PGCert in Healthcare Education

Applications are open. 
To apply for the programme, please complete the expression of interest form  and email it to MedicalEducationEnquiries@royalberkshire.nhs.uk no later than 17:00 on 6 May 2024.

Please ensure that your line manager signs the form to confirm that your organisation supports your application.

Read more about the structure of the PGCert Healthcare in Education programme.

Please find our PDF with details on how to apply. 

The programme is aimed at staff from across the Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Integrated Care Service and includes allied health professionals, nurses and doctors, who have a teaching role and/or responsibility for the training, development and/or appraisal of other healthcare professionals. This includes those with primary and secondary care responsibilities in the healthcare profession.

A distinctive feature of this programme is its diversity, attracting applicants from the Medical, Nursing and Allied Health professional groups. Thus students, as they study, learn about and from each other.

By way of example, we have nurse practice educators, F3 Doctors, Clinical Practice Nurses, Consultants, GPs and Associate specialists and Clinical leads, covering a range of disciplines including oncology, gynaecology, rheumatology, anaesthesiology, midwifery and intensive care.

"The multidisciplinary nature of the course is a huge positive. Well organised with experienced educators and support with study, accessing resources and assignments. The contact days are valuable and have challenged me and make me think. They make this certificate far superior to distance learning which I had attempted and abandoned in the past." Dr Sarah Williams, Consultant Anaesthetist, Royal Berkshire Hospital

"The academic tutors and support staff have been very proactive and engaging. The study days have been a combination of face-to-face and online, which have been very interactive and informative. The use of group sessions and active learning sets are a particular favourite of mine as they link the theory to practice. After each session, my level of knowledge and understanding of the subject has increased and any questions have been answered in a structured and informed way for me to understand. The programme has been challenging from a time management and academic point of view, but I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in Training / Development as it makes you think in ways I would have not thought of previously." Sarah Colledge, Clinical Lead Practitioner (Training), Royal Berkshire Hospital

"Great experience to undertake with so many people from different areas of medicine. Opened my eyes into how others learn and how I can improve my ability to teach." Dr Katie Palmer, Registrar in Emergency Medicine, Royal Berkshire Hospital

Teaching and learning

The programme offers a unique and innovative programme combining the specialist expertise in teaching of the Institute of Education, University of Reading staff alongside the specialist medical teaching expertise of staff at the Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust (RBFT) and available to staff across Health Education Thames Valley (HETV).

Each module will be delivered in one term over three separate days on the University's Earley Gate campus. Each module has summative assessments linked to practice. There will be weekly independent study tasks and reading to undertake. There will be a study skills face to face day at the end of September. 

Student experience

Students joining the programme will have the benefit of cross disciplinary teaching. All students will have a University of Reading, Institute of Education academic tutor, all of whom are experienced at tutoring at a distance with students who are in employment. Students will have access to all the student support services available at the University, via the usual mechanisms, e.g. Student Support Centres. Staff on the programme have experience of teaching students with a range of needs and support would be offered to relevant students in accordance with established University policy and procedure.

Teaching will be by lecture, group tutorials, practical sessions and through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), ensuring at all times the study relates to workplace experiences. We also have unique cutting edge video materials (filmed at the RBH) to support the teaching and learning on this programme.