Postgraduate Diploma in Renal Medicine (Online Delivery)
In clinical practice, both in primary and secondary care, kidney disease is encountered frequently by the non-kidney specialist, especially as it is as a complication of common conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Healthcare professionals on the front line need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to deal with potential nephrology patients confidently and effectively.
Delivered online with our collaborative partner Diploma MSc, this renal medicine course will enable you to diagnose and treat patients with symptoms of kidney disease with confidence, without being a kidney specialist.
It will equip you with the knowledge and skills to prevent or reduce the progression of CKD and ensure timely referral to secondary care, help you to treat dialysis and transplant patients from a primary care perspective and consolidate your knowledge to ensure best patient care and service outcomes.
he Renal Medicine Postgraduate Diploma will equip current healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge to deal with renal patients confidently and effectively.
The course will include six modules, each of six weeks' duration, studied in one calendar year, entirely online.
- Recognising Acute Kidney Injury and Chronic Kidney Disease
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). - Managing Acute Kidney Injury
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. - Managing Chronic Kidney Disease
Helping you to confidently manage CKD patients and understand when referral to secondary care is appropriate and necessary. - Systemic Conditions Impacting the Kidneys
Giving you a comprehensive understanding of systemic disease on the kidney and how to provide evidence-based care for these complex conditions. - Dialysis and Transplant Patients in Primary Care
Enabling you to confidently manage general medical and surgical problems in the dialysis and transplant patient from a primary care perspective. - Living with Kidney Disease
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.
Teaching
Although you’ll be learning online you will be part of a group with 10 to 15 other students. Your self-directed distance learning will be guided by tutor-stimulated discussion based on clinically rich case scenarios.
You’ll do a combination of individual and group projects, and you’ll have a reflective practice portfolio to help you consider how what you’re learning on the course can be translated into everyday work and practice.
You’ll have the support of a dedicated team who will help you with any challenges you may face - from help with navigating our online learning platform to advice on what you need to do to pass the course and meet deadlines.
Once you have secured your place on the course, you will be invited to an Online Induction Day Webinar. This will give you the opportunity to participate in study skills workshops on Harvard Referencing, scientific and reflective writings, and levels of evidence in preparation for your studies.
It is not compulsory for you to attend our Induction Day, but it is recommended as it’ll provide you with a sturdy introduction to the course.
Assessment
The renal medicine course puts assessment at the heart of learning by using clinical scenarios to facilitate problem-solving, critical analysis and evidence-based care. The scenarios act as both the focus for learning and assessment, embedding assessment within the learning process.
Each of the six modules has the same assessment format:
Academic Forum - 40%
Reflective Journal - 10%
Module activity - 20%
Case based examination - 30%
You will be assigned a dedicated expert tutor who will facilitate clinical case discussions with the group and monitor, assess and mark your work throughout each module.
Due to the online nature of the course, you will be expected to login and participate in the course regularly throughout the module, ideally on a daily basis.
Facilities
The course is delivered via Moodle – our virtual learning platform. You will be given full guidance on how to make the most of Moodle, including the discussion forums and the social forum. You will also have access to all of the University’s learning materials including online journals and publications.
Lecturers
Richard Smith, Consultant Nephrologist and Associate Medical Director for Research and Innovation at Ipswich Hospital is the Course Director. Richard has:
- 25 years’ experience of clinical transplantation and 15 years as a consultant nephrologist at hospitals across the UK
- 21 years' 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
- 22 years’ experience of clinical trials and academic research, including papers published in 38 peer-reviewed journals
We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
To secure your place on the course, applicants will typically hold a first degree or equivalent (including international qualifications) in a relevant professional healthcare field, such as a medical or nursing degree. Registered healthcare professionals 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.
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.
This course is run in partnership with Diploma MSc. Please refer to their website for fee information.
August 2023 - July 2024 Fees
August 2024 - July 2025 Fees
Student Perks
At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.
Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.
Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Funding
Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs
Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.
This course is run in partnership with Diploma MSC who have over 10 years` experience in delivering award-winning, online, Postgraduate Diploma, MSc and MBA distance education courses.
In clinical practice, kidney or renal disease is encountered frequently by the non-kidney specialist, both in primary and secondary care, especially as it is as a complication of common conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Therefore healthcare professionals on the front line, including primary care and specialist units, need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to deal with potential nephrology patients confidently and effectively. The course will provide you with this ability and knowledge.
It’s the community and friendships you’ll build that make this place special. Outside your studies you can experience our amazing sport facilities and Students’ Union.
Living in Halls is a great way to meet new people and make friends. We have high quality accommodation in Treforest, Cardiff and Newport.