UCL Centre for Health Informatics & Multiprofessional Education

Programme Aims

The UCL Health & Medical Sciences Programme aims to:

• Equip clinicians to respond to changes that are taking place in the delivery and management of healthcare
• Provide a high quality, relevant and up to date education which supports better quality of clinical care
• Give students the freedom to devise continuing professional development appropriate to their individual needs and to obtain academic credit if desired
• Facilitate the learning and advancement of the generic skills and knowledge essential to successful professional, healthcare practice

Key Features

Practice based education means:

• Flexibility - students study at their own pace, making it feasible to combine study and full-time work
• A broad range of modules – spanning all aspects of clinical practice and healthcare delivery
• Multiprofessional student groups – facilitating teamwork across disciplines
• Choice of registering for a university award (see below) or studying single modules (with or without assessment)
• Opportunity to interact with  a range of senior academic and professional experts drawn from across UCL

Outcomes - types of awards

• MSc in Health & Medical Sciences
  Flexible study: 8 modules and a dissertation over 2-5 years
• Postgraduate Diploma in Health & Medical Sciences
  Flexible study: 8 modules over 2-5 years
• Postgraduate Certificate in Health & Medical Sciences Flexible study: 4 modules over 1-2 years

Continuing Professional Development

Many modules allow enrolment for CPD without registering for a programme. Students with academic credits from CPD modules can use these later towards an award (provided assessment has been undertaken and passed).

To discuss short courses/CPD, please contact us or the relevant UCL department for the module concerned.

Admission Requirements

The programme is aimed primarily at clinicians (doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals), healthcare managers, and others interested in healthcare. Normally, applicants would have one of the following:

• A qualification in medicine or one of the other healthcare professions; or
• A minimum of an upper second class UK Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline; or
• An overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

Students who do not meet these requirements but have appropriate professional experience will also be considered.
Students who have previously undertaken CPD may apply for accreditation of prior learning.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods vary according to the module. Most modules use a variety of methods - lectures, seminars, group work and practical workshops. The core modules are taught using blended learning which mixes both face to face and online teaching. All modules have an attendance requirement. When constructing your timetable your advisor will help you to devise a programme which is compatible with your professional and personal life.

Assessment Methods

Most modules are assessed by an end of module assignment which may take the form of an essay, a report or a reflective log.  Precise details depend on the module, but the norm is one piece of work around 2,500 words in length. The core module also includes a presentation which is assessed. A small number of modules are assessed by an examination.

Time Commitment

All modules are 15 credits; this equates to approximately 130-150 hours of study over the duration of the module. Some of this time will be spent in class (the face to face element); some will be carrying out the assessment and the rest will be private study, self-directed learning. Modules vary in length (i.e. how many weeks).  Some are 8 weeks; some are longer and some are shorter. When selecting your modules you will be given details of each module to allow you to see whether the timetable is feasible for you.

Time Commitment to Achieve an Award

There are minimum and maximum periods of registration for the various awards. This allows students to study at their own pace.

• Postgraduate Certificate - flexible study over 1-2 years
• Postgraduate Diploma - flexible study over 2-5 years
• MSc - flexible study over 2-5 years

Teaching Venues

The Programme is co-ordinated by CHIME (based on the UCL Archway Campus) but modules are taught by many different departments and teaching takes place at the UCL Archway Campus (North London), the UCL Bloomsbury Campus, or at other central London locations.

Timetabling

Modules timetabling varies – although there is no weekend or evening teaching. All modules have an attendance requirement. Provisional Timetables are generally available several months before the programme starts.

Module Capacity

All modules have a minimum and maximum enrolment, depending on how they are taught. Generally, places are given on a first-come-first served basis so it is in your interest to apply for a module as soon as possible. If a module does not recruit sufficient students, it will not be offered in that academic year.  Most modules are offered once in each academic year, but this is reviewed in the light of student demand.

A Wide Variety of Modules

We recognise that our students come from a variety of different professional backgrounds, and that each wants something different out of the academic experience.

Core Modules

All students on the Health & Medical Sciences programme are required to complete the Healthcare Quality & Evidence Based Practice module. In preparation for the dissertation, those studying for the MSc qualification are further required to complete Research Methods in Healthcare, or an equivalent module that covers research methods.

Optional Modules

Beyond the core modules, students on the Health & Medical Sciences programme build a personal study pathway to meet their individual learning needs by selecting from the Health & Medical Sciences Module Library.

For students working towards the MSc degree, the MSc Dissertation runs as a long-term module supplementing academic supervision of the student's project with regular support sessions.

Resources for UCL Health & Medical Sciences Students

Irrespective of their choice of modules, all students on the Health & Medical Sciences have access to a phenomenal range of intellectual, practical and support resources.

Programme Support

The Health & Medical Sciences programme is based at CHIME, on the UCL Archway Campus, which supports numerous undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and a diverse range of research groups.

At programme level, once you register, you will be assigned a student advisor, and will have access to module tutors, the Programme Director and the Programme Administrator. Support is available face to face, by phone, by email and through an online forum.

UCL - London's Global University

UCL - University College London - is the oldest and largest of the institutions that make up the University of London and has one of the highest ratings in the country for both teaching and research. Students benefit from all the facilities of a modern, internationally renowned university including three medical libraries, a careers service, sporting facilities, a theatre, and a lively students' union.

Health & Medical Sciences students have access to the facilities and activities of the UCL Graduate School.

Entry requirements

The programme is academically rigorous and most students have at least an upper second-class honours degree. Applicants with other qualifications may be accepted if they can demonstrate suitable professional experience.

How do I apply?

The programme starts in September. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and early application is encouraged. Applications are made through UCL Admissions. For more information visit www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/

Fees and studentships

Studentships may be available for UK and EU applicants to assist with the payment of fees. Please contact us for further information

The fees for 2012/13 are listed below:

Source: Fee Schedule: Postgraduate Taught 2012-13

For further information, please contact:

The Programme Administrator
UCL CHIME
Holborn Union Building
The Archway Campus
Highgate Hill
London N19 5LW

Email: Courses-CHIME@ucl.ac.uk

Tel: 020 7288 3487

Fax: 020 7288 3322