Award-winning genomics course returns
Healthcare professionals in England can apply for a funded place on this popular 15-credit online module, with the chance to extend to a postgraduate certificate in genomics
The impact of genomics on patient care is becoming increasingly recognised, and so it’s important for all healthcare professionals to have a role-appropriate level of knowledge of genomics and its applications in practice.
To support healthcare professionals to develop their knowledge and understanding of genomics, the University of the West of England (UWE) is again running its popular 15-credit online module, Genomics and Counselling Skills. If you are a patient-facing healthcare professional working for the NHS in England, you can apply for funding to cover the module. Limited additional places will be available in future to extend to a full postgraduate certificate in genomics (60 credits).
About the course
Genomics and Counselling Skills has been developed by UWE in collaboration with a range of NHS genomics specialists, Macmillan Cancer Support, the British Heart Foundation, Genomics England and NHS England’s Genomics Education Programme.
Since 2020, the course has educated more than 200 NHS professionals, with 24 of them going on to achieve a postgraduate certificate in genomics, and two being featured in the Nursing Times for leading a “first-of-its-kind” cancer genomics service. The course continues to innovate and last year introduced generative artificial intelligence. It also won Advance HE’s Collaborative Award in Teaching Excellence.
What you will learn
The course has been developed for health professionals with little-to-no previous knowledge of genomics. It will provide learners with an introduction to the key areas of genomics, human genetics and genetic variation in the fields of cancer, rare and inherited conditions, and infectious diseases. There is some pre-course learning to complete, which will help learners to get the best from the course.
The module will be delivered online, and includes five core units:
- personal and professional development in genomics;
- cancer genetics and genomics;
- rare and inherited conditions;
- talking genomics; and
- pharmacogenetics and personalised medicine.
In addition, the applications of genomics in infectious diseases will be covered in discussion forums.
Beginning in September 2025, participants can expect to spend six to eight hours per week engaging with the module content. To accommodate clinical commitments, all lectures will be pre-recorded and available online. Participants will be supported by weekly live online tutorials with the expectation that these are attended. Please review the dates and times below when considering your commitment with your line manager.
A blended approach
The module will require learners to spend their time completing synchronous learning (learning via live webinars and virtual classroom tutorials), asynchronous learning (such as pre-recorded lectures and online discussion boards), and independent/self-guided study time. In total, the module takes around 25 weeks to complete.
Teaching will be delivered via a virtual learning environment, Blackboard Ultra, and live sessions via Microsoft Teams. Dates and times for the live sessions can be found below.
Dates and times
The application deadline is midday on 30 May 2025. The course will start from 12 September 2025. Learners must commit to attend the live seminars, which will be held on:
- 12 September 2025, 9am to 10am
- 10 October 2025, 9am to 10am
- 7 November 2025, 9am to 1.30pm
- 14 November 2025, 9am to midday
- 21 November 2025, 9am to midday
- 28 November 2025, 9am to 10am
- 5 December 2025, 9am to 11am
- 30 January 2026, 9am to 10am
- 13 February 2026, 9am to 11am
The assessment will take place on:
- 16 January 2026, 9am to 5pm
Learner testimonials
The completion and pass rates in the first four cohorts (n=183) who completed the module were 95% and 97% respectively. Many past participants have led or contributed to new services to streamline genomics care pathways, improving efficiency, cost-effectiveness and patient outcomes.
Healthcare professionals who have previously completed the 15-credit CPD module said:
“The expertise available to students on this course is invaluable! Really appreciate the access we have to these professionals and their level of understanding really makes the subject interesting and engaging.”
“I have loved every single minute of this course; the support from all of you has been incredible. It has given me more confidence in myself and my abilities.”
“I came into the course feeling like I knew next to nothing about genomics, and I was very daunted by the subject. But once I was at the other end of the course, I was surprised by how much more confident I was talking genomics. This is in no small part due to the excellent speakers and their ability to deliver complex subjects to a novice audience, our module leads for the support and encouragement throughout the course and the comradery of the cohort. As hard as I found it sometimes, I thoroughly enjoyed the course and it felt very bittersweet when it ended.”
Apply for your place
Applications are now open for the 2025 cohort. The deadline is midday Friday 30 May 2025. Please fill in this form and submit your application.
Should you want more information or have any queries about the module, please see the course’s webpage.
