Family Medicine (Online Learning) MFM
Online
DURATION
2 up to 6 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
GBP 15,200 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* estimated tuition for family medicine (MFM)
Introduction
The Master of Family Medicine (MFM) is an innovative online Master's degree. To help you achieve your potential we will equip you with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to deliver quality clinical care in family practice. You will also learn about family medicine as an academic speciality and develop specific academic skills.
We aspire to empower our learners to promote the development of compassionate and values-based family medicine that has a real impact on the individuals and communities that we serve.
Through the provision of excellence in family medicine education, the MFM delivers Global Health targets including the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (part of Sustainable Development Goal 3) and the World Health Organisation’s vision for strengthening primary healthcare. To achieve the WHO vision, family doctors will play a pivotal role within health systems around the world providing leadership to primary healthcare teams.
Whilst studying at the MFM, you will join a diverse community of family medicine practitioners from around the world resulting in enhanced learning.
Our experienced team of tutors and administrators will support you and ensure you make the most of the learning experience. We look forward to welcoming you to our growing family medicine community at the University of Edinburgh.
Online learning
This blended distance learning programme is delivered via the LEARN platform. Students have access to comprehensive learning materials as well as the University of Edinburgh’s library resources. Online tutorials are delivered regularly by experts in the field.
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 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 one week of face-to-face teaching in both the certificate and diploma years (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 program 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.
Rankings
The University of Edinburgh is currently ranked 15th in the World in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
The programme is aimed to provide learners with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become effective family doctors. The content is relevant to doctors of all backgrounds and experiences from early careers to those established in other specialities.
The programme is also suitable for allied health professionals working in primary healthcare settings. The programme provides a high-quality Master's level qualification in Family Medicine that is recognised by institutions around the world.
The qualification is an academic degree and can be used to enter PhD programmes or to assist in developing a role as an educator.
The skills gained will enhance your clinical practice but do not replace the vocational training often required to demonstrate clinical competency. In order to find out how the Master of Family Medicine is recognised towards training progression in your country please contact your local accrediting body.
Curriculum
Students can study for a Master's, Diploma, or Certificate level.
Year One (Certificate)
All students take the following compulsory courses:
- Foundations of Family Medicine (20 credits)
- Applied Principles of Family Medicine (20 credits)
- Professionalism in Family Practice (20 credits)
Year Two (Diploma)
All students take the following compulsory courses:
- Family Medicine Approach to Child and Maternal Health (20 credits)
- Family Medicine Approach to Non-Communicable Diseases (20 credits)
- Family Medicine Approach to Complex Needs (20 Credits)
Year Three (Masters)
The primary focus of learning in the third year is on quality improvement, although teaching other research methods is also incorporated. All students take a compulsory 20-credit methodologies to improve Family Medicine course followed by a 40-credit Family Medicine research project.
Additional Opportunities
In addition to the compulsory courses and projects that make up the Masters programme, there is an optional summer school which runs for one week in July each year. The theme and content of the summer school changes every year but the activities are designed to complement and enhance learning on the programme as well as develop our vibrant international community of practice.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Online Commonwealth Scholarships: Global Health
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) supports students living and working in listed Commonwealth Countries. Every year the Global Health Academy makes application to the CSC for scholarships, some of which are available for Family Medicine applicants.
The scholarships cover tuition fees and are awarded to outstanding candidates who are committed to ensuring that their study is impactful to their country. Successful applicants will benefit from the University’s Global Academy network.
Johnson and Johnson East Africa Scholarships
These scholarships are available to students born and working in East Africa. The award covers tuition fees for the three-year part-time MFM and are awarded to students who have a vision for improving equitable and primary health-led care through the role of family doctors.
The Carl and Gillean Kjeldsberg Online Scholarships in Family Medicine
These scholarships are awarded to outstanding African health workers who are living and working in any African country and who have a passion to strengthen family medicine and primary health care within their country and region.