The PG Diploma is designed to equip child health clinicians (doctors, health and rehabilitation professionals, registered nurses and medical social workers) to function more effectively at the intersection between child health and clinical care.
The learning outcomes of the programme are designed to:
- provide knowledge, approaches and tools in child health to medical officers, family physicians and paediatricians in public health services, especially at district and regional levels.
- provide knowledge, approaches and tools in child health to health and rehabilitation professionals, registered nurses and medical social workers, especially those working at primary and secondary levels of care.
- align with the requirements of the District Clinical Specialist Team (DCST) posts that are part of the National Health Insurance-associated Re-engineering of Primary Health Care.
- align with, and provide, the necessary training towards a proposed subspecialty in community paediatrics and child health.
Content
The courses include Advocacy and children’s rights; Basic epidemiology and research appraisal; Health management and leadership; Child health policies and programmes; Optimising care for children with long term and disabling conditions; Health information systems; Quality improvement in clinical practice; Mental health in infants, children and adolescents; and Experiential learning. For 2025 students will have a choice between two elective courses: Child protection, abuse and neglect or Communication, education and training.
Courses
| First Year | ||
| Course Code | Course Description | Credits |
| PED4008F | Advocacy and Children's Rights | 10 |
| PED4049F | Basic Epidemiology and Research Appraisal | 15 |
| PED4051F | Experiential Learning - Part I | 10 |
| PED4005S | Child Health Policies and Programmes | 15 |
| PED4009S | Health Information Systems | 10 |
| Second Year | ||
| PED4006F | Optimising Care for Long-term and Disabling Conditions | 10 |
| PED4063F | Mental Health in Infants, Children and Adolescents | 10 |
| PED4003S | Leadership and Management | 15 |
| PED4052S | Quality Improvement in Clinical Practice | 15 |
| Choice between two elective courses for the second year first semester | ||
| PED4065F | Child Protection, Abuse and Neglect | 10 |
| PED4010F | Communication, Education and Training | 10 |
| Total Credit | 120 | |
Duration and mode of delivery
The PG Diploma in Community and General Paediatrics is a two-year part-time course. It is a blended programme which will be delivered as synchronous and asynchronous online teaching and learning sessions. The emphasis is on learner-centred, context-based and experiential learning. Assessments are assignment-based.
Application and course fee structure
Closing date for applications
The closing date for applications for 2026 is 31 October 2025.
For application-related information
https://uct.ac.za/students/applications-apply-postgraduate-qualifications/applications-and-registration
For fees-related information
https://uct.ac.za/students/fees-funding-fees/fees-handbook
International Students
International Office: Tel: +27 21 650 2822/ 3740, Fax: +27 21 650 5667
Email: int-iapo@uct.ac.za
Website: https://international.uct.ac.za/
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION |