PG and MSc in Family Medicine
Continuing Professional Education for physicians in primary care
Educational accreditation by UK Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)
Opportunity to become International Member of RCGP
A fully online course with option of full-time or part-time study, depending on your schedule and commitments
Award-winning e-learning technologies and the first university in Europe to receive triple-certification for online education
Today’s healthcare challenges, whether strengthening health systems, improving the quality of our patient care, or enhancing access to healthcare, require strong primary care. Strong primary care in turn requires competent family doctors who are forward-thinking and keen to develop new relationships with patients and other health professionals in primary and secondary care.
To address these global population health challenges, the University of Nicosia Medical School offers a Postgraduate Diploma and MSc in Family Medicine delivered entirely online.
It is a structured continuing professional development programme for physicians working as Family Doctors or in the community with a specialist role in internal medicine, paediatrics, or gynaecology.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine has received educational accreditation from the UK Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). Furthermore, the University of Nicosia Medical School has been accredited by the RCGP to deliver the MRCGP International exam in Cyprus. Students successfully completing the first two semesters and meeting the RCGP’s clinical experience eligibility criteria will be entitled to sit the examination in Cyprus to qualify as an International Member of the RCGP.
This exam consists of three components: a written applied knowledge examination, a workplace-based assessment portfolio and a clinical skills examination. The first two components are shared with the assessments for the PG, so only the clinical skills examination is an additional requirement for the MRCGP[INT] in Cyprus.
Because the content of the course is aligned with the RCGP curriculum, students are well prepared to take this exam at another RCGP International site.
Programme Structure
The duration of the programme is 18 months (three semesters) with a flexible part-time option of up to four academic years. The course consists of 12 modules and its curriculum has been mapped against the core competences of a Family Medicine practitioner as defined by the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations(WONCA) of Family Medicine.
The first two semesters are clinically focused, encompassing modules on Communication and Consultation Skills in Primary Care, Evidence-Based Practice in Family Medicine, Managing Adults’ Common Diseases and Multi-Morbidity in Primary Care, Mental Health in Primary Care, Acute Serious Illnesses and Traumatic Conditions in Primary Care, Common Musculoskeletal Conditions in Primary Care, Paediatrics and Child Health Surveillance and Women’s Health.
The third semester is research-oriented and includes a research methodology module and a primary care research project. Moreover, during the third semester students can select two out of the following six offered electives: Chronic Disease Management in Primary Care; Implementing Change in Primary Care; Informatics for Primary and Community Health Care; Learning and Teaching in Healthcare; Medical Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare; and Prevention, Epidemiology and Health Promotion.*
Course assessment for the MSc in Family Medicine is based on four pillars: a written applied knowledge examination; a workplace-based assessment portfolio; the design, implementation, completion and write-up of a research project; and assignments for two elective modules.
- Students who do not wish to continue with the third semester will receive a Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine following the successful completion of the first two semesters.
Semester Breakdown
FIRST SEMESTER | |
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(30 ECTS, all courses required) | |
Course code/Title | |
FMED-511 | Communication and Consultation Skills in Primary Care (teaching is spread out during Semester 1&2) |
FMED-533 | Managing Adults’ Common Diseases and Multi-Morbidity in Primary Care |
FMED-521 | Evidence-based Practice in Family Medicine |
FMED-534 | Mental Health in Primary Care |
SECOND SEMESTER | |
(30 ECTS, all courses required – PG in Family Medicine for those students who do not wish to continue with the MScFM) | |
Course code/Title | |
FMED-514 | Acute Serious Illnesses and Traumatic Conditions in Primary Care |
FMED-531 | Women’s Health |
FMED-532 | Paediatrics and Child Health Surveillance |
FMED-535 | Common Musculoskeletal Conditions in Primary Care |
THIRD SEMESTER | |
(30 ECTS, two required courses + two electives) | |
Course code/Title | |
FMED-590 | Research Methodology in Family Medicine (Required) |
FMED-591 | Primary Care Research Project (Required) |
2 elective courses are chosen from the following: | |
FMED-513 | Chronic Disease Management in Primary Care |
FMED-536 | Medical Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare |
FMED-537 | Learning and Teaching in Healthcare |
FMED-512 | Epidemiology, Prevention and Health Promotion |
FMED-522 | Informatics for Primary and Community Health Care |
FMED-523 | Implementing Change in Primary Care |