Health-Professions Education / Health-Professions Education (with Research) MSc/MSc (Research)/PgDip/PgCert: Online distance learning
Studying in the University of Glasgow’s online Health Professions Education programme will help you achieve your goals, even as you support learners in achieving theirs. Ideal for busy professionals, our health professions education programme offers maximum flexibility combined with excellence in instruction. Depending on the route they choose, MSc students will complete a dissertation through systematic review or empirical research.
- Online distance learning
- Academic contact: Camille.Huser@glasgow.ac.uk
- Teaching start: January, April or September
- Online
- MSc: 36 months part‑time
- MSc (with Research): 36 months part‑time
- PgDip: 24 months part‑time
- PgCert: 12 months part‑time
Why this programme
Health Professions Education- Our online health professions education programme is designed for professionals working in healthcare roles who are seeking to qualify for a teaching, management or research-based career in health professions education.
- Run by the prestigious School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, this programme offers the opportunity to study at the heart of a growing network for contemporary educational thinking.
- Glasgow is ranked 1st in the UK for nursing and 2nd in the UK for medicine.
- With a focus on active, collaborative online learning, we challenge and support you to apply evidence-based methods in your teaching to fellow health professionals.
- This Health Professions Education online distance learning programme is especially designed for working professionals wishing to develop specialist skills and to apply these in their professional teaching practice.
- Our online Health Professions Education programme offers you the flexibility to take one of two routes. We offer a research pathway oriented around the design, conduct and governance of education research. Our secondary route is based on the application of educational theory and evidence to specific contexts.
- Using practical, collaborative peer learning, we will help you to develop the necessary confidence and specialist skills.
- Over 95% of the research submitted by the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences was deemed ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’ by the Research Excellence Framework in 2021.
Programme structure
This online programme offers the opportunity to engage in higher learning of the most effective techniques for health profession education. It delivers training to support your journey of professional development and helps you pursue the next stage in your career.
Year 1 (Postgraduate Certificate in Health Professions Education)
- 3 x 20 credit core courses
Year 2 (Postgraduate Diploma in Health Professions Education)
- 3 x 20 credit compulsory courses in year 1, 6 x 10 credit courses from a choice of three, each semester in year 2
Year 3 (MSc / MSc (with Research) in Health Professions Education)
- 3 x 20 credit compulsory courses in year 1, 6 x 10 credit courses from a choice of three, each semester in year 2, 1 x 60 credit dissertation in year 3
During the first year, there are three compulsory courses, worth 60 credits in total. Then, in the second year, students will choose two courses from each of the three blocks. These courses are 10 credits each, so overall worth 60 credits.
In the third year, students will undertake a dissertation, worth 60 credits. There are two different options for this:
- On the MSc HPE programme, the dissertation will require a systematic review, synthesis and critique of the literature, to produce a policy document, a set of practitioner guidelines, or a new theoretical model
- On the MSc HPE (with Research), the dissertation will be a standard report of empirical research, incorporating a critical literature review, methodology, analysis and interpretation of findings, and conclusions drawn
The University of Glasgow specially adapts programmes to the online format. You will attend interactive lectures, seminars and individual tutorials. You will also build important connections with fellow students by taking part in project and team work.
Our expert staff will assess your progression through each course in a variety of ways. This may include essays, discussions, blogs, online presentations, interactive quizzes, assignments, weekly graded posts or group work . Details of these assignments are found in your induction.
Taken on a part-time basis, the duration of this programme is 3 to 6 years depending on the credential obtained.
To discover more about the programme watch our webinar with the programme director or visit our articles section for more information.
For more detailed information on our courses, click the links below.
Core and optional courses
Year 1: PgCert, PgDip and MSc
Year 2: PgDip and MSc
Block 1 (select two):
- Curriculum approaches and design
- Teaching and assessment of clinical skills
- Evidence in education research*
Block 2 (select two):
- Simulation in Health Professions Education
- Evaluation of courses and curricula
- Designing education research*
Block 3 (select two):
- Managing the health professions curriculum
- Leadership in health professions education
- Governance and ethics in education research*
Year 3: MSc (select one)
If you opt for the research dissertation, you must choose the courses marked with an asterisk (*).
"The best part of the course so far is the learning through interaction with the many different professionals that come from different multidisciplinary backgrounds and cultures. As we engage and share our reflections/learnings through our weekly reflection point forums, I have gained so much insight and perspectives which shaped the way I practice and teach."
Tan Si Hui Evangeline, Online MSc in Health Professions Education student
Programme outcomes
- Engage in critical debate on the principles, philosophy and evidence-base for various approaches to learning and teaching.
- Apply core principles and current theories of learning and teaching to the design of a range of learning opportunities/teaching activities.
- Select appropriate assessment strategies and tools to assess the knowledge, skills and attitudes required of health professionals.
- Evaluate approaches and models for developing a curriculum, including their relevance to a health professions context.
- Appraise the impact of technology-enhanced learning & teaching (TELT) on educational.
- Evaluate the impact of educational and institutional policies on design and delivery of health professions education.
Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours
to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw
or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.
Career prospects
This programme is ideal if you're an ambitious health professional seeking an influential role in the management and delivery of education. Through leading research, world-class faculty and practical, collaborative peer exercises, we will help you to develop the confidence and specialist skills you need to further your career in this field.
It will also provide an ideal grounding for those who decide to pursue doctoral research in health professions education.
Recent graduates have furthered their careers as:
- doctors (mainly clinical)
- dentists
- pharmacists
- occupational therapists
- nurses
- anaesthetists
- general practitioners (GPs)
- family medicine practitioners
To learn more, read our article about where an online MSc in Health Professions Education can take you.
It has really helped me develop and change my teaching skills positively. I definitely noticed greater confidence in my teaching ability. Without doubt, this is thanks to the Health Professions Education programme."
Radiologist and graduate of the Health Professions Education programme
Fees & funding
Tuition fees for 2025-26
MSc
UK / EU / International:
- £15,000 (total cost)
You can pay in instalments of £1,667 per 20 credits
MSc (Research)
UK / EU / International:
- £15,000 (total cost)
You can pay in instalments of £1,667 per 20 credits
PgDip
UK / EU / International:
- £10,000 (total cost)
You can pay in instalments of £1,667 per 20 credits
PgCert
UK / EU / International:
- £5,000 (total cost)
You can pay in instalments of £1,667 per 20 credits.
Fees for students funded by the NHS or UK social care organisations or UK health and social care partnership (HSCP)
- £11,820 (total cost for MSc)
- £7,880 (total cost for PgDip)
- £3,940 (total cost for PgCert)
- £1,314 per 20 credits
Additional fees
- Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
- Registration/exam only fee: £170
Funding opportunities
UK Study Online Scholarship
The UK Study Online scholarship is open to UK, EU and international students taking online undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Please see UK Study Online for more details.
Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)
Eligible full-time and part-time students, undertaking an eligible postgraduate course, can apply for a tuition fee loan up to a maximum of £7,000 towards their course. Eligible full-time postgraduate students can apply for a living-cost loan of up to £4,500.
This support extends to online Masters or Postgraduate Diplomas, and not to the online Postgraduate Certificate courses.
For more information visit the SAAS website.
Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)
If you’re an English student looking to study a taught Masters programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan. Students from England are able to apply for a non-means tested Postgraduate Master’s Loan of up to £11,570 to help with course fees and living costs. You have to repay your Postgraduate Master’s Loan at the same time as any other student loans you have. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.
If you’re studying by distance learning, you can also apply.
Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students
If you are a Welsh student looking to study a postgraduate programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a Welsh University.
* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes
For more information visit Student Finance Wales
Alumni Discount
In response to the current unprecedented economic climate, the University is offering a 20% discount on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni, commencing study in Academic session 2025/26. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, International Summer School programme or the Erasmus Programme at the University of Glasgow. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships.
Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)
If you are a Northern Irish student looking to study a taught Masters programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a University in Northern Ireland.
Northern Irish students are able to apply for non-means-tested tuition fee loans of up to £5,500, to help with the costs of funding.
For more information visit www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/types-of-finance/postgraduate .
* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes
The scholarships above are specific to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database
Entry requirements
2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing or another Allied Health Profession.
We may also accept degrees in Life Sciences.
Applicants should ideally work in a health professions environment where they have access to conduct empirical research.
We may also accept applicants with significant relevant work experience in addition to lower qualifications.
Applicants must provide a personal statement including details of teaching experience to date or ambition to move into that field.
English language requirements
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)
- 6.5 with no subtests under 6.0
- IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Common equivalent English language qualifications for entry to this programme
TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome)
- 90 overall with Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements, this includes TOEFL mybest.
Pearsons PTE Academic
- 59 with minimum 59 in all subtests
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
- 176 overall, no subtest less than 169
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Oxford English Test
- 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
LanguageCert Academic SELT
- 70 overall with no subtest less than 60
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Password Skills Plus
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Trinity College Tests
- Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses
- Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.
Alternatives to English Language qualification
- Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
- Undergraduate 2+2 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.
Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:
- direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
- essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
- flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:
We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:
- Heriot Watt
- Kingston Upon Thames
- Middlesex University
- Manchester University
- Reading University
- Edinburgh University
- ST Andrews University
- UCL
- Durham.
For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form
Computer requirements for studying online
Broadband internet connection
- 3 mbps or higher
Internet Browsers
Our online learning platform Moodle is compatible with any standards compliant web browser. This includes:
Desktop:
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Safari
- Edge
- Internet Explorer
Mobile:
- MobileSafari
- Google Chrome
For the best experience and optimum security, we recommend that you keep your browser up to date.
Javascript needs to be enabled within your browser
Please note: legacy browsers with known compatibility issues with Moodle 3.3 are:
- Internet Explorer 10 and below
- Safari 7 and below
Computer specifications
- Processor: 2GHz
- Operating system (minimum):
- Microsoft Windows Vista service pack 1
- Windows 7
- Mac OS X v10.4.11+
- Memory: 3GB of RAM or more
- Hard disk: 300GB
- Sound card and microphone
- Speakers or headphones
- Monitor and video card with 1024x768 display or higher
Mobile device specifications
- iOS: latest (Apple Safari & Google Chrome)
- Android: 4.4+ with latest Google Chrome
Other software
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Media player e.g. Windows Media Player or VLC
- Word processing software (that outputs to the following file types for marking online: .doc, .docx, .html, .txt, .rft, .pdf, .ppt, .pptx, .pps, .hwp)
- Anti-virus software
Advised hardware / software
- Microsoft Office 2010
- Headset (ideally with a USB connector)
- Webcam
How to apply
To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.
Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.
Documents
As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:
- A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
- A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
- Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
- One reference letter on headed paper
- An English language certificate/evidence of your English language ability may be required
- Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
- A copy of the photo page of your passport (non-EU students only)
You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.
You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.
For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, please see our guide How to apply for a postgraduate taught degree.
Guidance notes for using the online application
These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.
If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, you should visit the Application Troubleshooting/FAQs page.
Please ensure all documents are correctly named and are uploaded before you submit your application to prevent any delays with your file.
All documentation must be attached to your online application, but please remember your student recruitment coordinator is here to support you by reviewing it before you upload it, so feel free to send them over to your student recruitment coordinator before you submit your application.
- Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
- Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
- Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
- Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Online taught masters degrees begin in January, April and September.
- Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript. It is important to upload official copies of your transcripts and certificates for your full academic history, from Undergraduate onwards. For example, if you have a bachelors and a masters degree, you must send documents from both degrees.
- English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
- Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.
Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.
Application deadlines
April 2024
- All applicants: 24 March 2024
September 2024
- All applicants: 31 August 2024
More information about this programme
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Postgraduate events
