Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) (Online Learning) PgCert (ICL)

The programme is delivered in an online environment that provides a dynamic and collaborative learning experience.

Our flexible online learning environment allows you to access materials and learn when and where is most convenient for you. This allows you to work around your professional commitments while developing your expertise in FASD.

FASD experts from the Fetal Alcohol Advisory Support, and Training (FAAST) Team at the University of Edinburgh, NHS Scotland, and clinical academics from universities in the UK and abroad, help deliver our programme. This programme also includes opportunities to learn from individuals with lived experience of FASD.

The programme uses different methods to create a dynamic and collaborative learning environment, including:

• pre-recorded and live lectures

• live small-group seminars

• asynchronous group discussions

The content will mostly be accessed flexibly; however, some interactive live content will require engagement at specific times.

Assessment is through:

• An exam made up of multiple choice and short answer questions (Course 1)

• Coursework on example clinical cases (Courses 2 & 3)

You can also assess your progress with weekly multiple-choice questions that do not contribute to your final grade.

This programme will offer you a flexible postgraduate degree designed for professionals. It consists of three, twenty-credit courses offered part-time with the option of intermittent study. This means that you have up to three years to take the required courses, with a requirement for at least 20 credits of courses to be taken each year. Your teachers will be experts in FASD with experience in the diagnosis, assessment and support of individuals with the condition.

There is a strong emphasis on including individuals with lived experience and in each course, you will hear directly from families raising children with FASD and individuals with FASD themselves.

To achieve the aims of the programme, you will complete three courses as follows:

• CLPS11094 SCQF 11 –– Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Context, Contributors & Clinical Presentation

This course focuses on providing the ability to describe, explain, and evaluate the condition. This includes its epidemiology, causes and presentation in children and adults, demonstrating an understanding of the complexities of FASD.

• CLPS11096 SCQF 11 - The assessment and diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

The learning aims of this course include the achievement of in-depth knowledge and skills emphasising the evaluation of assessment results to inform intervention recommendations. Further learning outcomes cover the need to communicate sensitively on this topic taking a person-centred, trauma-informed approach.

• Proposed Course SCQF 11- Advanced case formulation in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

In this course, you will expand your knowledge of assessment and diagnosis through consideration of complex cases. These will address issues such as difficulties in determining pre-natal alcohol exposure, borderline cases, differential diagnosis and how best to work with families. This course will also enhance your skills in making intervention recommendations.

(Revised 26 October 2023 to update information about course credit requirements)

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

On completion of the programme, you will have:

• a comprehensive understanding of the presentation, causes, epidemiology, and diagnosis of FASD
• an understanding of the importance of trauma-informed, person-centred language when communicating with families, clients, and colleagues on FASD-related topics
• the ability to coordinate and conduct assessments relevant to your professional background

After finishing this programme, you will be able to:

• apply your skills in assessment and diagnosis to FASD
• diagnose FASD and write case descriptions following local guidelines
• if applicable to your role, measure the key facial features related to FASD using physical measurements, or digital photograph analysis software.
• sensitively investigate a developmental history, including asking questions about alcohol use during pregnancy
• understand the assessments made by all members of a multi-disciplinary team
• develop your practice in communicating an FASD diagnosis to stakeholders (e.g., individuals with FASD, families, and professionals).

A multidisciplinary approach

It is important to understand that completion of this programme will not qualify you to unilaterally undertake diagnostic assessments in the absence of a multidisciplinary team. Because of the complexity of the outcomes related to PAE, international guidelines specify a multidisciplinary team is essential for an accurate and comprehensive assessment and subsequent management recommendations.

Graduates of the programme will be able to take important roles, in both child and adult services, leading the co-ordination and interpretation of multi-disciplinary assessments of FASD.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, or a subsequent Masters or Doctoral qualification, in psychology, health or a related discipline.

If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may consider your application on the basis of your relevant professional qualifications.

The programme is designed for those directly involved in the assessment and diagnosis of FASD specifically; Medical professionals, Clinical or Educational Psychologists, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Clinical Associates in Applied Psychology and Social Workers. Other professionals will also find the content relevant to their work including; Midwives, Health visitors and teachers working with special educational needs. The course is also relevant for those working in public health, including management, and policy makers.

You should be in possession of a current registration with an appropriate accrediting professional body or national organisation.

You should also have a rudimentary knowledge of standardised assessments which involve scoring and analysis, e.g., use of percentiles, scaled or standard scores.

Please contact us if require further information before submitting your application.

(Revised 14 February 2024 to provide additional clarity.)

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

• Online Learning Fees 2024-2025

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding