Critical Care (Online Learning) MSc, PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev
Online
DURATION
1 up to 3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
GBP 6,370 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* estimated tuition for critical care (MSc, PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev)
Introduction
The MSc Critical Care Programme is aimed at anyone driven by a desire to improve outcomes for Critically Ill adults. Our tutors, students and approach reflect the multidisciplinary nature of critical care and the clinical, academic, and professional themes that run through the programme aim to develop healthcare professionals who question, lead, and motivate others to achieve the best care for their patients. The programme has been designed and developed in partnership between the University of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. We have designed the MSc Critical Care (online) programme for healthcare professionals who encounter critically ill adults in their daily practice. These professionals include:
- nurses
- doctors in training
- senior doctors from all specialties
- allied health professionals (for example, pharmacists, physiotherapists, paramedics and dietitians)
Prospective students will often be working full-time in professional roles and need a flexible approach to study. The programme is therefore designed as a part-time, fully online, MSc programme.
You have the option of graduating after one, two, or three years with a postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, or MSc respectively.
You will study core clinical subjects in years one and two of the programme, covering, but not limited to:
- Recognition of critical illness
- Initial treatment and stabilisation
- Advanced organ system support
- Daily assessment and management of the critically ill adult
- Sepsis
This will provide you with a practical, and evidence-based knowledge base which can be immediately applied in the clinical setting.
You will be able to customise your learning by choosing from elective courses as you progress through the programme.
Integrated into the programme is a graduate exposure to academic research practice in the core 'Unlocking the Literature' teaching theme. This starts in the second teaching block and builds over the first 2 years.
You will become equipped with the skills to access and appraise the biomedical literature which we hope will fuel your curiosity, and allow you to actively participate in clinical discussions:
- on the programme
- at the bedside
You will develop as an independent and critical thinker. You will be able to appraise primary and secondary research (research synthesis), and incorporate its findings into:
- personal practice
- guidelines
- work improvement
Those who complete the full MSc will have the choice in their third year to complete a supervised dissertation (systematic review, primary research project, comprehensive clinical guideline, or quality improvement project) or to conduct small critical care-related projects and select up to four elective options from a range of critical care related courses from across the University of Edinburgh.
Online learning
This programme is 100% online, allowing you to study at times that suit you. You can study for 15-20 hours per week, enabling you to balance study with work and family commitments.
Our online learning technology is fully interactive, and award-winning and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from your own home or working environment.
Our online students not only have access to the University’s excellent resources but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
Rankings
The University of Edinburgh is currently ranked 15th in the World in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
Program Outcome
- You will be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge covering the main areas of critical care medicine.
- You will be able to apply clinical reasoning and integrate knowledge with practice in a wide, and often unpredictable, variety of clinical contexts.
- You will be able to demonstrate criticality, creativity and problem-solving in the areas of academic and clinical critical care.
- You will be able to summarise and communicate complex information using a variety of methods and with a range of audiences.
- You will be able to demonstrate substantial autonomy and take responsibility for your own work.
Career Opportunities
The programme will enhance your understanding and clinical knowledge in Critical Care, and improve your academic capabilities, providing opportunities to develop your career.
As a graduate of the programme, whether you are a nurse, doctor, paramedic or an allied health professional your professional and career development will be enhanced in the following areas:
- advanced clinical practice
- clinical leadership
- research
- training and education
By combining academic excellence with the University of Edinburgh’s world-class reputation, graduates from our programme are well placed to continue and advance their clinical careers within the NHS or other health services, pursue advanced academic study, or work in industry. Equally, graduates can expect to be academically confident and may choose to pursue academic careers in related fields.
Curriculum
You will experience detailed coverage of the essentials of the clinical management of critically unwell adults through the compulsory elements of the programme.
At the same time, you will develop expertise in accessing, interpreting, and integrating the findings of clinical research into clinical care.
You will study core clinical subjects including, but not limited to:
- recognition and resuscitation of the critically unwell adult
- daily management of the critical care patient
- advanced organ support
- trauma
- toxicology
- burns
- neurological critical care
- sepsis
You will have the opportunity to customise your experience by selecting from a wide range of elective courses based on “Edinburgh Strengths”. These currently include:
- Neurological Critical Care
- Maternal Critical Care
- Cardiac Critical Care (for emergency and elective patients)
- Perioperative Critical Care
- Cutting Edge Critical Care: Research and Clinical Practice in a Changing World
- Core Clinical Practice in Emergency Medicine
- Transplant Critical Care
Additional elective courses are in development.
The MSc in Critical Care is a part-time, online programme taught over 3 years.
You can exit the programme after year 1 with a postgraduate certificate, year 2 with a postgraduate diploma or year 3 with a Master in Science.
Critical care clinicians and academics in NHS Lothian and the University of Edinburgh will primarily deliver the teaching to you. However, international experts from other institutions will also deliver learning on the programme.
Year 1 - Postgraduate Certificate
Students will take six core courses.
Year 1 core courses include:
- Fundamentals of Critical Care
- Unlocking the Literature: Clinical Trials
- Core Clinical Practice in Critical Care
- Trauma, Toxicology and Temperature
- Sepsis and Infection
- Human Factors in Critical Care
Year 2 - Postgraduate Diploma
You will take three core courses and two elective courses.
Year 2 core courses include:
- Advanced Critical Care
- Unlocking the Literature: Evidence to Practice
Year 2 elective courses include:
- Neurological Critical Care
- Maternal Critical Care
- Cardiac Critical Care
- Transplant Critical Care
Year 3 - MSc
To attain the MSc, you will complete a Master's dissertation.
This will take the form of a report of a project undertaken primarily by yourself. This must constitute a substantial body of work, conducted in the third year.
For a few students, it may be feasible for this to be a report of a piece of original clinical research. Other project types will also be acceptable including:
- systematic reviews
- development of a substantial clinical guideline
- quality improvement project
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
Royal College of Physicians Scholarships
The University of Edinburgh, in partnership with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, is offering a number of scholarships to eligible students.
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.