The Postgraduate Diploma in Neonatal Medicine is open to all qualified medical doctors, nurse practitioners and other health professionals.
The MSc in Neonatal Medicine is open to those who have completed the
Cardiff University Postgraduate Diploma in Neonatal Medicine.
Both the PgDip and MSc are part-time distance learning courses that focuse on the study of problems and approaches specific to neonatal health. As a result of the numerous anatomical and physiological changes occurring as a child develops, similar conditions can have very different clinical presentations and pathologies at different ages. This has implications for risk-benefit analysis and the ethics involved in choices faced by professionals and parents. The courses therefore aim to provide training and education in the identification, critical appraisal, planning and implementation of more effective treatments based on a sound knowledge of relevant research evidence, clinical practice, anatomy and pathophysiology.
Distinctive features:
• The distance and e-learning format allows clinicians to learn while doing busy jobs and achieve a high quality higher degree
• The active involvement of clinical neonatologists ensures there is both academic rigour and relevance to day to day clinical work.
Structure
• PgDip:
All students must register initially for the postgraduate diploma (Postgraduate Diploma) in Neonatal Medicine.
Subsequent entry to the MSc (dissertation stage) is selective – it is dependent upon successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Neonatal Medicine (not more than three years prior to the date you are applying to start the MSc) and competitive selection including an interview (Skype / telephone / in person).
There are two stages to the postgraduate diploma course: T1, the first taught stage, and T2, second taught stage.
Stage T1 - This stage lasts for one academic year and consists of three 20-credit modules totalling 60 credits, at Level 7.
Stage T2 - This stage lasts for a further academic year and consists of a further three 20-credit modules totalling 60 credits, at Level 7, to give a combined total for stages T1 & T2 of 120 credits.
Core modules:
Respiratory Care in Neonatal Medicine
Cardiovascular Care in Neonatal Medicine
Critical Care in Neonates
Neurological Care in Neonatal Medicine
Nutrition and Gut Function in Neonates
Transportation of Neonates and Children
You may exit the course with a Postgraduate Certificate after completing a minimum of 60 credits, where this includes the award of credit for particular modules.
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:
The MSc consists of one stage, post-Diploma – Stage R (research dissertation).
Stage R continues for a further academic year after the Postgraduate Diploma, making a total of three academic years for the full MSc (stages T1, T2 from Postgraduate Diploma and MSc stage R), and includes a 20,000-word dissertation of 60 credits at Level 7, to achieve a total of at least 180 credits (including 120 credits from the Postgraduate Diploma) at Level 7 to complete the MSc programme.
The dissertation, in combination with the Postgraduate Diploma taught stage(s), is weighted 50% for the purpose of calculating the final mark:
Taught modules (from the
Cardiff University Postgraduate Diploma in Neonatal Medicine) 50%
Dissertation (stage R) 50%
Career Prospects
This is an academic qualification rather than a professional training qualification. Taking the course helps you demonstrate your interest in Neonatology and a commitment to improve your knowledge in the field. It should therefore be of benefit to anyone seeking to progress their career or aspects of their job towards neonatal medicine or neonatal care.
