Program Overview

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Health Professions PGCE

Overview

Health professions education involves the design of learning which meets the needs of a diverse range of learners with different needs and learning preferences. These learning strategies also ensure student success, retention and employment.

This PGCE Health Professions is aimed at academic staff working in Higher Education. You'll explore key theories in learning and teaching in the context of your own academic practice and you'll engage in technology-enhanced learning, both in use and pedagogy. You'll develop skills and confidence in delivering learning, using methods such as problem, case or team-based learning.

Why us?

• The course has a strong focus on developing practical skills around teaching and assessment
• On successful completion of the course, you may apply for Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, providing you with recognition of your practice (subject to approval)
• You'll be taught in state-of-the-art clinical and simulation facilities, including the Living Lab
• Visiting guest speakers from a range of backgrounds will share their experiences of working in the field

Course structure

You'll be taught via a mix of lectures, group-based seminars and interactive workshop activities.

You'll be assessed via multiple methods which reflect the underpinning principles of universal design for learning including essay format, a spoken individual presentation, a written module document and verbal defence.

The course is taught on a part-time basis, every Thursday from 9am-3pm.

Course modules

Core module:

Learning and Teaching: Applying Theory to Practice (30 credits)

Explore academic practice and gain an overview of learning theories, practical classroom teaching and learning approaches, while also covering a range of pedagogical approaches. Identify both why you are taking an approach as well as having the ability to implement, adapt and evaluate contemporary approaches to health professions education.

Route module:

Designing Learning and Assessment for the Health Professions (30 credits)

Gain an insight into the theory behind the utilisation of signature pedagogies and approaches to learning and teaching such as problem, case or team-based learning and develop skills and confidence in delivering learning using these methods.

Facilities

This course is based in the Sciences Complex at our City Campus, which has benefitted from multi-million pound investment, with state-of-the-art resources for learning. Teaching may take place across both City Campus and the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's, subject to room availability.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for Ireland. Please contact the Student Admin team on or .

You're expected to have a substantial teaching workload which should equate to more than 100 hours of direct student contact each year. You must undertake a full range of academic practice in line with the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) in order to complete the course. The majority of students undertaking the course will be academics on a teaching and research contract, although the course is open to research assistants and associates who also contribute to teaching, provided they're able to meet all of the dimensions of the UKPSF.

University of Sunderland staff will apply via the HR staff qualifications policy, agreeing workload remission and support with their line manager.

We advise all potential applicants to have an informal phone or Skype call with the course leader before applying to ensure that the course learning outcomes can be achieved and that the route is suitable for you. Please email to arrange this.

Fees and finance

The tuition fee for this course is £2,833 if you're from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled.

This part-time course isn't available to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK.

Learn more about settled status, pre-settled status, special discounts, visa requirements, and Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements for the Republic of Ireland applicants in our Help and Advice article.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

On completion of the course, you may look to find employment at Higher Education institutions, or clinical teaching roles in the public and private sector (subject to meeting the role specification requirements).

Health professions education

This course is aimed at registered health professionals working to the relevant regulators Standards of Performance Conduct and Ethics. You'll have secured employment in Higher Education or be seeking to work in supporting health professions education in the university or clinical setting. The course is designed to develop your skills and knowledge as a teaching professional and as such, be able to offer student-centred teaching and learning experiences.

Further study

On successful completion of the PGCE Health Professions degree, you can use it as advanced standing if you wish to continue your studies and enrol onto the Master of Education (Health Professions) course. This master's provides initial teacher preparation for staff new to education, with modules covering both teaching, learning, assessment and curriculum design.

You would enter year two of the course and graduate ready to work in a more senior clinical teaching role in the public and private sector or in Higher Education institutions.