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18 Jun 2026, 08:00
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Studying in the University of Glasgow’s online Health Professions Education programme will help you achieve your goals, even as you support learners in achieving theirs. Ideal for busy professionals, our health professions education programme offers maximum flexibility combined with excellence in instruction. Depending on the route they choose, MSc students will complete a dissertation through systematic review or empirical research.
WHY THIS PROGRAMME
Our online health professions education programme is designed for professionals working in healthcare roles who are seeking to qualify for a teaching, management or research-based career in health professions education.
Run by the prestigious School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, this programme offers the opportunity to study at the heart of a growing network for contemporary educational thinking.
With a focus on active, collaborative online learning, we challenge and support you to apply evidence-based methods in your teaching to fellow health professionals.
This Health Professions Education online distance learning programme is especially designed for working professionals wishing to develop specialist skills and to apply these in their professional teaching practice.
Our online Health Professions Education programme offers you the flexibility to take one of two routes. We offer a research pathway oriented around the design, conduct and governance of education research. Our secondary route is based on the application of educational theory and evidence to specific contexts.
Using practical, collaborative peer learning, we will help you to develop the necessary confidence and specialist skills.
Over 95% of the research submitted by the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences was deemed ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’ by the Research Excellence Framework in 2021.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Year 1 (PgCert)
3 x 20 credit core courses
Year 2 (PgDip)
3 x 20 credit compulsory courses in year 1, 6 x 10 credit courses from a choice of three, each semester in year 2
Year 3 (MSc / MSc (with Research))
3 x 20 credit compulsory courses in year 1, 6 x 10 credit courses from a choice of three, each semester in year 2, 1 x 60 credit dissertation in year 3
During the first year, there are three compulsory courses, worth 60 credits in total. Then, in the second year, students will choose two courses from each of the three blocks. These courses are 10 credits each, so overall worth 60 credits.
In the third year, students will undertake a dissertation, worth 60 credits. There are two different options for this:
On the MSc HPE programme, the dissertation will require a systematic review, synthesis and critique of the literature, to produce a policy document, a set of practitioner guidelines, or a new theoretical model
On the MSc HPE (with Research), the dissertation will be a standard report of empirical research, incorporating a critical literature review, methodology, analysis and interpretation of findings, and conclusions drawn.
The University of Glasgow specially adapts programmes to the online format. You will attend interactive lectures, seminars and individual tutorials. You will also build important connections with fellow students by taking part in project and team work.
Our expert staff will assess your progression through each course in a variety of ways. This may include essays, discussions, blogs, online presentations, interactive quizzes, assignments, weekly graded posts or group work . Details of these assignments are found in your induction.
Taken on a part-time basis, the duration of this programme is 3 to 6 years depending on the credential obtained.
To discover more about the programme watch our webinar with the programme director or visit our articles section for more information.
For more detailed information please visit the course page on our website.
Discover what it's like to study Health Professions Education/Health Professions Education (with Research) (Online Distance Learning) at University of Glasgow: insights on the course, making friends, personal statement tips, uni prep, and recommended books, podcasts, and videos.
Select a course option at the top of this page to view entry requirement information.
Choose a specific option to see funding information.
Course optionsSponsorship and funding information can be found via gla.ac.uk by searching for 'scholarships'.
Email:onlinedegreesadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk
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