The MSc in medical education not only allows for progression in the field of medical education. Students also receive tailored 1-1 support, networking opportunities, and access to the medical education resource centre, based at the RCP.
The MSc in medical education has been designed by the Royal College of Physicians and University College London to meet the requirements of doctors who are intending to have a significant role in medical education, and is delivered by experienced teachers, senior clinical medical education leads and consultants.
Applications for the 2025/26 intake are open. We advise you to apply early as applications may close before the closing date if all places are offered. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
Features
Undertaking a MSc in medical education allows you to:
- benefit from the 'outstanding' reputation of the RCP and UCL
- attend face-to-face teaching days based at RCP London
- receive tailored support from one-to-one tutorials
- network with a variety of like-minded professionals
- access our unique medical education resource centre based at the RCP
- undertake a flexible mode of study
- exit with a certificate, diploma or masters qualification
- expand your knowledge through both clinicians and education specialists.
Participants develop the ability to:
- adopt a learner-centred teaching approach, structure teaching, and set objectives that enhance their students' learning;
- apply educational theory and research to their own teaching practice;
- recognise how assessment theory should inform practice in assessment of medical competence;
- appraise both medical trainees and peers.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits:
- the MSc programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits) and a project/report (60 credits)
- a postgraduate diploma comprising eight core modules (120 credits) is offered
- a postgraduate certificate comprising four core modules (60 credits) is offered.
Programme overview
The RCP has access to experienced teachers, supervisors and mentors in healthcare, who also hold senior roles such as consultant posts and medical education leads in their hospitals. These doctors join the RCP and UCL faculty of medical educationalists to tutor on the programme and present sessions throughout the taught modules.
This is a valuable opportunity for students to learn from other doctors who are leading by example and bringing the taught components of the programme to life.
UCL is one of the top universities in the world with fantastic research strengths, and a genuine commitment to educational excellence. This combination of academic excellence, grounded in the reality of service delivery and development, sets this masters programme apart from others.
This is a flexible, part-time, modular masters programme taught at the RCP in London, which can be completed in 3–5 years. This is a cumulative programme and early exit with a Certificate or Diploma is possible.
This programme is specifically designed for doctors wishing to develop their roles as educators. Participants will learn to use appropriate teaching strategies and educational theories to enhance the way they support learning. The MSc in Medical Education is ideally suited to doctors in any specialty. Such as medicine, surgery and public health.
Module details
Entry requirements and application process
This masters programme is exclusively for qualified doctors and we welcome applicants from all grades and specialties. Applicants should have a role in medical education and as such we would recommend applicants have completed the foundation programme.
This is a very popular MSc programme with more applicants than available places. Due to competition for places at all levels of the programme, it is important that the application form includes details of the applicant's roles, responsibilities and interest in medical education.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Good.
If your existing score is below this, please consider retaking the exam, as applicants with lower scores will not be accepted on the programme.
Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English
UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses.
Further information can be found on the UCL English language requirements page.
Application process
Applications are open, you can apply on the UCL website. Contact postgraduate@rcp.ac.uk if you have any queries.
Apply nowProgramme fees
Programme fees are paid to UCL, who offer students flexible arrangements to make payments in instalments.
Tuition fees (2024/25)
UK
The fee for the full Master's programme is: £17,300 (PT). Early exit with PG Diploma (120 credits) or a PG Certificate (60 credits) is available with fees set accordingly.
The fee per 15 credit module is: £1,441.67.
Modular/flexible students (non-full-time) will be invoiced on a pro-rata basis over their duration of study.
Overseas
The fee for the full Master's programme is: £31,100 (PT).
Modular/flexible students (non-full-time) will be invoiced on a pro-rata basis over their duration of study.
Note on fees
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary.
Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website.
Fees for flexible, modular study are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session.
Frequently asked questions
The Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and Masters in Medical Education are designed to meet the needs of doctors wishing to develop their roles as educators. The programmes are exclusively for doctors and attract participants from the full range of specialties, including surgeons, general practitioners, psychiatrists and radiologists as well as physicians. Participants are mainly speciality registrars, consultants or other career-grade doctors. This is a postgraduate programme; if enquirers have not completed their undergraduate studies they will not be considered for the programme.
Attendance at all face-to-face teaching days is compulsory. UCL regulations require that students maintain a 70% attendance rate for each module. Students must provide extenuating circumstances where they are unable to attend. FY1 and FY2 doctors with limited study leave, please ensure that you have secured sufficient leave prior to applying to the course. *Attendance requirement may vary depending on COVID-19 regulations.
This is a flexible, modular masters programme and are taken sequentially. Starting with the Postgraduate Certificate in year one, progressing to the Diploma in the second year, and finally the masters in Medical Education. The full masters may be taken over a maximum of five years.
In the Certificate level of the course there are a total of 12 compulsory contact days. These are made up of four 3-day modules.
In the Diploma level of the course there are a total of 12 compulsory contact days. These are made up of four 3-day modules.
In the MSc level there are five compulsory contact days. Students will be assigned a personal tutor whilst completing and a project/report.
*Attendance requirement may vary depending on COVID-19 regulations.
You are able to defer your place on the course. Flexible/modular students have five years to complete a Masters from initial registration on the Programme; five years to complete a Diploma from initial registration on the programme, and two years to complete a certificate from initial registration on the Programme.
No. This is a cumulative programme. You are able to exit after the Certificate level of the course, the Diploma level of the course or after MSc level of the course.
No. The teaching days are compulsory. However, these teaching days are supported via an online learning environment (called Moodle), where readings are uploaded and you can discuss projects in student forums.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Yes. All fees are paid directly to UCL, who offer students flexible arrangements to make payments in instalments. Further information can be found at UCL Students website.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with the first application review on 1 May and offers will be made shortly after. We advise you to apply early as applications may close before the closing date if all places are offered. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
UCL regulations state that a student can apply to transfer (RPL – Recognition of Prior Learning) a maximum of 90 credits from a similar programme at another institution at a fee of £100. In order to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), you will be required to demonstrate that you have successfully completed all learning objectives of the module you are claiming RPL for. You will not be permitted to attend only part of a module based on prior learning. A document outlining the objectives for each module can be found at the bottom of the FAQ section. More information can be found at UCL: Academic Manual. Please contact the postgraduate team at the RCP if you would like to request RPL.
Though a formal role in medical education is not required, applicants need to demonstrate a passion for medical education and will need to have access to medical students or trainees during their time on the course. This is important because much discussion during the course draws on participants’ current experiences of teaching and the first assignment involves participants reviewing a teaching session that they have designed and delivered. Students wishing to progress to the diploma will be required to compile a portfolio evidencing their ongoing development as a medical educator and, therefore, need to be involved in teaching and facilitating learning. In addition, it is beneficial that you have some involvement in course or curriculum design and supervising trainees.
As the course is only offered with a part-time mode of study it is not possible to study on a Tier 4 visa. However, some international students who have the right to live and work in the UK on a working visa may be eligible to apply as overseas applicants.
Modules will be delivered in purpose-built teaching facilities at the RCP in London.
Written assignments follow each module at certificate level. The diploma level is assessed by written assignments, and the Master's level is assessed by a dissertation.
Each level of the programme carries 60 masters-level credits, which equate to a notional 600 hours of study time. This includes attendance at face-to-face teaching days, self-directed study and research, and completion of assignments. This is an approximation only, and the hours required may vary according to individuals’ prior experience of the subject. This is in line with all other masters-level programmes in the UK.
Yes. The RCP CPD diary scheme allows you to claim one credit for every one hour of learning. Credits obtained from the MSc programme can be entered under the ‘self-certified’ tab in the CPD diary. Please be aware that a maximum of 12 credits will be counted as external per annum. The remaining MSc credits will be counted as personal. If you are registered with another CPD scheme please contact your scheme coordinator to confirm how to apply for credits.
Each module has a module tutor – a member of staff from the RCP who is responsible for the bulk of the teaching. The students are given the contact details for this tutor and should refer all subject-related queries to them.
All students will have full access to the Jerwood Medical Education Resource Centre (MERC) at the RCP. Specialist collections of books and journals are available. As well as remote access to a wide range of electronic materials and databases.