PGDip in Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Provided by University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division
About the course
Worldwide, two-thirds of the deaths of children under five years of age are caused by infectious diseases, and the prevention and treatment of infections in children is the number one priority for global health. Thus, the department believes that professionally-oriented education in paediatric infectious diseases is essential in the training of clinicians and clinical academics who will provide the future leadership in this key area for global health.
The Postgraduate Diploma is a two-year, part-time course taught primarily online, providing you with an in-depth understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of paediatric infection. It also places the practice of paediatric infectious diseases in the broader context of applied sciences, such as pathogenesis, population biology and epidemiology.
The course will appeal to doctors who have experience in paediatrics, including trainees in paediatrics who have a specialist qualification equivalent to the Membership Examination of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH), specialist trainees in paediatric infectious diseases or relevant medical subspecialties, and clinical research fellows. It will provide in-depth knowledge and is aimed at those working in specialist PID centres.
The syllabus covers the following modules:
- Infectious Syndromes
- Diagnostics, Therapeutics, Infection Control and Prevention
- Important Viral Infections
- Immunology
- Global Child Health
- Neonatal Infections
The majority of the teaching takes place online through a virtual learning environment (VLE), with online teaching discussions, interaction with tutors and other students, and access to an extensive resource library. Tutors will lead online discussions of the syllabus during timetabled weeks (on average eight to eleven weeks per module) which will be followed by study weeks to allow you to carry out self-directed study. This enables students from around the world to participate in the course.
In addition to the online teaching, you are also required during the two years on course to attend two Infection and Immunity in Children (IIC) residential conferences held annually in Oxford. You are also strongly encouraged to participate in the PentaTr@ining: ‘HIV & Other Congenital Infections’ course which consists of an online modular component and a 3-day residential in Rome. The PentaTr@ining course takes place every other year.
The course is a result of a close collaboration between the University of Oxford Department of Paediatrics and the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) and the Oxford Infection and Immunity in Children (IIC) conference. The international panel of tutors is led by Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity at the University of Oxford, and Honorary Consultant Paediatrician at the Children’s Hospital, Oxford.
Attendance
This course is part-time and is primarily taught online, but you will be required to attend two conferences in Oxford. You may also be encouraged to attend a residential in Rome.
Resources to support your study
As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of world-class resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.
The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.
The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students, to support with learning and research.
Bodleian Health Care Libraries provides services to the staff and students of the University of Oxford, mainly in clinical medicine, and to the staff of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. There are over 20,000 books and over 550 journal titles in the Bodleian Health Care Libraries.
Supervision
The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Paediatrics. It is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. A supervisor is often found outside the department.
It is down to the student and supervisor to agree the details of how regularly they will be in touch, depending on the needs of the student.
The role of the supervisor is to offer guidance with your assignments, particularly with regard to topics and general direction. Students are responsible for contacting their supervisor; please ensure you contact them early on and not too close to the deadline of your assignment. Please be aware supervisors are not expected to proof-read assignments or undertake research for you
Assessment
Year 1
- Two 4,000-word written assignments based on the modules taught in Michaelmas and Hilary term, and an examination consisting of single-best answer (SBA) questions taken from the modules covered in the first year
- You will have the opportunity to deliver a five-minute oral presentation to tutors, assessors and fellow peers during Year 1, which is strongly encouraged usually before or after the IIC conference.
Year 2
- Two 4,000-word written assignments based on the modules taught in Michaelmas and Hilary term, and an examination consisting of single-best answer questions taken from the modules covered in the second year.
You are also required to attend the annual IIC Conference in Oxford. You are strongly encouraged to participate in the monthly ESPID Online Case Rounds, as well as attend the bi-annual PentaTr@ining: ‘HIV & Other Congenital Infections’ course, and complete the Self-Assessment Questions (SAQ’s) during the two-years on course as part of exam preparation. Students with an interest in paediatric mycology are also encouraged to participate in the PentaTr@ining: ‘Fungal Infections in Paediatrics’ course.
Each of the summative assessments – the four written assignments and the two SBA Exams – contribute equally to the final mark achieved for the PGDip.
Graduate destinations
Most part-time students commencing this course are already in full-time employment. The PGDip aims to prepare trainees for work in the sub-specialty of paediatric infectious diseases.
Changes to this course and your supervision
The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.
Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.
For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.
College preference
Matriculation confers membership of the University on students. Students who enrol on this course will not be matriculated and will not become a member of an Oxford college. Although not formally members of the University, non-matriculated students are expected to observe the same rules and regulations as matriculated students. Further information about matriculation is available on the Oxford Students website.
Enquire
| Start date | Venue | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Sep 2025 | Distance learning | Book now |