Study options
- Starting in
- September 2025
- Location
- Distance Learning
- Fees
- Home: £11,350
Overseas: £15,750
EU/EEA/Swiss students
What you'll study
Our programme is taught entirely by Consultant Dermatologists with CCST/Board Certification in Dermatology.
Most doctors receive two weeks dermatology teaching as students and subsequently can struggle when they are faced with diagnosing and managing patients with skin disease in their own practices. This online programme covers the dermatology core curriculum with special emphasis on diagnosing and managing skin disease in a community setting.
You will gain knowledge and understanding of the common clinical dermatological problems such as the red face, inflammatory conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, as well as recognising skin cancers and other lumps and bumps. We also teach you about some of the rarer skin diseases and explain the pathology behind a range of the conditions which we encounter in practice.
The diploma is organised by the Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research in the Blizard Institute, and the Department of Dermatology at Barts Health. There are close links with other dermatology departments in the region, in particular Whipps Cross University Hospital. There is a large enthusiastic team of consultant dermatologists, many of whom are tutors on this diploma course.
Students* gave this programme a score of 100% for overall satisfaction, and 96% said that they felt better prepared for their future career due to taking the course.
*Students who completed the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024
Additional costs
There are no additional costs associated with this course. All material is provided online.
Structure
- Six compulsory taught modules
Each module consists of weekly reading material supplemented and complemented by multimedia resources, suggested reading and slide library and Multiple Choice Quizzes (MCQ).
Full time (1 year) modules
Semester 1
- Introduction and Common Dermatological
Problems - Red and Spotty Faces, Drug Reactions, Wound Healing, Surgery and Paediatric Dermatology
- Cutaneous Neoplasia
Semester 2
- Inflammatory and Papulosquamous Disorders
- Dermatoses of Specific Sites, Ages or Skin Types
- Sunshine and the Skin, Urticaria, Psyche and the Skin, Uncommon Infections and Cosmetic Dermatology
Part time (2 years) modules
Year 1, Semester 1
- Introduction and Common Dermatological Problems
- Red and Spotty Faces, Drug Reactions, Wound Healing, Surgery and Paediatric Dermatology
Year 1, Semester 2
- Inflammatory and Papulosquamous Disorders
- Dermatoses of Specific Sites, Ages or Skin Types
Year 2, Semester 1
- Cutaneous Neoplasia
Year 2, Semester 2
- Cutaneous Neoplasia (cont.)
- Sunshine and the Skin, Urticaria, Psyche and
the Skin, Uncommon Infections and Cosmetic Dermatology
Clinical Days
• 20 September 2024 - hybrid
• 15 November 2024 - hybrid
• 6 December 2024 - online only
• 17 January 2025 - online only
• 21 March 2025 - hybrid
Revision Day
• 16 May 2025 - hybrid
Exam
• TBC
Compulsory/Core modules
In this introductory 6 week module you will learn how to recognise and investigate skin disease as well as how to manage it. You will comprehensively cover common skin conditions and learn about the differential causes of a red or spotty face such as rosacea, acne vulgaris and seborrhoeic dermatitis. The final weeks of this module cover dermatitis and allergies.
In this 6 week module you will learn about the clinical variants of psoriasis and comprehend the psychosocial aspects of the condition. You will learn about blistering disorders such as pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris. You will cover Lichen Planus and lichenoid reactions and the following week you will cover vasculitis and vascular lesions. Week 5 of this module will teach you about skin and systemic disease including diabetes, thyroid disease, Addison¿s disease, Cushing¿s disease and Erythema Nodosum. The final week of this module will educate you about connective tissue diseases such as lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis.
During this 6 week module you will cover: ¿ Inflammatory and Papulosquamous Disorders ¿ Hair disorders including alopecia and hirsutism and hypertrichosis ¿ Body Parts Connected to the Skin covering lips, mouth, skin around the eyes ¿ Genital Dermatology to recognise the clinical appearances and pathology of the common genital dermatoses ¿ Skin Problems in Different Skin Types ¿ Diseases of the nail .
In this final 5 week module you will learn about the effects of sunshine on the skin, urticaria, psyche and the skin, uncommon infections and an introduction to cosmetic dermatology.
This 6 week module thoroughly covers all aspects of cutaneous neoplasia. You will explore the clinical features of a variety of both common and more unusual primary and secondary cutaneous neoplasms. In additional to the clinical findings, you will discuss the histology and scientific pathways (where known) resulting in these neoplasms along with relevant aetiological factors. You will study the diagnosis and management of the individual conditions in detail. We will cover dermoscopy at an appropriate level of detail, as well as the cutaneous features of internal malignancy and the rare familial cancer syndromes which may present with cutaneous findings.
This 4 week module will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the cutaneous manifestations of drug reactions, dermatological surgery and wound healing. You will study the diagnosis and management of paediatric dermatology over 2 weeks.
Assessment
You will be assessed by:
- weekly online multiple choice quiz-style questions, based on that week’s taught material
- a 1,500 word written report relating to the Cutaneous Neoplasia module
- a final four-hour written examination.
—My name is Dr Alain Michon and I'm from Ottawa, Canada. I recently graduated from the PGDip in Clinical Dermatology in 2023 at Queen Mary University of London. Overall, the programme was fantastic. The material online was up-to-date, which sometimes can be very rare for online learning. Plus, we had amazing videos and webinars taught by very passionate staff that helped us understand dermatology better. I currently do non-surgical aesthetics and I plan to introduce more dermatology patients into my practice now that I feel more confident after taking this course. I recommend this course to all of my colleagues.
Dr Alain Michon, PGDip Clinical Dermatology, 2023
Teaching
There are six modules spanning two semesters (spanning two years for the part-time route) covering the core curriculum. You would be expected to study approx. 12 hours per week to successfully complete the course.
You will attend regular, interactive, live, small group tutorials online, live webinar teaching sessions, as well as our online Clinical Days. The Clinical Days are delivered in real time so that you can engage directly with your academics and fellow students. These tutorials and Clinical Days are also recorded for your convenience.
All students will receive weekly web-based teaching material and audio-visual material to demonstrate patient cases and good practice.
Blizard Institute distance learning (online) students* gave their experience a score of 99% for overall satisfaction.
*Students who completed the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024
Where you'll learn
Facilities
- Access to supplementary reading and a selection of relevant online journal articles
- Student Café — this area of the learning platform allows pictures and questions or messages to be posted for discussion within the group
- Watch our video to discover online study at Queen Mary
About the Institute
Blizard Institute
The Blizard Institute is the largest institute of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Our research and education span broad areas of modern biomedicine, with particular expertise in cell biology, genomics, immunology, neuroscience, primary care, population health and trauma sciences.
Our research puts Queen Mary joint seventh in the UK (REF 2021). We work closely with linked NHS hospital trusts which means that the School’s research and teaching is informed by an exceptionally wide-ranging and stimulating clinical environment.
Barts Health NHS Trust is home to:
- One of the capital's leading trauma and emergency care centres in the UK (approaching 1,000 attendances daily)
- Europe’s largest Trauma Centre
- Europe’s busiest Heart Centre.
Queen Mary University is also part of the prestigious Russell Group - a body of leading UK universities dedicated to research and teaching excellence.
Career paths
Whilst some of our students remain working as primary care practitioners, some go on to work in extended roles or as a specialty doctors in dermatology and many report increased confidence in managing patients with skin disease in their care.
- 96% of Blizard postgraduate-taught students are in employment or further study (2020/21)
- 98% of Blizard postgraduate-taught students are in highly skilled work or study (2020/21)
- £47k is the median UK salary of Blizard Institute postgraduate-taught graduates (2020/21). 87% earn above this.
—I would highly recommend this course to anybody interested in clinical dermatology. Both online learning material and clinical days have been invaluable in my development as a GP with an extended role in dermatology. The course tutors are experts in their field and excellent teachers. This course has challenged me, boosted my confidence and given me new skills. I am incredibly excited about a new dermatological career.
Dr Sahar Ali Khan, Clinical Dermatology PgDip,
Fees and funding
Part-time study
| 18 months
- Home: £5,500
- Overseas: £7,500
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Part-time study
September 2025 | 21 months
- Home: £5,700
- Overseas: £7,900
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Funding
There are a number of ways you can fund your postgraduate degree.
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Postgraduate loans (UK students)
- Country-specific scholarships for international students
Our Advice and Counselling service offers specialist support on financial issues, which you can access as soon as you apply for a place at Queen Mary. Before you apply, you can access our funding guides and advice on managing your money:
Entry requirements
UK
Degree requirements
A Medical degree (non-UK medical degrees marked on a grading scale must be equivalent to UK 2:2 degree).
Other routes
Applicants with Medical degrees below this level will be considered on an individual basis if there is strong evidence of suitable professional experience.
Find out more about how to apply for our postgraduate taught courses.
International
English language requirements
The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which your chosen course of study is administered. Note that for some academic departments there are programmes with non-standard English language requirements.
The English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught and research programmes in the Blizard Institute falls within the following English band:
Band 4: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
Please note, there are some postgraduate programmes with non-standard English language requirements in this Institute.
We accept a range of English tests and qualifications categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. See all accepted English tests that we deem equivalent to these IELTS scores.
Visas and immigration
Find out how to apply for a student visa.