The Postgraduate Certificate and the Postgraduate Diploma in Special Operations Medicine are part-time, closed-recruitment programmes offered in collaboration with NATO Special Operations Headquarters (NSHQ) to existing NATO (and NATO Partnership for Peace) military medical personnel.

All modules will be released as CPD through the Centre for Continuing Professional Development. Students will register for and take each module as CPD when released from operational duties to attend the face-to-face workshop elements of that module. Students who successfully complete the required number of credits within the required timeframe will be eligible for an award as follows:

The Postgraduate Certificate in Special Operations Medicine is a modular programme which can be undertaken in a flexible timescale within a five-year period. Students who satisfactorily complete and pass modules to the value of 30 credits will be eligible for this award. The required 30 credits must be completed within five years of commencing the first module.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Special Operations Medicine is a modular programme which can be undertaken in a flexible timescale within a five-year period. The 60-credit programme comprises the Postgraduate Certificate in Special Operations Medicine (30 credits) and an additional 30 credits which must be completed within five years of completing the Postgraduate Certificate in Special Operations Medicine.

Postgraduate Certificate

Students take modules to the value of 30 credits from the following:

MD6017 Special Operations Medical Planning and Support - Task Group (10 credits)
MD6018 Special Operations Medicine Program Development (5 credits)
MD6019 Special Operations Surgical Team Development (5 credits)
*MD6020 Advanced Special Operations Surgical Team Development (10 credits)
MD6021 Combat Medical Simulation and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (10 credits)
MD6022 Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Medical Planning and Treatment (5 credits)
MD6026 Special Operations Medical Planning and Support - Task Unit (5 credits)
MD6027 Special Operations Advanced Medical Concepts (10 credits)
MD6029 Advanced Resuscitation (5 credits)

Note:
*MD6020 - Completion of MD6019 or relevant experience is a pre-requisite for entry to this module.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module descriptions may be found here.

Postgraduate Diploma

Students take 30 credits in addition to the 30 credits already taken as part of the Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits in total).

Core Module
MD6028 Reflective Practice for Special Operations Medical Professionals (10 credits)

Elective Modules
Students take modules to the value of 20 credits from the following:
MD6017 Special Operations Medical Planning and Support - Task Group (10 credits)
MD6018 Special Operations Medicine Program Development (5 credits)
MD6019 Special Operations Surgical Team Development (5 credits)
*MD6020 Advanced Special Operations Surgical Team Development (10 credits)
MD6021 Combat Medical Simulation and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (10 credits)
MD6022 Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Medical Planning and Treatment (5 credits)
MD6026 Special Operations Medical Planning and Support - Task Unit (5 credits)
MD6027 Special Operations Advanced Medical Concepts (10 credits)
MD6029 Advanced Resuscitation (5 credits)

Notes:
*MD6020 - Completion of MD6019 or relevant experience is a pre-requisite for entry to this module.
Modules undertaken for the Postgraduate Certificate cannot be repeated for the award of Postgraduate Diploma.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2022/2023 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2022/2023.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Special Operations Medicine (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Describe the theoretical basis for Military Special Operations;
• Outline the role of medical support in SOF operations;
• Outline common definitions, medical training requirements and standards of SOF medical capability within the NATO Alliance and provide guidance to promote the highest quality, evidence-based health care within SOF;
• Demonstrate competent command planning at the tactical level in support of all aspects of SOF mission profiles;
• Critically evaluate individual NATO nation SOF medical systems to determine if it presently delivers the required capabilities expected of that SOF unit.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Special Operations Medicine (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Describe the theoretical basis for Military Special Operations and outline the role of medical support in SOF operations;
• Outline common definitions, medical training requirements and standards of SOF medical capability within the NATO Alliance and provide guidance to promote the highest quality, evidence-based health care within SOF;
• Critically evaluate individual NATO nation SOF medical systems to determine if it presently delivers the required capabilities expected of that SOF unit;
• Objectively outline the strategic, operational, and clinical changes required to improve their individual nation's SOF medical system;
• Demonstrate competent command planning at the operational and strategic level in support of all aspects of SOF mission profiles;
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to create, maintain, train, and employ Special Operations Medical Teams for their nation's SOF, thereby saving lives and increasing interoperability within NATO;
• Describe how to implement evidence based educational theory and concepts into SOF medical education and training;
• Demonstrate the ability to critically review Special Operations Forces medical standards, training and operations through an analysis of past, present and future conflicts.