Study options
- Starting in
- September 2025
- Location
- Distance Learning
- Fees
- Home: £10,350
Overseas: £20,000
EU/EEA/Swiss students
What you'll study
This Postgraduate Diploma in Gastroenterology is aimed at practising clinicians wishing to understand the sciences underpinning clinical diseases and their management. It touches on a number of core topics, from paediatric and adolescent gastrointestinal (GI) through to adult GI diseases. You’ll acquire a number of invaluable skills throughout the programme.
You’ll be taught by world-leading experts, internationally recognised for their cutting-edge research in gastroenterology and be introduced to established techniques of research and enquiry and how they are used to create and interpret knowledge.
If you successfully complete this postgraduate diploma, you may be eligible for progression onto our Gastroenterology Online MSc.
Structure
- Six core modules
Compulsory/Core modules
In this module, we will provide you with an introduction to the basic science of gastroenterology. We will cover the anatomy, histology, immunology, physiology (pharmacology and neuroscience), cell biology and genetics of gut function. In addition, lectures focus on research methodologies, allowing you to appraise the evidence base underpinning the taught content. You will learn important study skills such as drafting an essay, critical approach and referencing.
In this module, we will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the study of liver and pancreatic diseases in adults, with a focus on research and science underpinning this speciality. Examples of topics you will cover in this module include causes of liver disease; liver disease in pregnancy; metals and liver; autoimmune liver disease; and liver and HIV.
In this module, we will look at aspects of adult luminal gastroenterology, excluding functional gastrointestinal disease. We will focus on research and science underpinning this speciality.
In this module, you will undertake an advanced course in the field of Neurogastroenterology. Part of the module includes teaching and experience of complex diagnostic techniques within a GI physiology unit. This includes oesophageal and small bowel manometry, high-resolution manometry, impedance and nuclear medicine techniques.
In this module, you will receive a thorough overview of gastrointestinal and liver diseases in children and adolescents, along with gastrointestinal infectious diseases.
In this module, you will gain knowledge and understanding of the principles and practice of the gastroenterology endoscopy and investigations. This module is intended as an update if you have some experience in endoscopy, and as an introduction for novices allowing you to accelerate further training after completion.
Assessment
Each module will be assessed by coursework and a written exam.
—Following my clinical placements with different hospitals across the Barts Health NHS Trust, I found that medical school often is a rapid whistle-stop tour through the myriad of body systems and specialty disciplines. As such, I wanted to dedicate exclusive study time to explore the realms of the digestive system with which I have become fascinated. The course is remarkable for the amazing teaching team we had the privilege to study under. Our lecturers were experts in the different fields of Hepatology, Neurogastroenterology and even Paediatric Gastroenterology, which allowed for engaging conversations about the growing landscape in Gastroenterology beyond simply learning disease diagnostics and management.
I particularly enjoyed the focus on nurturing research skills, ranging from learning lab techniques to our independent coursework of essays, presentations and the final dissertation. The course is very comprehensive and future students will definitely benefit from the small student to teacher ratio and diverse coverage of emerging topics in Gastroenterology. I am currently finishing my fifth and final year of undergraduate medicine at Queen Mary and am looking forward to graduating and becoming a doctor. I am set in my future ambitions to become a specialist in Gastroenterology.
In particular, I was very intrigued by our teachings in Neurogastroenterology and hope to practise in this sub-specialty in the future. I am also currently involved in clinical research in Gastroenterology, and the course has helped me to be well-equipped in research skills and clinical knowledge.
Shaun Koo, MSc Gastroenterology (intercalated) 2023
Teaching
You'll be taught by internationally recognised academics in a variety of methods, including:
- online lectures and seminars
- podcasts
- reading material and guided reading exercises
- clinical case presentations
- group discussions via the QMplus portal.
We invest in both your educational and personal development, and you will be assigned an Academic Adviser, who will support you during your studies.
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 QMplus, our bespoke online learning platform
- Access to online library facilities and reading materials
- Access to video and audio recordings of all lectures and other online resources
- Video tutorials for lab-based work
- Access to our campus facilities if you decide to visit at any point during your course
- 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
During your studies you'll have access to support at every stage in your degree, including one-to-one academic guidance, tailored workshops and external guest speakers. Graduates of this course are well-placed to progress onto MSc-level study.
- 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.
Fees and funding
Part-time study
January 2026 | 2 years
- Home: £4,950
- Overseas: £9,650
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Part-time study
September 2025 | 18 months
- Home: £5,200
- Overseas: £10,000
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
Those with a 2:2 or above at undergraduate level in a Science degree working as a Allied Health professional (such as Dietician, Physiologist) with at least one year experience will be considered on an individual basis.
Applicants with Medical or Science degrees below this level will be considered on an individual basis if there is strong evidence of relevant professional experience.
Professional experience of working in Gastroenterology is desirable.
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.