Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Medicine

The programme has been developed by Cambridge University Health Partners (the academic health sciences centre), in conjunction with the School of Clinical Medicine and University of Cambridge Continuing and Professional Education (PACE). 

It is taught part-time and is designed to be flexible and accessible to working healthcare professionals contributing towards research and professional development through reinforcement of Good Clinical Practice (GCP). 

Watch the information session for the Clinical Medicine Pathway from our Medical Open Week 2025. 

Who is the course designed for?

This course is designed only for students who have completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Research, Education and Leadership. It is suited for doctors, dentists, nurses and allied health professionals. 

Aims of the programme

All parts of the course (the postgraduate certificate, the postgraduate diploma, and the Master of Studies) are delivered with the following overarching educational aims to: 

• provide professionally relevant teaching and learning informed by research in an integrated clinical and teaching environment
• create an international cohort of consultants, GPs, dentists and other healthcare professionals able to pursue and develop their roles in a rapidly-changing and challenging environment of clinical medicine
• develop the confidence within this cohort to lead service improvement for safe and high quality patient care, with the required knowledge, skills and capability to have a positive personal impact on the work of others in their clinical team and wider service
• develop clinicians with an understanding of teaching, professional development and assessment in the field of clinical medicine
• develop clinicians with an understanding of research methodologies and ethical considerations relevant to clinical medicine
• encourage participants to develop as reflective practitioners with the emotional intelligence, resilience and astuteness required to be effective clinical leaders
• encourage a commitment to intellectual challenge and evidence-based clinical practice informed by the latest conceptual and theoretical knowledge of medical education, research methods, ethics and clinical leadership and governance 

Progression

The Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Medicine forms the second year of the progression route to the MSt in Clinical Medicine. Upon successful completion of the postgraduate diploma, students would be eligible to apply for the one-year MSt in Clinical Medicine.

Please note that the postgraduate diploma and MSt are not guaranteed to run each year. The postgraduate diploma will be paused in 2026-27 and the MSt will be paused in 2027-28.

Please note: the maximum break in study between awards is 5 years, provided that you maintain relevant clinical experience. The full MSt in Clinical Medicine must be completed in a maximum of 8 years.

We welcome applications from healthcare staff, including doctors and other allied health professionals. As part of our admissions process, you’ll need to meet certain requirements and make sure you’re able to attend teaching sessions in the UK.  

Standard entry requirements

You must have successfully completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Research, Education and Leadership.

Typically, we expect a good UK undergraduate degree, such as a 2.1, or international equivalent.

If your degree is not from the UK, check international qualifications on the University’s postgraduate site to find the equivalent in your country.

English language requirements 

Our courses are taught in English and require a good level of fluency. If English is not your first language, you'll need to prove you have sufficient fluency before admission. If we offer you a place, it will be subject to you meeting this requirement. For more information, visit Postgraduate and Master's admissions and the University’s English language requirements.

Visa information

We welcome applications from international students. If you’re coming from overseas, you would attend the in-person teaching sessions for this course with visitor immigration permission. 

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.

The course is delivered through in-person teaching sessions requiring in-person attendance in Cambridge. Attendance at all contact days is compulsory. Pre-attendance content may be available to view in advance. Additional content and tutorials will be delivered synchronously online, requiring attendance in ‘real time’.  The course delivery is supported through the Virtual Leaning Environment [VLE]. 

The Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Medicine, like the the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Research, Education and Leadership and the MSt in Clinical Medicine to which it leads on, is designed to be flexible and accessible to healthcare professionals and to complement employment within a clinical environment.

Teaching

The below information is based on the course delivery in 2025-26 and may change from 2027.

Unit 1: Healthcare Law (20 credits)

Aims

To enable students to explore, and develop their understanding of, the laws that govern and influence medical practice and the way professionals and institutions are regulated and held to account. 

Content

• An introduction to Human Rights and Equality legislation.
• Mental Health law.
• The process and importance of complaints, quality assurance and liability.
• Confidentiality and data protection.
• The regulation of healthcare professionals and institutions.
• End of life care and ceiling of care decisions.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module students will demonstrate:

•  enable students to develop their understanding of the way professionals and institutions are regulated and held to account
• understand the legal framework within which medicine is practiced in England and Wales
• understand the social and philosophical context of healthcare law
• understand how to find and read legal sources
• understand how professionals and healthcare organisations are scrutinised
• enable students to keep up to date with legal developments in their clinical specialties
• enable students to apply their knowledge of the law to common clinical scenarios

Unit 2: Advanced Clinical Leadership (20 credits)

The unit is delivered by an academic and clinical team drawing experience from NHS Improvement, NIHR CLAHRC, The King’s Fund, Cambridge University Teaching Hospitals Trusts, and the Royal Papworth Hospital. 

Aims

This unit supports students to take on more significant leadership positions and effectively deliver improvements to clinical services. The curriculum maps to the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management Professional Standards and the NHS Leadership Framework. Subject to accreditation candidates who successfully complete the module may be eligible for membership of other leadership organisations.

Content

• The impact of, and how to, enhance effective leadership within the clinical arena.
• Improving leadership by inspiring shared purpose, leading with care, evaluation and connecting services.
• Developing teams through shared vision, engagement, accountability via an evidence-based approach to people management.
• Developing capability and influencing for results in large organisations.

Themes

The eight themes in the Advanced Clinical Leadership Module will focus on the practical implantation and modification of effective leadership, specific to the workplace role of each candidate. This will culminate in a publishable Quality Improvement Project report.

1. Clinical Leadership in the NHS.
2. Self-awareness and personal leadership qualities.
3. Project/change management theories and practice.
4. Impact of effective leadership within the clinical arena, and resilience strategies.
5. Teams: Evidence-based approach to people management.
6. Rescuing failing teams, managing difficult behaviour.
7. Leading for improvement, strategic development, business planning and marketing.
8. Presenting projects, change management, organisational theory. Change within large organisations – the NHS, learning from other industries. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module students will demonstrate: 

• analysis of their leadership standards in the domains of Self, Team Leader, Organisational Responsibility, and System Leadership: with reflective learning demonstrating their development in each domain
• evaluation of their leadership impact and project management methodology skills through the creation and delivery of a sustainable Quality Improvement Project, to a publishable level
• purposeful analysis of a range of leadership theories and concepts, as the basis for justifying their clinical leadership and service development decisions
• creation, justification, and implementation of Change Management Plans, evidencing a critical appreciation of the role of leadership approaches on the success of change

Unit 3: Healthcare Informatics (20 credits)

Aims

To introduce students to the importance of Healthcare Informatics in a modern clinical setting to improve patient care through an understanding of the healthcare data needs of clinicians, health organisations, governments and patients. 

Content

• The design, and wider implications, of information systems and data in a modern healthcare environment.
• The relevance of data models and data flows within the NHS.
• The importance of informatics in a modern health system and how this information can improve patient care.
• The impact of healthcare data.
• The structure and organisation of healthcare databases, systems and data storage.
• The governance, regulatory and ethical elements of healthcare data.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module participants should be able to:

• describe the various types / properties / structure / usage of multiple types of patient-level and aggregated data used in the field of healthcare
• describe the framework within which datasets are described, mandated / notified, implemented and reported in the NHS
• describe the UK governance framework relating to the use of personal data in healthcare
• describe the differences between terminologies and classifications and their usage
• describe an approach to data stewardship and proper curation in the management of healthcare data
• describe the elements which underpin meaningful and safe interoperability in the context of personal healthcare data.

Assessment

Each unit uses summative assessment approaches of 3,000 to 4,000 words or their equivalent. Assessments are designed to ensure experiential learning and work-based real-life relevance. Approaches may include but are not limited to critical analysis of case-studies, assessment of evidence-based portfolios, assessment of work and sector relevant group presentations and projects, short answer questions, essays, the ability to handle, analyse and visualise unseen datasets, and research dissertations.

Fees

The total fees for this course are shown above in 'Course details'.

To understand which fee status applies to you, whether as a home or overseas student, visit the University’s fee status page.  

To help you manage your finances more comfortably, you can pay the fee in instalments. See how to pay for more.  

There are also some additional costs you’ll need to cover as part of this course. These are usually: 

• an application fee of £50, unless you're eligible for a fee waiver, payable online
• any travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for the residential teaching sessions held in Cambridge

Funding

We're dedicated to reducing and removing financial barriers to learning. Visit financial support ahead of the application deadline to find out what options may be available to help you in your studies. You can explore external funding and stay up to date on our concessions and bursaries.

Considering applying? We look forward to receiving your application. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Should the course become full, we reserve the right to close for applications early. We encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.    

How to apply and what you'll need 

The ‘Apply now’ button will take you to the Applicant Portal. There, you can:

• create, save, and submit your application
• upload your supporting documents
• submit and manage your references
• pay your application fee
• track your application

Supporting documents 

When you submit your application, you’ll need to provide supporting information. 

Qualifications and transcripts   

Upload details of degree-level courses you have completed or are studying.  

Employer letter of support 

Upload a letter from your employer confirming release of time to study. 

Evidence of funding 

Upload details for any funding you have secured for this course.  

References  

Submit contact details for 2 academic referees, who we will contact on your behalf.  

For more information on applying and admissions, see Postgraduate and Master's admissions.

We're committed to supporting you in your learning journey, and we offer a variety of support opportunities to meet individual needs. Visit student support to find out more about how we can help.