PG Dip Medical Ultrasound

Start date: September, January or April.

Course length: You'll study part time for two years. The PG Cert stage will take you between nine and 24 months to complete. The PG Dip stage will usually take one year but if you've got a full time ultrasound placement, it may be possible to complete this stage sooner.

Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

Faculty: Education, Health and Science

School: School of Health and Social Care

If you are a qualified healthcare professional, such as a radiographer, nurse or midwife, this course will help you to develop your ultrasound skills enabling you to practise independently.

Recently there has been a sharp rise in the use of ultrasound within the NHS, which is reflected through the number of non-imaging medical and health professionals seeking specialist ultrasound training.

This course, which is nationally recognised and accredited by the Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE), will provide you with the high quality training you need to become a practising sonographer within your workplace.

You can tailor the course to your own interests, with the option to specialise in these areas:

• Focused Specialist Ultrasound Practice
• General Medical Ultrasound
• Obstetric Ultrasound
• Early Pregnancy Assessment
• Gynaecology Ultrasound
• Cardiac Ultrasound
• Vascular Ultrasound.

Alternatively you can study a selection of modules from all areas to give you a wide range of training. We also offer some modules that will develop your management and leadership skills, which you can take alongside your chosen specialist modules.

You'll be supported throughout your studies and practical training by a tutor and a mentor. This ensures that you'll develop all the skills you need to practise in your chosen area of medical ultrasound.

You must have already organised a clinical placement in medical ultrasound with management support before you apply for this course. You'll also need to be able to complete a minimum of 200 hours practical scanning time, so that you can successfully complete the Postgraduate Certificate stage.

This course is made up of two stages – Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma.

Postgraduate Certificate

You’ll study this module:

• Principles of Medical Ultrasound (20 credits)

You’ll also need to gain a further 40 credits, which must include a minimum of 20 credits from the following modules, but the remaining 20 credits could be from a module in the MSc Advanced Practice course:

• Echocardiography (40 credits)
• Focused Specialist Ultrasound (20 credits)
• General Medical Ultrasound (40 credits)
• Gynaecology Ultrasound (20 credits)
• Obstetric Ultrasound (40 credits)
• Ultrasound in Early Pregnancy Assessment (20 credits)
• Vascular Ultrasound (40 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma

You’ll study a further 60 credits at this stage. At least 40 of the credits must come from the remaining optional modules in the Postgraduate Certificate stage or the modules below, but the remaining 20 credits could be from a module in the MSc Advanced Practice course:

• Advancing Communication Skills (20 credits)
• Advancing Practice (20 credits)
• Advanced Technology (20 credits)
• Research Methodology – Application to Advanced Practice (20 credits)
• Work Based Learning – Negotiated Module (20 credits)

If you want to go on to gain a full MSc degree, you can study our MSc Advanced Practice course.

You'll usually need an undergraduate degree with at least a second class honours in a health related subject, or an equivalent qualification. If you've got appropriate professional qualifications and experience we'll also consider your application.

How you'll learn

For both stages you'll learn using a variety of approaches including workbooks and electronic learning. You will also attend a number of strategic study days where you'll be able to talk to your fellow students and staff members and take part in interactive tutorials.

How you're assessed

You'll be assessed using a variety of methods including written assignments, case reports, computer based image interpretation and observed clinical assessments.

Within the NHS there is an increasing demand for sonographers. After completing this course you'll be able to demonstrate your competence to practise and a commitment to learning in this rapidly developing area of imaging. This course could help you to progress in your career and will boost your application for Advanced Practitioner or Consultant posts.

During the negotiated study options, you will fulfill the requirements of your own professional body. For example, we work closely with the College of Emergency Medicine and regional training co-ordinators as a provider of training in emergency ultrasound.