Critical Care (Online Learning) MSc, PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Medicine Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study Online learning Part-time intermittent study PgProfDev | 2 years | Start date: multiple dates Part-time MSc | 3 years | Start date: September 2026 PgCert | 1 year | Start date: September 2026 PgDip | 2 years | Start date: September 2026 Key facts School Edinburgh Medical School College College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Programme website Critical Care Accreditation Not available Apply now 15 October: Postgraduate Online Learning Essentials Find out what it’s like to study online at Edinburgh, with insights into learning, community and the support available to online postgraduate students. Register now Open Days on Demand Dive into an extensive selection of programme-specific session recordings hosted by our Academic and Professional Services staff. Watch the recordings Overview About the degree programme The MSc Critical Care Programme is aimed at anyone driven by a desire to improve outcomes for critically ill adults. Our tutors and students reflect the multidisciplinary nature of critical care. The clinical, academic, and professional themes of the programme aim to develop healthcare professionals who question, lead and motivate others to achieve the best care for their patients. The programme has been designed and developed in partnership between the University of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.Who this programme is forWe have designed the MSc Critical Care (online) programme for healthcare professionals who encounter critically ill adults in their daily practice. These professionals may include:nursesdoctors in trainingsenior doctors from all specialitiesallied health professionals (for example, pharmacists, physiotherapists, paramedics and dietitians)Prospective students will often be working full-time in professional roles and need a flexible approach to study. The programme is therefore designed as a part-time, fully online MSc programme. Study options The MSc in Critical Care is a part-time, online programme taught over three years.You can exit the programme after Year 1 with a postgraduate certificate, Year 2 with a postgraduate diploma or Year 3 with a Masters in Science.Alternatively, you can choose to study single or multiple courses through the Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) scheme.Schedule of courses for PPD studentsMore information about the PPD scheme Fees, costs and funding Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Part-time intermittent study PgProfDev Critical Care (2 years) tuition fees Part-time MSc Critical Care (3 years) tuition fees PgCert Critical Care (1 year) tuition fees PgDip Critical Care (2 years) tuition fees Deposit You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme. Funding opportunities Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Royal College of Physicians Scholarships The University of Edinburgh, in partnership with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, is offering a number of scholarships to eligible students. View details: MSc Scholarships for UK and International Students (Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh website) Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships The University of Edinburgh is offering 20vMasters scholarships for eligible part-time distance learning Masters programmes offered by the University. Read the eligibility criteria carefully before you apply. View details: Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships UK Government Loans If you live in the UK, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan for online study from one of the UK’s governments.If you intend to apply for a UK government loan you should apply for the 3-year Masters option. View details: UK government loans Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in medicine (MBChB or equivalent), nursing, dietetics, physiotherapy, or any other allied health care profession involved in the management of critically ill patients.In addition applicants must demonstrate experience of working with critically ill patients for a period of more than 3 months. This information should be contained in your referee's letter.We may also consider your application if you have experience of working with critically ill patients or a closely related area for at least 3 years. In such cases, you may be admitted to certificate level only in the first instance. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details What you will study Explore the essentials of clinical management for critically unwell adults through our comprehensive curriculum. You'll develop the skills to access, interpret, and integrate clinical research into practical care. Skill development Master the appraisal of biomedical literature to fuel your curiosity.Engage actively in clinical discussions both in the classroom and at the bedside.Develop as an independent, critical thinker capable of synthesising primary and secondary research into personal practice, guidelines, and work improvement strategies. Programme structure Year 1 - Postgraduate Certificate You’ll complete six compulsory courses that build a strong foundation in critical care: Fundamentals of Organ FailureUnlocking the Literature: Clinical TrialsCore Clinical Practice in Critical CareTrauma, Toxicology and TemperatureSepsis and InfectionHuman Factors in Critical CareYear 2 - Postgraduate Diploma You’ll take two compulsory courses and choose three electives to tailor your learning: Compulsory coursesAdvanced Critical CareUnlocking the Literature: Evidence to Practice Example electivesNeurological Critical CareMaternal Critical CareCardiac Critical CareTransplant Critical CareCore Clinical Practice in Emergency MedicineCutting Edge Critical Care: Research and Clinical Practice in a Changing WorldCritical Care RecoveryLeading Change in the Acute Healthcare Setting Year 3 - MSc To complete the MSc, you will undertake a final project. You can choose between: a supervised dissertation, which could be a systematic review or a quality improvement project ora combination of up to four elective courses from across the University, and an independent critical care-related project Compulsory courses In Years 1 and 2, you’ll develop a strong, practical, and evidence-based foundation in the clinical management of critically ill adults. The curriculum is designed to ensure immediate relevance and application to real-world healthcare settings. You’ll explore essential topics, including (but not limited to): recognition and resuscitation of the critically unwell adultinitial treatment and stabilisationdaily assessment and management of critical care patientsadvanced organ system supportsepsistrauma, toxicology, and burns Alongside clinical content, you’ll progressively build academic skills through our ‘Unlocking the Literature’ teaching theme. Starting in the second teaching block of Year 1 and continuing through Year 2, this integrated approach provides a structured introduction to academic practice, helping you access, evaluate, and apply research in your clinical work. Find courses for this programme Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed. The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme. Part-time intermittent study PgProfDev Critical Care (2 years) (2025-2026) Part-time MSc Critical Care (3 years) (2025-2026) PgCert Critical Care (1 year) (2025-2026) PgDip Critical Care (2 years) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Teaching and assessment Teaching Our MSc Critical Care programme is designed to support both independent learning and practical application. You’ll have time to reflect on new knowledge and consider how it applies directly to your clinical setting. Each course features a blend of engaging, themed content, including: short online lectures and podcastslive lectures with expert speakerswebinars with international expertspractical, real-world case studiesdirected readingsinteractive discussion boardsgroup collaboration and activities We place a strong emphasis on collaboration between students, clinicians, and academics. Facilitated discussion forums encourage critical thinking, professional dialogue, and debate around current issues in critical care. Assessment Our assessments are designed to help you demonstrate your understanding of the subject matter by producing work that reflects real-life clinical scenarios. You’ll apply your learning in practical, meaningful ways—developing outputs that are directly relevant to professional practice. You’ll be assessed through a variety of methods, including: written essayscase study analysisdevelopment of clinical practice guidelinescreation of structured handover documentsstudy design proposalsstructured clinical reportsrecorded and live presentations This approach ensures your assessment experience is both academically rigorous and clinically relevant, preparing you to apply your skills confidently in real-world settings. Learning outcomes Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of key principles across the clinical, professional, and academic pillars of critical care, including current issues and developments in the field. Apply clinical reasoning and integrate knowledge with practice in a wide and often dynamic variety of clinical contexts, working effectively within multidisciplinary teams. Integrate complex data, including research findings and clinical data, apply creative problem-solving and demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning in critical care settings. Communicate and summarise complex information using a variety of methods and effectively engage with a range of audiences. Demonstrate enhanced autonomy and professionalism in clinical, academic and professional practice. Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need. How we support you Our academic staff Teaching is primarily delivered by experienced and expert critical care clinicians and academics from NHS Lothian and the University of Edinburgh, ensuring a strong connection between cutting-edge research and frontline clinical practice. In addition, you’ll benefit from insights and contributions by international experts from other leading institutions around the world. Online learning How online learning works This degree programme is taught entirely online. There is no need to come to the city or University campus. All learning and teaching takes place within our virtual learning environment (VLE). Through the VLE, you can: access all your learning materials and study resources, including e-books and library resourcesinteract with your tutors and classmates An online degree from the University of Edinburgh is academically equivalent to an on-campus postgraduate degree and involves the same level of work overall. The qualification you get is of equal value. Your degree certificate will not mention that you studied the programme online. Interactive online learningExperience our award-winning, fully interactive online learning platform that connects you with our expert teaching staff from the comfort of your home or workplace.Join a vibrant online community, where students and tutors from around the globe collaborate and support each other, while accessing the University’s exceptional resources.Discover online study at EdinburghLearn more about the advantages and practical aspects of pursuing an online postgraduate degree with usMore information about postgraduate online learning Watch our video to see how online learning works. Time commitment This programme is designed to be fully flexible to fit around your schedule. You can study in your own time and access all your learning resources, such as reading lists, discussion forms and slides from anywhere in the world. If there are live online sessions, you can watch a recording later in the virtual learning environment at a time convenient to you. Typically, you will need to dedicate around 15 to 20 hours per week to your programme although managing this is up to you. This may also vary from course to course, and the time commitment may increase when assignments are due. See 'Find courses' in Programme details for more information about study time commitment Equipment and software needs To study this online programme, you will need access to: a computer or laptop the internet the latest version of a web browser As an online student, you will have access to a range of software you can download to help you complete your coursework, including Microsoft Office 365. IT support is available if you have technical difficulties. IT and computing help Support for online students As an online student, you will have access to a range of support services throughout your time at university if you need them.These support services include:academic support servicesebooks and ejournals within the librarythe disability and learning support serviceEnglish language supportskills development courses on LinkedIn Learningemail-based sessions delivered by the Counselling Servicesupport for students who are parents Careers and further study Career opportunities This programme deepens your clinical expertise in Critical Care while advancing your academic and professional capabilities. It is designed to support your growth as a clinician, leader, educator and researcher. Whether you are a nurse, doctor, paramedic or allied health professional, completing this programme will enhance your career progression in key areas, including: advanced clinical practiceclinical leadership and service developmenthealthcare research and innovationteaching and educational supervision Graduates benefit from the academic rigour and global reputation of the University of Edinburgh, gaining a strong foundation to: advance within the NHS or international healthcare systemspursue further postgraduate or doctoral studytransition into roles in healthcare policy, consultancy or industrycontribute to academic research and teaching in critical care and related fields With a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice and critical thinking, our graduates are equipped to lead change, influence practice, and shape the future of critical care. Further study After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.Applying for research degreesMoving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service) Graduate profiles Hear from our students Critical Care 2021: Hear From Our Students Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Applying How to apply You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin. If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant. When to apply Programme start date Application deadline 7 January 2026 5 December 2025 14 September 2026 21 August 2026 6 January 2027 4 December 2026 1 April 2027 5 March 2027 We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have enough time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including references and transcripts.If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, please upload that evidence as soon as you have it. Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsYou will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksreferencesevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -PgProfDev Critical Care (2 years)MSc Critical Care (3 years)PgCert Critical Care (1 year)PgDip Critical Care (2 years) After you apply Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.Checking the status of your applicationWe will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.Receiving our decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Contact Academic contact Dr Tom Craven Programme Director Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Edinburgh Medical School: Clinical Sciences Usher Institute Contact details Email: Critical.Care@ed.ac.uk Mrs Kimberley Jamieson Programme Support Officer Edinburgh Medical School: Clinical Sciences College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine University of Edinburgh Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 242 6398 Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
