Respiratory Medicine in the Community 20 credits

The course is aimed at all healthcare professionals with an interest in respiratory medicine working or engaging with the community setting, for example GPs, specialist nurses, respiratory registrars, academic clinical fellows, who are required to develop competencies in the management of respiratory disorders to an advanced level.

The course will provide accredited certification and validation of competencies including skills to enable autonomous practice in dealing with common problems and the ability to critically evaluate current research in the field of respiratory disease. An independent learning process will allow students to continue to advance their knowledge and understanding of respiratory disease.

The course will comprise:

1. Pre contact reading demonstrating how evidence based practice is implemented effectively in practice.
2. Three days contact time involving lectures and seminars and interactive, facilitated sessions to discuss the key theoretical and clinical aspects of diagnosis and management. Students will contribute to discussion, analysis and application of the theoretical perspectives that underpin practice involving critical evaluation of current research. The programme will include sessions on cough, asthma, COPD and bronchiectasis
3. Course work, written and practical assessments.
4. A minimum of 4 days within hospital or community clinics, (or in your own practice, followed by one to one discussion with specialists who teach on the module) to provide opportunities for experience in required practical competencies and to allow students to acquire and demonstrate skills, particularly in case based assessment and discussion

Course dates

• 3rd, 14th, 28th, 29th, and 30th October
• 3rd, 4th, 11th, 17th, 24th, and 26th November
• 8th December

Attendance required

• Approximately 3 days total contact time (delivered spread out across the semester)
• Approximately 4 clinical sessions within hospital. This can be your own practice, or if not in practice then will be at UHB NHS Trust.

Students may pick from a list of clinical sessions located mainly at UHB or in primary care. Please be aware that students may need additional clearances for NHS attendance, organised via occupational health and human resources; this can be done at the time of registration in order not to delay studies.

Assessment

Multiple choice questions (MCQs) and written assignment of either case based discussion and evidence review or or protocol for service development

Coordinators

• Professor Alice Turner
• Professor Rachel Jordan
• Dr Mike Newnham
• Dr Aaron Scott
• Dr Amanda Farley
• Dr Suzanne Bartington
• Dr Shamil Haroon
• Dr Paul Ellis
• Dr Frances Grudzinska
• Professor Adel Mansur (hon)
• Dr Anita Sullivan (hon)

• Clinical experience
• Entry requirements - BSc or equivalent professional degree in a relevant subject area (biomedical or medical)
• Please contact Professor Alice Turner for further information.

Fees for 2025 entry

Microcredential (Home): £1,211

Microcredential (International): £3,374

Non-credit: £1,011.20

Why choose a Postgraduate Microcredential short course?

• Microcredentials offer the perfect opportunity to boost your CV without the commitment of a full degree
• Usually taken from existing modules within a Masters, they can be used as standalone credentials with some also counting as academic credits at postgraduate level
• Add a postgraduate level qualification to your CV
• Develop the specialist skills you need for your career goals
• Alumni status with the University of Birmingham
• Learners will have the same access to our student support and campus facilities as our students on full degree programmes.

Please note the deadline for submitting an application:

• Applicants eligible for Home fees are to apply a minimum of 6 weeks before the module start date.
• Applicants eligible for Overseas fees are to apply a minimum of 3 months before the module start date.

Please note that once registered for the microcredential you cannot swap for the non-credit short course version.

Non-credit short course

The microcredential and the non-credit short course follow the same course structure, the difference between them both is with the non-credit short course you do not take the assessment at the end therefore you will not receive credits but will receive a certificate of completion, this certificate cannot be converted to credits.

Please note if you apply for the non-credit short course, you cannot swap to the microcredential version once registered.

Places on the non-credit short course are limited so please enquire before if spaces are available.