Family Medicine (MFM - Online Learning) The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is currently ranked 16th in the World in the QS World University Rankings 2022.

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.

Our aspiration is 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.

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.

An accredited medical degree (MBChB) or its international equivalent) is required.

We may also consider applicants who are in a profession allied to medicine or have relevant work experience in a clinical context. Please contact the programme team to check before you apply.

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

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.
• 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 three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Programme structure

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)

All students take a compulsory 20-credit research methods course followed by a 40-credit Family Medicine research project.

Additional Opportunities

In addition to the compulsory courses and projects that make up the Master's programme, there are educational activities offered over the summer break designed to complement and enhance learning. These activities are not credit-bearing.

Our preference is to offer these as face-to-face teaching in Edinburgh to enable students to meet with peers and faculty. These additional activities may also be carried out online, as was required during the pandemic.

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.