Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Internal Medicine (Online Learning) MSc, PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev

Awards: MSc, PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev

Study modes: Part-time, Part-time Intermittent Study

Online learning

Funding opportunities

The MSc undoubtedly expanded my clinical knowledge, and enhanced my medical practice and the level of care I can provide for my patients, especially, playing a vital role in my care of increasingly complex patients with problems that cross specialities.

Internal Medicine (Online Learning) graduate

This online programme will give you a comprehensive understanding of the processes, investigation procedures and treatment options for common diseases you encounter in general medical practice.

The programme is mostly for early postgraduate doctors. It complements the learning you need to achieve membership of the Royal College of Physicians and it may also be suitable for doctors in other specialties, or nurse consultants and other paramedical specialists with extensive clinical experience.

We cover basic physiology, pathophysiology, therapy and clinical management, as well as clinical skills, generic skills (including writing and research methods) law, ethics and prescribing ability.

Problem-based learning through clinical case scenarios will be used to enhance knowledge and clinical decision-making. We use a variety of e-learning resources and platforms, including a virtual classroom with online tutorials and lectures, online interactive resources and virtual patients.

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

This programme is made up of compulsory and optional courses.

Compulsory courses

  • Principles of Clinical Pharmacology
  • Skills for Evidence Based Practice
  • Science of Medicine
  • Principles of Laboratory Medicine
  • Imaging in Medicine
  • Acute Medicine and Clinical Decision-Making
  • Clinical Skills Principles
  • Improving Diagnosis
  • Advanced Research Methods

Optional courses

  • Cardiology
  • Cerebrovascular Medicine
  • Clinical Genetics
  • Clinical Education
  • Diabetes and Endocrinology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Haematology
  • Intensive Care
  • Pain Management
  • Palliative Care and Pain Management
  • Principles of Quality Improvement in Health care
  • Oncology
  • Neurology
  • Renal Medicine
  • Respiratory
  • Rheumatology
  • Dermatology
  • Clinical Psychiatry

Further programme information

Postgraduate Professional Development

Postgraduate Professional Development (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 masters, postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate.

PPD credits and credit transfer

You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years through our PPD scheme. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit.

Alternatively, after completing one year of courses, you can choose to transfer your credits and continue studying towards a higher award on a masters, postgraduate diploma, or postgraduate certificate programme.

Starting PPD

Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout a year you may only start a masters, postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate programme in the month of September.

Any time spent studying PPD will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a masters, postgraduate diploma, or postgraduate certificate 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.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScInternal Medicine3 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
PgCertInternal Medicine1 YearPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
PgDipInternal Medicine2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

This programme is designed to help medical professionals gain the next step in their medical career, with a highly regarded qualification and first-rate expertise.

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.

An accredited medical degree (MBChB or equivalent) or a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a clinically relevant subject. You must have work experience in a clinical context.

We may also consider your application if you have other relevant work experience; please contact the programme team to check before you apply. You may be admitted to certificate level only in the first instance.

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

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:

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).

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:

Deposit

Successful applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit before an unconditional offer can be made. This will be offset against tuition fees upon entry to the programme.

  • £500

Find out more about tuition fee deposits:

Tuition fee deposits can be paid here using the University's online payment facility, ePay:

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScInternal Medicine3 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
PgCertInternal Medicine1 YearPart-timeTuition fees
PgDipInternal Medicine2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
PgProfDevInternal MedicineUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees

Featured funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

(Revised 18 March 2024 to remove 'Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships' information) 

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Internal Medicine Office
  • Western General Hospital
  • Edinburgh
  • EH4 2XU
Programme start date Application deadline
9 September 2024 23 August 2024

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Internal Medicine Office
  • Western General Hospital
  • Edinburgh
  • EH4 2XU