PGDip Clinical Biochemistry

Course description

Our PGDip in Clinical Biochemistry will give you a thorough grounding in a discipline that deals with the clinical analysis of body fluids and other biological material to aid the diagnosis, therapy and monitoring of diseases.

Clinical biochemists are typically clinical scientists who work in hospital laboratories providing advice and interpretation of analytical results to other healthcare professionals such as clinicians, general practitioners and nurses.

They are also involved in the development of new analytical methods and improvement of clinical services, including quality assurance and audit.

Through this MSc, you will gain a core knowledge and understanding of the normal physiology and pathophysiology of the major organs and endocrine systems, as well as more specialist areas such as paediatric biochemistry and drug monitoring.

You will also develop a core knowledge and understanding of clinical disorders and how biochemical parameters and laboratory methods are used for the investigation, diagnosis and management of patients.

Aims

We aim to give you:

• an advanced understanding and applied knowledge of the theory and practice of clinical biochemistry;
• a critical understanding of how biochemical investigations are employed to develop a clinical diagnosis;
• the necessary professional and research skills to promote lifelong learning and career development.

Teaching and learning

We use a range of teaching and learning methodologies throughout the course, including lectures, tutorials, workshops and interactive clinical case tutorials using mobile technology and iPads. Some of these will be delivered online.

Coursework and assessment

We will assess your progress using a range of formative and summative assessments, such as MCQs, ECQs, written and verbal presentations.

The assessments will be constructed to assess your knowledge and understanding while at the same time refining and expanding your intellectual and transferable skills.

Career opportunities

Our course attracts a wide range of students from a bioscience and medical background from home and abroad.

Many students study this course as a springboard for further academic research or as a stepping stone before applying for the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP).

The course may also help individuals with their own career progression if they are already working within a clinical laboratory. The course also attracts intercalating medical students and professionals who may wish to specialise in clinical biochemistry/chemical pathology.

Accrediting organisations

This course is approved by the Association for Clinical Biochemistry.

We require an honours degree (Upper Second minimum) or overseas equivalent in: biochemistry; physiology; pharmacology; pharmacy medicine; other biological subjects that contain elements of biochemistry and/or physiology. We accept chemistry graduates, but you need to have studied significant elements of biochemistry and/or physiology during your undergraduate degree.