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Medical Education at University of Cambridge - UCAS

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2025 - 20262026 - 2027
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Course summary

The MSt in Medical Education is part of University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) award-bearing suite of postgraduate awards in Medical Education for educators, educational leaders and researchers. The MSt builds on and provides progression from the very successful PG Certificate and PG Diploma courses in Medical Education. Increasingly, doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals are seeking flexible career pathways that allow them to develop a portfolio of work in areas of specialty or interest– education being one of these. The part-time MSt in Medical Education has an emphasis on educational development and research activity, providing opportunities for participants to put their educational knowledge to use in their own context(s) of practice. The programme is only open to those who have successfully completed the University of Cambridge Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education. The course is delivered through blended learning methods using a combination of face-to-face sessions requiring attendance in Cambridge, synchronous online teaching sessions, self-directed learning and supported through a virtual learning environment [VLE]. This course is for Medical professionals who are seeking career pathways that allow them to develop a portfolio of work in areas of speciality or interest. In addition, applicants will be medical, dental or healthcare professionals who are engaged in education and training activities commensurate with their level of experience and as is relevant to their professional roles and responsibilities. The MSt is suitable for ‘early career’ educators as well as those with more experience. The programme aims to develop individuals who are able to recognise and respond to opportunities to develop their own and others’ educational practice through the considered design and implementation of a small-scale educational research or development project. This will include:

  • exploration of project design principles, including methodological choices
  • familiarisation with a range of educational research, development and evaluation methods
  • purposeful and in-depth engagement with their chosen project design methodology and linked methods
  • purposeful engagement with approaches to data selection, data generation and data analysis methods (linked to their chosen design)
  • rehearsing different ways of communicating complex ideas in written/verbal/graphic form for different audiences (eg academic audience, professional audience, members of the public etc)
By the end of the MSt in Medical Education, students should be able to demonstrate:
  • a capacity to purposefully design, implement and critically appraise an educational project that has the potential to inform or change practice
  • an ability to position their project in relevant policy/practice contexts and to provide a coherent account of the conceptual and methodological choices they have made in design and implementation
  • the ability to communicate complex and novel ideas in accessible ways, for a range of audiences and purposes
  • awareness of personal responsibility and professional codes of conduct throughout all stages of the project, working in transparent and ethical ways.

Modules

This part-time course has been designed to fit in with the demands of full-time employment. Each module has been designed to link firmly to the next, supporting the design, implementation and write-up stages of the project. For each module, there is shared learning in one or two day in-person teaching blocks.

  • Two-day teaching block: October 2026
  • One-day teaching block: November/December 2026
  • One-day synchronous online teaching session: March 2027
  • Two-day teaching block: June 2027
There may also be an opportunity to attend a one-day conference during the course. The contact days during the sessions are designed to be interactive, recognising the rich resources students offer to the learning process. There will be opportunities to rehearse aspects of project design, including data collection and analysis methods; these will be explicitly linked to student project choices. Teaching methods include formal input (micro-lectures), case-study work, small-group work and peer presentations. Each student has a named supervisor and will work with them to identify preferred ways of working and patterns of supervision over the year.

Assessment method

here are 3 linked assessment points, designed to support student development and progression:

  • a project proposal of between 3,000 to 4,000 words
  • a creative submission related to an aspect of the student’s project accompanied by a short reflective piece (1,500 to 2,500 words) focussed on their learning from the task
  • a project report is the final submission and should ‘tell the story’ of the student's project work in an appropriate form that allows them to evidence achievement of the programme learning outcomes. The project report and any adjuncts should be the equivalent of 8,000 to 10,000 words
Dissertation All students will undertake an educational project, either research or development. The project report and any adjuncts should be the equivalent of 8,000 to 10,000 words. With both types of projects, students are required to produce work that meets all programme outcomes at Master’s level. This includes working ethically, even if formal ethical permissions are not required. If they elect to undertake an Educational Research Project (ERP) (using either primary or secondary data) they would be required to seek formal ethical permissions. If undertaking an Educational Development Project (EDP), this may not be required. Attendance at all of the units in Cambridge and full and active participation in all elements of the course is compulsory.

How to apply

International applicants

Our courses are taught in English and require a good level of fluency. If English is not your first language, you'll need to prove you have sufficient fluency before admission. If we offer you a place, it will be subject to you meeting this requirement. As a minimum, you will be required to demonstrate an overall score of 7.5 in IELTS Academic with a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component (or equivalent). We welcome applications from international students. If you're coming from overseas, you would attend the in-person teaching sessions for this course with visitor immigration permission. It's important to be aware that entering the UK as a visitor for study purposes comes with certain expectations and restrictions, and you should fully understand the requirements.

Entry requirements

The programme is only open to those who have successfully completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education at PACE. This means they are medical, dental or healthcare professionals who are engaged in education and training activities commensurate with their level of experience and as is relevant to their professional roles and responsibilities. It is suitable for ‘early career’ educators as well as those with more experience. Typically, we expect a good UK undergraduate degree, such as a 2.1, or international equivalent. If your degree is not from the UK, check international qualifications on the University’s postgraduate site to find the equivalent in your country.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £5406 Whole course
Northern Ireland £5406 Whole course
Scotland £5406 Whole course
Wales £5406 Whole course
International £10812 Whole course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

There is a £85 application fee.
Medical Education at University of Cambridge - UCAS