Masters Degrees (Diploma In Dermatology)

Diploma MSc is an award-winning provider of online medical education for Postgraduate Diploma and Masters courses. We are now pleased to add the Dermatology Postgraduate Diploma and Masters online courses to our growing range. Our Dermatology courses are offered in conjunction with our partner, the University of South Wales, who have developed a strong reputation for delivering innovative learning.

Dermatology is an increasingly popular clinical entity amongst medical trainees and nurses within the UK and also internationally. This is particularly so in primary care where skin disease is the greatest disease prompting consultation in children and the second biggest problem amongst adults. For instance, in the U.K. approximately 15% of GP consultations are due to dermatology related conditions. In consequence, the British Association of Dermatology advocate within their Standards Document that all healthcare generalists managing skin conditions are suitably qualified and should be supported in this training by employers and commissioners.

Applicants will typically be health professionals such as GPs, doctors, nurses, physicians and pharmacists. For healthcare professionals who successfully complete a qualification, career progression would likely be facilitated, as well as the direct opportunity to improve patient care.

Postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology

Our online 1-year Postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology will focus on direct application to current topics, case studies, and processes relevant to the student’s own remit and country of practice. The course is worth 120 credits and comprises 6 modules of 20 credits each.

On completion of the Dermatology Diploma, you will be able to:
Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the care of patients with dermatological conditions.
Critically evaluate current research in practical dermatology.
Deliver management strategies for the investigation and treatment of patients with dermatological conditions.
Critically appraise current and potential practical dermatological treatments for use in a variety of population groups.

Course Structure

Our 1 year course consists of 6 modules per year, each of 6 weeks duration.

Module 1 - Practical Dermatology Overview
Module 2 - Lumps, bumps and skin cancer
Module 3 - Lesions at specific sites
Module 4 - Inflammatory Dermatoses
Module 5 - Skin Infections
Module 6 - Practical Dermatology in specific populations

Assessment

The course puts assessment at the heart of learning by using clinical scenarios to facilitate problem-solving, critical analysis and evidence-based care. The scenarios act as both the focus for learning and assessment thus embedding assessment within the learning process.

Each of the 6 modules has the same assessment format. Due to the online nature of the course, students are expected to login and participate in the course regularly throughout the module (ideally on a daily basis).

Students use the skills gained during the lectures to engage with the different activities (see below).

Clinical case scenarios with case based discussion - 40%
Individual learning portfolio - 10%
Group/individual activity - 20%
Case based examination - 30%

Teaching Methods

Each module has the same format. Using an online platform and one tutor per 10-15 students, the self-directed distance learning is guided by tutor stimulated discussion based on clinically rich case scenarios. Group projects are undertaken alongside independent projects. Reflective practice is recorded in a reflective portfolio to help students consider how the learning can be translated into everyday work and practice. Teaching starts with 1 day of introductory lectures. Students may attend these lectures in the UK (Glyntaff campus, University of South Wales). The lecture series are delivered by the faculty and tutors, they are a pre-course organiser, giving students the tools required to undertake the online course such as:

Scientific writing.
Levels of evidence.
Harvard referencing.
Reflective writing.

The lectures series give an opportunity to meet face to face with tutors/other students prior to the online course.

MSc Dermatology

The Dermatology MSc course provides a progression route for the Postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology course offered by the University, and has been developed for GPs, doctors, nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and other suitably qualified individuals with an interest in dermatology.

Entry to the 1 year MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Medicine will require the successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology (120 credits) either from the University of South Wales or from another UK University.

Our 1 year Dermatology MSc is the shortest route to MSc certificate available and is delivered online. You will be able to learn around existing work commitments. The Masters in Dermatology course is the only one of its title that is accessible online, and is not offered by any other institution. On completion of the course, you will be able to demonstrate:
an applied understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interrupt knowledge in an appropriate clinical setting.
an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the discipline informed by current scholarship and research.
advanced level critical skills designed to deal with complex problems.

Course Structure

Research Methodologies and Critical Appraisal in Dermatology.
Professional Project: Dermatology.

Teaching Methods

Module 1: Research Methodologies and Critical Appraisal - MSc teaching methods for this module are similar to the PG Diploma course modules, however it is run over 12 weeks.
Module 2: Professional Project - To produce the professional project, students continue to use the online course; however much of the work is self-directed.

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The MSc in Clinical Dermatology is designed specifically for doctors with a special interest in dermatology after gaining at least one year of general medical experience.

The course aims to give a firm grounding in the fundamentals of clinical and scientific dermatology, with priority given to clinical instruction but also an emphasis on the scientific content of dermatology.

It is particularly suitable for overseas medical graduates, but is also appropriate as an additional course to contribute to any dermatology specialist training programme. Most students are self-funded, though some obtain awards from the British Council, respective Governments, Commonwealth Universities Scholarships and employers.

The MSc comprises seven modules delivered using face-to-face teaching at the Welsh Institute of Dermatology at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, UK.

Distinctive features:

• Weekly observational clinical placements in local dermatology centres.
• Lectures from international guest speakers.
• Skills workshops, including practical skin surgery sessions.

The course is also accredited by Hong Kong College of Family Physicians and Hong Kong Medical Association.

Structure

The MSc is a full-time course, consisting of two stages.  It involves attending daily teaching sessions, Monday to Friday, and some Saturdays.

Stage 1 is the teaching stage. It lasts for eight months, and consists of six 20-credit modules, totalling 120 credits, at Level 7.

Stage 2, the dissertation stage, lasts for a further four months, to a total of one academic year, and will include a dissertation of 60 credits at Level 7, to achieve a combined total of 180 credits at Level 7 to complete the MSc programme.

You may leave the course after successfully completing 60 credits with a Postgraduate Certificate, or after successfully completing 120 credits with a Postgraduate Diploma. 

The dissertation is based on a literature-review and normally not more than 20,000 words supported by such other material as may be considered appropriate to the subject and should include the results of your period of project work. The dissertation is worth 60 credits and is weighted 50% for the purpose of calculating your final mark.

A practical skills module runs throughout the duration of Stage 1 of the course. This is supported by significant patient interaction. You will be allocated to the Dermatology Day Treatment Unit for a 1 – 2 week period for practical clinical experience. You will be required to attend regular general outpatient dermatology clinics in Cardiff and the surrounding area. There are also day visits to other dermatology centres in Wales.

Core modules:

Introduction to Dermatology: Evidence-Based Dermatology, Immunology and Biology of the Skin
Disorders Presenting in the Skin and Mucous Membranes
Environment and the Skin
Practical Skills
Cutaneous Manifestations of Systemic Diseases
Skin Cancer and Surgical Interventions in Dermatology
Dissertation: Clinical Dermatology

Teaching

The course is delivered via:

Lectures.
Workshops.
Self-directed learning.
Journal clubs.
Clinical attachments.

All course tutors are doctors, other health care professionals, and scientists, who collectively have a wealth of experience and skills in dermatology. To take advantage of this valuable resource, the course promotes collaborative small group work with an emphasis on a problem-based approach to the study of dermatology. Didactic methods such as the lecture format are also utilised on the programme. There is emphasis on clinical teaching in the form of demonstrations in clinics, on the Dermatology Day Care Treatment Centre, in clinical workshops and interactive clinical tutorials.

Assessment

The course is assessed through a combination of written work, presentations, objective structured questions, mini clinical exams and a dissertation.

Students are not required to be called for a viva voce examination.

Career Prospects

Some graduates of this course have pursued a career as academic lecturers and consultant dermatologists while some of our international graduates have gone on to work in private practice or high governmental positions in their own countries.

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The PgDip and MSc in Practical Dermatology is for practising General Practitioners or other practising doctors who regularly deal with patients with dermatological problems.

The distance learning course aims to enable doctors to successfully manage dermatological problems in patients presenting to their surgeries. It is a highly interactive, online programme designed to equip the general practitioner with a sound understanding of skin disease as it presents in practice.

Students are expected to use their individual study time to complete the modular learning material, which is available online, and complete further reading from dermatology text books and searches for material in journal articles and libraries. The success of the course therefore depends, to a large extent, on the input and enthusiasm of course participants.

The course holds both UK and international accreditation, including from the Royal College of General Practitioners, Hong Kong College of Family Physicians and Hong Kong Medical Association. 

Structure

• PgDip:

All students must register initially for the Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip).

The PgDip course lasts for one academic year for full-time students or two years for part-time students, and consists of six 20-credit modules, totalling 120 credits, at Level 7.

Students who have not obtained 120 credits, but have obtained a minimum of 60 credits at Level 7, including any ‘required core modules’, will be eligible for the exit award of Postgraduate Certificate.

Core modules:

Introduction to Practical Dermatology
Skin Lesions
Special Cutaneous Sites
Inflammatory Dermatoses
Environmental Challenges in Practical Dermatology
Demographic Subgroups in Practical Dermatology

• MSc:

The MSc course consists of one (dissertation) stage, lasting for 12 months (part-time).

The MSc dissertation stage will include a formative 10-week block of online study to develop study and research skills, and completion of a dissertation of 60 credits at Level 7, to achieve a total of at least 180 credits, including the 120 credits from the Cardiff University Postgraduate Diploma in Practical Dermatology, to complete the MSc programme.

The dissertation, which will normally be of not more than 20,000 words and supported by such other material as may be considered appropriate to the subject, embodies the results of a period of project work.  The subject of each your dissertation will be approved by the Chair of the Board of Studies concerned or his/her nominee.

Teaching

The course is delivered entirely online via Cardiff University’s virtual learning environment (VLE), Learning Central, allowing regular, rapid and efficient communication between colleagues, tutors and course administrators, reducing the isolation commonly associated with distance learning.

Through dedicated online tutorial support, discussion forums and online assessments, students become members of an enthusiastic and supportive online community of doctors with an interest in dermatology. This environment allows collaboration, both academic and clinical, which can extend beyond the life of the programme.

Assessment

Each module will be assessed by written work, objective structured tests/questions and online activities.

Students are not required to be called for a viva voce examination.

The MSc requires formal assessment in the form of a 20,000 word dissertation to achieve the MSc in Practical Dermatology.

Career Prospects

The Postgraduate Diploma and MSc can form part of the portfolio of a general practitioner wishing to practice as a GPwSI in dermatology.

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The PgCert / PgDip / MSc in Therapeutics is designed for medical practitioners, pharmacists, specialist nurses, and others who wish to gain further expertise in the practical management of common therapeutic problems. 

The course arises from a leading research centre and aims to encourage critical thinking and to equip students not only with practical and factual knowledge, but also provide a basic approach to therapeutic problems, encouraging attitudes and abilities which will be of lasting value in dealing with future advances in therapy.

Distinctive features:

• Problem orientated, evidence-based learning specifically designed to be of direct relevance to practice.

• Distance-learning, delivered entirely online. You can choose when and where to study, at home, at work or on the move.

• Targeted fortnightly reading guided by aims and outcomes for the period.

• Audio interviews and presentations are available to download.

• We are also recognised as a major research centre. Advances in therapeutics have been pioneered in Cardiff, including methods for optimal use of anticoagulants, antiarrhythmic drugs and anticonvulsants.

Structure

• PgCert:

The Postgraduate Certificate consists of one stage: stage T.

Stage T - This stage lasts for one academic year and consists of three 20-credit modules totalling 60 credits, at Level 7. 

Core modules:

Foundation in Clinical Therapeutics
Safe Prescribing in Practice
The management of chronic illnesses in practice: Dermatology, Respiratory, Gastrointestinal and Gynaecology

At the end of stage T, students who have obtained a minimum of 60 credits at Level 7, including the award of credit for all required modules, may exit with the award of Postgraduate Certificate or may apply to progress to the Postgraduate Diploma. 

• PgDip:

The course can be completed in one year with full-time distance learning or in two years by part-time distance learning.

There are two stages to the Postgraduate Diploma course: T1, the first taught stage, and T2, second taught stage. 

Stage T1 - This stage consists of three 20-credit modules totalling 60 credits, at Level 7. 
Stage T2 - This stage consists of a further three 20 credit modules totalling 60 credits, at Level 7, to achieve a total of 120 credits to complete the Postgraduate Diploma course.

Core modules:

Same core modules as PgCert PLUS

The management of chronic illnesses in practice: Pain, Musculoskeletal and Endocrine
Cardiovascular Therapeutics
The management of chronic illnesses in practice: Psychotherapy, Neurology and the Eye

At the end of stage T2, students who have obtained a minimum of 120 credits at Level 7, including the award of credit for all required modules, will be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma, or they may apply to enter the MSc course. 

• MSc:

Entry to the MSc (dissertation stage) is available to a selected number of candidates only, on a part-time basis only, and eligibility is dependent upon successful completion of the Cardiff University Postgraduate Diploma in Therapeutics to an acceptable standard.

Once accepted on to the MSc, candidates complete a formative research methods module and a 20,000 word dissertation. The research dissertation stage lasts for one academic year (part-time).

Assessment

The taught stage in-course assessment is delivered and submitted via Learning Central™. Assessment for each module is carried out by one formative case study and one summative objective assessment (e.g. multiple-choice questions) exercise each fortnight, together with a summative written assignment. The written assignment may take the form of an essay, a piece of portfolio learning or a task such as a practice audit.

The formative case studies encourage candidates to reflect on their own practice, the evidence base, and any national or local guidelines which cover the topic. Responses to the case study are analysed and feedback is provided in a report that follows. This provides candidates with an opportunity to assess their clinical practice and compare it with that of their peers.

The summative objective assessment is marked in-house and feedback and explanations of the correct answers are provided to the students. This element is worth 30% of the marks for each module. The written task is marked by one of the programme markers and then moderated by a member of the course team; this contributes the remaining 70% of the marks for the module.

Career Prospects

The course aims to equip you with a sound understanding of the management of common medical conditions and to develop skills in evidence-based medicine. Graduates would be expected to gain the skills and expertise necessary to become the ‘local therapeutics expert’. 

Many graduates of this course have gone on to hold senior positions in clinical and governmental organisations.

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Programme description
This programme covers core aspects of dermatology over a one-year period, with particular emphasis on the diagnosis and management of skin disease from a primary care perspective.

Programme outline
The weekly teaching sessions are given by experts in the field and comprise written and audiovisual material with a formative quiz. There are two separate interlinked programmes for this diploma: one for UK-based general practitioners and one for doctors from outside the UK.

Key features - UK programme

Six Clinical Days examining clinical cases, throughout the course of a year
Small group consultant-led teaching
Weekly interactive web-based material
Weekly audiovisual material to demonstrate cases and good practice.
Key features � International programme

This programme can be studied anywhere - No travel to the UK is required.
Regular small group tutorials, with live chat
Live interactive lectures
A discussion forum that allows you to discuss cases and topics at your convenience
Weekly audiovisual material to demonstrate cases and good practice

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This course is taught at our quality-assured partners worldwide.

Course overview

This course will provide the additional postgraduate qualification you need to progress in your field.

During the course you will cover principles of clinical pharmacy and a range of therapeutic areas. These include cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, dermatology, infections, dermatology, CNS, oncology and palliative care. The Masters project allows you to research an area of particular personal interest and relevance to your practice.

We welcome applications from registered pharmacists working within hospital, primary care and community settings.

This course is run on a mainly distance-learning basis, to allow people working full-time to balance their studies with other commitments. In addition to distance-learning, you will also attend study sessions held throughout the course.

Sunderland has an excellent reputation for pharmacy. Our Department is ranked No.6 in the UK according to The Guardian University Guide 2013, and our academic team produce ‘world-leading’ research, according to the latest Research Assessment Exercise.

Course content

The content of this course has been developed with input from the NHS in the North East. Modules on this course include:
Diploma Level 1
-Clinical Pharmacy 1 (30 Credits)
-Clinical Pharmacy 2 (30 Credits)

Diploma Level 2
-Clinical Pharmacy 3 (30 Credits)
-Clinical Pharmacy 4 (30 Credits)

Masters Stage
-Research Methods (30 Credits)
-Research Project (30 Credits)

Teaching and assessment

We use a wide variety of teaching and learning methods which include lectures, group work, directed reading, research, tutorials and online tutor support.

Facilities & location

This course is available at partner Universities worldwide.

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