University of St Andrews - Online
Course in Contemporary Global Issues in Health Professions Education - Online
Online United Kingdom
Course
DURATION
1 semester
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
16 Aug 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 1,450 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* 1450 GBP per module
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
The Health Professions Education online stand-alone modules are for those interested in developing themselves in a healthcare education role, and offers the flexibility of learning to suit those currently employed. This 15-credit online stand-alone module will highlight global issues and trends in health professions that impact on students’ academic, heath, and social care work.
This stand-alone module forms part of a full Health Professions Education online programme which cultivates teaching practice that instils the principles and values of interprofessional education to support the development of the future and current healthcare work force. The Health Professions Education programme can be studied at PGCert, PGDip and MSc level.
You will explore what drives debate and change in healthcare professions education and how to facilitate structured and respectful academic discussion.
You will learn how to apply theoretical models to the complex and wicked problems currently facing healthcare professions education, as well as preparing for future issues that may arise.
Highlights
- A fully online part-time module which offers flexibility of learning to suit those currently employed in a healthcare or academic setting.
- As an interprofessional and interdisciplinary programme, the stand-alone provides opportunities to learn collaboratively about a range of educational contexts and teaching practices.
- Experiential and immersive learning opportunities mean learners undertaking the module can have real-time experience of the concepts being taught.
- Award-winning learning technology infrastructure and support to provide innovative, interactive and flexible learning and to support the student learning journey.
- Staff from a variety of disciplines and healthcare backgrounds with expertise and experience in educating healthcare professionals.
- 15 Credits at SCQF Level 11 awarded by the University of St Andrews and a certificate of award.
The module content will cover a range of approaches and methods of teaching, learning and assessment where learners will engage in independent and group study. Aspects of the programme will be interprofessional and interdisciplinary, enabling learners to reflect on and share their own teaching and learning practices. The course will provide the opportunity to learn with, from and about each other’s educational contexts. Action learning sets will be utilised to bring a challenging or complex issue to discuss and share ideas for resolution. Learners will be able to develop a toolkit which should enhance their problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and teaching strategies.
Academic staff in the School of Medicine provide expertise from a variety of disciplines and healthcare backgrounds. There is a wide range of experience in educating health professionals in a range of community and acute care settings, in interprofessional education, and in educational research. The School of Medicine has institutional memberships of the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) and the UK Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE).
This stand-alone module is taken during one semester, from September to December.
The course will be delivered online with a mixture of some real-time, scheduled teaching and some independent study, where there is flexibility of accessing learning materials at a time convenient to your own circumstances. All scheduled teaching will take place in GMT/BST when online attendance is required.
The module delivery platform is supported by an award-winning learning technology infrastructure. This innovative and interactive platform allows you to access all of the programme resources, announcements, timetable, and lectures (both live and recorded). To help build a sense of community online, this platform also hosts a discussion board for you to engage in threaded discussions with other learners on the course.
This programme will involve approximately two hours of weekly scheduled online attendance throughout the semester. The rest of the workload hours would consist of a range of activities, which can be undertaken in your own time during the semester. These may consist of preparatory reading and reflection, assignment preparation, small group work, and participation in online discussion forums.
15% Recent Graduate Discount
If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
NHS Staff Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% discount to NHS-funded staff who wish to undertake the programme.
The University of St Andrews’ global reputation makes its graduates highly valued by employers. The Health Professions Education programme is aimed at individuals who may wish to develop their healthcare educational role, or wish to follow an academic career in healthcare education or healthcare education research, or pursue a PhD or MD.
In addition to broadening your subject knowledge and applying established techniques of research and enquiry, you will develop and demonstrate essential skills such as:
- critical thinking and creativity
- analysis and appraisal
- problem-solving and decision-making
- personal leadership and project management
- interpersonal communication and teamwork
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students, as well as a programme of events to help students develop their employability skills.