PG Credit Genomic Medicine CPD

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2027, the tuition fees are as follows:

• Modular (part-time)
  UK students (per annum): £1,400 per 15 credits
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £3,700 per 15 credits

Fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.

Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance. Postgraduate fees information .

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Funding is available to NHS staff for CPD units.

It is possible to apply for multiple units and combine them for the award of PGCert Genomic Medicine or PGDip Genomic Medicine.

Health Education England (HEE) funding is initially only available for up to four units, but students may apply for further funding once these four units are underway. Further funding will depend on attainment level and availability of funds, which are confirmed by HEE in April of each year.

Please contact pgtaught.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk if you require further details on HEE funding or to enquire about unit dates.

HEE funding details and the application process can be found at Health Education England.

The aim of this module is to provide students with an introduction to the knowledge, communication and counselling skills, to support individuals and their families whose care will be influenced by genomic investigations. 

By the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. Appraise the importance and application of informed consent in the field of genomic medicine.

2. Demonstrate advanced communication skills required to explain complex genomic concepts to a lay audience

3. Evaluate the potential impact of genomic test results on the patient and their family including possible reproductive implications

4. Demonstrate appropriate empathetic and culturally competent practice in supporting patients through the genomic testing process

Outline of content

• What is genomic counselling  
• The role of genomic counsellors and the wider genomics multi-disciplinary team
• Communicating complex genomic concepts, risk, and test results, to a patient in both written and verbal formats
• Different purposes of genomic testing (e.g. diagnosis, risk information and reproductive choice)
• Consent for genomic testing, including consideration for:  
• Patient decision making  
• Uncertainty in genomics
• Incidental findings
• Use of data
• Introduction to the counselling skills used in clinical genomics practice  
• Setting the scene
• Active listening
• Empathy
• Non-judgmental and non-directive practice
• Understanding implications of genetic test result both personal and familial
• Equality, diversity and inclusion in genomics 

Evaluate the principles and benefits of informed consent in the field of genomic medicine.

Access existing practice guidelines around genetic testing and use them to interpret case studies

Analyse the potential psychosocial impact of genomic test results drawing on the published evidence base of patient and family experiences, and evaluate the strategies professionals can use to provide support

Describe the theoretical framework of family systems theory and evaluate its relevance to practice in supporting families undergoing genomic testing

Examine the different purposes of genomic testing in child and adult patients, pregnancies, and healthy individuals.

Demonstrate the usefulness of family history information in assessing genetic risk, genomic results, and family burden

Take a family history relevant to genomic testing.

Facilitate shared decision-making around whether to undergo genetic testing.

Be able to take meaningful consent for genomic testing in the clinical setting, including for the 100,000 Genomes Project

Communicate genomic results in an empathic manner, and explain their predictive value and parameters of uncertainty taking into account the patient’s current concerns, educational background, and learning ability.

Employ strategies to support families to communicate around genomic test results including disseminating information to other relatives at risk.

Identify sources of support for patients including patient support groups and on-line resources.

Apply acquired skills to area of own healthcare practice to deliver effectively and support patient choices in relation to genomic information

Written feedback given.