Overview

Join Scotland’s first university postgraduate programme dedicated to non-surgical medical aesthetics practice.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Non-Surgical Medical Aesthetics Practice is designed for eligible registered healthcare professionals. Delivered part-time over two years, it combines advanced academic education with extensive practical learning.

You will:

study flexibly online
develop your practical capabilities through on-campus teaching and simulation
apply your learning within an appropriately regulated or GCU-approved clinical environment.

As Scotland prepares to implement new legislation governing certain non-surgical procedures, there is an increased focus on public protection, practitioner competence and appropriate clinical governance. This programme places patient safety, person-centred care, professional accountability and evidence-based practice at the centre of your learning.

You will develop advanced knowledge and practical capabilities across:

anatomy, physiology, dermatology and pharmacology
consultation, holistic patient assessment and psychological screening
patient selection and informed consent
clinical decision-making and treatment planning
injectable practice
the prevention, recognition and appropriate management of complications
clinical governance, professional accountability and ethical decision-making
research, evidence evaluation and critical reflection.

Through university-level education, simulation, practical assessment and critical reflection, you'll graduate ready to contribute to safer, more accountable and person-centred non-surgical medical aesthetics practice.

Through academic study, simulation, work-based learning and clinical assessment, you will connect theory with practice. You will develop and demonstrate capabilities that support high standards of care within your professional role and scope of practice.

Part-time study and pathways options

The programme is delivered part-time over two years, allowing you to combine postgraduate study with your existing professional commitments.

Two study pathways are available:

a pathway that includes or recognises appropriate post-registration prescribing education. This is for applicants who meet the relevant eligibility requirements or already hold an equivalent post-registration prescribing qualification.
a pathway without additional post-registration prescribing education. This is for applicants whose prescribing rights were gained through their qualifying professional education or who are not currently eligible to undertake a post-registration prescribing qualification.

Your pathway will be determined by your professional background, existing qualifications, regulatory eligibility and development needs.

Why study Postgraduate Diploma in Non-Surgical Medical Aesthetics Practice at GCU?

Join Scotland’s first university postgraduate programme dedicated to non-surgical medical aesthetics practice and be part of a pioneering approach to education in the field.
Develop your capabilities through extensive practical education, including on-campus practical teaching, simulation, clinical assessment and work-based learning.
Combine flexible online academic study with practical education at GCU and learning within an appropriately regulated clinical environment.
Develop expertise across the patient journey, from consultation and psychological screening to treatment planning, injectable practice, ongoing care and complication management.
Place safety and governance at the centre of your practice. You’ll strengthen your understanding of professional accountability, clinical governance, ethical decision-making, patient safety and public protection.

What you will study

We aim to display the most up-to-date information possible.

The modules listed on this page and the Programme Specification are intended to give you an idea of what you may be able to study on this course. Please note that course content, modules, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at GCU. This might be because we are required to do so by law, by a governmental authority, regulator or accrediting body. We may also make changes for quality assurance reasons, or to enhance the course.

Core modules

Advanced Non-Surgical Medical Aesthetic Practice (ANSMAP)

Advanced Research Methods

Non-Surgical Medical Aesthetic Injectable Practice

Optional modules

Applied Ethics in Nursing and Healthcare Practice

Prescribing for Healthcare Practitioners

Work-Based Advanced Skills and Innovative Practices 1 (15 credits)

Work-Based Advanced Skills and Innovative Practices 1 (30 credits)

Work-Based Advanced Skills and Innovative Practices 2

Careers

Whether you are looking to enter non-surgical medical aesthetics or advance an established practice, this programme provides an opportunity to strengthen your clinical knowledge, practical capabilities and professional judgement.

The programme may be particularly relevant if you want to:

develop your practice within an established non-surgical medical aesthetics clinic or service
establish, lead or manage your own clinic
expand the range or complexity of treatments you provide within your professional scope
contribute to clinical governance, audit, quality assurance and service development
develop a portfolio career across healthcare settings and independent aesthetics practice.

If you are eligible to undertake post-registration prescribing education, successful completion of the relevant pathway may support the development of prescribing practice within your professional role and scope.

Please note: the ability to establish or operate a clinic, prescribe medicines or undertake particular procedures remains subject to your professional scope of practice, regulatory requirements, insurance arrangements and relevant legislation.

Course information

Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location
PgD	Part Time	2 Years	Sep 26	Glasgow	Enquire Apply
Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location
PgD	Part Time	2 Years	Jan 27	Glasgow	Enquire Apply

Please note that admission to GCU is considered on a competitive basis, and the academic entry requirements stated here may be the minimum required to be eligible for an offer.

The programme is currently available to home applicants only and is not open to RUK or international applicants requiring overseas registration arrangements.

Applicants should normally:

be a UK-registered healthcare professional from an eligible professional group;
have a minimum of two years’ post-registration experience;
hold an honours degree or equivalent qualification;
have access to an appropriately regulated or GCU-approved clinical learning environment for work-based learning and practice development.
satisfy any PVG and professional insurance requirements for the sector
satisfy safeguarding and clinical governance requirements associated with participation in work-based and practical learning.

Pre-entry applications are required to demonstrate relevant professional learning, suitability and applicability to the programme.

Access to the Prescribing for Healthcare Practitioners module is subject to professional regulatory requirements within the sector of aesthetics.

Recognition of Prior Learning may be considered in accordance with GCU regulations. Applicants who already hold an equivalent prescribing qualification may be eligible to apply for advanced standing, subject to formal approval.

Additional information for all applicants

Relevant experience (Recognition of Prior Learning)

GCU's flexible entry policies exist to allow relevant work experience and prior learning to be considered towards standard entry or advanced entry into a course.

If you do not have the typical academic entry qualifications, but can demonstrate relevant work experience and/or credits from recognised professional bodies, you may be eligible to enter this course via the University's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme.

The tuition fees you pay are mostly determined by your fee status. What is my student fee status?

Fees are subject to change and are published here for guidance only.

Progression to the MSc dissertation stage would remain subject to successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma and the relevant progression requirements.

Postgraduate Diploma: £10,500
Optional MSc dissertation stage: an additional £2,500
Total fee for completion of the full MSc route: £13,000

A range of funding options may be available:

Eligible students may be able to apply to SAAS for part-time postgraduate funding. Students should confirm their eligibility directly with SAAS and should not apply until they have received formal confirmation of their place from GCU Admissions.
Eligible GCU alumni may receive a 30% Student Loyalty Discount on programme fees.

Additional costs

In addition to tuition fees, students should budget for the following mandatory costs:

PVG Scheme membership: currently £59 for a new application or £18 for an update to an existing scheme record.
Professional indemnity or medical malpractice insurance: students must maintain appropriate insurance covering their professional role, clinical environment, scope of practice and supervised work-based aesthetics activity. Costs will vary according to the provider and individual circumstances.
Clinical clothing: students must purchase suitable black clinical scrubs for practical, simulation and work-based learning. NHS uniforms are not appropriate. Costs will vary depending on the supplier selected.
Skin-marker pen: required for practical and simulation activity. Costs will vary depending on the product and supplier.
Travel and associated expenses: students are responsible for travel to the Glasgow campus and to their clinical learning environment. Accommodation and subsistence costs may also arise depending on individual circumstances.

Delivery and attendance

This part-time programme is delivered over two years through a hybrid model of:

online learning
on-campus practical teaching
work-based clinical learning.

During practical skills modules, you'll normally attend the Glasgow campus one day a week for practical teaching, simulation and assessment, helping you balance study with your professional commitments.

You must be able to attend these required on-campus sessions, as well as all scheduled practical assessments.

Clinical learning environment

A key part of your learning takes place within a regulated or GCU-approved clinical learning environment, allowing you to apply your knowledge in professional practice.

If you don't already have access to a suitable clinic, the programme team will support you in identifying an appropriate clinical learning environment through GCU's network of supporting clinics.

This is not a University-managed placement and access is subject to availability, suitability, governance requirements and approval by GCU. You'll need to maintain appropriate access throughout the relevant modules.

Teaching methods

You'll learn through a combination of:

lectures and seminars
practical classes
simulation
online learning
flipped classroom activities
group work.

Teaching combines academic study with practical skills development, helping you build confidence, strengthen clinical decision making and apply evidence-based practice in professional settings.

Assessment methods

Assessment is designed to reflect contemporary professional practice and help you demonstrate both your academic knowledge and clinical competence. Depending on the module, assessment may include:

written coursework
case studies and reports
presentations
structured professional conversations
portfolios
practical assessments
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
viva examinations.

Professional practice requirements

Throughout the programme, you'll develop the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours needed to deliver safe, ethical and evidence-based non-surgical medical aesthetics.

This includes a strong emphasis on:

person-centred care
informed consent and psychological screening
ethical advertising and safeguarding
safe prescribing and administration, where appropriate to your study pathway
complication management
audit and clinical governance
multidisciplinary working.

Please note: Completion of the programme does not, in itself, confer authority to establish or operate a clinic, prescribe medicines or undertake any particular procedure. These activities remain subject to your professional scope of practice, the requirements of your professional regulator, appropriate indemnity and insurance arrangements, premises and service regulation, and relevant legislation.

Regulation

Completion of the PgD does not, by itself, grant an unrestricted right to practise or prescribe within non-surgical medical aesthetics.

You'll continue to be responsible for meeting the standards, scope of practice requirements and registration conditions of your own professional regulator, together with any legal, employer, insurer and service regulation requirements.

If you're eligible and successfully complete the Prescribing for Healthcare Practitioners module, you may be able to apply for the relevant prescribing annotation or registration through your professional regulator, subject to their requirements. Access to this module is restricted to eligible professions and governed by current professional and regulatory criteria.

Committed to the Common Good

The programme reflects GCU's Common Good mission by promoting public protection, professional accountability, ethical leadership and evidence-based service improvement. You'll graduate prepared to make a positive contribution to the safe development of non-surgical medical aesthetics and the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Download the programme specification

In addition to the core modules that all students must undertake, some courses offer students a choice from a selection of optional modules to shape the focus of their degree. Optional modules where available, form part of the overall credit structure of the course.

Download the programme specification for a detailed breakdown of the course structure, including modules, what you'll learn and other useful information.

Terms and Conditions

Details of the University’s terms and conditions are available here.