Postgraduate Diabetes Diploma
The Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes is a 2-year, part-time, distance learning course which provides high quality diabetes education to healthcare professionals. Although predominantly an online course, we also offer an inclusive 2-day introductory lecture series at the beginning of each year, complete with internationally acclaimed guest speakers. This has been designed to give you a more holistic understanding of the topics and the course, as well as an opportunity to meet your fellow students and expert faculty. Our introductory lectures will be held in Cardiff, Dubai and New Delhi, subject to confirmation.
The Diploma consists of 6 modules, each lasting 10 weeks, to include 3 core modules and a selection of 3 out of the 9 optional modules (subject to validation). By selecting your optional modules, you are able to tailor your learning towards those topics which have the most relevance in your workplace and are most closely aligned to your interests.
Upon completion of your Diploma you will be eligible to move on to our exclusive MSc Diabetes.
Course Structure
Diploma Core Modules:
- Principles of Diabetes
- Management of Diabetes
- Diabetes Complications
Diploma Optional Modules:
- Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes
- Insulin Therapy in Diabetes
- Self-Management & Diabetes in Primary Care
- Pregnancy and Diabetes
- Paediatric Diabetes
- Diabetes Care in the Elderly
- Inpatient Management of Diabetes
- Insulin Pump Therapy
- Diabetic Foot Disease
All modules listed above are also available as standalone modules. Please follow the relevant link for further information.
Components of the course
- The introductory lectures and case discussions help to introduce the key concepts of the modules, allowing course organisers and students to discuss the role of the subsequent online learning.
- Group activity is aimed at developing students’ skills in generating and evaluating guidelines for the care of people with diabetes. For each module students will work in small groups focussing on various aspects of the subject. The group will develop a document and each individual will evaluate the work with consideration of their own clinical care.
- An online learning portfolio is used by students to record and reflect on the module as it progresses. Reflection is an important aspect of the course encouraging the clinicians to spend time considering how their practice compares to the themes being discussed in the module.
- Real-life case problems are available for students to consider and answer. Explanations to the case problems are given and students will be expected to discuss the concepts being tested. Engagement in case problems is highly motivational for students and is perceived as being valid for their clinical work.
- Summative assessments of case problems will be presented to directly test the clinical reasoning and knowledge objectives of the module.
- Online, threaded discussion groups facilitate conversation between students and tutors are an integral part of the course to allow students to be assessed on their contribution to and comprehension of the course.
Entry Requirements
Suitable for medical and allied healthcare practitioners, with clinical responsibility for individuals with diabetes, who will be future leaders and innovators in diabetes management in both primary and secondary care settings.
Candidates should possess a degree in Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing or relevant vocational qualification in a diabetes related clinical subject, in addition to satisfying the Cardiff University requirements for entry to postgraduate courses. Good English language skills are essential and it is a course requirement that students have access to a computer with a broadband internet connection.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online via the University's Online Application Service. You are advised to consult the Diabetes PgDip/PgCert/MSc Application Guidance Notes for further details.
As an experienced GP the diploma course revealed to me a vast repository of unknown unknowns. It did of course direct me to find the answers. Covering the full breadth of diabetes practice this new knowledge has been in daily use in my practice since.