Skip to main content
Part time — Open
Graduate

PGCert in Paediatric Infectious Diseases

The Postgraduate Certificate in Paediatric Infectious Diseases (PGCert) is a part-time taught course delivered mainly online, covering infectious syndromes, diagnostics, therapeutics, and key viral infections, with some residential components.

Open: Part time

Applications are still open. Up to a week's notice of closure will be provided on this page - no other notification will be given. 

Expected length:
  • Part time: 12 months
Expected start date:
  • Part time:
English language level:
  • Higher level required
The dome of the Radcliffe Camera through the trees

About the course

Worldwide, two-thirds of the deaths of children under five years of age are caused by infectious diseases, and the prevention and treatment of infections in children is the number one priority for global health. Thus, the department believes that professionally-oriented education in paediatric infectious diseases is essential in the training of clinicians and clinical academics who will provide the future leadership in this key area for global health.

The PGCert is a one-year, part-time course taught primarily online providing you with an in-depth understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of paediatric infection. It also places the practice of paediatric infectious diseases in the broader context of applied sciences, such as pathogenesis, population biology and epidemiology.

The course will appeal to doctors who are training in general paediatrics and also those trainees in paediatrics who have an interest in specialist knowledge in the field of paediatric infectious diseases, for example those training for the RCPCH paediatric infectious diseases special interest (SPIN) module or planning/undertaking subspecialty training. It is also suitable for GPs with an interest in paediatric infectious diseases.

Course structure

This section provides an overview of the course structure, while details of the individual course components are provided below.

The syllabus covers three modules.

The majority of the teaching takes place online through a virtual learning environment (VLE), with online teaching discussions, interaction with tutors and other students, and access to an extensive resource library. Tutors will lead online discussions of the syllabus topics during timetabled weeks (on average eight to eleven weeks per module) which will be followed by study weeks to allow you to carry out self-directed study. This enables students from around the world to participate in the programme.

In addition to the online teaching, you are required to attend the Infection and Immunity in Children (IIC) Conference which takes place in Oxford each year. You are also strongly encouraged to become a member of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) and to attend the annual meeting, as well as participate in the PentaTr@ining: 'HIV & Other Congenital Infections' course which consists of an online modular component and a three-day residential in Rome. The PentaTr@ining course takes place every other year.

The course is a result of a close collaboration between the University of Oxford Department of Paediatrics and the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) and the Oxford Infection and Immunity in Children (IIC) conference. The international panel of tutors is led by Sir Andrew Pollard, Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity at the University of Oxford, and Honorary Consultant Paediatrician at the Children’s Hospital, Oxford. 

Students who successfully complete the PGCert in Paediatric Infectious Diseases may choose to go on to complete a postgraduate diploma by applying for the second year of the course.

Core components

You will take three core modules. 

Course details

Entry requirements

For entry in 2026-27

Funding and costs

College preference

Before you apply

Completing your application

Contact details