Allergy 20 credits

This microcredential covers practical aspects of allergy diagnosis, investigation and management, and includes all major allergic diseases, with a focus on those affecting the nose and lung.

A mix of lectures, small group and interactive presentations are used for teaching, as well as optional exposure to clinical environments.

It is suitable for students with prior biomedical science training, and is typically sat within the MSc Respiratory Medicine or alongside respiratory modules, however we also accept students enrolled on related health programmes, or as a standalone module.

On completion, you should be able to:

• Global trends in allergic diseases
• Clearly understand indications, limitations and interpretation of allergy tests
• Describe detailed features of anaphylaxis, critically appraise the following: triggers and mechanisms behind anaphylaxis, immediate treatment of anaphylaxis, education of the patient/carer regarding use of an adrenaline auto-injector and referral pathway for specialist input
• Critically appraise principles of management of allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic eczema and food allergy including current national and international guidelines
• Critically appraise allergen-specific immunotherapy (desensitisation), who is suitable for this treatment and when to refer to an allergy specialist
• Explain drug allergy labelling, de-labelling and referral pathways for drug allergy tests
• Perform the following tasks: Advanced drug allergy history taking, documentation, differentiation of what is and what is not drug allergy, clinically differentiating different types of hypersensitivity reactions

Course dates

2026 dates are TBC. This course normally runs in May.

Module attendance

• Pre-contact reading demostrating how published evidence is implemented effectively in clinical practice
• 2 full days of face to face teaching.
• Self-directed learning.

Assessment

This module is assessed by a short answer question exam (50%), a clinical case study or essay (40%) and case-based discussions (10%).

Academics involved in the delivery of this module

• Professor M Thirumala Krishna
• Professor Adel Mansur
• Dr Gareth Walters
• Dr Surendra Karanam
• Dr Omar Mohamed
• Dr Lavanya Diwakar
• Professor Nick Makwana
• Dr Prasad Nagakumar

Credits

20 credits 

BSc or equivalent professional degree in a relevant subject area

Please contact Professor M Thirumala Krishna m.t.krishna@bham.ac.uk for further information.

Fees for 2026 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.