Continuing professional development 

Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Preparatory Course CPD: Online distance learning

Trypanosoma gambiense blood smear viewed under a microscope at 1250 power

This flexible online course prepares medically qualified clinicians for the professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (DTM&H), examined, and awarded by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries. We equip students with the skills and competencies to work in tropical countries. And provide an understanding of tropical infections seen in travellers and migrant populations.

  • CPD: 9 months

Why this course

  • This University of Glasgow course has been running as a continuing professional/personal development course since the late 1980s and benefits from a wealth of experience.
  • On-campus microscopy training
  • The course is directed by Professor Michael Barrett and led by Dr Christina Naula who are both passionate about the delivery of a quality course, meeting students’ needs to ensure their success in the exam. This is reflected in the excellent exam pass rate for University of Glasgow students. (79% in June 2023). 

    • Student feedback 

    • "Teaching was excellent- really well structured and clear”
    • "Excellent team running the course, very clear and prompt communication"
    • "The tutorials were the highlight of the course. They were really interesting and engaging"
    • "Excellent coverage at a good pace, extremely well organised"
    • "Very good teaching quality on a good array of subjects"
    • "Course is excellent, well-paced and easy to refer back to resources as needed"
    • "This is an outstanding option for practicing clinicians – high level teaching combined with flexible schedule"

Course structure

Course description

Core content is delivered online from 9 September 2024 through until May. Course content is released weekly and is available on demand to allow you flexibility and control over your learning.

We run fortnightly online interactive tutorials from October through to April covering a range of clinical themes and parasitology/entomology topics. These tutorials are organised together with our sister DTM&H preparatory course, run by the University of Sheffield. Tutorials are recorded and available to watch on demand.

Additional live interactive teaching days and half days provide further in-depth knowledge in specialist areas eg.humanitarian medicine. These are also recorded and available to watch on demand.

Formal teaching stops in May and includes revision sessions.

Course content

Our course content is guided by the syllabus published in the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries Guide to the Diploma in Tropical Medicine& Hygiene (DTM&H).

  • Clinical Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine (~60% of the examination)
  • Non-Communicable Diseases of Importance in the Tropics & Sub-Tropics (~15% of the examination)
  • Preventative Medicine & International Public Health (~25% of the examination)

Microscopy training

A minimum of 12 hours of microscopy training is mandatory for exam eligibility. During our laboratory teaching days, you will receive practical microscopy training to diagnose parasitic infections seen in tropical regions. You will benefit from our large collection of diagnostic specimens and the expertise of our tutors.

In session 2023-24, this was offered at: 

  • The University of Glasgow, main campus (27-29 November 2023 and 4-6 December 2023). 30 November and 7 December have been added for optional self-directed learning (these days will likely be equivalent in 2024)
  • Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre, Malawi: 25-27 January 2024.
  • University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 21-22 Feb 2024
  • Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia: 31 January - 2 February 2024.
  • National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Johannesburg, South Africa: 22-25 January and 5-8 February 2024. Please note that this training is limited to residents of South Africa.
  • Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Medicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia: 21-23 February 2024. Please note that this training will be delivered in Spanish.
  • Christian Medical College, Vellore, India: 22-25 January 2024
  • Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India: 4–6 January 2024
  • Manipal University, India: 16–18 February 2024

While we aim to offer the same training opportunities for 2024-25, this may not always be possible. Dates and locations will be updated for 2024-25 as they become available.

If you wish to be considered for microscopy training at a centre other than Glasgow, please indicate this clearly in your letter of motivation.

Course attendance and workload

Our course offers maximum flexibility to plan your studies around busy clinical schedules.

Students are required to undertake considerable self-directed study, covering large volumes of material at a fast pace. We recommend that you can commit at least 5-10 hours per week to studying. Based on previous student feedback, we do not recommend applying for our course if you plan to study for or sit MRCP or similar exams in the same year, or if you are studying towards a PhD or MSc.

We recognise that 100% engagement is not always possible. However, without engaging with the majority of learning resources, tutorials and special live teaching days, you may find it challenging to pass the examination.

Examination 

Examination is in June 2025. 

Course revision package

If you need to retake your examination, or you have decided to defer the exam, we offer a course revision package. This is only open to alumni of the University of Glasgow Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene course. The revision package includes:

  • Full on demand access to course revision learning platform
  • Optional attendance of tutorials, live teaching sessions and revision classes.

There are two intakes per year for the revision package, September and January. If you are a current student, you will receive a notification in August to complete a form expressing interest. If you have completed the course a while ago, please email mvls-dthm@glasgow.ac.uk

Course alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all courses as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a course. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Fees & funding

Fees 2024-25

  • Students from high income countries: £2,900
  • Students who reside in a DAC listed country: £1000

Exam fees are not included. You will need to pay these separately to The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries. In 2024, the fees were £525.

If you need to retake your examination, we offer a course revision package at a cost of £250. 

Scholarships 

For session 2024-2025, we are offering 15 competitive scholarships. These are shared and offered in conjunction with Universitas Indonesia, University of Malaya, Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Medicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi.  And are open to medical doctors from these institutions. Exceptionally, applicants from other institutions, will be considered through consultation with the Glasgow course team. The scholarships are offered to build and strengthen healthcare capacity.  

Scholarships cover payment of the following: 

  • Study course fees 
  • Exam fees

Applications should be made through the 'Apply Now' button on this page. Please indicate clearly at the top of your letter of motivation that you wish to be considered for a scholarship.

In the letter of motivation, applicants for these scholarships should make a strong case for how they will benefit from the DTMH qualification and how this supports healthcare systems in their country of residence.  

Should you have any questions, please contact mvls-dtmh@glasgow.ac.uk

Entry requirements

  • A primary medical qualification eg. MBBS, BMBS, MBChB, MBBCh and that you have completed your foundation years.  
  • We recommend an IELTS score of 7.5. However, you do not need to have taken IELTS, or any other language examination.  But if your English language is inadequate there is a strong risk of failing to comprehend the course and likely failure in the exam.  
  • You must have access to a computer and internet capable of accessing the virtual learning environment and Zoom, our online meeting place.  

How to apply

You must read this guide to applying online before starting your application. It will answer questions we frequently receive and ensure we are ready to proceed with your application.

Do I have to apply online?

Yes, we are unable to accept your application by any other means than online.

Do I need to complete and submit the application in a single session? 

No. You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process. You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload additional documents such as your medical qualification.

What documents do I need to provide to make an application?

As well as completing your online application in full, it is only possible to submit your application once you have uploaded the required documents: 

  1. A copy (or copies) of your primary medical qualification eg. MBBS, BMBS, MBChB, MBBCh, MD.
  2. Official English translations of your primary medical qualification if the qualification is not in English.
  3. A one-page letter of motivation – this should outline why you are applying, how it fits into your medical career, making reference to past experiences, current role and future plans. Please keep it relevant to the course and avoid reiterating your CV.
  4. An up-to-date CV/Resume.

Can I submit my application if my documents are incomplete?

No. It is only possible to submit your application once you have uploaded the required documents. 

Can I email my documents?

No. We cannot accept email submissions. 

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately, they are also available within the help section of the online application form. If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, then you should visit the Application Troubleshooting/FAQs page.

  • Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out. Please do not use all-caps for your name.
  • Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
  • Choice of course: Please carefully select the course you want to study. 
  • Proposed date of entry: For this course, there is a September start option only.
  • Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
  • Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. 

If you have any questions, please email us at mvls-dtmh@glasgow.ac.uk 

Application deadlines

All applicants

There is a high demand for places on this course, therefore the University has established an application process with application rounds. This process aims to ensure fairness and equity to applicants.  The application portal closes on the 31 July 2024. Please start your application early to ensure you can submit in time.  

Round 1 application dates
  • 1 May 2024 to 15 June 2024. You will receive our decision on your application by 1 July 2024.
Round 2 application dates
  • 16 June 2024 to 31 July 2024. You will receive our decision on your application by 15 August 2024.