Introduction
The University of Edinburgh is currently ranked as 16th in the World in the QS World University Rankings 2022.
Programme description
This new three-year, part-time, online postgraduate programme leads to the degree of Masters of Science in Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (CMID).
Aimed at junior doctors currently undergoing, or about to undertake, speciality training in an infection discipline, this programme is open to trainees in the UK and worldwide.
This degree will also be attractive to those who have completed their training but wish to fulfill continuing medical education requirements or those who wish to obtain a formal qualification in Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
The programme is aligned with JRCPTB and RCPath training in infection disciplines: Combined Infection Training and Higher Specialty Training in Infectious Diseases, Medical Microbiology and Medical Virology.
This programme is designed to support trainees/specialists in preparation for FRCPath Part 1/Diploma in Infection, Infection Specialty end of training assessments and hospital-based practice.
Programme participants will have access to key texts and research bases and will have direct contact with leading clinicians and clinical scientists, providing a repository of information on infection disciplines that can be accessed at any time.
Online learning
Our online learning technology is fully interactive, 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 the University of Edinburgh’s excellent resources but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
Programme structure
This programme is taught entirely online. The structure of the degree is designed to meet the needs of trainees and specialist practitioners from all over the world.
Courses are offered as five-week courses, each worth 10 credits. Courses in Year 1 are compulsory. Year 2 is a mix of compulsory and optional modules.
Year 1:
Introduction to Immunology
Science and biology of bacteria
Science and biology of viruses
Science and biology fungi, parasites and prions
Laboratory practice in microbiology, virology and serology
Anti-infective therapy and resistance
Year 2:
Immunopathology
Molecular diagnostics of infection
Community-acquired infections and public health
Infection prevention & control
HIV infection and other immune-compromised patients
Clinical syndromes and infection
The returning traveller: Diagnosis, investigation and management of imported infection
Bioinformatics and study design in infectious diseases
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Year 3:
Research in Infection Medicine, written reflective element (project)
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. Alternatively, after one year of taking courses, you can choose to transfer your credits and continue on to study towards a higher award on a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme. Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout a year you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in the month of September. Any time spent studying PPD will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.
Please contact the programme team for more information about available courses and course start dates.
Flexible study
The programme also offers the opportunity to take a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), either part-time over 9 months or on an intermittent basis over 2 years; or a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits), either part-time over 21 months or on an intermittent basis over 4 years.
Please contact us before submitting an application if you are interested in applying to the Certificate or Diploma programme.
Award
Title
Duration
Study mode
Programme structure
MSc
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
6 Years
Part-time Intermittent Study
Programme structure 2018/19
MSc
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
3 Years
Part-time
Programme structure 2018/19
PgDip
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
4 Years
Part-time Intermittent Study
Programme structure 2018/19
PgCert
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
2 Years
Part-time Intermittent Study
Programme structure 2018/19
PgCert
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
1 Year
Part-time
Programme structure 2018/19
PgDip
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
2 Years
Part-time
Programme structure 2018/19
PgProfDev
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
2 Years
Part-time Intermittent Study
Programme structure 2018/19
Career opportunities
This unique programme will offer the student the knowledge and skills required to enhance their career progression in clinical or academic medicine. The programme will offer an alternative to traditional classroom-based research training for those candidates who do not wish to take time away from their professional commitments.
Entry requirements
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a biomedical, medical, public health or relevant bio-science topic.
We may also consider your application if you have relevant work experience; please contact us to check before you apply. You may be admitted to the certificate level only in the first instance.
English language requirements
All applicants must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of their English language ability:
an undergraduate or masters degree, that was taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country as defined by UK Visas and Immigration
IELTS Academic: total 6.5 (at least 6.0 in each module)
TOEFL-iBT: total 92 (at least 20 in each module)
PTE(A): total 61 (at least 56 in each of the "Communicative Skills" sections; the "Enabling Skills" sections are not considered)
CAE and CPE: total 176 (at least 169 in each module)
Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components
Degrees taught and assessed in English must be no more than three years old at the beginning of your degree programme. Language tests must be no more than two years old at the beginning of your degree programme.
