Flexible learning

Find out how the programme has been designed to fit in with a busy professional career, and the value of studying as part of an online community.

A flexible bespoke opportunity to train and practice

This part-time Master of Family Medicine programme has been designed with working professionals in mind, with the majority of the teaching through distance learning. The study commitment is of approximately 10 - 15 hours per week, to allow busy doctors to continue frontline duties while they enjoy interactive and problem-based learning modules specially designed for them.

The online programme runs over three academic years, and is complemented by a one week period of face-to-face teaching in both the certificate and diploma year (Years 1 and 2). This approach gives the flexibility of online learning, with the opportunities to apply that learning and gain valuable feedback through the contact teaching period. Attendance is not compulsory but it provides the unique opportunity to travel and view the practice of family medicine in other countries whilst meeting and learning from your tutors and fellow students. Currently, this contact session takes place in Edinburgh around June, but may be moved online in specific cases, such as was required during the pandemic.

Global online community

An important benefit of this programme is the online community which allows the student often working as a single practitioner to share experiences of managing many different and difficult clinical scenarios and innovative treatment practices with students from around the world through active discussion boards, blogs, group work and videos. Doctors who have completed the programme have spoken of the strength of support and encouragement that they gained from being able to share and learn together even though they are working in isolated places.