Programme Overview

Our Postgraduate Certificate in Critical Care is designed to equip practitioners with advanced knowledge of how to respond to and treat a range of critical conditions including sepsis, heart failure and respiratory failure.

With a completion time of just six months, you can now upskill in this crucial field faster than ever before. Our acute care certification enables you to really make a difference in the most critical scenarios, and significantly improve patient outcomes.

Critical care is a highly rewarding field of medical care to specialise in, offering the ability to significantly improve the quality of patient care and ultimately save lives.

Unlike competitors who emphasise theoretical learning through extensive reading and essay writing, our advanced certificate in critical care medicine focuses on practical, clinically-rich scenarios. We offer a multidisciplinary approach, which enables you to apply a global perspective and new-found knowledge immediately in real-life situations in your full-time role.

On completion of this Critical Care Postgraduate Certificate, you will be able to:

Demonstrate a systematic knowledge of critical care, skills in critical appraisal and application of knowledge for direct patient benefit/service development and future study.
Apply life-long learning and advanced problem-solving skills to practice in critical care.
Evaluate practice critically in relation to the evidence base.

Entry Requirements

Since our courses are conducted entirely online, they are accessible to both UK and international registered healthcare professionals.

Applicants will typically hold a first degree or equivalent (including international qualifications) in a relevant professional healthcare field, such as a medical or nursing degree.

Registered healthcare professionals without these recognised qualifications will be considered on an individual basis and a wide range of prior experience may be taken into account. In some cases, applicants may be asked to submit a piece of work for assessment in order to confirm that they are able to work comfortably at postgraduate level, and demonstrate the requisite clinical and professional knowledge.

Documents Required

A copy of your updated CV including your address and date of birth.
A copy of your undergraduate degree certificate.
The name and email address of someone who is able to provide a reference, this can be a work colleague, employer or former tutor.
A detailed personal statement explaining why you would like to undertake the course.
A copy of your proof of English competency (see below).
English Language Requirements Proficiency in the English language is also essential to completing our courses. If English is NOT your first language, we ask for proof of competency during the application process. We are able to accept an IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 for each band) or an equivalent qualification.

If you do not meet these requirements, please don’t worry. The University of Buckingham run a number of English Language Programmes at the Centre for International English to prepare you for your academic studies. You can also contact our admissions team on admissions@diploma-msc.com for more information on the qualifications we accept.

Who is this course for?

Our acute care certification is designed to meet the needs of a multidisciplinary network of healthcare professionals, including Paramedics, Doctors, Nurses, GPs, Pharmacists and Physicians Associates.

If you are a paramedic seeking career advancement opportunities, critical care is a recognised progression path, which this programme will support.

Perhaps you are a nurse working in an ICU setting, seeking specialisation as an emergency care nurse? This programme will ensure your knowledge of critical care is up to date and prepare you for advanced opportunities.

Global Relevance
Our critical care certificate serves a global demand, welcoming students internationally and addressing crucial gaps in healthcare systems in regions like Africa and India where specialised skill sets are urgently required.

Programme Overview

Our one year Postgraduate Diploma in Critical Care enables you to provide the rapid diagnosis and referral required in urgent clinical scenarios with certainty. This is a highly rewarding field of medical care to specialise in, offering the ability to significantly impact the quality of patient care and ultimately save lives.

For healthcare professionals working on the frontline in the fast-paced world of critical care, a systematic understanding of how to manage urgent presentations of life-threatening conditions including sepsis, poisoning and respiratory failure, is essential. Our curriculum focuses on knowledge transfer and case-based learning, ensuring you are well-prepared to apply these insights directly in your practice.

Sepsis alone is one of the highest causes of death globally, currently causing 11 million fatalities around the world each year. To address this figure and several other life-threatening illnesses affecting the population, our emergency care specialisation programme equips you with the necessary skills and knowledge to make a significant impact on patient care and outcomes.

Studying this online critical care diploma will equip you with life-long learning and advanced problem solving skills which are directly applicable to practise in critical care scenarios.

Prepare to engage in global discussions and process comparisons with peers from diverse healthcare systems, and we incorporate a challenge-based learning approach to equip you with a broader understanding of intensive care unit practices worldwide. In addition to improving patient outcomes, this Postgraduate Diploma in Critical Care will enhance your leadership skills, career progression and increase your employability prospects as you possess high levels of expertise in this important field.

On successful completion of this diploma in critical care, you will:

Demonstrate the ability to lead complex tasks and processes in the delivery and advancements of critical care
Deliver leadership to teams in multi-agency, multi-cultural and/or international contexts.
Gain a systematic knowledge of evidence-based medicine in relation to critical care.
Apply relevant knowledge, methodologies and approaches to address patient management across the spectrum of medical specialties caring for patients with critical presentations.
Develop the ability to implement best practice and innovation in complex critical care scenarios.

Entry Requirements

Since our courses are conducted entirely online, they are accessible to both UK and international registered healthcare professionals.

Applicants will typically hold a first degree or equivalent (including international qualifications) in a relevant professional healthcare field, such as a medical or nursing degree.

Registered healthcare professionals without these recognised qualifications will be considered on an individual basis and a wide range of prior experience may be taken into account. In some cases, applicants may be asked to submit a piece of work for assessment in order to confirm that they are able to work comfortably at postgraduate level, and demonstrate the requisite clinical and professional knowledge.

Documents Required

A copy of your updated CV including your address and date of birth.
A copy of your undergraduate degree certificate.
The name and email address of someone who is able to provide a reference, this can be a work colleague, employer or former tutor.
A detailed personal statement explaining why you would like to undertake the course.
A copy of your proof of English competency (see below).
English Language Requirements Proficiency in the English language is also essential to completing our courses. If English is NOT your first language, we ask for proof of competency during the application process. We are able to accept an IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 for each band) or an equivalent qualification.

If you do not meet these requirements, please don’t worry. The University of Buckingham run a number of English Language Programmes at the Centre for International English to prepare you for your academic studies. You can also contact our admissions team on admissions@diploma-msc.com for more information on the qualifications we accept.

Should you have already successfully completed the 1 year Postgraduate Diploma and wish to convert to the MSc and complete only the second year of the programme this is possible. Please contact our admissions department admissions@diploma-msc.com to find out more.

Who is this course for?

Our critical care diploma is designed to meet the needs of a multidisciplinary network of healthcare professionals, including Paramedics, Doctors, Nurses, GPs, Pharmacists and Physicians Associates.

If you are a paramedic seeking career advancement opportunities, critical care is a recognised progression path, which this programme will support.

Perhaps you are a nurse working in an ICU setting, seeking specialisation as an emergency care nurse? This programme will ensure your knowledge of critical care is up to date and prepare you for advanced opportunities.

Global Relevance
Our Critical Care programme serves a global demand, welcoming students internationally and addressing crucial gaps in healthcare systems in regions like Africa and India where specialised skill sets are urgently required.