PgCert in Cosmetic & Aesthetic Medicine
Validated by University of South Wales
There has been a dramatic growth in the popularity of cosmetic procedures worldwide in recent years, including dermal fillers, laser treatment and more. This flexible, Postgraduate Certificate in Cosmetic Medicine course has been specifically designed for doctors, dentists, dental therapists, pharmacists and nurses who wish to improve their knowledge, skills and experience in cosmetic and aesthetic medicine.
Next intake: March 2025Key Facts
This cosmetic medicine certification has been specifically designed to promote and enhance working professionals’ knowledge and ultimately their practice in cosmetic medicine, and complements separate, practice-based recognised prior learning (RPL) awards.
UK legislation is predicted to change in the near future, requiring cosmetic practitioners to be registered in order to practice, and the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (the JCCP) is at the forefront of this initiative, setting standards and competency frameworks for the industry in collaboration with the Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority (the CPSA). Learna is the only approved educational provider to deliver the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) Fast Track Assessment and continues to support the promotion of enhancing the professional knowledge underpinning practice in cosmetic and aesthetic medicine.
This online cosmetic medicine course aligns with these standards and is an entry point to our Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in Aesthetic Injectable Practice. For more information about the OSCE, please visit our Certificate in Cosmetic Medicine with Assessment of Aesthetic Injectable Practice page.
On completion of this dermal filler qualification, you will be able to:
- Make professional decisions, incorporating evidence based rationale in a variety of diverse and complex situations related to cosmetic medicine.
- Apply advanced problem-solving skills in clinical practice.
- Demonstrate leadership in the delivery and advancement of cosmetic medicine.
- Demonstrate leadership of teams in multi-agency, multi-cultural and/or international contexts.
- Demonstrate evaluation skills in the delivery of care to patients.
Faculty
Programme Leader
Dr Ana Cristina Diniz Silva
Dr Ana Cristina Diniz Silva’s experience within the field of dermatology is incredibly vast, having achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dermatology, a Postgraduate Certificate...
Validating partner
University of South Wales
The University of South Wales (USW) is a modern, industry focused University located in Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd in South Wales, UK. It was rated best in the UK for the Health Professions in the Guardian University Guide 2020 and, in the latest Complete University Guide 2022, is in the top 10 in the UK for Health Studies. USW is one of Britain’s largest and most exciting new universities attracting a cosmopolitan mix of students from across the globe.
Accreditors and Endorsers
WACS - Welsh Aesthetic & Cosmetic Society
This postgraduate diploma, the postgraduate certificate in cosmetic and aesthetic medicine, awarded by the University of South Wales, has been accredited by the Welsh Aesthetic & Cosmetic Society.
UEMS - European Union of Medical Specialists
This postgraduate course has also been accredited by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS)
Frequently Asked Questions
For a full list of our FAQs visit our FAQs page.
As each Medical Council has their own rules/regulations with regard to Postgraduate study we recommend that you contact your local Medical Council with regard to recognition.
Upon completion of the course the University would invite you to a graduation ceremony and provide your certificate which makes no reference to the fact that the course was studied online and is therefore typically recognised the same as any other UK University qualification.
Rest assured, the overall Postgraduate Diploma carries a total of 1,200 CPD points, with the MSc an additional 600 CPD points, and all official certifications are issued directly by the University.
When you study one of our programmes you may be surprised to find that there are no lectures or seminars. Your learning will be self-directed meaning that rather than being told information you find it for yourself (with tutor guidance and support). We do this via a series of clinically rich scenarios which your tutor will post on our academic forum which you and your classmates will research, respond to and discuss.
You will be assessed through the Academic Forum, Reflective Journal and Assignments. Learning will be carried out using our online learning platform: Moodle.
You can study whenever and wherever you want - our programmes are totally flexible to fit around your other work and life commitments.
The course is specifically designed so that part of your study is the application of theory to practice in your day job.
We typically suggest that students aim to log into the Moodle platform daily. We recommend a "little and often" approach for reading, reflection and/or posting. High achieving students will typically spend 1-2 hours dedicated to their studies a day; 10 hours per week is sufficient time to spend on the platform.
Those who cannot dedicate more time than once/twice per week may struggle with the demands of this postgraduate programme.
Yes, everything is done entirely online through our learning platform, Moodle. You do not need to attend the University.
Postgraduate Diploma courses
In order to be eligible for our Postgraduate Diploma courses you need to hold a medical degree or undergraduate degree in a health related science and be working within the field that you wish to study, as the course is designed to further your knowledge within your chosen subject and is not designed to introduce these as new topic areas.
We have two intakes a year in March and September. Click the following link for the up to date application deadlines and module dates: Module Dates.
We currently offer two discounts: the Early Bird Discount and the Action Taker Discount. The Early Bird discount allows you to save up to £500 or more, available only to self-funders and is a limited-time offer that runs for the entirety of November for the March cohort or the entirety of May for the September cohort. Our Action Taker Discount allows you to save up to £150 off for PGCert and £250 off for PGDip/2-year MSc programmes. To qualify for Action Takers, you must pay the deposit within 7 days of acceptance. This discount is not available during February and August and not available in combination with the Early Bird Discount.
For Early Bird Discounts, the discount is visible if your application and acceptance are completed within the required timeframe. For Action Taker Discounts, it will reflect once conditions are met.
Next intake: March 2025 Key Facts
Programme Leader
Dr Ana Cristina Diniz Silva
Dr Ana Cristina Diniz Silva’s experience within the field of dermatology is incredibly vast, having achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dermatology, a Postgraduate Certificate in Dermoscopy and an MSc in Dermatology Skills & Treatment.
During her studies, she accumulated years worth of experience in cosmetic dermatology, including botulinum toxin injections (head and neck, hyperhidrosis sites), non-surgical lifting with silhouette threads, hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite fillers (nasolabial folds, facial contours, lips, tear trough, MD codes) and fractional laser treatment.
Currently, she works at a private medical clinical in Ser Nobre, Brazil as a Dermatology and Obesity Clinical Supervisor.
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Why Study a Cosmetic Medicine Postgraduate Certificate with Learna
We have over 10 years’ experience delivering online courses, giving you access to flexible, affordable distance learning in partnership with world-leading educators.
100% Flexible
Our courses are 100% online. No fixed study times mean you can log in and learn whenever and wherever.
Multidisciplinary - study in a group of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.
Expert Led
All of our programmes are authored and developed by world leading experts in their field.
Our faculty are selected due to their subject expertise, experience and teaching abilities to ensure the highest standards of educational excellence.
Career Boosting
Get a University Validated postgraduate qualification in just 1 calendar year instead of 2 academic years.
40% of our alumni reported an increase in salary 2 years after studying with us.
Who is this course for?
The Postgraduate Certificate in Cosmetic Medicine course is aimed at doctors, dentists, dental therapists, pharmacists and nurses whose roles are evolving with increasing demand amongst these specialists for a postgraduate qualification to help support their professional learning and clinical development.
How Will I Learn?
You'll learn through our flexible, interactive online platform, which allows you to engage with clinical cases, complete assignments, and collaborate with fellow students at times that suit your schedule. There's no fixed timetable—simply log in daily to participate in the week's activities.
Learn through engaging discussion
Our teaching approach is highly interactive, using small groups of 10-20 students to foster a collaborative environment where you can engage in thoughtful discussions and receive guidance from your tutor. You'll have access to learning resources and discussion forums that encourage ongoing interaction and deeper engagement with the material.
Throughout your studies, you'll receive support from a dedicated expert tutor and our Student Support Team, ensuring you have the resources needed to navigate the course successfully.
Curriculum
Our online Cosmetic Medicine Postgraduate Certificate allows you to study for just six months and is a part-time, distance-learning course. The course is worth 60 credits and comprises three modules of 20 credits, each running over a period of six weeks.Aim of the module:
The aim of the module is to address the life sciences underpinning cosmetic medicine and the professional and ethical issues that arise in practice.
Synopsis of module content:
- Anatomy of the face – the skin, muscles, fat pads, blood vessels, nerves and bones within the face.
- Physiology and physiological changes relating to these structures.
- Facial structure functions and their relation to ageing.
- Facial assessments and treatment plans.
- Ethics for treating patients for financial gain (treatment dependent).
- This module includes mandatory formative assessment activities, to support students learning and development prior to summative assessment tasks.
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Critically apply in-depth anatomical and physiological knowledge of the face to the selection of appropriate cosmetic medical treatments.
- Critically analyse the professional and ethical issues surrounding aesthetic medicine.
Aim of the module:
Address botulism as a disease and the pharmacology of botulinum toxins and treatments.
Synopsis of module content:
- Botulinum and botulism history.
- Botulinum toxin pharmaceutical history and licenses.
- Clostridia as bacteria.
- Indications for use, common complications and their treatment.
- Patient selection, injection techniques, indications, safety, adverse effects and combination treatments.
On completion of this module the student should be able to:
- Critically apply the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of botulinum use in cosmetic and medical treatment.
- Critically appraise the use of botulinum toxin in aesthetic treatments.
Aim of the module:
Teach candidates about facial fillers, volume loss, facial fat pads and how treatment of a volume depleted face can have an impact on the ageing face.
Synopsis of module content:
- Anatomy of facial fat pads and physiological effects of ageing.
- Dermal fillers.
- Hyaluronic Acids (HA), different manufacturers, cross linking (BDDE), length of fibre, duration of effect, fibroblasts (HA production, hyaluronidase).
- Indications for Has, complications associated with the administration of Has and the treatment of complications.
- Avoiding complications.
- Managing patient expectations.
- Non HA fillers – permanent/temporary, synthetic/autologous.
- Dermal fillers for specific regions – lips, hands.
On completion of this module the student should be able to:
- Critically analyse the evidence base for the augmentation of facial fat pads with dermal fillers.
- Critically evaluate the use of dermal fillers in aesthetic treatments.
Assessment Methods
This programme emphasises learning through active participation in case-based discussions, reflection, and real-life scenarios. Students engage with clinical cases that mirror everyday practice, fostering problem-solving and evidence-based application from the very beginning.
Across the modules, assessments are integrated with learning. Each week, you will work through two to three clinical cases, discussing and reflecting on them with peers under the guidance of an expert tutor. These discussions form the core of your learning and are also the basis for your assessments.
Our innovative teaching methods are designed to help you translate this learning into real-world clinical practice. You'll need to regularly log in to participate in discussions, ideally on a daily basis, and commit approximately two hours per day to your studies. Our dedicated Student Support Team is available to assist with any challenges you may encounter, from navigating our online platform to managing deadlines.
How Foundational Knowledge is Developed
The programme is structured so that foundational knowledge is introduced through carefully designed clinical cases. Each case is crafted to highlight essential concepts and progressively deepen your understanding as you apply critical thinking and evidence-based analysis. This hands-on approach ensures that you are not only acquiring theoretical knowledge but also learning how to apply it in a practical, clinical setting.
This programme is suited for professionals who thrive in an online, discussion-based learning environment. Please note that this course focuses on interactive, applied learning through peer collaboration and case discussions. You will be fully supported, encouraged and led through the programme to success and graduation!
Students are required to critically analyse clinically focused case-based scenarios, discussion threads and weekly questions posed by their tutors via the Academic Forum (an online discussion board) and designed to meet the module learning outcomes. Here, students make their own researched and referenced contributions and interact with the tutor and their fellow students. There is no didactic teaching, instead, students are posed questions and prompted to search the literature, read it critically and respond. Engagement is encouraged by the tutor prompting students to respond and the use of automated activity monitoring software.
At the end of each module, the tutor allocates marks to each student based on a marking rubric. The rubric takes into account the following elements:
· Promptness and initiative
· Delivery of post (spelling and grammar)
· The relevance of post and referencing
· Expression within the post
The online reflective journal is a learning portfolio that requires the students to record and critically reflect on their learning. Reflection is an important aspect of the programme as the professionals will be able to spend time considering how their practice compares to the themes being discussed in the module. The tutor provides regular feedback to the student and marks it at the end of the module.
Reflective practice is a requirement for healthcare professionals for both professional re-validation and professional development.
The group activity is designed to stimulate and test the students’ ability to work as a team in taking the subject area forward. A group task is set, the group elects a leader using the online forum (designed to put leadership skills into practice) and the leader allocates tasks to group members.
The leader is responsible for managing, collating and submitting the activity (online) at the end of the module. The tutor provides formative guidance part way through the module and marks the assessment at the end.
Examples of individual activities might include either a written assignment, poster, blog or social media project.
All students must complete the same assignment for each module that is predetermined by the programme Leader before the modules commence. Students are not provided with an option to choose.
Case problems in the form of a one-hour timed examination with multiple-choice ‘single best answer’ questions directly test the reasoning and knowledge objectives of the module. The online examination is marked automatically.
Entry requirements
Since our cosmetic medicine 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 or management field.
Registered healthcare professionals working in the healthcare field, 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 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 for each band) or an equivalent qualification.
If you do not meet these requirements, please don’t worry. The University of South Wales 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.
Course Fees
- Deposit for March 2025: £375 †
- Total Course Fees for UK & International Students for March 2025: £2,250 ††
Payment Options
- Option 1: Upfront Payment in full. Pay-in-full discount is available.
- Option 2: Apply for Interest-free payments each month for the duration of the course.
Payment Plan Breakdown
| Deposit | 5 Monthly Payments |
| £375 † | £375 |
Total payments: £2,250
You may also be interested in:
- Spread the cost with Lendwise, who offer financing options for up to 8 years. ††††
† Deposits are non-refundable
†† Prices are subject to review following each intake
†††† Subject to eligibility criteria.
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Why Learna
We have over 10 years’ experience delivering online diploma courses, giving you access to flexible, affordable distance learning in partnership with world-leading educators.
Our courses are some of the most affordable of their kind, providing value for money without compromising on quality. We also don't apply an international surcharge. No fixed timetable means you can log in & learn on the go, at your convenience.
Being totally online means we can select the very best tutors and resource editors, no matter where they’re located.
Connect with multidisciplinary people around the world to expand your insights & broaden your career prospects.
Our programmes produce 90% fewer emissions than campus-based learning.
