This Master of Primary Care will equip you with the skills required to make a difference to primary health care in the 21st century. You can follow a flexible curriculum and will be taught by some of the leading primary care researchers and practitioners in the country.

Programme overview

• MPC: 12 months full-time; 24-60 months part-time
• PgDip 12 months full-time; 24-36 months part-time
• PgCert 24 months part-time

The programme has three compulsory courses and three optional courses. A research project takes place over a maximum of 12 months from receipt of a favourable ethics application.

Most courses run over 11 weeks (September to November, or January to March) with weekly sessions lasting approximately 2.5 hours. Teaching generally takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Core courses

• Introduction to primary care
• Populations to individuals: statistics, epidemiology and critical appraisal for primary care
• Research methods

Optional courses

• Achieving clinical effectiveness
• Cardiovascular disease management in primary care
• International primary care
• Management of long-term conditions
• Social justice.

Research project

The following are all acceptable as projects:

• Empirical data collection, involving either quantitative or qualitative methods (This type of project is less feasible for full-time students due to fixed time limitations)
• Secondary analyses of routine data or datasets collected as part of a larger project
• Literature review using Cochrane-type systematic review approaches, thematic analyses or integrative approaches. (This is more extensive and rigorous than the literature review that forms part of all project submissions)
• Case study
• Audit
• Evaluation

Career prospects

Many students have gone on to promoted posts on completion of this programme.

Academic entry requirements

You should have a degree in a healthcare discipline or equivalent qualification although in exceptional circumstances other qualifications or experience may be considered. Applications are welcome from qualified personnel in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and allied health professionals as well as managers and those working or with an interest in primary care. 

You are required to provide two references, a full degree transcript, a CV (resume) and a personal statement stating why you wish to study this programme at the University of Glasgow and how you intend to apply the personal skills developed on the programme in your professional life.

International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of foundation courses.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training):

• overall score 6.5
• no sub-test less than 6.0
• or equivalent scores in another recognised qualification (see below)
   

Common equivalent English language qualifications:

• ibTOEFL: 92; no sub-test less than 20
• CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): B minimum
• CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): C minimum
• PTE Academic (Person Test of English, Academic test): 60; no sub-test less than 59

Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the Language Centre Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

• Language Centre, University of Glasgow
• BALEAP guide to accredited courses 

FAQs

Visa requirements and proof of English language level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill (e.g. listening B1/writing B2 etc.) However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, your qualification must be one of the secure English language tests accepted by UK Border Agency:

• UK Border Agency Tier 4 English Language requirements
• UKBA list of approved English language tests [pdf]

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office: pgadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk

Apply now

For 2013-14

PgDip

MPC

PgCert