The University of Edinburgh – College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Anatomical Sciences (Online Learning) PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev
Online
Postgraduate Diploma
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
21 Aug 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
14 Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 6,370 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* estimated annual tuition for anatomical sciences PgDip ICL/ PgCert ICL/ PgCert/ PgDip
Key Summary
Are you passionate about human anatomy and looking to deepen your understanding for clinical, academic, or professional advancement? The University of Edinburgh’s Anatomical Sciences programme offers a flexible, part-time route to a prestigious postgraduate qualification, wherever you are in the world.
Whether you are a medical, biomedical, or allied health professional, or working in holistic practice, this programme allows you to explore foundational and advanced anatomy while continuing your career. Delivered entirely online, the Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma pathways cover everything from:
- gross anatomy
- embryology
- neuroanatomy
- histology
- imaging
- emerging technologies, like 3D visualisation and artificial organs
Across two years of part-time study, you will progress from core knowledge of body systems, including musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, nervous, and endocrine systems, to specialised topics such as imaging techniques, cellular tissue analysis, and digital visualisation methods. The curriculum combines clinical relevance with academic depth, preparing you for roles in healthcare education, research, or advanced clinical practice.
A key strength of this programme is its focus on applied anatomy using innovative teaching tools and real-world scenarios. You will benefit from interactive lectures, formative quizzes, discussion forums, and guidance from expert academics, all hosted on an intuitive virtual learning environment. Assessments are varied and practical, including essays, data presentations, and online exams, designed to build confidence and transferable skills in communication, critical thinking, and scientific writing.
As a student, you will be part of a vibrant, international learning community. Many graduates have used the programme to transition into anatomy teaching, enhance their roles in surgery or radiology, or pursue further study in fields like pathology and biomedical research.
Study options are highly flexible, including intermittent routes and standalone professional development courses, so you can shape your learning around personal and professional commitments. With Edinburgh’s global reputation in anatomy education, this programme offers an excellent opportunity to elevate your knowledge and career.
Postgraduate Professional Development
Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course, without the time or financial commitment of a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.
You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years through our PPD scheme. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit. Alternatively, after one year of taking courses you can choose to transfer your credits and continue on to studying towards a higher award on a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.
Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout the year, you may only start a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in the month of September. Any time spent studying PPD will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.
Programme benefits
- World-class qualification in anatomy from a top university.
- Flexibility of online learning for professionals.
- Career advancement that can open doors to teaching, research, and advanced clinical roles.
- Interdisciplinary and clinically relevant.
- Interactive learning environment with advanced supportive technology, such as 3D printing.
- Ranked 19th in the world for Life Sciences and Medicine (QS World University Rankings by subject 2025).
- Ranked top 10 in the UK for the employability of our graduates (Times Higher Education, Global Employability University Rankings 2025).
- Understand anatomical knowledge of several different body systems and regions.
- Demonstrate clinical relevance of the anatomy studied.
- Develop relationships with peers and colleagues to promote discussion of anatomically relevant subjects.
- Engage with the scientific literature.
- Develop academic writing and presentation skills.
This is a postgraduate level qualification for medical, biomedical, allied health professionals and those in holistic practice with an interest in human anatomy.
This programme has been designed not only to help you gain a highly regarded qualification, but also to provide you with a set of major transferable skills, which will be relevant to your current career, further study or simply increase your long-term career prospects.
Further study
After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.
By the end of this programme, you will have developed an advanced, system-wide understanding of human anatomy and development. You will gain detailed knowledge of the following:
- musculoskeletal system
- cardiovascular system
- nervous system
- endocrine system
- digestive system
- embryological development
- neuroanatomy
In Year 2, you will build on this foundation with region-specific anatomy and explore specialised areas such as histology, medical imaging, and technological innovations in anatomy education and artificial organ design.
The programme equips you with the anatomical expertise and critical thinking skills needed for roles in healthcare, teaching, biomedical research or further postgraduate study.
Year 1 (Postgraduate Certificate)
In Year 1, you will develop your knowledge of basic human anatomy and human development with courses in human anatomy, embryology, and neuroanatomy.
- Fundamentals of Human Anatomy 1 and 2: Through Fundamentals of Human Anatomy 1, you will develop an understanding of basic human anatomy, with a focus on the musculoskeletal, respiratory and endocrine systems. In Fundamentals of Human Anatomy 2, you will continue to explore the human body systems, focusing on the following systems:
- cardiovascular
- urinary
- lymphatic
- integumentary
- digestive
- Embryology: You will explore aspects of human development from ovulation through fertilisation, pre-and post-implantation to embryonic and fetal development of body systems. You will also look at what happens when typical human development is altered and how this manifests in commonly developed abnormalities.
- Neuroanatomy: You will develop your understanding of the nervous system, including gross anatomy of the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, spinal cord, spinal nerves, and autonomic nervous system.
Year 2 (Postgraduate Diploma)
On successful completion of Year 1, you will expand your anatomical knowledge in Year 2 with compulsory courses in advanced human anatomy. You will explore the upper limb, lower limb and thorax regions in Advanced Human Anatomy 1, and then the abdomen, pelvis, and head and neck regions in Advanced Human Anatomy 2.
In Year 2, you will also choose two courses from the following options:
Imaging
This course will provide you with an excellent understanding of the use of medical imaging techniques to study the anatomy of the human body.
Histology
This course will introduce you to the microscopic structure of tissues and organs. It will initially look at the histology of the basic tissues before going on to look at the histology of specific structures within body systems. Areas covered will include:
- introductions to cell and tissue types
- respiratory
- urinary and reproductive
- digestive
- circulatory
Visualising Human Anatomy
This course will provide you with an excellent understanding of the use of visualisation techniques in relation to anatomy education. A range of topics focusing on how visualisation is used as a teaching method will include:
- the history of anatomical visualisation
- advances in technology including the use of MRI and CT scans
- the development of virtual reality
- how these developments aid or hinder anatomy education.
Artificial Organs
This course will provide you with an excellent understanding of how technology is used to replicate the human anatomical form and function in organs and in body systems. A range of topics will be covered, including advancements in areas such as the artificial:
- heart
- lungs
- liver
- kidney
- limbs
Compulsory courses
Postgraduate Certificate
- Fundamentals of Human Anatomy 1 and 2
- Neuroanatomy
- Embryology
Postgraduate Diploma
- Advanced Human Anatomy 1 and 2
Option courses
Option course availability will be subject to student demand. Course availability and allocations will be finalised in consultation with students.
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
- Borrowing money
- Taking out a loan
- Family support
- Personal savings
- Income from work
- Employer sponsorship
Study options
Part-time
Studying part-time means you will complete the:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Year 1
- Postgraduate Diploma in Year 2
Intermittent Study
Intermittent study allows more flexibility in how you choose to study. With this option, you will have up to two years to complete the certificate, and up to four years to complete the diploma.
The standard programme structure is still maintained in terms of the progression requirement. However, you can tailor your education to fit more closely with commitments in both your private and professional life.
If you choose to study this programme on a part-time intermittent basis, you also pay your tuition fees on a course-by-course basis rather than paying for the entire programme at the outset.
How online learning works
Online programmes are delivered through the University's Virtual Learning Environment, LEARN. Our award-winning, online learning technology is fully interactive, and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.
Our online students not only have access to the University of Edinburgh’s excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
Time commitment
This programme is designed to be fully flexible to fit around your schedule. You can study in your own time and access all your learning resources, such as reading lists, discussion forms and slides from anywhere in the world.
If there are live online sessions, you can watch a recording later in the virtual learning environment at a time convenient to you.
During term time, you should be prepared to spend an average of 15 to 20 hours a week engaged in course materials, be that reviewing lecture notes and case studies, interacting with fellow students and the programme team on the discussion board, or researching areas of interest and preparing assessments.
As there are no set times for study, managing this time is up to you, and you will need to be self-motivated and determined to succeed in this programme.