Paediatric Emergency Medicine (Online Learning)
Provided by The University of Edinburgh Medical School
About the course
Our programme has been designed to provide the educational background required for clinicians managing medical emergencies in children.
Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) is a rapidly expanding specialty. It has its roots in Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics but also has close affiliations with Paediatric Surgical Specialties, Paediatric Critical Care, Primary Care and Public Health.
From quite a diverse background, PEM has now developed into a specialty in its own right and there is a great need for extra PEM training on a UK, European and worldwide basis.
Prospective students will often be working full-time in professional roles caring for ill and injured children, including practicing doctors, nurses, paramedics and physician associates. Our programme is delivered as a part-time, online, interactive MSc - which affords students learning in a real-world context a degree of flexibility in their approach to study.
We use a problem-based learning approach, which promotes active learning appropriate to individual needs.
Students will have the option of graduating after one, two or three years with a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, or MSc respectively.
Learning outcomes
The key learning outcomes of the programme are to enable students to:
- understand the physiology and pathology behind critical illness and injury in children
- develop critical and analytical skills
- develop scientific writing and presentation skills
- prepare for the ever-changing and expanding medical and scientific knowledge base
Educational aims
We aim to create a stimulating learning environment using ‘problem-based learning’ to produce graduates with a deep understanding of the principles and practice of paediatric emergencies, and who can improve outcomes for patients and families based on this understanding.
This approach can be broken down into three main principles:
- The application of existing knowledge via a problem-based approach. This challenges the student to critically reflect on their clinical practice.
- Active rather than passive learning within a real-world context, based on the current scientific literature.
- Communication of information visually and in prose.
You may choose to study to Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or MSc level. Each year of study is structured into three terms and students will study a mixture of compulsory and optional courses.
Year 1: Certificate courses
You will study a wide range of topics relevant to the practice of Paediatric Emergency Medicine in three Fundamentals in Paediatric Medicine courses. These courses emphasise the basic science underpinning pathophysiology of childhood illness and injury and related care. You will also explore ethical issues, child protection and the theory of resuscitation.
Year 2: Diploma courses
In Year 2, students will study a core course and then have the choice of taking courses in a Paediatric Emergency Medicine or Paediatric Critical Care pathway:
- Paediatric Medical Emergencies (core course)
- Paediatric Emergency Medicine Pathway: Surgical Emergencies and Trauma/Anaesthesia and Sedation and Additional Topics in Paediatric Emergency Medicine
- Paediatric Critical Care Pathway: 2 courses in Paediatric Critical Care Medicine
Courses in Year 2 build on the key skills introduced in Year 1. There is a greater emphasis on diagnosis and treatment. Critical appraisals of the literature and in-depth analysis of what we do and why will form key elements of your learning.
Year 3: Masters courses
In Year 3, students will study as follows:
Management Issues in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (core course)
and either:Written Reflective Element orAdvancing Special Interests in Paediatric Emergency or Critical Care Medicine
Management issues in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (core course)
This course introduces key skills required of a senior clinician including leadership, departmental management, and group/committee work.
Working in small groups, the key areas of study are:*departmental organisation*surge demand*risk management*change management*data management and usage
Written Reflective Element (optional course)
You will complete a dissertation (literature review or brief literature review plus an audit) in your chosen area, and produce an abstract and poster on a focused aspect of your academic work.
Advancing Special Interests in Paediatric Emergency or Critical Care Medicine (optional course)
You will develop two project proposals (service evaluation and local engagement) in your chosen area of special interest and complete written work, presentations and a reflective report.
Postgraduate Professional Development
Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course(s), without the time or financial commitment of a full Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.
PPD credits and credit transfer
You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years through our PPD scheme. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit.
Alternatively, after completing one year of courses, you can choose to transfer your credits and continue studying towards a higher award on a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma, or Postgraduate Certificate programme.
Starting PPD
Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout the year, you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in the month of September.
Any time spent studying PPD will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma, or Postgraduate Certificate programme.
Please contact the programme team for more information about available courses and course start dates.
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.
Enquire
| Start date | Venue | |
|---|---|---|
| 08 Sep 2025 | Distance learning | Book now |