Postgraduate Professional Development
At the University of Edinburgh you can choose to study single or multiple courses via the Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) scheme. PPD is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course(s), without the time or financial commitment of a full Master’s Degree, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.

Postgraduate Professional Development
Our Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at medical professionals who want to advance their knowledge and develop their professional skills in internal medicine. PPD allows you to study a postgraduate-level course(s), without taking on the full financial or time commitment of a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.
Our Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) Courses
PPD courses offer a flexible way to study while maintaining work and personal commitments.
Our courses are taught by experts and practitioners from the UK National Health Service (NHS) and the University of Edinburgh who will teach in their speciality areas. The PPD courses allow you to participate in the same classes as the Internal Medicine degree; PPD registration grants you student status for two years from the date of registration and allows you full access to the University library during that time.
Our PPD courses run for 6 or 12 weeks and cover a variety of disciplines and topics in internal medicine. Each course has a mixture of self-study materials, course assessments and live online session that allows you to interact with other course participants, university staff and NHS professionals.
You will be supported through your studies by a personal tutor and the programme administrator. We will ensure that you are inducted into your studies, get to know the online learning environment, and have access to the Universities online Library.
Successful completion of a PPD course allows you to gain academic credit. Over the course of two years through our PPD scheme you can take up to a maximum of 50 credits. For example, if you successfully complete a 6 week course you will be awarded 10 credits at SCQF Level 11 and if you successfully complete a 12 week course you will be awarded 20 credits at SCQF Level 11. If you decide to extend your study, it is possible to transfer your academic credits gained from PPD and continue with the programme here to study towards a Postgraduate Diploma or Masters.
Please view the available courses, start dates, course duration and application deadlines for 2020-21.
Course |
Credits |
Length of course |
Months course runs |
Cost of course |
---|---|---|---|---|
Principles of Clinical Pharmacology (IMED11001) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Sep – Oct |
£915 |
Acute Medicine and Clinical Decision Making (IMED11005) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Sep – Oct |
£915 |
Advanced Research Methods (IMED11019) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Sep – Oct |
£915 |
Improving Diagnosis (IMED11020) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Nov– Dec |
£915 |
Clinical Skills Principles (IMED11007) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Nov– Dec |
£915 |
Science of Medicine (IMED11003) | 20 | 12 weeks | Nov– Feb | £1,825 |
Cardiology (IMED11008) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Jan – Feb |
£915 |
Oncology (IMED11009) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Jan – Feb |
£915 |
Rheumatology (IMED11027) | 10 | 6 weeks | Jan - Feb | £915 |
Gastroenterology (IMED11010) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Feb – Mar |
£915 |
Palliative Care & Pain Management (IMED11011) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Feb – Mar |
£915 |
Diabetes & Endocrinology (IMED11012) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Feb – Mar |
£915 |
Intensive Care (IMED11021) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Feb – Mar |
£915 |
Imaging in Medicine (IMED11006) | 10 | 6 weeks | Feb – Mar | £915 |
Respiratory (IMED11013) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Apr – May |
£915 |
Clinical Genetics (IMED11014) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Apr – May |
£915 |
Renal Medicine (IMED11015) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Apr – May |
£915 |
Cerebrovascular Medicine (IMED11022) |
10 |
6 weeks |
Apr – May |
£915 |
Dermatology (IMED11026) | 10 | 6 weeks | Apr - May | £915 |
Principles of Laboratory Medicine (IMED11004) | 10 | 6 weeks | Apr – May | £915 |
Haematology (IMED11016) |
10 |
6 weeks |
May– July |
£915 |
Neurology (IMED11017) |
10 |
6 weeks |
May– July |
£915 |
Principles of Quality Improvement in Healthcare & Patient Safety (IMED11023) |
10 |
6 weeks |
May– July |
£915 |
Skills for Evidence Based Practice (IMED11024) | 10 | 6 weeks | May– July | £915 |
Clinical Psychiatry (IMED11029) | 10 | 6 weeks | May-July | £915 |
For More information on Our Courses
Please see the Degree Programme Table for more information about available courses in the current academic year. Courses run only once in each academic year so please contact the programme team for more information.
Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study
Extending Your Study
If you decide to extend your study, it is possible to transfer your academic credits gained from PPD and continue with the programme here to study towards a Postgraduate Diploma or Masters. If you have any questions about this, please talk to the programme team as early as possible.
Entry Requirements and Applying for Our PPD Courses
It is recommended that you have a medical degree (MBChB or equivalent) or a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a clinically relevant subject. Our courses have a strong clinical element and experience in a clinical context is essential. We may also consider your application if you have other relevant work experience; but please contact the programme team to discuss before you apply. There are other entry requirements that may be required such as proof of English – to find out more please view the application pages.
To start your application please select the option PG Professional Development in Internal Medicine (Online Learning) (ICL) - 2 Years (Part-time Intermittent Study) from the application page.