This course explores how big data and AI are transforming healthcare, with a focus on integrating patient data into data-driven decision-making. We cover the fundamentals of health data governance and the ethical considerations of AI in healthcare, including data privacy, bias, and transparency, as well as the evolving nature of this ecosystem. Designed for professionals and students, the course provides valuable insights into the future of healthcare innovation.
Course Dates
Course details
Academic team
Course information
Who is this course for?
Our weekend courses are open to all adult learners with an interest in the subject and are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level.
Please complete any required reading before the course starts. This will allow you to fully participate and get the maximum enjoyment out of your course.
Course content
Discover how big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital innovation are transforming healthcare, from improving patient outcomes and clinical decision-making to reshaping how health services are designed and delivered. This course will equip you with the knowledge and critical perspectives needed to understand, evaluate, and contribute to the rapidly evolving landscape of data-driven healthcare.
You will explore the foundations of health data science, learning how routinely collected health records and large-scale datasets can generate real-world evidence and inform better healthcare decisions. You will be introduced to key AI concepts, emerging technologies, and their applications across clinical practice, population health, and healthcare systems.
Moving beyond technical concepts, you will examine how digital transformation influences clinical workflows, healthcare delivery, and patient experiences. Through practical examples and interactive discussions, you will consider the opportunities and challenges of translating innovative research into real-world healthcare settings.
A central theme is responsible innovation. You will explore health data governance, privacy, ethics, algorithmic bias, transparency, and the importance of public and patient involvement. You will also develop the confidence to critically assess the performance, robustness, trustworthiness, and limitations of AI-enabled healthcare tools.
By the end of the course, you will be better equipped to navigate emerging technologies, engage in informed discussions, and identify opportunities for responsible, evidence-based digital transformation in healthcare.
Aims
This course aims to:
- introduce you to fundamentals of health data science and the latest advancement of this field
- introduce you to core concepts of Artificial Intelligence and the digital transformation in healthcare
- provide you with a robust understanding of the distinctive governance required for protection of individuals’ health records while enabling research
- provide you with practical examples of operational scenarios
- equip you with tools, techniques and terminology involved in evaluation of robustness of an data-driven tools including AI-based decision tool in healthcare setting
What to expect on this course
The course will take place in a classroom setting using interactive presentation tools to aid with demos of technical methods. It is highly recommended that you bring your personal laptop or IT equipment to be able to follow some of the live voting and technical experiences with tools. The experience will be enriched by peer-discussions and all participants will be encouraged to contribute to discussions in the classroom by offering opinions, experiences, and observations.
Learning outcomes
As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to:
- explain key principles of data science and AI and their relevance to healthcare
- describe how digital technologies are reshaping care delivery
- identify governance, ethical, and legal requirements for health data use
- illustrate real-world examples of AI and data integration in practice
- critically assess robustness, performance, and limitations of digital tools
- reflect on opportunities and challenges in shaping the future of healthcare
Each weekend course features 7 sessions (1.5 hours each) running from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime, plus regular breaks for meals and refreshments. On Saturday there’s also a longer break after lunch to relax, read or enjoy the gardens of Madingley Hall.
Course schedule and sessions
Please arrive between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. You can meet other course members in the Bar, which opens at 4.30pm. Tea and coffee-making facilities are available in the bedrooms.
Friday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:30pm to 10:00pm | Data-driven healthcare: from records to real-world insights (This opening session aims to introduce the fundamentals of health data science and the field’s evolution) |
| 10:00pm | Terrace Bar open for informal discussion |
Saturday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30am | Breakfast (for residents only) |
| 9:00am to 10:30am | AI in healthcare: concepts, methods, and frontiers (We expand on our understanding of core concepts in AI driven healthcare and review latest advancements relevant to different healthcare context) |
| 10:30am | Coffee |
| 11:00am to 12:30pm | Digital transformation of health systems: technology, workflow and patients (This session will focus on digital transformation framework and how digitalisation reshapes healthcare delivery and patient experience) |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm to 4:00pm | Free time |
| 4:00pm | Tea |
| 4:30pm to 6:00pm | Data governance and ethics: protecting privacy while enabling progress (This session will focus on the important matter of data privacy and how it is affecting the AI integration within healthcare domain) |
| 6:30pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm to 9:30pm | Operationalising data-driven approaches: from research labs to the patient bedside (Here we will focus on practical examples of real-world deployment and integration in health systems) |
| 9:30pm | Terrace Bar open for informal discussion |
Sunday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30am | Breakfast (for residents only) |
| 9:00am to 10:30am | Evaluating AI in healthcare: tools, techniques, and trustworthiness (This session will focus on evaluation metrics and what measures from research angle and PPIE angle are important to consider and what are the current practices for systems evaluation) |
| 10:30am | Coffee |
| 11:00am to 12:30pm | Future horizons: challenges, opportunities, and responsible innovation (The weekend will conclude with this session bringing together the technical and operational aspects to consider future directions and responsible adoption of AI in healthcare) |
| 12:45pm | Lunch |
The course ends after lunch.
Madingley Hall: an immersive experience
Teaching and included meals take place at Madingley Hall, just 4 miles from the centre of Cambridge. A beautiful 16th-century Tudor hall, set in 8 acres of landscaped gardens designed by Capability Brown, it's a wonderful place to soak up the atmosphere, or spend free time reading and relaxing.
Stay at Madingley Hall
For the full experience, book to stay at Madingley Hall. Rooms are comfortable, with views over the woods, gardens and courtyard. Each en-suite room has Wi-Fi, TV, phone, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Breakfast is included in the accommodation rate.
A lift gives access to two bedrooms adapted for wheelchair users. All ground floor areas can be reached once inside the building. A lift also gives access to first floor teaching rooms for those unable to use stairs. Let us know any additional requirements when booking.
Check-in is from 4.30pm and check-out is by 11.00am. Please remember to check out before your Sunday morning class starts, luggage storage facilities are available at Reception.
For more information on accommodation fees and booking options see ‘Fees and financial support’ below.
Stay nearby
If you choose to stay nearby, no problem. You’ll still be able to enjoy the grounds during the day and enjoy the award-winning cuisine in our elegant dining hall.
Meals
As a student, you'll enjoy award-winning cuisine in our elegant dining hall. Lunch and dinner are included in the course price. Lunches and Friday evening dinner are served buffet-style, while on Saturday evening, you’ll enjoy a served dinner.
Dietary requirements
If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies, please let us know when booking.
Getting to Madingley Hall
Madingley Hall is in the village of Madingley (CB23 8AQ), 4 miles west of Cambridge. It's 60 minutes from London, with excellent links to London airports. And It's easily accessible from the M11, A14 and A428.
If you're arriving in Cambridge by train you can take a taxi to Madingley Hall. Please contact Reception (by Saturday evening) to book a taxi for your return journey.
Parking
Free on-site car parking is available and we have a small number of spaces close to the Hall entrance for Blue Badge holders.
Fees
| Weekend course | Fee |
|---|---|
| Including tuition, lunches, evening meals, tea and coffee | £475 |
| Accommodation, including bed and breakfast | Fee for Friday and Saturday night |
|---|---|
| Single room (£85 per night) | £170 |
| Double or twin room: shared with another course attendee (£65 per night, per person) | £130 |
| Double or twin room: for single occupancy (£110 per night) | £220 |
Financial support
We offer a range of concessions for our weekend courses including:
- Benefits concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to recipients of a UK state benefit.
- School concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to staff who hold a contract of employment in any school or further education institution.
- Cambridge Alumni (CAMCard) concession: 10% reduction of weekend tuition fee for Cambridge University alumni, applicable to learners with confirmed alumni status of the University of Cambridge and who are CAMCard holders.
- University of Cambridge staff concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to employees who hold a contract of employment with the University or one of its Colleges.
To apply for a concession, place your booking and supply the required proof when prompted.
A concession cannot be used in conjunction with any other concessions or bursaries, apart from the PACE Open Access Bursary or the Early Bird Concession.
Please see our concessions page for further details.
Booking a weekend course
We recommend that you book early and well before the booking deadline to avoid disappointment.
To book a weekend course and accommodation click the 'Book now' button in the course details section on this page. You'll go through to our secure bookings portal where you can create an account with us, select your booking options and make payment.
Please let us know about any dietary or support requirements when booking.
Waitlist
If the course is full, the ‘Book now’ button will be replaced with ‘Add to waitlist’. Please add yourself to the waiting list and we'll send you an email if a place becomes available.
Paying for your weekend course
You can pay for your course by credit/debit card using our secure online booking system, unless otherwise arranged.
Payment options
You can pay:
- in full at the time of booking
- in 2 instalments (the first is 15% of the full fee, and the 85% balance is due 14 working days before the course starts, which will be taken automatically if your payment card is stored in our system)
All bookings made after the booking deadline must be paid in full.
Booking deadlines
Bookings close 14 working days before the start of the course.
Late bookings
If places are available, we can accept late bookings, after the booking deadline but before the course start date.
We cannot always accommodate complex dietary/allergen or other additional support requirements for any bookings received or any requirements added after the booking deadline. Please consider this if you're asking to book after the deadline and have special requirements.
Visa requirements
It's important to be aware that entering the UK as a visitor for study purposes comes with certain expectations and restrictions.
To make sure you understand the requirements, we advise you to read the in-depth information on the University’s International Students website.
If you already have immigration permission in the UK, please inform us so we are able to confirm whether this allows you to study on the Weekend Courses.
Booking terms and conditions
Before booking your course, please make sure you've read and understood our booking terms and conditions.
We are committed to helping you make the most of your learning experience. We offer a range of support to help meet individual needs. When booking, please let us know if you have any support requirements, including accessibility or mobility needs (such as building access or adapted accommodation) or teaching and learning support. The PACE Student Support Team will contact you to discuss your needs and advise on the support options available.
