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MPC (Master of Primary Care)

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s it about?

The Master of Primary Care brings together people working or interested in primary care/family medicine, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, managers and the many other professions involved in providing health care.

It 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, practitioners and policy makers in the country.

Our masters programme is multidisciplinary and covers key areas including the delivery of primary care to underserved populations; management of long-term conditions, including cardiovascular disease; understanding statistics and epidemiology; and social sciences in primary care.

Our graduates emerge with the capacity to take a lead role in primary care development, be that in Scotland, the UK or internationally.

Who is it for?

Applicants must have experience of working in primary care/family medicine, and/or have a degree in a relevant subject.

What can students gain?

Graduates have told us that the Master of Primary Care has:

  • given them increased confidence in their academic, professional and personal abilities;
  • opened up new career opportunities;
  • made them more reflective practitioners;
  • improved their communication and negotiating skills;
  • provided invaluable networking opportunities;
  • given them a better understanding of the role of other primary care professionals.

See Student comments for more reflections on the value of the MPC.

What can international students gain?

The World Health Organisation's re-launching of primary care in Now more than ever (www.who.int/whr/2008/en/index.html), its 2008 report, provided an important and topical opportunity to review the essential elements of primary care and how they may be expressed in different settings.

International students can now enrol in the MPC where they will explore the components and systems necessary for effective primary care in Scotland and across different regions and countries of the world. 

In principle, the essential elements of primary care include first contact, coverage, continuity, comprehensiveness, co-ordination, co-operation, flexibility, relationships, trust and leadership. How these elements are combined in local primary care systems is determined by many factors including history, geography, economics, politics and culture.

Professor Graham Watt is now the international lead for global primary care for the Scottish School of Primary Care (www.sspc.ac.uk) and so international students can benefit from current research and learning that will be appropriate and relevant for primary care in both the developed and developing countries.

Scottish primary care is a highly developed system with the UK National Health Service (NHS), with strengths and weaknesses to share with the world. Increasingly we ask "What can the world learn from Scottish primary care?" and "What can Scottish primary care learn from the world?"

Recent testimonials from international students

  • "The MPC course is very useful and informative and an introductory door to the world of research for all those working in the primary care or other specialities linked to community health care provision. The course is well organised and coordinated with tutors of great experience in the fields of primary care and general practice. I gained a lot of knowledge and the practical skills I needed to improve my performance and thus my career."
  • "The MPC is a coordinated course with wide coverage of key public health issues related to National Health System Scotland and beyond. Lecturers’ knowledge and expertise in each topic is the top of the top and make you feel at ease and welcomed. The warmth and supportiveness of the administrative staff adds to this delightful learning experience. A superb course in the wide sense." 

Practice visits

In order for our international students to gain a better understanding of the day-to-day functioning of primary care in Scotland, we do our best to arrange an opportunity for them to visit a local general practice or community pharmacist. Such a visit would incur a small fee. 

What can employers gain?

By supporting a member of staff to undertake the Master of Primary Care, employers/funders are contributing to the development of colleagues who:

  • can apply theory/evidence to practice, and make more considered decisions at both local and area levels;
  • can work more confidently and thoughtfully;
  • can communicate more effectively, and “work across boundaries” with a wide range of professionals;
  • are well placed to support the learning and professional development of others.

How long does it take?

The Master of Primary Care is offered:

  • Full time over 12 months or 
  • Part time over no longer than five years.

A PGCert and PGDip are also available.

Further information about degree regulations is available from the University of Glasgow Calendar.

How much does it cost?

Tuition fees for 2013/2014:

  • Full time
    Home and EEC students £5,000*
    Non-EEC students £16,500*
  • Part time
    £550* per 20-credit course

*Fees tend to rise by 3–5% per annum

Part-time day students will be charged fees according to the number of courses they take in any academic year.

What about funding?

  • NHS Lanarkshire Primary Care provides a bursary for one employee per year, and this will require a submission and presentation outlining reasons and intended field of research that will be explored.
  • NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde run a similar scheme. To find out more, please contact Katerina Bartakova, Qualifications Administrator, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde katerina.bartakova@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
  • In some instances nurses have applied to The Queen’s Nursing Institute of Scotland (www.qnis.org.uk) for a bursary to cover fees.

What about study leave/locum cover?

  • Study leave
    Applicants working within the NHS need to complete and submit a study leave form to their line manager. The amount of time allocated to undertake the degree varies considerably but everyone should be aware that this is more than matched by the time that we expect from students for personal study.
  • Locum cover for GPs
    For information about locum cover, please refer to the GMS Statement of Financial Entitlements, 2005 onwards (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4107508)

What is the course content?

Student must undertake

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

How do I find out more?

To find out more about the Master of Primary Care:

How do I apply?

You can apply electronically for this course via the University of Glasgow website.