Simulation Based Clinical Education PgCert, PgProfDev
Awards: PgCert, PgProfDev
Study modes: Part-time Part Session, Part-time Intermittent Study
Online learning
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Simulation Based Clinical Education
The Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) in Simulation Based Clinical Education at the University of Edinburgh is an online, interprofessional programme which prepares graduates for clinical education careers involving simulation based learning, and provides you with opportunities for employment and career progression in the rapidly growing area of healthcare simulation.
Students at Edinburgh will benefit from the unique partnership between the Clinical Education team at the University of Edinburgh and simulation experts based within the Clinical Simulation team at the Medical Education Directorate, NHS Lothian.
Our programme takes advantage of our clinical education team’s international reputation in pedagogical expertise together with simulation colleagues who are experts in simulation based learning to enhance your abilities to teach and assess students in a clinical environment.
Our aim is to help you reflect upon, and share thoughts about, your practice, while increasing your understanding of how to apply educational theories and evidence from the literature. As a result you will learn the knowledge and skills you need to deliver, develop and research high-quality simulation based education in your own discipline.
Our award-winning online learning technology is fully interactive 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 Edinburgh’s excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world into a global community of healthcare professionals with an interest in simulation based education.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Simulation Based Clinical Education programme is a 1-year part-time, 60 credit, taught postgraduate programme at SCQF level 11 which will commence in September of each year and finish at the end of April of each year.
The programme consists of three courses.
- Principles of Teaching and Learning (SCQF level 11, 20 points),
- Simulation Methodology for Clinical Education (SCQF level 11, 20 points),
- Current Issues in Simulation Education (SCQF level 11, 20 points).
We deliver lectures and tutorials online and you will be expected to use self-directed learning, peer-discussion boards, tutorials, peer presentations and other similar e-learning activities to help engage with and get the most from the course materials.
During term time, you should be prepared to spend an average of 15-20 hours per week engaged in study, with study time intensifying prior to submission of your assignments.
On completion of the PGCert, students who wish to continue their studies at Edinburgh they can apply for and Recognised Prior Learning credits into year 2 of the Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Clinical Education programme.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PgCert | Simulation Based Clinical Education | 9 Months | Part-time Part Session | Programme structure 2024/25 |
PgProfDev | Simulation Based Clinical Education | Up to 2 Years | Part-time Intermittent Study | Programme structure 2024/25 |
By the end of the programme graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical knowledge and understanding of the theories, concepts and principles underpinning clinical education.
- Engage with critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of relevant educational literature and the evidence base relating to simulation based education.
- Use collaborative working skills to effectively build and facilitate relationships within an interprofessional context.
- Design and critique simulation based educational experiences.
- Critically evaluate their own teaching practice within context of simulation based education and that of others.
This programme has been designed to enhance your prospects in pursuing a clinical education career within the field of simulation based education. Simulation-based learning has become a formally recognised teaching method embedded in all healthcare programmes and is a rapidly expanding area for which there is a need for those with expertise in designing, delivering and evaluating simulation based learning experiences.
It promotes high quality simulation based educational experiences by helping you reflect upon and share insights about your practice, to understand and apply educational theories and evidence from literature, and to help you develop a good foundation in simulation based education and upon which to build your clinical and academic career.
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
A primary clinical qualification, such as an MBChB, BVS, BDS, Bachelor of Nursing, or a UK 2:1 honours degree in a relevant subject, or their international equivalents. You must be currently teaching in clinical or educational settings.
We will also consider your application if you have a biomedical science qualification or a non-university professional qualification, such as Registered General Nurse, with appropriate clinical experience.
Students from China
This degree is Band D.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Tuition fees
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PgCert | Simulation Based Clinical Education | 9 Months | Part-time Part Session | Tuition fees |
PgProfDev | Simulation Based Clinical Education | Up to 2 Years | Part-time Intermittent Study | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
borrowing money
taking out a loan
family support
personal savings
income from work
employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Programme Administrator, Femke Morrison
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 6536
- Contact: ClinEd.Sim@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director, Jane Hislop
- Contact: ClinEd.Sim@ed.ac.uk
- College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
- University of Edinburgh
- The Chancellor’s Building
- Little France
- Edinburgh
- EH16 4SB
- Programme: Simulation Based Clinical Education
- School: Edinburgh Medical School: Medicine
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
PgCert Simulation Based Clinical Education (Online Learning) - 9 Months (Part-time Part Session)
PG Professional Development in Simulation Based Clinical Education (Online Learning) - 2 Years (Part-time Intermittent Study)
Programme start date | Application deadline |
---|---|
8 September 2025 | 22 August 2025 |
We strongly recommend you submit your completed application as early as possible, particularly if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. We may consider late applications if we have places available.
You must submit one reference with your application.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Programme Administrator, Femke Morrison
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 6536
- Contact: ClinEd.Sim@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director, Jane Hislop
- Contact: ClinEd.Sim@ed.ac.uk
- College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
- University of Edinburgh
- The Chancellor’s Building
- Little France
- Edinburgh
- EH16 4SB
- Programme: Simulation Based Clinical Education
- School: Edinburgh Medical School: Medicine
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine