Simulation Based Clinical Education PgCert, PgProfDev

Our award-winning online learning technology is fully interactive and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.

Our online students not only have access to Edinburgh’s excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world into a global community of healthcare professionals with an interest in simulation based education.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Simulation Based Clinical Education programme is a 1-year part-time, 60 credit, taught postgraduate programme at SCQF level 11 which will commence in September of each year and finish at the end of April of each year.

The programme consists of three courses.

• Principles of Teaching and Learning (SCQF level 11, 20 points),
• Simulation Methodology for Clinical Education (SCQF level 11, 20 points),
• Current Issues in Simulation Education (SCQF level 11, 20 points).

We deliver lectures and tutorials online and you will be expected to use self-directed learning, peer-discussion boards, tutorials, peer presentations and other similar e-learning activities to help engage with and get the most from the course materials.

During term time, you should be prepared to spend an average of 15-20 hours per week engaged in study, with study time intensifying prior to submission of your assignments.

On completion of the PGCert, students who wish to continue their studies at Edinburgh they can apply for and Recognised Prior Learning credits into year 2 of the Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Clinical Education programme.

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.

By the end of the programme graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical knowledge and understanding of the theories, concepts and principles underpinning clinical education.
• Engage with critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of relevant educational literature and the evidence base relating to simulation based education.
• Use collaborative working skills to effectively build and facilitate relationships within an interprofessional context.
• Design and critique simulation based educational experiences.
• Critically evaluate their own teaching practice within context of simulation based education and that of others.

This programme has been designed to enhance your prospects in pursuing a clinical education career within the field of simulation based education. Simulation-based learning has become a formally recognised teaching method embedded in all healthcare programmes and is a rapidly expanding area for which there is a need for those with expertise in designing, delivering and evaluating simulation based learning experiences.

It promotes high quality simulation based educational experiences by helping you reflect upon and share insights about your practice, to understand and apply educational theories and evidence from literature, and to help you develop a good foundation in simulation based education and upon which to build your clinical and academic career.

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 primary clinical qualification, such as an MBChB, BVS, BDS, Bachelor of Nursing, or a UK 2:1 honours degree in a relevant subject, or their international equivalents. You must be currently teaching in clinical or educational settings.

We will also consider your application if you have a biomedical science qualification or a non-university professional qualification, such as Registered General Nurse, with appropriate clinical experience.

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

• 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 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 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

Tuition fees

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding