Programme Overview

Family medicine is crucial for addressing the evolving needs of society. However, the healthcare system often struggles with "overcare" and "undercare," which can be mitigated through enhanced family practice physician education.

The importance of Family Medicine cannot be overstated; this notion is furthered by the WHO, and their former Director General, Dr Margeret Chan, claiming “Primary care is our best hope for the future. Family doctors are our rising stars for the future.”

Our diploma in family medicine offers a comprehensive coverage of modules related to primary care, common disorders in adulthood, child health, mental health, and more. Our family medicine diploma is designed for General Practitioners (GPs), Nurses and other healthcare professionals seeking to advance their knowledge as a primary care physician.

Our general practice diploma is clinically focused, and the knowledge gained from studying this course can be applied directly to your everyday practice. You will be able to hone your skills from your general medicine training and improve patient outcomes, all without sacrificing your other work and life commitments.

Our family medicine diploma is led by our dedicated expert tutors who are experienced in primary care, sharing their high-level knowledge directly with their students. Our fast-paced, online diploma in family medicine fosters a culture of research and academic excellence, preparing you for PhD-level studies.

Our multidisciplinary learning experience means that not only will you be learning from the very best leaders in the industry from across the globe, but you will be grouped with fellow students located all over the world.

The online family medicine diploma covers a variety of topics and will provide a number of learning outcomes. Students will be equipped with:

A systematic understanding of family medicine, skills in critical appraisal and application of knowledge for direct patient benefit/service development and future study.
Life-long learning and advanced problem-solving skills that they can apply to clinical practice in family medicine.
The ability to lead complex tasks and processes in the delivery and advancement of patient care.
Skills to lead teams in multi-agency, multi-cultural and/or international contexts.
Relevant understanding, methodologies and approaches to address complex issues of patient management across the spectrum of medical specialties.
The ability to critically evaluate evidence and guidance for family medicine and implement best practice and innovation in complex patient 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 1-year online postgraduate diploma in family medicine distance learning is tailored to a diverse array of healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their expertise in family medicine. This course caters to individuals aiming to augment their credentials with a family medicine diploma and equips them to navigate the complexities of delivering top-tier care within both primary and secondary healthcare settings, such as:

General Practitioners (GPs)
Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
Physician Assistants
Public Health Professionals
Pharmacists
Healthcare Administrators/Managers
Clinical Researchers
Oncology Nurse Specialist
Health Policy Analyst