Postgraduate Diploma in Renal Medicine
The kidneys play a vital role in maintaining overall health within the body, and renal diseases can have a significant impact on a patient’s well-being and quality of life. Therefore, thorough knowledge of renal medicine is crucial for healthcare professionals, as an understanding of renal function and dysfunction is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective management of kidney-related disorders.
Our part-time Postgraduate Diploma in Renal Medicine has been designed to equip healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge to deal with renal afflictions confidently and effectively while optimising patient outcomes.
Next intake: September 2024Key Facts
Our online renal course is designed to improve your management of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, as well as to provide you with the confidence, knowledge, and skills you need to improve patient treatment and care in renal medicine. Our renal courses are completely flexible, allowing you to fit your studies around your family, work, and lifestyle commitments.
The renal course is scenario-based with a clinical focus and is based on extensive research with primary care practitioners; it is highly relevant for front-line healthcare professionals and includes the most recent developments in renal medicine. On successful completion of our online renal courses, you’ll be able to:
- Without being a kidney specialist, at a primary care level, you can confidently diagnose and treat patients with kidney disease symptoms.
- Make use of your new knowledge and skills to help prevent or slow the progression of chronic kidney disease and to ensure timely referral to secondary care.
- From a primary care standpoint, assist in the treatment of dialysis and transplant patients.
- Consolidate your knowledge to provide the best possible patient care and service outcomes.
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.
Faculty
Programme Leader - Dr. Richard Smith, FRCP, PhD.
Dr Richard Smith
Current post: Consultant Nephrologist and Clinical Director for Research, East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust.
Richard Smith, Consultant Nephrologist and Clinical Director for Research at East...
Tutor - Dr. Ahad Qayyum
Current post: Renowned Consultant Nephrologist & currently serves as Medical Director & Chief of Nephrology at one of the largest trust hospital of Asia and Pakistan i.e. Bahria Town International...
Accreditors and Endorsers
UEMS - European Union of Medical Specialists
This postgraduate course has also been accredited by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS)
Next intake: September 2024 Key Facts
Programme Leader - Dr. Richard Smith, FRCP, PhD.
Dr Richard Smith
Current post: Consultant Nephrologist and Clinical Director for Research, East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust.
Richard Smith, Consultant Nephrologist and Clinical Director for Research at East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust is the Programme Leader for our Renal Medicine Postgraduate Diploma. Richard has:
- 28 years of teaching experience including at the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Cardiff University, the University of Bristol and now, the University of South Wales.
- 30 years experience of clinical transplantation with 18 years as a consultant nephrologist at hospitals across the UK
- 28 years experience of clinical trials and academic research, including 42 publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Richard has always been driven by demystifying kidney disease; helping non-specialists become more confident at treating patients with afflicting symptoms. Most kidney problems present first to non-specialists (GPs, diabetologists, emergency medicine, general medicine and general surgery). Unfortunately, training in how to manage these patients is often covered poorly in ‘general’ training programmes. This course aims to equip these clinicians with the knowledge and skills they need to confidently manage patients with kidney disease.
Tutor - Dr. Ahad Qayyum
Current post: Renowned Consultant Nephrologist & currently serves as Medical Director & Chief of Nephrology at one of the largest trust hospital of Asia and Pakistan i.e. Bahria Town International Hospital Lahore.
- Has a distinct honor of holding renal fellowships from both the Royal College Physicians of United Kingdom and College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan.
- Has published extensively with more than 30 research articles in high impact factor medical journals and sits on the editorial board of the Pakistan Journal of Kidney Diseases.
- Nominated renal scholar by the International Society of Nephrology & Kidney Research UK and a member of the South Asian Regional Board and Educational Ambassador Committee of the International Society of Nephrology.
- Certified mentor and supervisor for ACLS and Renal Fellowship by the American Heart Association and College of Physicians and Surgeons respectively
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Why Study a Renal Medicine Postgraduate Diploma 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?
Our renal diploma is specifically designed for healthcare professionals frequently seeing patients who aren’t renal specialists who display symptoms of kidney disease.
You should be working as a healthcare professional (HCP), either in the UK or overseas, in a role in general practice, or a secondary care HCP managing patients with systemic diseases that may affect the kidneys.
How Will I Learn?
You will be supported throughout your studies by a committed team of internationally recognised educational experts.
Our courses are conducted through our interactive online learning platform, log in daily whenever and wherever you want. No fixed timetable empowers you to study when it suits you
These usually occur within groups of 10-20 students, allowing you to clearly communicate with both your tutor and fellow students.
Curriculum
Our online diploma in renal medicine allows you to study for just one calendar year and is a part-time, distance-learning course. The course is worth 120 credits and comprises six modules of 20 credits, each running over a period of six weeks.Equipping you with the knowledge and skills to be able to confidently diagnose and initiate management of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Providing you with the knowledge and skills to be able to confidently manage AKI patients and understand when referral to secondary care is appropriate and necessary.
Helping you to confidently manage CKD patients and understand when referral to secondary care is appropriate and necessary.
Giving you a comprehensive understanding of systemic disease on the kidney and how to provide evidence-based care for these complex conditions.
Enabling you to confidently manage general medical and surgical problems in the dialysis and transplant patient from a primary care perspective.
Equipping you with the skills and knowledge to provide patient-centred care that empowers them to access healthcare advice and treatment options pertinent to their circumstances, and helping them to make informed decisions that maximises their quality of life.
Assessment Methods
This renal course places assessments at the heart of the learning process through the employment of real-life scenarios to enhance problem-solving, critical analysis, and evidence-based practice.
Since the scenarios act as a focus for learning and assessment, the two are intrinsically linked.
The six modules on the diploma in renal course have the same assessment format and for all modules, you will be assigned a dedicated expert tutor.
Your tutor will then facilitate case discussions with the group, whilst monitoring, assessing, and marking your work throughout. You will also participate in a combination of module activities that may be group and/or individual based, dependent on the module.
These innovative teaching methods enable you to envisage the translation of your studies into your everyday work and practice.
Due to the online nature of the course, you will be expected to regularly log in and participate in the course - ideally on a daily basis. Students are recommended to spend around two hours per day on their studies.
Our dedicated Student Support Team is also available to help with any problems you may face. From navigating our online platform to advising you on deadlines, our team can assist with any questions or challenges you may have along the way.
- Every week students are presented with two/three clinical case-based scenarios that are reflective of every day clinical practice and research.
- Tutors will post a number of questions and prompts to aid students in a formal discussion of each case.
- These discussions are facilitated throughout by your tutor and are then assessed at the end of every module.
The reflective journal is used by students throughout each module to monitor personal progress. This is guided by weekly feedback from your tutor and is graded at the end of every module. The journal typically includes the following:
- Initial expectations and reasons for taking the course.
- Module and/or personal learning objectives.
- Description of events, issues and learning points within current personal practice.
- Change in every day practice due to knowledge gained on each module.
- A description of what has been learned during the module.
For this assessment, students will work on a group assignment and/or an individual assignment.
- Group assignments are designed to hone skills in the multidisciplinary, holistic approach to modern treatments and patient management by requiring group participation in a single piece of work.
- Individual assignments are designed to hone skills in academic career progression through such tasks as reviewing papers, developing scientific posters or abstracts, peer-reviewing, social media activities, patient information leaflets and essays.
- Students are provided with case-based problems in the form of a one-hour timed examination.
- The exam consists of 30 'Single Best Answer' questions.
- Students are required to complete the exam online within the set time.
Entry requirements
Since our online renal courses are conducted entirely online, it's 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
Option 1: Upfront Payment in full. Option 2: Interest free payments every other month for the duration of the course.
| Date | Instalments | Up-Front Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | £840 | £5,040 |
| 1st November 2024 | £840 | |
| 1st January 2025 | £840 | |
| 1st March 2025 | £840 | |
| 1st May 2025 | £840 | |
| 1st July 2025 | £840 |
† Deposits are non-refundable
†† Prices are subject to review following each intake
Option 3: Lower your monthly payments by spreading the cost for between 2 and 8 years with a loan from our lending partner Lendwise*.
*Subject to eligibility criteria.
Learna | Diploma MSc has a partnership with Lendwise which is a leading private student loan provider, to help UK students fund their course fees should they require financing. Lendwise is a UK-based education finance platform through which candidates can fund their postgraduate and professional qualification studies at leading educational institutions.
A Lendwise loan comes with a fixed interest rate for the duration of the loan (between 2 and 8 years) and no early repayment penalties. The interest rate offered will depend on the overall applicant profile and the application process is entirely online.*
*Other sources of funding are available.
Learna | Diploma MSc does not offer financial advice, recommend or endorse any financial product. You should always check the suitability of the product that is of interest to you. If you are in any doubt as to its suitability, we suggest that you seek independent professional advice.
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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.
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