Renowned academic institutions in the UK such as Imperial College London and UCL are among the list of colleges offering short medical courses in UK for international students. To apply for any of the short courses, applicants must have a student or visiting visa and prior medical qualification.
The United Kingdom tops the list of the best countries for medical and healthcare education. Thus, thousands of students and medical professionals from different countries go to the UK every year to become medical experts and enhance their existing medical skills. They pursue either a medical degree, a healthcare diploma, or a short medical course to earn a certificate.
Out of the three pathways, the fastest to complete is a short medical course which can take between a few hours to a few weeks to complete. Short medical courses fit those who want to quickly gain medical skills and start working immediately instead of going to college to pursue a 4 or 5 years medical degree.
Short medical courses are also great options to be considered for medical professionals who want to learn a new skill or technique or gain new knowledge related to their field of practice for career, academic, professional, and personal advancement. You may also consider a short medical course if you want to switch careers or test the waters before treading down a new career path.
International students who want to pursue a short medical course in the UK must have a visiting visa and take a standardized English language proficiency test like IELTS or TOEFL to qualify. The aim of the test is to assess your English speaking and writing skills to ensure you can take the class. If you don’t want to take the test, you can check if your host institution offers other alternatives to assess your English speaking and writing abilities.
What Is A Short Medical Course?
A short medical course is a specialized medical program that teaches specific knowledge and skill in a short amount of time. Short medical courses differ in length based on what you are studying, it can vary anywhere between a few hours to 12 months.
When you complete a short medical course, you will earn a certificate that shows your ability in that particular subject.
Benefits of Short Courses
- Short courses are faster to complete
- They quickly equip you with relevant industry-needed skills and knowledge that can get you employed almost immediately.
- It is an opportunity for you to brush up on your skills in a short amount of time.
- They are not costly and the study formats are designed in such a flexible way that allows you to build the career you want while still working.
- It boosts your resume and makes potential and current clients/employers respect you.
- It is a quick and cheap way to advance your career
- Short courses present an opportunity for you to expand your professional network and widen your opportunities in the workforce.
- It gives you the chance to test the waters of a new career path
Short Medical Courses in UK for International Students
The short medical courses in UK for international students are:
- Allergic Skin Disease
- Health Informatics
- Health Policy and Practice
- Fellowship in Laser Dentistry
- Travel Medicine
- Laboratory Diagnosis of Parasites
- Acute, Intensive and Emergency Psychiatric Care
- Management and Leadership
- Introduction of Diagnostic Test Evaluation
- Statistics for Clinical Trials
- Essential Medical Statistics
- Pharmaceutical Quality and Regulatory Affairs
1. Allergic Skin Disease
This is one of the short medical courses in UK for international students, it is offered in a blended format to fit students’ busy schedules. The course equips students with knowledge and understanding of various allergic skin diseases both hereditary and acquired types.
Students pursuing an MSC in allergy can take this short course as well as nurses, dieticians, GPs, and other healthcare professionals who want to enhance their knowledge in the management of allergies. All participants will earn a certificate from Imperial College London upon completion of the course.
2. Health Informatics
Here is another short course for international students looking to take their knowledge of electronic patient records to the next level. The course equips learners with the latest knowledge on the use of modern equipment in taking records of patient treatment.
The course duration is 6 weeks, blended learning, and offered only in part-time option. Graduate students pursuing a master’s in genomic medicine can also take this course.
3. Health Policy and Practice
The short course on Health Policy and Practice is offered by University College London (UCL) for health and healthcare managers to equip them with skills on how to design and implement policy reform efficiently in their organization. The course duration is 6 weeks and is offered completely online.
Those who handle managerial positions in a healthcare or medical facility and want to boost their knowledge and understanding of healthcare policies may consider taking this course. The requirements to enroll include fluency in English and an interest in healthcare policy and law. The course fee is £1,800.
4. Fellowship in Laser Dentistry
This short course is specially designed for practicing dentists to gain the latest knowledge and experience in laser-tissue interaction. Dentists will further learn how to use laser therapy to treat their patients through hands-on practical classes.
The course is offered in a blended format. The coursework is online and takes 5 hours to complete while the practical aspect is face-to-face and consists of 6 modules. Those who are able to complete the course will earn 45 hours of verifiable CPD. The fee is £4,650.
5. Travel Medicine
This short course is offered by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine to nurses and other healthcare professionals. Learners gain knowledge on conceptual frameworks and tools required to run an updated evidence-based travel medicine service and spark an interest in those who are recently entering the field.
6. Laboratory Diagnosis of Parasites
This is a short practical course with a focus on the identification of gut parasites by microscopy. Since most part of the course is lab-based, it is held face-to-face to equip learners with the necessary skills to make them experts in the diagnosis of various parasites.
A certificate of attendance will be provided to students to complete the course. The course fee is £975.
7. Acute, Intensive and Emergency Psychiatric Care
This short course is offered by St George’s University and is delivered on-site. Anyone working as a psychiatrist, nurse, social worker, pharmacist, and occupational therapist can take this course. The course helps these professionals further their knowledge and practical skills in the area of psychiatry which can be necessary for their respective careers.
Topics covered in the course include risk management, mental health law, pharmacology, physical health, and restrictive practices among others. Registration for the course is done online but the course is held in person. International students must provide proof of English language proficiency and have a student visa to enroll in the course. The fee is £800.
8. Management and Leadership
This is a one-day short course designed specifically for senior neurosurgery trainees and post-training neurosurgery fellows. The course prepares them to become consultants as well as equip them with skills to work effectively in teams, safe practice, and become successful in their career.
9. Introduction of Diagnostic Test Evaluation
This short course is taught online over two consecutive full days and is open to domestic and international applicants. If you are a healthcare assistant, clinicians, researchers, medical assistants, registered nurses, and other healthcare professionals can enroll in this course to gain advanced skills and knowledge in diagnostic test accuracy research. The fee for the short course is £440.
10. Statistics for Clinical Trials
Statistics for Clinical Trials is one of the short medical courses in the UK offered by the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Oxford. The aim of this course is to provide health professionals with knowledge of the statistical components required when conducting randomized clinical trials.
To be eligible for the course, you must be a graduate or have completed a professional training course and have professional work experience in a health-related field. The course fee is £2,340 but there are available funding options that you can apply for to help cut down on the cost.
11. Essential Medical Statistics
This is an online short medical course offered by the University of Oxford and is open to all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and entry requirements. Healthcare professionals or graduates with prior research experience and an understanding of research and statistical principles are eligible to take this course.
The short course explores hypothesis tests, survival analysis, and multiple logistic regression. The duration for the course is 13 weeks and costs £2,675 with available funding options such as scholarships, grants, and bursaries to assist with the cost. A copy of your CV and reference letter will be required when you are applying for this course.
12. Pharmaceutical Quality and Regulatory Affairs
This is a 5-day short course that is offered in-person at University College London (UCL) and also online on Zoom. The course explores the manufacture, regulations, and quality standards for the pharmaceutical and advanced therapy products industry. In the process, you will learn about the current best good manufacturing practice in the UK and other parts of the world.
The course fee is £2,000 and includes a certificate of attendance upon completion of the course.
These short medical courses for international students are taught by professional medical practitioners and industry experts to equip learners with the experience they need to excel in their careers.