Surgical Writing and Evidence Based Practice PgCert, PgProfDev (Online Learning)

The Postgraduate Certificate of Surgical Writing and Evidence-Based Practice is offered by the University of Edinburgh, in partnership with the British Journal of Surgery Society (BJSS). The programme aims to support surgeons and others to acquire an academic qualification that recognises knowledge and skills in surgical writing, editing and evidence-based surgical practice.

Why Edinburgh

As one of the top 20 universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2021), the University of Edinburgh has a strong historic and trusted reputation within academic surgery and particularly online surgical education. The BJSS has a unique international reputation in surgical editing and publishing. The Certificate Programme exploits the strong synergies between both parties, ensuring that teaching insights and material are contemporary and at the cutting edge of academic surgery practice. This part-time, online learning programme builds on the global reach of the University’s existing successful award-winning online surgery programmes, providing students an opportunity to gain a formal qualification in surgical writing and evidence-based surgical practice without a requirement to be based in Edinburgh. Students may elect to take individual courses as Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) or take all four courses, gaining sufficient to graduate with a Post Graduate Certificate degree. A global student population from a variety of different academic and professional backgrounds will enjoy a rich learning experience while studying on the programme.

Online learning

Our online learning technology is fully interactive, and award-winning 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. Applicants would be recommended to set aside 100 hours for each 10 credits of study.

Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD)

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. 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.

The University of Edinburgh is currently ranked 15th in the World in the QS World University Rankings 2023.

The programme will attract surgeons and others globally and provide a formal qualification for those wishing to enhance their professional and academic development in surgery or related fields. Applicants would be recommended to set aside 100 hours for each 10 credits of study.

The programme’s learning outcomes have been mapped onto the SCQF11 level characteristics.

This programme aims to equip students with evidence-based tools to be able to write in a scientific academic style, undertake critical appraisal/peer review, editing and literature reviews to understand evidence-based practice. On graduating from this programme, students will be able to write a manuscript for publication.

Many students on the programme will be in full-time employment (mainly as training and qualified surgeons) seeking to enhance their professional and academic development. Knowledge and skills in research and academic writing is integral to a career in surgery, providing a solid foundation for future academic work. A non-surgical audience may be attracted by the reputation of the BJS and the University, seeing the courses and programme as enhancing their career by equipping them with evidence-based tools to be able to write a manuscript for publication. The PPD courses may also be seen as attractive optional content for other online masters programmes.

Programme structure

The programme consists of two 10-credit courses and two 20-credit courses. All 4 courses (60 credits) are required to complete the certificate. Alternatively, you can opt to take individual courses as Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD). The courses offered are:

• Writing in Surgery (10 credits)
• Reviewing the Evidence Base in Surgery (10 credits)
• Editing in Surgery (20 Credits):
• Evidence-Based Practice (20 credits)