Patient Safety

The Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) is a part-time course for healthcare professionals, offered by the Department for Continuing Education in collaboration with the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences. It can be completed in one year (though two years is possible), and consists of three modules, each a week long and taught in Oxford. The department provides online support and e-Library access for distance learning on either side of the Oxford weeks.

The PGCert in Patient Safety is designed to provide an understanding of:

• the basic science behind quality improvement methods
• the techniques for implementing, sustaining and measuring systems change
• the techniques for exploring and evaluating the effect of different approaches to improving safety in healthcare.

There is a growing evidence base that quality improvement and human factors-based projects in healthcare have real impact on clinical outcomes for patients. The University of Oxford has a strong research base in patient safety, and this course benefits from the researchers’ intensive collaboration with clinicians.

The course will appeal to doctors, nurses, managers, and other healthcare professionals who have an interest in patient safety.

You will attend two core modules and one option module. The core modules are:

• Quality Improvement Science and Systems Analysis
• Human Factors, Teamwork and Communication

Your option module is chosen from:

• Leadership and Management in Health Care
• Becoming a Clinical Educator
• Healthcare Innovation and Technology

Each module will comprise one week’s intensive teaching in Oxford through the use of lectures, workshops, seminars and practical sessions. Modules are constructed to include independent learning, to develop your knowledge and understanding of the subject, as well as group working and discussion. They include a period of preparatory study, and are followed by a period for assignment work.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of Department for Continuing Education and/or the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department for Continuing Education and/or the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences.

At the start of this programme, most of you will already be in full-time employment. The PGCert aims to prepare you for pursuing a career in higher levels of nursing, medical and general management with a specific interest in patient safety issues.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

Courses suggested by the lead department

Health Research PGDip
Evidence-Based Health Care MSc
Evidence Based Health Care DPhil
Evidence-Based Health Care (Medical Statistics) MSc
Evidence-Based Health Care (Systematic reviews) MSc
Primary Health Care DPhil
Surgical Science and Practice MSc
Experimental Therapeutics MSc
Paediatric Infectious Diseases PGDip
Paediatric Infectious Diseases MSc

All graduate courses in this area offered by the Department for Continuing Education

Cognitive Behavioural Studies PGCert

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy MSc

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy PGDip

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy PGCert

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy DPhil

Continuing Education DPhil

Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy PGCert

Evidence Based Health Care (Medical Statistics) MSc

Evidence Based Health Care (Systematic Reviews) MSc

Evidence-Based Health Care DPhil

Evidence-Based Health Care MSc

Experimental and Translational Therapeutics MSc

Health Research PGDip

Health Research PGCert

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy MSt

Paediatric Infectious Diseases MSc

Paediatric Infectious Diseases PGDip

Patient Safety PGCert

Psychodynamic Counselling PGCert

Psychodynamic Practice MSt

Psychodynamic Practice PGDip

Qualitative Health Research Methods PGCert

Surgical Science and Practice MSc

Teaching Evidence-Based Health Care PGCert

Translational Health Sciences MSc

All graduate courses offered by the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences

Integrated Immunology MSc

Patient Safety PGCert

Surgical Science and Practice MSc

Surgical Sciences DPhil

Surgical Sciences MSc by Research

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Entry requirements