Teaching starts 27 January 2025
Apply by 9 December 2024 to begin your studies in January.
Apply nowDiscover new and effective ways to teach and facilitate learning in clinical education.
Join our flexible online short course and learn to maintain an effective learning environment and engage a range of different learners.
- Explore a variety of teaching and feedback methods, including the latest innovations in clinical education teaching.
- Examine the underpinning principles behind teaching and feedback methods, to critically develop your knowledge and understanding.
- Learn online with a highly experienced team, actively engaged in clinical education and pedagogic research.
Credit-bearing or CPD?
You can choose between two versions of this course:
- Credit-bearing – includes assessments, which allows you to earn credits towards an MSc.
- Continuous professional development (CPD) – no assessments but carries zero credits.
Other than assessments, the course content and delivery are exactly the same for both versions of the course.
Who can join this online clinical education course?
You can apply to join this course if you have a health care qualification or are involved with the teaching and facilitation of clinical education.
Build credits towards a Masters degree
The credit-bearing version of this course is part of:
You can use the credits you earn towards either of these postgraduate qualifications.
What you’ll study
In this online course, you’ll develop knowledge and experience in the systematic approach to teaching, which aims for a better understanding of complexity.
You’ll explore the underpinning principles and latest innovations in a range of teaching methods, including:
- Small-group teaching
- Large-group and lecture-based teaching
- Feedback
- Modalities supporting learning in clinical education, including simulation, flipped classroom learning, teaching with patients and patient partners, and online approaches to teaching and facilitating learning in clinical education.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to...
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Show a critical understanding of approaches for the delivery of teaching and facilitation of learning in clinical education.
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Outline and critically explain the purpose and methods for effective feedback.
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Engage in critical reflection as an educator through the process of peer review.
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Continue to develop and expand your teaching skill set throughout the course and beyond.
Choose the University of Aberdeen for online clinical education courses
Trusted clinical education training
We’ve been training outstanding clinical educators in the NHS, military, private and overseas health sectors since 2016.
Research-led teaching
Your teaching is informed by active researchers from the Institute of Education in Healthcare and Medical Sciences.
1st in the UK for Medicine
Study with a university ranked 1st in the UK for Medicine (Guardian University Guide 2025).
How you’ll study
Online learning
Teaching and Facilitating Learning in Clinical Education is delivered flexibly, 100% online. You can learn with us anywhere, with no need for a study visa.
Your teaching
Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including:
- videos lectures and tutorials to stream or download
- optional live online tutorials
- reading materials
- activities
- discussion boards with your peers and tutors
- online access to our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
Optional live sessions
We have occasional live sessions online at fixed times. These include opportunities for you to develop a community of practice with your online colleagues, as well as optional question-and-answer and drop-in sessions with your tutors.
Near-peer learning
We also promote and facilitate opportunities for near-peer learning as part of the course, valuing the experiences of students enrolled on the course.
Your tutors
You’ll learn from an experienced, multidisciplinary team of academics with healthcare professional backgrounds, including nurses, doctors, scientists, anatomists and psychologists. They’re actively engaged in clinical education and pedagogic research.
This course is delivered by our School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition.
Assessment for credit-bearing course
The credit-bearing course is formally assessed.
For the credit-bearing course, you’ll be assessed online via:
- a written reflective exercise, and
- development and presentation of a poster.
Assessment for CPD course
There are no compulsory assessments for the CPD version of this course.
Credit-bearing course hours
The credit-bearing version of the course totals approximately 150 hours of study and assessment time. That’s around 10 – 15 hours per week.
CPD course hours
The CPD version of the course totals approximately 100 hours of study time. That’s around 7 – 10 hours per week.
This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, teaching and, for the credit-bearing version, assessments.
You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.
Activities at fixed times
Activities at fixed times include live question-and-answer and discussion sessions. However, these are not mandatory, as we appreciate it can be difficult to attend around other commitments. All sessions are recorded for later viewing.
Deadlines for formal/summative submissions are pre-set but there are options to apply for extensions if circumstances meet the criteria for approval.
Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies. You’ll have contact with your coordinator via email, MyAberdeen and Microsoft Teams. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.
We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:
- Careers and Employability Service
- Disability support
- IT support
- Library support
- Student Support Service – help with finances, stress, wellbeing and non-academic issues
- Student Learning Service – study support, with advice sessions available via phone or Skype
- Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) – run by students for students
- Toolkit – clever apps and free training that can make your study life easier
Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.
Your course coordinator
Dr Eve Brock
Eve is a Lecturer who leads our MSc in Clinical Education. She holds a PhD in Medical Sciences. She is also a registered nurse with a background in emergency care nursing.
Eve has been working in Higher Education since 2011. She has an interest in qualitative research and is a supervisor of Clinical Education PhD and Masters students.
View Eve’s profileWhere this will take you
Towards a Masters
If you choose the credit-bearing version of this course, you’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) on successful completion. You can use these credits towards our:
Masters in Advanced Clinical Practice
Develop your advancing career in healthcare with this uniquely flexible MSc, delivered part-time via blended learning. 10% discount for NHS staff.
View MSc Advanced Clinical PracticeMasters in Clinical Education
Become an outstanding clinical educator with our distance learning clinical education training. Study online with us and earn your MSc, PgDip or PgCert in Clinical Education while you work. 10% discount for NHS staff.
View MSc Clinical EducationEarn an accredited Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education
The credits you earn with the credit-bearing version of this course count towards our PgCert in Clinical Education.
It’s accredited by the Academy of Medical Educators (AoME).
Move on to complete the PgCert successfully and you can apply for AOME membership without the full application and exam process.
Certificate of completion
If you choose the CPD version of the course, you will not receive any credits.
However, you will receive a digital certificate of completion.
CPD hours
Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for CPD hours. Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.
Build your learning with more short courses
We have a range of online healthcare and medicine short courses you can use to earn in-demand skills.
Many carry credits you can build up into postgraduate qualifications, including Masters degrees:
Careers
This course will support the development of your own practice in clinical education. And it can equip you to further engage in future opportunities to facilitate the learning of others in healthcare.
Job roles that previous students taking this course have entered include:
- clinical teaching posts
- practice education/facilitation roles with a range of healthcare professional education providers.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for CPD hours. Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.
Free career support
Access our free careers service while you study.
- 1:1 appointments
- CV checks
- Interview prep
- Job opportunities
Entry requirements
Application deadline for credit-bearing course
We advise you to apply as early as you can, to allow us time to review your application and get a decision to you.
For our January 2025 intake, the application deadline is 9 December 2024.
You will need to accept your offer and provide any outstanding documents to meet the conditions of your offer by 18 December 2024.
Teaching starts on 27 January 2025.
Application deadline for CPD course
You can join the CPD version of this course up until teaching starts on 27 January 2025.
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world.
See the minimum entry requirements above. If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check equivalent qualifications from your country.
Visa requirements
You do not need a student visa to study online with us.
English language requirements
Teaching is delivered in English.
If English is not your first language, use our English requirements checklist to see if you need to provide evidence of your English language skills when you apply.
English language tests and scores
If you do need to provide English language test scores, these are the tests and minimum scores we accept.
These are our Postgraduate Higher requirements.
IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)
- 6.5 overall
- 5.5 for listening and speaking
- 6.0 for reading and writing
TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- 90 overall
- 17 for listening
- 21 for reading
- 20 for speaking
- 21 for writing
- TOEFL DI code is 0818
Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency
- 176 overall
- 162 for listening and speaking
- 169 for reading and writing
LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT
- 70 overall
- 60 for listening and speaking
- 65 for reading and writing
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken) – Online / In-centre
- Overall High Pass
- 33 for listening, reading and speaking
- 38 for writing
Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online
- 7.0 overall
- 5.0 for listening and speaking
- 6.0 for reading and writing
PTE Academic (online test not accepted)
- 62 overall
- 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing
Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward
- 120 overall
- 95 for listening and speaking
- 105 for reading and writing
University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)
- Pass
- Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date
Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities
- Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
- B2 in all four skills
- Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course
For more information about language qualifications see our English Language Requirements page.
You will need access to:
A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) operating on either:
- Windows 10 or later
- macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.
Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.
Reliable internet access
We recommend:
- a wired connection
- a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.
Speakers or headphones
- We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
- A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.
Software
We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and install these programs on up to five personal devices.
If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.
See our detailed IT requirements for more information.
When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.
But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.
Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.
Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:
- Be realistic
- Create a weekly schedule as a guide
If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.
Fee payment
Your course fee needs to be paid in full before you start your course.
We accept payment via Visa Debit, Visa Credit and Mastercard.
Ways to save
You may be able to get help funding this course via:
- discounts – if any discounts are available for this course, they’ll appear in the section below
- employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors.
Find out more about funding options.
Student card
All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.
Learning resources
Access to all the books and resources you need are included in your tuition fee. They’ll be made available to you online and you do not have to buy your own copies.
Printing
You may wish to set aside a small budget for printing, depending on how you like to work.
Requirements for the credit-bearing course
Our minimum entry requirements for the credit-bearing course are:
- a UK honours degree (or equivalent) in healthcare, eg, MBChB, Nursing, BDS, Physician Associate, or
- a UK honours degree (or equivalent) in a healthcare-related area, eg, Psychology, Biomedical Science.
You must also be currently involved in teaching practice.
To see the entry requirements for the CPD version of this course, select it as your study option at the top or bottom of this page.
How to apply for the credit-bearing course
For the credit-bearing course, apply through our online Applicant Portal. This allows you to upload relevant qualifications and documents for us to review.
Documents you will need
- Degree certificate
- Degree transcript, if you have one
- Personal statement
- CV / Resume
Ready to apply?
Start with our step-by-step guide. It explains degree transcripts, what to write in your personal statement and how to use our Applicant Portal.
Apply for this course