year full-time.
During your time with us you’ll need to complete a number of compulsory modules and further research modules.
Within your compulsory modules you’ll explore advances in both theory and practice in clinical education, and you’ll learn to apply your knowledge to the practical design and development of teaching and inquiry methods.
The clinical education modules are designed to help you reflect on your own learning in order to support learning in others. They'll also help you develop the skills you need to design your own teaching programmes and techniques, in a way that is relevant to your discipline and clinical area.
The research modules will reinforce your skills and understanding of research methods, critical appraisal of research evidence and theory, and application of research evidence to education practice.
You’ll need to have access to teaching opportunities while you're on the course, to enable you to make concrete theory-practice links, and to facilitate work-based projects. If you don’t have access to such opportunities for teaching, your course director will endeavour to identify suitable teaching opportunities for you. However, you'll need to notify us about this before commencing the course.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
Teaching in the second year focuses on research modules designed to improve your knowledge of various research methodologies, critical appraisal of research evidence and theory, designing research protocols, and application of research evidence to education practice. In addition, you’ll be introduced to contemporary pedagogies and technologies to develop the skills you need to design your own teaching programmes and techniques using contemporary methods, in a way that is relevant to your discipline and clinical area.
Independent study
As well as hours spent in the classroom, you'll undertake pre- and post-class activities and independent study; design and write a research protocol; and plan and design a lesson using evidence-informed contemporary technology.
Assessment
Assessment
Assessment in this year consists of end of module exams on basic quantitative and qualitative research methods (100% of module mark); end of module written research protocol in relation to your chosen optional research methods module; and an end of module essay discussing your evidence-informed lesson plan using contemporary technology, and engagement with two discussion board activities.
Feedback
Feedback and feedforward comments will be provided on your formative assessments so that you're made aware of areas that need improvement when writing your summative assessments. Marking rubrics are made available to students so that you're clear about the marking criteria. Marks and feedback on summative assessments are provided within twenty working days.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
A Health Care profession
- Additional Entry Requirements
The University will also consider applications from applicants with current registration as a health professional with an appropriate professional statutory regulatory body.
To be able to complete assignments for modules 1 and 2 of this course, applicants will be required to have a teaching role or have organised the opportunity to teach health/social care professionals. It is therefore essential for applicants planning to teach face to face or online within the UK to be registered with a relevant health professional regulatory body in the UK.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
A Health Care profession
- Additional Entry Requirements
The University will also consider applications from applicants with current registration as a health professional with an appropriate professional statutory regulatory body.
To be able to complete assignments for modules 1 and 2 of this course, applicants will be required to have a teaching role or have organised the opportunity to teach health/social care professionals. It is therefore essential for applicants planning to teach face to face or online within the UK to be registered with a relevant health professional regulatory body in the UK.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 7.0 overall (minimum 7.0 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
-
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
-
UK Students: £7,110
- International Students: £15,133
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
No additional costs anticipated beyond the course fees. Electronic reading lists are available for all modules and link to electronic and hard copy resources available in the UEA library.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
This course will provide you with a variety of career options, such as a full-time educator, or a mentor or supervisor working in an education or healthcare setting. Whichever route you choose, you’ll be playing a vital role in developing the workforce and nurturing careers. Our programme is designed to complement the relevant professional, statutory and regulatory body standards and frameworks, and is aligned to the UK Professional Standards Framework for Teaching and Supporting Learning in Higher Education (UKPSF).
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Educator
- Mentor
- Supervisor
- Educational setting
- Healthcare setting
Discover more on our Careers webpages.