Modules

The PGDip in Surgical Education comprises six modules, each of which is assessed by a written summative assessment. The modules are:

• Module 1: Creating Educational Resources for Surgical Trainees
• Module 2: Evaluating Surgical Educational Events
• Module 3: Research Methods in Surgical Education
• Module 4: Surgical Statistics and Surgical Research Ethics
• Module 5: Delivering Didactic and Interactive Lectures to Surgical Trainees, and Facilitating Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Case-Based Discussions (CBD)
• Module 6: Contemporary Issues in Surgery and Current Advances in Surgical Techniques

Learning Outcomes

Module 1
By the end of this module, the learner will be able to:

• recognise theoretical aspects that underpin the creation of online educational resources and use them to develop his/her own resources.
• construct clear learning outcomes, using established frameworks as a guide.
• create a storyboard that designs a new online educational resource.

Module 2
By the end of this module, the learner will be able to:

• critically analyse the various components of a surgical course, such as the rationale, content, organisation, execution, and feedback.
• use different evaluation methods to evaluate a surgical course.
• reflect upon the evaluation process to refine and enhance future surgical educational events.

Module 3
By the end of this module, the learner will be able to:

• use the principles of valid research design to conceptualise and plan a study in a surgical context.
• select appropriate methods of data collection (quantitative and qualitative) and explicate how to analyse quantitative and qualitative data.
• explain mortality and morbidity as measures of outcomes and appraise the strengths and limitations of this approach.
• describe levels of evidence in surgical research.
• outline the process of conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Module 4
By the end of this module, the learner will be able to:

• demonstrate an awareness of basic statistical aspects that underpin research in a surgical context.
• estimate and interpret statistical concepts such as descriptive statistics, standard error, confidence intervals, statistical tests, relative risk, odd ratios, number needed to treat, number needed to harm, correlation, regression, and survival data.
• read papers from reputable journals (e.g., NEJM, The Lancet, BMJ, and BJS) and reflect upon the statistical methods employed, interpret the data presented, and evaluate the appropriateness.
• identify key ethical issues in surgical research and propose strategies to address or overcome them.

Module 5
By the end of this module, the learner will be able to:

• deliver didactic lectures to large groups of surgical trainees in an interactive and effective manner.
• facilitate PBL in surgical topics for medical students in a manner that promotes learning.
• facilitate surgical CBD for medical students in a manner that ensures their development of knowledge.
• contribute to the spiral curriculum method of teaching used in certain Medical Schools.

Module 6
By the end of this module, the learner will be able to:

• critically analyse controversial topics in surgical practice and their impact on the provision and consumption of surgical education.
• propose strategies to ensure that such issues do not affect the way in which he/she delivers education to surgeons.
• contemplate the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in surgical education.
• examine the role of the surgical trainer in robotic surgery.
• demonstrate a critical awareness of the wider context in which surgical education functions, appreciating the ramifications on professional practice.

Entry Requirements

I.  Academic Ability

PGCert in Surgical Education
Applicants must have successfully completed the PGCert in Surgical Education in order to apply for the PGDip in Surgical Education.*

Undergraduate Medical Degree
Applicants must hold a first-class or upper second-class (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in Medicine. The applicant’s undergraduate degree in Medicine may be awarded by any Medical School in the world.

Postgraduate Examination
Applicants must have passed the first part of a relevant postgraduate examination such as the Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) Part A or the Membership of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (MRCOG) Part 1. International postgraduate examinations (outside the UK) are accepted.

Proficiency in the English Language
If the applicant’s first language is not English, he/she will need to provide evidence that he/she has achieved the minimum required score in the IELTS (Academic) or the OET. The minimum overall score for the IELTS (Academic) is 7.5, and applicants must have achieved a minimum score of 7.0 in each component (listening; reading; writing; speaking). Applicants who have taken the OET must have achieved a minimum score of 350 in each of the four sub-tests (listening; reading; writing; speaking).



II.  Interview

As part of the admissions process, applicants will be invited to interview if he/she meets the selection criteria. The interview will be held via Zoom, and the panel will consist of experienced surgical educationalists and consultant surgeons who will assess the applicant’s suitability to the programme.

* Those who have achieved a PGCert in Medical Education are also eligible to apply for the PGDip in Surgical Education. Depending on the modules completed within the PGCert in Medical Education, the applicant may be required to undertake a bridging module within the PGDip in Surgical Education to ensure that the distinctions between surgical education and medical education are consolidated. Applications are considered on an individual basis, and those interested are encouraged to contact us at pgdip@doctorsacademy.org.uk to discuss their application.

Important Dates

1^st May 2025 (0900 hours BST)
Applications for entry in the academic year 2025/2026 open.

1^st September 2025 (2000 hours BST)
Applications for entry in the academic year 2025/2026 close.

6^th October 2025 (0900 hours BST)
Programme starts.

Fees for Academic Year 2025/2026

The fee for the PGDip in Surgical Education for the academic year 2025/2026 is £2,395. The same fee applies for ‘Home Students’ (i.e., those whose permanent residence is in the UK) and for International Students (i.e., those whose permanent residence is outside the UK).

The fee can either be paid in full before the start of the programme, or it can be paid in four equal instalments of £598.75. The dates of each instalment are:

Instalment 1: 1^st October 2025
Instalment 2: 1^st December 2025
Instalment 3: 1^st March 2026
Instalment 4: 1^st June 2026

The fee must be paid in full by 1^st June 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For whom is the PGDip in Surgical Education suitable?
The PGDip in Surgical Education is aimed at surgical trainees of all surgical specialities and levels (CST1 – ST8) who have successfully completed the PGCert in Surgical Education and are involved in the education of junior surgical colleagues.

How much time will I need to dedicate to this programme?
Learners will typically dedicate four-to-five hours per week to this programme.

Will I need to attend face-to-face?
This programme is delivered online, and you will not need to attend any face-to-face sessions. You are, however, very welcome to teach in our educational courses held in Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, London, and other centres in the UK.

I have a PGCert in Medical Education. Can I enrol in the PGDip in Surgical Education?
Those who have achieved a PGCert in Medical Education are eligible to apply for the PGDip in Surgical Education. Depending on the modules completed within the PGCert in Medical Education, the applicant may be required to undertake a bridging module within the PGDip in Surgical Education to ensure that the distinctions between surgical education and medical education are consolidated. Applications are considered on an individual basis, and those interested are encouraged to contact us at pgdip@doctorsacademy.org.uk to discuss their application.

Are you able to support my visa application?
If you are successful in obtaining a place on the programme, we can provide you with a letter to confirm that you have been accepted. We are unable to sponsor student visas for this programme.

Whom should I contact if I have a query about the programme?
Please email us at pgdip@doctorsacademy.org.uk or call us on (+44) 2920 616765.

Faculty

	Mr Rajive Jose MBBS, MS (Gen Surg), MCh (Plast Surg), FRCS (Ed), FRCS (Plast) Consultant Hand Surgeon Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham and Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham
	Miss Clare Carpenter BSc, MB BCh, MRCS (Eng), FRCS (T&O) Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff
	Professor Stuart Enoch MBBS, MRCS (Edin), MRCS (Eng), PhD Professor in Higher Surgical Education Programme Director of PGCert in Surgical Education Doctors Academy Group
	Mr Yogesh Nathdwarawala MBBS, MS (Orth), MSc, FRCS (T&O) Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon The Grange University Hospital, Cwmbran
	Miss Leila Touil BSc, MB ChB, PGCert, MRes, MRCS, FRCS (Plast) Consultant Reconstructive Face and Neck Surgeon Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
	Miss Yan Mei Goh MB ChB, MRCS, PG Dip (Clinical Education), PhD, FRCS (Gen Surg) Senior Clinical Fellow in Upper GI Surgery Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Dr Gurbilas Plato Singh MBBS, MRCP(UK), FRCP (London) Consultant (Locum) Gastroenterologist Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn