Echocardiography PGCert

Course overview

Cardiac disease causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is increasing demand across all cardiac specialties and particularly within cardiac ultrasound where the demand for cardiac sonographers currently outweighing the supply. Cardiac sonographers are sought after individuals who work across hospital and community environments, combining clinical excellence with patient centered care.

Make an impact

Our PG Cert Echocardiography course is designed to match the professional development needs of healthcare professionals working with patients with conditions such as ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, adult congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies and pericardial disease. The course is designed to facilitate the development of highly competent, knowledgeable advanced practitioners, who will make a significant contribution to both individual patient care and to the wider healthcare services. The course is designed for healthcare professionals with a specialist interest in echocardiography and those who encounter cardiac patients on a routine basis including Cardiac Physiologists/Cardiac Scientists, Doctors, General Practitioner’s, Cardiac Nurse Specialists, Physician Associates, Catheter Lab Nurses, Radiographers and Allied Health Professionals.

Course highlights

• Develop specialist clinical expertise underpinned by in-depth theoretical knowledge, including the opportunity to apply learning to real-life scenarios in echocardiography and echocardiography pathology.
• Acquire in-depth theoretical knowledge and understanding of the underlying scientific and technological principles of diagnostic ultrasound and a critical understanding of current and emergent diagnostic imaging equipment and technology.
• Learn the skills and knowledge required to perform a range of clinical examinations to high standards of diagnostic accuracy and safety.
• Develop an understanding of the discipline's evidence and research base.
• Tap into the expertise of our research cardiologists who specifically research cardiac ultrasound.
• Access to 6 BodyWorks Eve echocardiography simulators

Facilities

Simulation based Learning (SBL) allows students to practice their developing echocardiography skills on one of the six BodyWorks Eve echocardiography simulators. Practical sessions take place on the simulators with clinical experts available to supervise the students whilst developing their skills. Practice can take place within a safe and controlled setting giving students the time they need to develop their practical echocardiography skills.

Course details

To gain the PG Cert qualification you will complete and pass both 30 credit modules:

The Fundamentals of Echocardiography module provides the opportunity to apply scientific and technical learning to work based issues in echocardiography. This module will provide a basis of theoretical knowledge and practical skill development which will be vital to investigative imaging and the treatment of diseases and conditions.

Topics covered include:

• critical evaluation of the clinical role of echocardiography & Doppler

• evaluation and critical appraisal of service provision/relationship with patients/reporting and documentation

• critical evaluation of the importance of imaging physics & instrumentation

• the evaluation and appraisal of Doppler physics and instrumentation

• critical evaluation of recording methods

• recognition of cardiac anatomy and physiology

• cardiac functional parameters

The Echocardiography Pathology module covers areas of echocardiography pathology essentials required in a clinical setting. This module is particularly relevant if you are a practising cardiac physiologist or allied health professional who works within, and are involved with, cardiac patients requiring cardiac ultrasound.

Aspects covered include: mitral, aortic, tricuspid and pulmonary valve disease plus pericardial disease; cardiomyopathies; coronary artery disease associated with systolic LV function; MI and its complications; pulmonary hypertension and RV functional assessment and diseases of the aorta plus adult congenital heart disease.

This is a nine month course with teaching during two x one week long intensive study weeks in Leeds, one in semester 1 and the other in semester 2. International students will require just one short-term study visa because both study weeks are within a six-month period. You will complete the rest of your study from your home country and submit your assessment online.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Echocardiography PGCert in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Learning and teaching

The course content is specifically designed to meet the learning outcomes set by accredited professional bodies, supporting the requirement to attain both postgraduate and professional body exams. The curriculum content is designed to fit the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) curriculum.

On completion of the course, you will be able to:

• critically evaluate and apply detailed subject knowledge and professional competencies which are underpinned by relevant research and evidence-based practice
• critically analyse the impact of echocardiography in adults
• work at an advanced level within a multi-professional team to improve the outcomes of service users undergoing echocardiograms
• provide advanced practice within your professional boundaries and professional body, recognising the need for lifelong learning

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by clinical experts with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus. You will learn through a mix of taught sessions, seminars, debates and practical sessions, these will be supported by online resources. Teaching will occur across two block weeks, one for each module.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You will be assessed in a range of different ways. Some of these include:

• Identifying case studies that highlight current practice, critically evaluating these in both an essay and presentation. This will demonstrate the application of theory to advanced practice.
• The preparation of essays/presentations will allow students from differing professional backgrounds to choose a case study. This will support you to apply your own professional knowledge and experience.
• Essays for the Echocardiography Pathology modules will be 3,500 words in the format of a journal article, and you will be actively encouraged to submit for publication in subject-specific journals.
• Echocardiography Pathology presentations will be 15 minutes with five minutes questioning.
• Your knowledge will be assessed by a marked workbookfocused on the science and technology for the Fundamentals of Echocardiography module.

Fees

UK: £4,750 (Total)

International: £11,000 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges .

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees .

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page .