Family Medicine (Online Learning) MFM

How online learning works

• Interactive learning environment: Learn using our state-of-the-art online platform, which facilitates discussion forums, live tutorials and other interactive content.
• Flexible access: Access course materials online at any time and from any location.

Teaching and assessment

• Teaching: Courses are taught through weekly online activities and live interactive tutorials, which are all recorded for those who cannot attend.
• Assessment: Assignments such as essays, case studies and group projects are designed to reinforce your learning and help you apply your skills.

Time commitment

The programme is part-time, requiring approximately 10-15 hours of study per week. This allows you to manage your learning alongside professional and personal commitments.

Technical requirements

• Equipment: You will need a stable internet connection and a computer with the latest browser installed.
• Software: All necessary learning platforms and tools are provided online by the University.

Support for online students

You will be supported throughout your studies by the programme team and have access to additional resources from across the University. Technical support is available 24/7, and you will be assigned a Student Adviser for pastoral support and guidance if needed. An optional summer school provides an opportunity to visit Edinburgh and connect with peers and faculty in person.

Find out more about the benefits and practicalities of studying for an online degree:

• Postgraduate online learning

The Master of Family Medicine is structured to provide a deep and comprehensive understanding of family medicine, delivered over three years of part-time, online study. Each year builds on the knowledge and skills developed previously, with the aim of developing compassionate and person-centred practitioners who can understand and apply the principles of family medicine.

This part-time, fully online programme is spread over three years, and you can exit the programme after:

• Year 1 with a Postgraduate Certificate
• Year 2 with a Postgraduate Diploma
• Year 3 with a Master of Science degree

Year 1: Core foundations

• Foundations of Family Medicine: Introduction to the key concepts and historical development of the specialty.
• Professionalism in Family Practice: Learn about the principles of ethics and professionalism and how to apply these to your own practice.
• Applying Evidence-Based Practice in Family Medicine: Enhance your ability to apply scientific evidence to clinical practice.

(Revised 11 October 2024 to clarify learning objectives and practical application)

Year 2: Specialised practice

At the start of Year 2, you will choose between the following elective courses which provide a focus on research or quality improvement:

Family Medicine Research Methods (20 credits): Learn about research methods in preparation for a dissertation in the final year.

or

Methodologies to Improve Family Medicine Practice (20 credits): Learn about quality improvement for clinical practice in preparation for a quality improvement project in the final year.

All students will then complete the following compulsory course:

Applying the Family Medicine Approach Throughout Every Stage of Life (40 credits): Apply the principles taught in Year 1 of the programme across the lifecycle of the patient, family and community. The course incorporates teaching on health promotion and disease prevention, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, mental health, care of the elderly and palliative care. Students will have the opportunity to focus on areas of personal interest or relevance to their practice.

Year 3: Research and application

There are three options for completing the 60 credits required in the final year of the programme.

• Research Project (60 credits)
• Elective course (20 credits) + Family Medicine Project (40 credits)
• Fully taught final year consisting of elective courses (60 credits)

You will have a choice of how to complete the final year based on your individual interests and learning needs. The Research Project involves completing a traditional dissertation. The Family Medicine Project will focus on quality improvement for clinical practice. Those students who opt for a fully taught third year will select from a series of elective courses therefore creating their own learning pathway.

Optional content

• Summer School: Attend a one-week, non-credit bearing summer school in Edinburgh, offering workshops and networking opportunities with peers and faculty.

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.

Graduates of the Master of Family Medicine programme at the University of Edinburgh are equipped to advance their careers in various impactful roles across the healthcare spectrum.

Sectors and roles

• Clinical practice: Enhance your capabilities as a family doctor, providing comprehensive, continuous, and compassionate care.
• Health policy and administration: Influence and implement policies that improve health service delivery and patient care at local, national, or international levels.
• Academic and research institutions: Contribute to the academic field through teaching, or engage in research that advances the practice of family medicine.
• Non-governmental organisations: Work with international organisations focusing on health improvement and policy advocacy, particularly in under-served or rural communities.
• Education: Develop skills as an educator of future generations of family doctors.

Support for career development

The University of Edinburgh's Career Service offers extensive support, from CV workshops to personalised career advice, ensuring you are fully equipped to make an impact in your chosen field.

• Blog by Darien Cipta, Graduate of the programme

• Blog by Benard Kusienya on the summer school

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.

An accredited medical degree (MBChB) or its international equivalent) is required.

We may also consider applicants who are in a profession allied to medicine or have relevant work experience in a clinical context. Please contact the programme team to check before you apply.

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

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:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

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).

• Approved universities in 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:

• English language requirements

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

Johnson and Johnson East Africa Scholarships

These scholarships are available to students born and working in East Africa. The award covers tuition fees for the three-year part-time MFM and is awarded to students who have a vision for improving equitable and primary health-led care through the role of family doctors.

• Please see this link for application

The Carl and Gillean Kjeldsberg Online Scholarships in Family Medicine

These scholarships are awarded to outstanding African health workers who are living and working in any African country and who have a passion to strengthen family medicine and primary health care within their country and region.

• Please see this link for application

Search for Scholarships and other funding opportunities

Many of the University's scholarships are listed on this site:

• Online Learning Scholarships
• Search for Funding
• Scholarship Application success rates

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding