Family Medicine (Online Learning)

Transform your medical practice with our Master of Family Medicine programme, designed to empower you with the skills to lead and innovate in primary health care globally.

This part-time, online programme offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers the essentials of modern family medicine, from evidence-based practice and patient-centred care to leadership in developing family medicine as a speciality.

With a focus on improving health outcomes in both rural and urban settings, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, the programme equips you to address global health challenges effectively.

Engage with expert faculty and a diverse international community, all committed to advancing family medicine and primary health care locally and around the world.

Why choose this programme?

• Global leadership preparation: Develop the capacity to improve the quality of family medicine practice, lead primary health care teams towards achieving universal health coverage and advocate for changes in policy, enhancing your role as a pivotal change-maker in global health.
• Expert-led insights: Learn from leading practitioners and researchers at the forefront of family medicine, providing you with the latest knowledge and practices to excel in diverse healthcare environments.
• Flexible learning: Benefit from the flexibility of an online learning format that allows you to study from anywhere in the world, fitting your studies around your professional and personal commitments.

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.

Award Title Duration Study mode MFM Family Medicine Up to 6 Years Part-time Intermittent Study Programme structure 2024/25 MFM Family Medicine 3 Years Part-time Programme structure 2024/25