About the school
The School of Postgraduate Medicine offers a range of taught postgraduate programmes with strong emphasis on contemporary clinical issues, which can be undertaken at Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Masters level, including:
- Clinical Medicine
- Dermatology Skills & Treatment
- Medical Education
- Mental Health Practice
- Medical and Healthcare Simulation
- Psychiatric Practice
- Skin Integrity Skills and Treatment
- Western Medical Acupuncture
A well-supported medical doctorate programme is also available.
Programmes are available on a part-time basis with the intention that clinicians working in the UK can undertake a programme of study while still practicing in a professional capacity. Additionally, full-time programmes are available for overseas clinicians who wish to further develop specialist knowledge and skills whilst studying in the UK. The School welcomes overseas students who are supported by dedicated admissions tutors and the University has a well developed range of services to support international students – link international page.
The School is constantly developing new initiatives in response to the ever-changing medical and healthcare continuing professional development agenda.
People matter
Our strengths lie in providing high quality teaching and research with a strong professional, clinical and applied focus. Our applied research and consultancy activity ensures that the courses that we provide are up to date, relevant and serve the needs of students and employers.
We have a reputation for providing a rewarding and stimulating academic environment and our flexible approaches to practice based learning. Staff consistently demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning and are proud of their reputation for developing highly skilled clinicians that are at the forefront of contemporary practice.
You will benefit from studying in a relaxed environment supported by friendly and approachable staff and excellent teachers as evaluated by students who have rated our teaching as being the best in the Faculty or University. Teaching and support staff pride themselves in being helpful and approachable and encourage students to contact them whenever support or guidance is needed.
In addition, courses are supported by prestigious clinical fellows and external consultants, many of national and international eminence who provide significant teaching input and support.
21st Century resources
The School is based in the University’s Health Research Building at the College Lane Campus in Hatfield, with easy access to major motorway and mainline rail links. Click here for directions
Facilities at the University’s new £30m Health Research Building provide a highly sophisticated training and research environment. A medical simulation centre features intensive care and ward areas, pharmacies, a GP surgery and counselling and observation rooms, as well as the very latest in audio-visual technology and conference facilities. In clinical settings that imitate real life, students can practice advanced clinical skills, quickly becoming competent and confident in new methods of working.
World-class resources such as hi-spec laboratories, hi-tech computing suites, 24/7 Learning Resources Centres provide help for students to progress their studies, and present professional and innovative coursework and research output.
StudyNet is the Universities on-line learning environment which provides access to a range of networked resources and services including information databases, electronic journals and self-help guides. It allows students to access on-line lecture notes, handouts, course guides, reading lists, presentations, discussion groups and on-line tutorial support from home or work. StudyNet provides the facilities to offer a blended learning approach which combines taught sessions with distance learning.
The School of Postgraduate Medicine is committed to maximising teaching & learning opportunities through the use of state of the art blended learning facilities. Blended learning is supported by technologies such as elluminate which is a live, virtual classroom, where students & tutors meet on-line to participate in shared teaching and learning activities. In addition, filmed sessions are made available with supporting exercises and linked reading so that students can study in their own time and anywhere where they have access to the internet.
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Postgraduate Medical School
The University of Hertfordshire was a founding partner of the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Postgraduate Medical School (BHPMS) which was launched in 2005 by the Chief Medical Officer for England & Wales. One of its primary objectives is to deliver high-quality evidence-based blended learning to a wide range of health professionals in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Other academic partners are the University of Bedfordshire and the University of Cranfield. The Dean of the Medical School is Professor Alan Sinclair, and he is supported by the Dean’s Committee comprising the following Associate Deans: Professor Richard Aspinall at Cranfield University, Cheri Hunter at the University of Hertfordshire (UH) and Clare Morris at the University of Bedfordshire. The strategy is driven by the BHPMS Board currently chaired by Professor Tim Wilson of UH, and which has a membership of Vice Chancellors, Deans of Faculties, and senior NHS management of local NHS Trusts (Chief Executives and Medical Directors). Since 2005, the universities have developed a significant portfolio of postgraduate medical education courses and significant plans towards shared learning and teaching are being developed. A Research Committee is being established and will drive the research agenda for the BHPMS.
