Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Birmingham offers a short course titled "Epilepsy - An Introduction," which provides an introduction to the current developments in the understanding and treatment of epilepsy and epilepsy-associated behavioral symptoms.

Course Details

• The course is worth 10 credits and is delivered in person over 3 days, consisting of 9 lectures.
• The course normally runs in February, with exact dates for 2025/26 to be confirmed.
• The course is taught by visiting consultants, professionals, and researchers in the field.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:

• Describe the epidemiology and classification of seizures and epilepsy
• Describe the aetiology and pathophysiology of epilepsy
• Describe the methods of investigation of seizure activity
• Describe the basic principles of treatment of epilepsy
• Describe the medical, psychological, and social consequences of having epilepsy
• Understand the different needs of various demographic groups of patients
• Describe the main psychiatric co-morbidities of epilepsy
• Describe the most important behavioral effects of antiepileptic drugs

Teaching Staff

The course is delivered by academics involved in the field of neuropsychiatry, including:

• Dr. Hugh Rickards, Honorary Reader in Neuropsychiatry
• Dr. Andrea Eugenio Cavanna, Associate Professor in Neuropsychiatry

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for the course are not specified and participants are advised to contact the programme team for more information.

Fees and Scholarships

• The fee for the microcredential (Home) is £605.
• The fee for the microcredential (International) is £1,687.
• The fee for the non-credit short course is £505.60.

Assessment

The course is assessed through a 1,500-word essay.

Attendance and Duration

The course requires attendance over 3 days, with block teaching usually from 10:00 to 16:30.

Microcredential and Non-credit Short Course

The course can be taken as either a microcredential or a non-credit short course. The microcredential offers 10 credits, while the non-credit short course provides a certificate of completion but no credits. Participants cannot swap from the microcredential to the non-credit short course or vice versa once registered.