Diabetes (PgDip)

The Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes aims to equip healthcare professionals who have a special interest in diabetes with a sound knowledge of diabetes and diabetes-related issues as they present in practice. It aims to do this by providing up-to-date clinical information with treatment and referral guidelines for diabetes and diabetic complications seen in practice.

The course aims are to:

Provide a comprehensive programme of diabetes education for healthcare professionals.
Develop competence in the diagnosis, treatment, and decision-making in the care of persons with diabetes.
Develop leadership and evaluation skills in the delivery of care.
Establish a stimulating environment for research, teaching and learning about diabetes.
Encourage a culture for training of healthcare professionals by the development of a network of experienced clinical teachers.

The course is a development of the Diabetes Research Unit which has an international reputation for teaching and research in diabetes. It seeks to encourage critical thinking and improve the understanding of diabetes and diabetes related topics. You will be equipped not only with current factual knowledge but will also have the opportunity to learn about strategies aimed at helping you consider how best to deal with future advances in therapy and management.

The Postgraduate Diploma is a two-year, part-time, distance learning course and is completed online. It consists of six modules, each lasting 10 weeks, to include three core modules and a selection of three out of the nine optional modules.

Introductory lectures are also held during each academic year of study. Attendance is not mandatory but strongly encouraged as it has been designed to give you a more holistic understanding of the course structure and topics, as well as an opportunity to meet your fellow students and expert faculty.

Our introductory lectures are usually held in Cardiff, Dubai and India; however, dates and locations are subject to confirmation.

Distinctive features

• Online material 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 online groups focussing on various aspects of the subject. The group will develop a document and each individual will evaluate the work in relation to their own clinical care setting.
• 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 of the case problems are given and students will be expected to discuss the concepts being tested. Engagement in case problems is often highly motivational for students and perceived as being valid for their clinical work.