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Duration

One year, part-time

Application Deadline

Home fee payers 24 August 2025 | Overseas fee payers 1 July 2025

Location

St George's, University of London

Start dates

8 September 2025

Already work in healthcare? Study our PgCert to explore counselling skills, human genetics, disease and issues in genomics.

Every individual is unique – our genomes and the way they respond to disease is different. By understanding what’s going on in our bodies, we can work towards a future where healthcare is personalised, and patients' needs are targeted more effectively. Genomics is evolving rapidly and making an impact across numerous disciplines.

St George’s is part of the South East Genomic Laboratory Hub. This is one of the largest providers of genomic testing in the UK and a national centre for specialist testing for haematology, respiratory, skin conditions, and more.

Is this course right for you? 

Our Genomic Healthcare PgCert is the perfect fit for professionals such as clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, and midwives. We’ll provide knowledge on subjects relevant to healthcare practice and patient care that can support what you do every day in your role.

You’ll study four mandatory modules that cover a range of key topics. We also offer these as standalone modules for healthcare professionals looking to upskill and study on a modular basis towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Funding update: If you work for the NHS then you may be eligible for funding from NHS England for up to four taught modules. Applications for NHSE funding are now closed - please register your interest to be notified when more NHSE funding is released.

Why St George's?

  • NHSE Preferred provider - As well as extensive links with healthcare providers across London, we are also contracted as an NHSE preferred provider for this course. 

  • Funding - If you work in the NHS, our modules are available with or without assessment fully funded by NHSE (subject to available commissions).

  • Flexibility - Study standalone modules, complete four modules to achieve a PgCert or upgrade to Genomic Medicine MSc/PgDip in a second year of study.

Want to know more?

Find out more about postgraduate study at St George’s, University of London by registering for our introductory email series.

Course content

We’ve designed this course based on feedback from our healthcare students. In recent years, a broad range of health professionals have chosen to study with us, including GPs, surgeons, consultants, research nurses, genetic technologists and biomedical scientists.

You’ll complete four mandatory modules:

  1. An Introduction to Counselling Skills in Genomics
  2. Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Applied Genomics
  3. Fundamentals of Human Genetics and Genomics
  4. Genomics of Common and Rare Disease

Build key skills

You’ll look at the role of genetics in disease and how genomic information can explain disease mechanisms and biology. We’ll also share examples of both common and rare diseases from across the entire healthcare spectrum to demonstrate how to interpret genomic data.

Considering the impact of genomic technologies on individual lives and public discourse will be key. As well as knowing how to communicate and provide support to individuals and their families. You’ll learn how to do this in practical sessions using role play scenarios.

Event

Postgraduate Virtual Open Week - 25-29 November 2024

Join our virtual postgraduate open week to discover our specialised health and science degrees. This event will take place between 25 - 29 November 2024.

29 November 2024

Course structure

The Genomic Healthcare PgCert has been designed based on feedback from our healthcare students. In recent years, a broad range of health professionals have chosen to study with us, including GPs, surgeons, consultants, research nurses, genetic technologists and biomedical scientists.

Our wide range of specialist modules can also be studied individually as part of Continuous  Professional Development (CPD). If you work in the NHS our modules are available with or without assessment, fully funded by NHS England as part of ‘workforce development’ (subject to available commissions).

Genomic Healthcare PgCert timetables

Watch the Genomic Medicine webinar from our Postgraduate Virtual Week.

Modules

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An Introduction to Counselling Skills in Genomics

This module will provide you with an introduction to general communication skills and specific counselling skills used in genomic medicine. Students undertaking this module will be taught how to communicate and provide appropriate support to individuals and their families. Development of counselling skills will be achieved via theoretical and practical sessions through the use of role play within an academic setting. You will understand the importance of a family history and communication of pathogenic and/or uncertain results.

Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics

You will be provided with a platform of ethical understanding from which to consider issues of confidentiality, privacy and disclosure, autonomy, welfare, informed consent and justice. Upon this platform, students will consider the impact of genomic technologies on individual lives and public discourse. The social implications of the availability of genetic testing and screening will be considered, especially in the context of reproductive technologies. Finally, you will be provided with a discussion of legal issues surrounding the use of genetic information as well as the use of genetic data for research, diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Fundamentals of Human Genetics and Genomics

This module will prepare you to understand the role of genetics in disease and how genomic information can be utilised to elucidate disease mechanism and biology. It will cover the structure and variations in the human genomics, including fundamental principles of genetics and genomics. You will review the architecture of the human genome and the functional units embedded in it and will cover aspects of gene regulation and chromatin structure and consider the importance of the epigenome in these processes.  

In addition, this module will cover DNA sequence variation and structural variation; how this sort of variation is normal but that sometimes it can be associated with disease. Classic chromosomal abnormalities will be described and the mechanisms that lead to them explained. You will learn about monogenic and multifactorial genetic disorders and how gene mapping and sequencing can be used to identify causal and contributory variants. In essence, this module covers what the genome is, what abnormalities can arise and how they arise, as well as how they can be detected.

Genomics of Common and Rare Diseases

This module uses examples of both common and rare diseases from across the entire healthcare spectrum to demonstrate the clinical utility of genomic data in the healthcare setting. These will give an insight into how advances in genomic technologies and integration of genomic data into clinical pathways are impacting on the management of patients from the prenatal setting, through paediatrics and into adult medicine and cancer. The module will explore the clinical presentation and genetic architecture of disease, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of genomic data for a myriad of common and rare inherited conditions using expertise from across St George's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomans' NHS Foundation Trust, St George's, University of London and King's College London.

We will explore a range of approaches used to identify genetic predisposition to common and rare inherited diseases within the context of clinical diagnostics. You will learn how to select patients with unmet diagnostic needs that will benefit from exome, or whole genome, sequencing, and some of the complexities involved in the interpretation of genomic data in the clinical context. We will also discuss the Genomics England, genomic medicine services and data infrastructure.

Entry criteria

To be considered for this course, you will need to:

  • meet the entry criteria
  • write a personal statement
  • provide two suitable references

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

You should have or be expected to achieve, a minimum of a second class degree (2:2) in a relevant bioscience degree with sufficient genetics content. For healthcare graduates, a pass is required. All degrees must be awarded before 1 August on the year of entry.

We may invite you to interview if are unable to make a decision directly from your application.

Alternative professional qualifications, or previous related experience, may be considered and we encourage you to apply.

International qualifications

We accept equivalent qualifications gained in other countries and use UKNARIC to assess international qualifications. Please see our International Student Support pages for more information.

If you have any questions, you can contact us at study@sgul.ac.uk

English Language

This is a Group 1 course.

Full details can be found on our English Language requirements webpages.

Personal statement and references

You will be asked to outline your reasons for applying for the course in a brief personal statement on the application form. You will also need to provide two satisfactory references.

Go to the ‘Apply’ tab for more information.

Teaching and learning

Teaching

We share our site with one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals giving you the chance to learn in a busy healthcare environment. Most of our teaching staff have previously worked in genomics across a range of specialist areas, so you will learn from academics, researchers and clinicians with real on-the-job experience.

Studying at a smaller, more specialist university means we’ll get to know you and help you reach your potential. You’ll be part of interactive group sessions, and our academics are always on hand if you need extra support.

We use a patient-centred approach in our education. We invite representatives from patient groups or someone who has been through a genetic process to share their experience and what it meant to them.

We teach in blocks of five consecutive working days for each module, most of them in person, with our timetable running from approximately 9.00 - 17.00.

How our experts teach depends on the course content, but we recognise that our students have different learning styles. On this course, you can expect a diverse range of:

  • Computer-based sessions
  • Guest lectures
  • Group work
  • In person lectures
  • Self-directed learning
  • Practical workshops
  • Tutorials

MOOCs

To support your learning outside of classes we’ve created three non-assessed Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs). In preparation for our course, we recommend our students take The Genomics Era: The Future of Genetics in Medicine as it provides a basic grounding in genomics.

The course also offers training and resources on academic and research skills including refreshers in laboratory techniques and academic support for assessments.

Assessment

The way we assess your learning will change depending on the module but we use a variety of assessment methods, so every student has a chance to show their knowledge and strengths. You can expect a mixture of:

  • Multiple choice questions
  • Short answer questions
  • Role play activities
  • Case study essays
  • Exams
  • Oral presentations

To prepare you for the practical challenges you’ll face, we design assessments that reflect real-world scenarios.

Your assessments will be formative and summative. This means some won’t count towards your final grade and you’ll have the chance to improve based on our feedback.

As this is a modular course there is no final exam. Instead, each module has one or two online assessments.

Expertise

St George’s has a global reputation in genomics, population health, infection and immunity, and molecular and clinical sciences. The Genomics Clinical Academic Group is a cross-institutional group that brings together scientists, clinicians, nurses and bioinformaticians all working together in both research and education.

One of the things students tell us they like most about the course is the experience of our lecturers. You’ll be taught by experts in drug discovery and genomic testing, as well as clinicians involved in the 100,000 Genomes Project which sequenced 100,000 whole genomes from 85,000 NHS patients.

Previous guest speakers have also included the Head of the South West London Pathology Service and the Head of Genome Analysis and Genomics England.

Facilities

Everything you need for success in the health and life sciences profession is here – from opportunities to learn from professionals working on the clinical frontline to cutting-edge laboratory facilities and bio-imaging technology.

We’re the UK’s only university dedicated to medical and health sciences education, training and research. We share our site with a major London teaching hospital. This means you’ll become part of a unique clinical and academic research community, mixing with the many different healthcare professionals you will go on to work alongside throughout your career.

Library and learning technology

Our library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You’ll find silent, quiet and group learning spaces, as well as group discussion rooms.

We have a wide range of books, e-books, academic journals and other resources. You’ll also have access to online resources, such as the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment and our Hunter discovery service.

Need accessibility equipment? The library also loans noise-cancelling headphones, laptop stands, coloured overlays, desktop whiteboards, and more.

IT facilities

We have an extensive range of IT facilities, including:

  • 260 workstations in five computer suites, three of which are open 24 hours a day
  • 75 self-service laptops available
  • Free Wi-Fi covering the whole campus, including our halls of residence accommodation.

You can use these resources to access your course materials, discussion boards and feedback through Canvas.

Looking for a free space? Simply use our handy real-time computer locator.

Pathology museum

Our on-site Museum of Human Diseases houses a collection of over 2,000 pathological specimens, including those donated by Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie in 1843. This space is used for small group tutorials exploring the mechanisms of disease.

University of London

BLOOM@Senate House

As St George's is part of the University of London, you have access to BLOOM@Senate House, a unique space in the heart of Bloomsbury. Senate House offers a central London base which is particularly useful if you’re studying or living further out. The area has great transport links, making it easy to access from anywhere in London or further afield.

Senate House Library

Students can join the Senate House library free of charge. Your membership includes a 10-book borrowing allowance, access to all reading rooms and study areas, and on-site access to digital resources.

Student support

From day one, you’ll become part of a community of staff and students of different ages, ethnicities, nationalities and backgrounds. Everyone you meet will have one thing in common – a passion for healthcare, science and medicine.

Whether you’re an existing healthcare professional, returning to education after a break or joining us after graduating from an undergraduate degree, we want to help you make the most of your time here. To do this, we offer a full range of academic support and student services.

Careers service

We offer 1:1 career guidance to undergraduate and postgraduate students at every stage of your professional development, from the start of your course through to graduation and beyond. As a student, you’ll also benefit from career development activities that are specifically tailored to your course.

What we offer:

  • Career guidance: We offer 30-minute 1:1 careers guidance sessions to support you in your career planning, build your confidence, and help you identify next steps on your career journey.
  • CV and application advice: We can review your applications with you, support you in presenting yourself to potential employers, tailor your applications to a particular role and help you stand out from your competition.
  • Practice interviews: Work on the content, structure, and delivery of your answers, whether that’s motivation questions, competency questions, role-specific questions or Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).
  • Interactive workshops: Our career education workshops are tailored and delivered within courses. Topics may include understanding the graduate job market, learning through reflection on career decision-making, making successful applications and making an impact at interviews.
  • Careers fairs: These are opportunities to explore career paths in different areas and specialities, meet with employers, and have valuable conversations to inform your career thinking.
  • Online support: We offer specific information tailored to each course, plus general careers support and resources relevant to whatever your career choices and direction via our Canvas Virtual Learning Environment.

Cost of Living

We know that this may be a worrying time for our students and their families. Our Cost of Living Hub contains the latest information to our community affected by the rising cost of living. We provide students with various financial support, budgeting advice as well as employability options.

Disability support

If you require reasonable adjustments or disability services, you can find information on our disability information for students pages. For any further information please contact the disability adviser.

The Graduate School

Our Graduate School brings together postgraduate students from different disciplines, allowing you to support and learn from each other while expanding your professional networks.

The Graduate School works closely with our research institutes and provides opportunities for personal and professional development. You’ll also have access to a postgraduate common room where postgraduate students and early career researchers can study and socialise.

Induction programme

Our induction sets you up for your studies and helps you feel part of the University. As well as course-specific activities, we run an online ‘Get Started’ module which provides information about:

  • Social and enrichment activities
  • Student safety
  • Wellbeing and learning support
  • Study skills
  • Our library facilities
  • Careers and employability services

International student support

Our International Students Support service is part of the Student Life Centre and provides information on visas, settlement schemes, enrolment and more. To find out more, visit our EU and international support pages.

If you’re an international student, get in touch with the team as soon as you accept your offer via student.immigration@sgul.ac.uk.

Mental health support

St George’s has a confidential, free and impartial counselling service available to all students. You can also access services through our Student Life Centre and our online resources. This includes links to NHS resources, apps, podcasts and websites dedicated to mental health and wellbeing.

Personal academic tutor

When you start your course, we’ll allocate you a personal tutor. This is a member of the academic team who you’ll see regularly to monitor your progress and pick up any problems, both academic and personal. Even if they don’t have the answer, they’ll point you in the right direction towards the support you need.

Student Ambassador Scheme

Our Student Ambassadors support student recruitment events, widening participation activities such as Science Stars and schemes such as Unibuddy Reps. Our Student Ambassadors also help with one-off or less regular events and creating student generated content like blogs and videos.

Student Life Centre

Our Student Life Centre team can help you with every aspect of student life including:

  • Finances
  • Accommodation
  • Exams and assessment
  • Academic procedures
  • Admissions
  • International queries
  • Disability and wellbeing
  • Confidential counselling service

Your personal tutor can also signpost you to relevant support.

Students’ Union

St George's Students' Union (SU) is an independent organisation run by students for students. The SU runs a wide range of events and is home to the SU Bar and Shop, music room, dance studios and meeting rooms. The team also provides welfare support for all students, with an open-door policy.

Want to join a sports team? Eager to try something new? We encourage you to take part in the wide range of sports, social and cultural activities and events on offer. From fencing to hockey, yoga to hiking, we have over 100 clubs and societies so you can be sure to find something that will interest you.

Our popular ‘Mums and Dads’ buddy scheme is organised by the Students’ Union. Every first year has the choice of being assigned a ‘parent’ from the year above in their respective course. The returning student acts as a go to for advice about courses and university life.

Students with children

Juggling study and parenthood can be difficult, particularly if you’re taking a demanding medical or healthcare degree. Our Student Parents and Carers Empowered (SPACE) society is a group run by studying parents that meets monthly to support each other and discuss how to balance family life with studying. For more information, email the SPACE society.

Study+

We’re here to help you develop the academic skills you need to succeed and make the most of our library collections.

  • Sessions and tutorials on literature searches, keyword searches and using databases
  • Training materials for academic planning, reading and writing to develop key transferable skills
  • 1:1 meetings for a tailored approach to your academic support needs

Careers

Genomics is an area of rapid change, with a particular skills shortage in the area of bioinformatics. Because this course is designed for professionals already working in the healthcare field, most graduates typically return to their jobs. You’ll be able to show enhanced knowledge and the ability to apply this to your work.

You might decide to do more modules from our Genomic Medicine course as CPD. Many students upgrade to higher awards such as the PgDip (120 credits) or MSc (180 credits) Genomic Medicine which extends study by two or three years.

Fees and funding

In this tab you will find the financial information for this course of study, including details of financial support.

Tuition fees

2025 UK entry (home)

  • Part-time PgCert Genomic Healthcare: £6,100
  • Standalone Genomic Medicine module: £1,500

2025 International (including EU)

  • Part-time PgCert Genomic Healthcare: £10,500
  • Standalone Genomic Medicine module: £2,550

Additional costs

We do not expect students to incur any extra costs over and above those that we have advertised on the course page. To get the most from your studies, you will need your personal computer or laptop (Windows 10 or macOS) and an internet connection in your home. Find out more about technology requirements associated with online learning.

Funding

If you work for the NHS then you may be eligible for funding from NHS England for up to four taught modules. Applications for NHSE funding are now closed - please register your interest to be notified when more NHSE funding is released.

If you have any questions related to funding applications, please liaise with Dr George Wardley or visit the Genomics Education Programme website for more information.

We have a range of funding opportunities available for students. You may be eligible for the following.

How to apply

Before beginning your application please check the entry criteria of the course you wish to study to ensure you meet the required standards.

If you work for the NHS and wish to be considered for NHSE funding, please make this clear on your application.

Applications must be submitted through our online application system, which you can access below. 

Guidance on submitting an application can be found on our how to apply webpage.

Access our online application system

Select the application link for your chosen course and mode of study:

Application process:

  1. You will be asked to create an account.
  2. Once you have created your account, you will be able to complete an application form and upload any relevant documents. You can save a partly completed form and return to it later. Please make sure you complete all sections. Please make sure that the information you provide is accurate, including the options you select in menus.
  3. Add pgadmissions@sgul.ac.uk to your address book to ensure you do not miss any important emails from us.
  4. When you have checked that your application is complete and accurate, click ‘submit’.

You can track your application through your online account.

If you are applying to study a module please note the following:

Current students on a Genomic Medicine stand-alone module at St George's should contact genomics@sgul.ac.uk to enquire into studying further modules. Please do not use the above links.

Please note applications for all modules close one week before the module start date.

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Guidance for completing your references

When completing your application, you will be asked to provide contact details of two referees. Please ensure these details are accurate. As soon as you have submitted your application, your referees will be contacted by the university asking them to upload a reference to your online application.

One must be a recent academic reference. The other should be either a second academic reference or a professional/employer reference. They should cover your suitability for the course and your academic ability.

Your referees should know you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. We do not accept references from family, friends, partners, ex-partners or yourself.

We will send reminder emails to your referees but it is your responsibility to ensure that contact details are correct and referees are available to submit a reference. References should be uploaded within two weeks of making your application.

Apply now

Duration

One year, part-time

Application Deadline

Home fee payers 24 August 2025 | Overseas fee payers 1 July 2025

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Duration: Two years, maximum of four years to complete

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Learn how genomics can help understand and diagnose diseases, personalise treatment and improve health outcomes.

Duration: One year full-time, two or three years part-time

Page last updated 29/11/2024 07:05 PM

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