Postgraduate Taught Degrees

PG Diploma Coloproctology (PGDip) (Part time)

Attendance:: Part Time
Award:: Postgraduate Diploma
School of Study:: Norwich Medical School
Brochure:: MS Coloproctology Brochure (PDF)

Overview
Why Choose Us
Course Profile
Requirements
Fees and Funding
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Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia have developed the first higher degree qualification in coloproctology in the UK.

The traditional Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in General Surgery does not provide specialist recognition in coloproctology and a recent nationwide survey of more than 100 surgical trainees carried out via the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASIT) and The Dukes Club indicated that more than 60% of respondents thought a specialised MS qualification would be beneficial for a future career in coloproctology.

Due to European Working Time Regulations and shift patterns in work, time is one of the biggest obstacles trainees face in developing the skills and competencies required for a successful career in coloproctology. Our MS in Coloproctology is therefore designed to complement current training systems and prepare students for a year 1 consultant coloproctologist post.

Flexible Training

The heart of the course will be the e-learning hub – a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) within which all the learning and forum discussions will take place. The VLE will provide a repository for all students’ training needs, from access to directed reading, to feedback from course tutors. It will allow students great flexibility to progress in a goal-directed way when they themselves have the time to study. Problem-based learning scenarios will encourage students to identify learning objectives through researching the literature, ensuring that theory and practice are soundly evidence-based on strong scientific principles. Students will receive adequate mentoring support, both online and locally, from the time of enrolment until they complete their research project.

Our Curriculum

Colorectal Surgery is the largest sub-speciality in general surgery and our course aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of Colorectal Surgeons. We offer flexible pathways, including the award of a postgraduate diploma after the completion of 6 modules including passing the practical aspect of the course. Successful completion of an additional 15,000 word dissertation will make students eligible for the award of MS in Coloproctology.

Course Organiser:Prof Jerome Pereira

Some of the distinctive and innovative features of this course are;

The first e-learning specialist masters degree in Coloproctology in the UK
Highly evidence based programme delivered using Problem Based Learning (PBL)
Assessment of practical skills providing a quality benchmark that is a first in the UK
It is the highest qualification in this field in the UK and world-wide
Delivered by a UK wide eminent faculty of nationally recognised experts in the field
Uses innovative and leading edge assessment tools including Script Concordance testing for assessing clinical reasoning and decision-making
Quality assurance given by UEA and The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS). Some of the faculty are Fellows of the RCS and play key roles in national training of coloproctology trainees.
We provide training in additional competencies including management, clinical leadership, service redesign, research audit and clinical education, which are an integral part of practice and the current NHS policy drivers, but not included in national training programmes

The online format of this programme ensures that the course is ‘visually rich’ and will offer students the opportunity to join a Video Club where experts can offer feedback on problems encountered and knowledge can be shared with the faculty.

Innovations include a ‘Student Wiki’ in which students will share information and scientific papers. There will be continual assessments of forum activity by faculty, and based on other successful UEA Masters courses, the level of debate will prove exceptionally stimulating for students and faculty alike.

About Norwich Medical School

Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia has established a reputation for exciting and innovative approaches to education supported by a strong and rapidly developing research programme.

As part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences it has a growing emphasis on inter-professional co-operation in teaching and research.

The School itself is building a strong reputation in Population Medicine, Health Economics, Diet and Health and BioMedicine with laboratory work now being concentrated in the newly built BioMedical Research Centre.

Year 1

Compulsory Study (80 credits)

Students must study the following modules for 80 credits:

Name	Code	Credits
COLORECTAL EMERGENCIES	MED-M81E	20
The aim of this module is to demonstrate understanding of applied basic sciences including patho- physiological derangements in patients presenting with colorectal emergencies. They should demonstrate competency in managing patients with large bowel obstruction, massive lower GI bleeding, colorectal trauma, colonic perforation, ano-rectal emergencies, anastomotic leak, toxic megacolon and complications of diverticular disease.
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE	MED-M83D	20
The trainee should be able to manage patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The Module will cover the following topics: IBD & Ulcerative Colitis Acute Severe UC Crohn’s and Enterocutaneous Fistual Crohn’s and Perianal Disease Chronic Inflammatory Mass Dysplasia and Cancer Patient & Ileal-pouch Surgery
NEOPLASIA	MED-M82F	20
Trainees will be competent in the appropriate diagnosis, evaluation and management of neoplastic diseases of the small bowel, colon and rectum. (anal cancer included in proctology module).
PROCTOLOGY	MED-M84E	20
Aims: Understand anatomy and physiology of the rectum, anal canal and pelvic floor Manage patients with perianal disorders including benign anorectal conditions, fistula in ano, rectal prolapse and sexually transmitted disease.

Option A Study (40 credits)

Students will select 40 credits from the following modules:

Name	Code	Credits
CLINICAL EDUCATION	MED-M67D	20
At the end of this module the student should be able to: 1. Analyse and evaluate the training needs of a group of students or trainees in surgery 2. Apply pertinent educational theories and approaches to design an educational activity to meet those needs 3. Formulate a lesson plan for a specific learning activity and deliver that activity. 4. Critically appraise a variety of educational material in the light of best educational practice 5. Develop and deliver assessments of a variety of competencies using methods 35 suited to the particular competency taking due regard to validity, reliability, generalisability and feasibility 6. Critically discuss the use of a variety of methods of standard setting in assessment and select the most appropriate approach for a given assessment 7. Use a range of methods to evaluate the success of an educational programme. 8. Justify the use of the „1 minute preceptor model‟ in delivering work-place based learning in clinical settings. Learning Methods The main learning method will be on-line case discussions with a peer group of 5 -10 students. The discussion material will focus on a series of challenges in the form of scenarios based on educational tasks that the students are likely to undertake during their future career. The case discussions are supported by an e-learning tutor who is supplied with a guide indicating the important learning points that the student should achieve. A reference list and on-line learning resources are available for each weekly case.
FUNCTIONAL BOWEL	MED-M85D	20

MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE DELIVERY	MED-M68D	20
At the end of this module, student should be able to: 1. Critically discuss the inter personal skills required to manage conflict resolution drawing on examples in their working environment 2. Critically discuss the skills of innovation in developing creative solutions to problems arising within a team 3. Evaluate the processes required to develop a team to achieve new goals. 4. Summarise and evaluate the principles of service re-design 5. Analyse examples of coaching skills used to develop a team member to introduce single steps of change in a service re-design programme 6. Develop a business case to support the introduction of new technology to enhance onco-plastic breast surgery within their local health economy 7. Evaluate the key challenges for their clinical team within the latest government policies and financial constraints. Lead the team in formulating appropriate strategies to maintain highest standards of service within these constraints.
RESEARCH, AUDIT AND SERVICE EVALUATION	MED-M66F	20
Learning Outcomes At the end of this module, the Master in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery candidate should be able to: 1. Understand service evaluation within the NHS its role and ethical issues that may be generated. 2. be able to design a service evaluation project 3. understand the audit cycle, the importance of audit in any organisation and the role of audit in the NHS 4. Be able to design an audit project including sample size, audit group selection, ethical issues. Being able to demonstrate the difference between audit, service evaluation and research. 5. Understand the time management problems encountered when undertaking research within the NHS 6. Understand the value of qualitative research, the common systems for analysis and how these might usefully be applied to research within the NHS 7. Be able to design a qualitative research study. Taking into account, time management issues, sample size and relationship between methodology and sample selection 8. Understand the value of quantitative research, the statistical approaches to analysis and how these might usefully be applied to research within the NHS 9. Understand the basic principles of questionnaire design and able to design a suitable questionnaire 10. Be able to design a quantitative research study taking into account the time management problems, sample size and relationship between methodology and sample selection 11. Understand the ethical issues in randomised controlled trials. 12. Be able to write any participant information sheet suitable to a group of patients 13. Understand proper costing within research 14. Understand the relevance and importance of research governance within the NHS 15. Understand the relevance and importance of research ethical approval within the NHS including the application process

Disclaimer

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules and regular (five-yearly) review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff or sabbatical leave. Where this is the case, the University will endeavour to inform students.

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirement

Applicants must be:

- ST 5 or above;
- Registered with the GMC and MRCS or equivalent;
- Resident in the UK.

Students must provide a current, full CV when they apply.

Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English or those whose degree was not taught in English. To ensure such students benefit fully from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. We also will require a certain standard to be achieved on the written element of the test. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

IELTS: 7.0 (minimum 7.0 in all component)
TOEFL: Internet-based score of 98 (minimum 22 in all components and 23 in speaking)
PTE: 70 (minimum 70 in all components)

All scores must be less than two years old.

Intakes

Intakes are every January. There is no September intake to this course.

The deadline for applications is 1st November each year.

Fees and Funding

The fee for the entire two year course starting in the academic year 2012/13 will be:

UK/EU students: £4,488

Overseas students: £10,247

Please note, overseas students may only apply for a place on this course if they already resident in the UK. The University is unable to support study visa applications for part-time study.

Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.

You can apply online, or by downloading the application form.

Further Information

To request further information & to be kept up to date with news & events please use our online enquiry form.

If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:

Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk

International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.