Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Neurology

Department

UCL Institute of Neurology

Programme Convener

Professor Simon Shorvon & Dr Caroline Selai

Duration of Programme

September – March (6 months)

Programme Aims

Students should obtain clinical competence in history taking/examination, diagnosis, investigation and formulation of management plan and therapeutics in common neurological areas/disorders; a working knowledge of the scientific basis of common neurological disorders/areas; awareness of major recent developments in research in these areas of clinical neuroscience

Curriculum

The lecture course (September to March) currently includes the following topics:
Genetics of CNS disorders; Brain Metabolism, neurotransmitters & neurodegeneration; Autoimmune Disease and Repair Mechanisms; Peripheral Nerve and Muscle; Neurotransmitters; Epilepsy; Nociception and Pain; Motor Control; Basal ganglia/movement disorders; Hearing, balance, vision and eye-movements; Stroke and head injury; Cognition; Dementia.

Lectures are supported by case presentations, bedside teaching, and research training sessions; a series of seminars on clinical topics, and attendance at clinical activities on site (i.e. teaching rounds, clinical conferences, outpatient clinics)

  1. Diseases of the Nervous System: Epilepsy, Pain, Tumours & Infection (15 credits)
  2. Peripheral Nerve, Muscle and Special Senses (15 credits)
  3. Motor Systems & Disease (15 credits)
  4. Higher Functions of the Brain (15 credits)
  5. Practical Neurology (30 credits)
  6. Theoretical Neurology (30 credits)

Students will have to obtain 120 MLevel credits to be awarded the Diploma.

Assessment

Diseases of the Nervous System: Epilepsy, Pain, Tumours & Infection; Peripheral Nerve, Muscle and Special Senses; Higher Functions of the Brain one 3,000 word assignment per module.
Motor Systems & Disease; 2 hour unseen exam
Practical Neurology: ‘Short Case’ Clinical examinations and unseen clinical scenarios
Theoretical Neurology: unseen examination

Entry Requirements

Medical qualifications (graduate medical degree), at least 2 years postgraduate experience in clinical medicine, registration with the GMC (or equivalent national authority for overseas students), and at least 6 months previous clinical experience in clinical neurology.

English Language requirement

To be admitted onto this course you must provide recent evidence that your spoken and written command of the English language is at the required level. You must achieve at least a standard level of proficiency on the IELTS English language test or an acceptable equivalent. For more information please visit
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/application-admission/english-language


Closing date for applications: 3rd August 2012
Contact: education.unit@ion.ucl.ac.uk

For information on clinical training within the NHS please refer to:
http://www.mmc.nhs.uk/

The UCL Institute of Neurology promotes teaching and research of the highest quality in neurology and the neurosciences. The Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery are members of  UCL Partners, Europe's largest academic health science partnership.