To be eligible to participate in the 1-Year PGCert programme you must currently work in health and social care in Scotland (NHS, Local Authorities, Health and Social Care Partnerships, Social Work, Social Care, Care and Support Providers, Housing, Third and Independent Sectors).
Applications must be completed in full and include agreement from a Line Manager and Digital Supporter.
To study at postgraduate level, you must meet the University of Edinburgh’s academic and English language entry requirements. Full details can be found on the University of Edinburgh postgraduate admissions website here.
We welcome applicants with:
Applicants who do not meet these criteria may still be considered at the discretion of the Programme Director and the selection panel, based on a combination of relevant academic qualifications, professional experience, or a recognised professional qualification appropriate to the programme.
Relevant work experience (typically 3–5 years) may be accepted in lieu of formal academic qualifications on a case-by-case basis.
You must also meet the University of Edinburgh’s English language requirements for postgraduate study which can be found here.
Applicants are required to provide a digital signature on the Application Form to confirm that they have read this guidance and that they meet the University of Edinburgh’s academic and English language entry requirements.
We welcome applications from individuals with a range of backgrounds and experiences in digital health and care. While this is an advanced programme, we understand that leadership takes many forms, and that some aspiring leaders are earlier in their journey than others.
To help you assess the relevance of your experience, please refer to the indicative levels below. Applicants with experience aligned to Level 3 and above may be best suited to this programme. If your experience currently aligns more closely with Levels 1 or 2, you may wish to consider the Digital Health and Care Leadership Programme as a valuable alternative to build your leadership foundation. We recommend reviewing the information and guidance for both programmes to help you decide which best supports your current stage of development and future goals.
Level | Description |
1 | Working in an early-career role with under 2 years of experience in digital health and care. |
2 | Current or aspiring leader with 2–3 years of experience in digital health and care. |
3 | Current or aspiring leader with 3–5 years of experience in digital health and care. |
4 | Current leader with 5+ years of strong experience in digital health and care. |
5 | Senior leader with 10+ years of significant experience in digital health and care. |
A learning session to explore the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) and help applicants better understand the application process was held on Wednesday 18 June 2025. You can watch a recording of the session here.