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Master of Science in Family Medicine
Duration:
3 Semesters
Qualification Awarded:
Master (MSc) in Family Medicine
Language:
English
Mode of Study:
E-Learning/Distance Learning (Online)
Earn a Master of Science in Family Medicine Online
An accredited degree in which curricula and assessments have been developed in coordination with UK Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
Today’s healthcare challenges, whether strengthening health systems, improving the quality of our patient care, or enhancing access to healthcare, require strong primary care.
Strong primary care requires competent family doctors who are forward-thinking and keen to develop new relationships with patients and other health professionals in primary and secondary care. To address global population health challenges, and expand primary care for patients worldwide, the University of Nicosia (UNIC) Medical School offers a Master of Science in Family Medicine delivered online.
It is a structured continuing professional development programme for physicians working as Family Doctors or in the community with a specialist role in internal medicine, paediatrics, or gynaecology.
“Family medicine is one of the most challenging of all the medical specialties. It involves looking after most of the patients, with most of the problems, most of the time, and therefore needs a really high-quality education. The Master of Science at the University of Nicosia Medical School offers high-quality education for people who are going to take on the challenging work involved in primary care and family medicine.”
Sir David Haslam – Professor of General Practice, Chair of UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2013-2019)
UK Royal College of General Practitioners
The Master of Science in Family Medicine has been recognized and developed in coordination with the UK Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)
Assessments have been accredited by the RCGP for eligibility to take MRCGP International exam and the University of Nicosia Medical School is also recognized by the RCGP to deliver the MRCGP International exam in Cyprus.
Students successfully completing the first two semesters and meeting the RCGP’s clinical experience eligibility criteria will be entitled to sit the MRCGP[INT] examination in Cyprus.
Alternatively, because the content of the course is aligned with the RCGP curriculum, students are well prepared to take this exam at another RCGP International site.
Dr Amer Salim – International Development Adviser Royal College of General Practitioners
What our Faculty and Experts Say
Professor Kevork Hopayian – Curriculum Lead
What our Graduates Say
“With a comprehensive curriculum in the master’s degree and modern teaching methods and international experts for tutors, this programme enables me to become an adaptable and critical thinker and a lifelong reflective learner.”
“The programme was excellent and pursuing it turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. I unreservedly recommend the MSc in Family Medicine to every GP. I can also say work at my practices has increased in volume since I completed the course as today’s patients — because they are able to cross-reference information online — are in a better position to realize if their doctor is up to date on new medical developments or not.”
“This programme has broadened my scope and has given depth to my understanding of family medicine and its practice. It has helped me develop a reflective, empathetic, and structured communication pattern with my patients.”
“The Master in Family Medicine is delivered at a flexible time, something that suits my busy professional life. In addition, it gives me the ability to choose my own pathway comfortably and at my own pace.”
Featured Faculty and Expert Testimonials
“Family medicine is one of the most challenging of all the medical specialties. It involves looking after most of the patients, with most of the problems, most of the time, and therefore needs a really high-quality education. The Postgraduate Diploma at the University of Nicosia Medical School offers high-quality education for people who are going to take on the challenging work involved in primary care and family medicine.”
“Family medicine is one of the basic cornerstones of healthcare provision. The maste of Science iN family Medicine is a structured continuous development programme for doctors who want to have a career in primary care and would like to enhance their knowledge, skills and competencies towards a comprehensive, holistic and evidence-based approach to clinical practice.”
“We teach the skills of patient centred care, core clinical knowledge and critical thinking needed by today’s doctors. We offer online innovative learning that combines flexible self-study with webinars, practical activities and personalised feedback.”
“The Royal College of General Practitioners in the United kingdom has been working at an international level for over 60 years. Its strategy has been to work collaboratively with host nations to promote Family Medicine. And especially, to support host sites in developing their systems for training and assessing Family Medicine doctors. The University of Nicosia Medical School is one of only three sites across the whole of Europe that offers the MRCGP[INT] qualification. The Cyprus MRCGP[INT] is a component of the MSc in Family Medicine. It is delivered to an internationally high standard and is accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners.”
Profile of the Programme
Today’s healthcare challenges, whether strengthening health systems, improving the quality of our patient care, or enhancing access to healthcare, require strong primary care.
Strong primary care in turn requires competent family doctors who are forward-thinking and keen to develop new relationships with patients and other health professionals in primary and secondary care.
To address these global population health challenges, the University of Nicosia Medical School offers an MSc in Family Medicine delivered online.
It is a structured continuing professional development programme for physicians working as Family Doctors or in the community with a specialist role in internal medicine, paediatrics, or gynaecology.
The minimum full-time duration of the MSc programme in Family Medicine is 18 months (three semesters), with a flexible part-time option of up to four academic years. The first two semesters consist of eight core clinically focused modules. Semester three offers two pathways, one that is primarily research-oriented, offering an opportunity for students to develop their research skills, and one that allows students to select modules from a range of electives.
The programme is completed online through an electronic platform. This platform enables access to video-recorded presentations, written material and lecture notes whilst allowing for active learning through interactive seminars, case-based discussions in forums, online quizzes, and workshops.
Programme Aims
The main aims of the programme are to enable students to:
- Enhance their knowledge, advance their clinical skills and develop their professional behaviour and attitudes towards the management of patients in primary care.
- Develop a comprehensive, holistic and evidence based approach to medical practice.
- Apply the principles of patient-centred care and problem solving skills in the context of general practice.
- Develop their skills in designing, conducting and disseminating research outcomes and activities.
Specifically, the programme will:
- Train clinicians and postgraduate students of medicine in a wide range of knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the practice of Family Medicine in the community.
- Impart and enhance knowledge in the personal, family and social aspects of health, illness and disease.
- Enhance professional competence, values and behaviours that are inherent to the discipline of Family Medicine.
- Promote skills in effective, continuing medical education, to revise past knowledge, and to keep abreast of advances in medical science and technology appropriate to primary care.
- Enhance knowledge and skills in health promotion, disease prevention and risk management.
- Develop participants’ abilities to critically appraise the literature, in order to improve their professional performance.
- Provide participants with training in research methods, with an appreciation of the existing body of research findings, so that they can undertake their own research independently.
At the end of the programme, graduates should have developed the competencies required for independent practice in primary care and the necessary skills in conducting research or taking on diverse roles in the field.
Programme Outcomes
Graduates of the MSc in Family Medicine programme will:
- Provide an evidence-based approach to health care practice.
- Understand the basic principles of research methodology and apply their research skills in the context of Family Medicine.
- Manage and communicate effectively in multi-disciplinary teams.
- Demonstrate their problem-solving, patient-centred and holistic care skills in their practice of Family Medicine.
- Demonstrate their primary care disease management skills in Acute and Chronic disease care.
- Demonstrate skills to appraise research findings critically and apply findings from research, national guidelines and audit in the context of clinical management of patients.
- Manage change and provide leadership in healthcare management.
- Be able to teach and learn from other members of their team.
Online Education at UNIC
The First University in the EU to be awarded 5 QS Stars in Distance Education
Our University has been a pioneer in online/distance learning education in Europe, supporting both its own degree programmes, as well as those of its joint degree partners.
UNIC is the first university in the European Union to be awarded a 5-Star QS rating for Online/Distance Learning by the QS Intelligence Unit and the first university globally to receive triple accreditation for its online learning quality.
An integral part of our approach to the learning design of these courses is our commitment to help our students develop higher-order skills of critical analysis, reflection, and problem-solving. We also support our learners in building knowledge collaboratively and engaging in social learning.
As a testament to the quality of our online programmes, our University has been awarded the highest accolades for e-learning and distance learning education excellence.
UNIC continues to strive for excellence globally. The 2021 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings, ranked the University of Nicosia (UNIC) as the number 32 university in the world in the core area of Quality Education, and among the top 301-400 universities globally in terms of its overall social and economic impact.
Programme Structure
The duration of the programme is 18 months (three semesters) with a flexible part-time option of up to four academic years.
The programme consists of eight core courses in semesters 1 and 2 and the option of one of two pathways in semester 3. Its curriculum has been mapped against the core competences of a Family Medicine practitioner as defined by the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations (WONCA) of Family Medicine.
The first two semesters are clinically focused, encompassing modules on Communication and Consultation Skills, Evidence-Based Practice, Managing Adults’ Common Diseases and Multi-Morbidity, Mental Health, Acute Serious Illnesses and Traumatic Conditions, Common Musculoskeletal Conditions, Paediatrics and Child Health Surveillance and Women’s Health.
The third semester provides two pathways for students: one is research-oriented and includes a research methodology module and a primary care research project; the second pathway entails the research methodology module together with the selection of elective modules (as depicted below).
Course assessment for the MSc in Family Medicine is based on a written applied knowledge examination; a workplace-based assessment portfolio; the design, implementation, completion, and write-up of a research project or the design of a research proposal and written exams for elective modules, dependent on the pathway chosen.
Semester Breakdown
| FIRST SEMESTER | |
|---|---|
| Course code/Title | (30 ECTS, all courses required) |
| FMED-511 | Communication and Consultation Skills |
| FMED-521C | Evidence-based Practice |
| FMED-533C | Managing Adults’ Common Diseases and Multimorbidity |
| FMED-535 | Common Musculoskeletal Conditions |
| SECOND SEMESTER | |
|---|---|
| Course code/Title | (30 ECTS, all courses required ) |
| FMED-514 | Acute Serious Illnesses and Traumatic Conditions |
| FMED-531 | Women’s Health |
| FMED-532 | Paediatrics and Child Health Surveillance |
| FMED-534 | Mental Health |
| THIRD SEMESTER | |
|---|---|
| Course code/Title | Research pathway |
| The following two courses | |
| FMED-590C | Research Methodology |
| FMED-591C | Research Project |
| Course code/Title | Elective pathway |
| FMED-590C plus elective courses worth 20 ECTS: | |
| FMED-590C | Research Methodology (Required) |
| FMED-512C | Wellbeing in Health and Lifestyle: Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention |
| FMED-537C | Learning and Teaching in Healthcare |
| MPH-514 | Health Protection: Safeguarding Wellbeing in Populations* |
| MPH-515 | Health Promotion: Maintaining Wellbeing in Populations* |
| MPH-522 | Health Policy, Management and Leadership |
| MPH-523 | Health Economics in the Context of Health Services and Systems: Global Perspectives |
| MPH-533 | Population Ageing and Health |
| MPH-535 | Social and Behavioural Dimensions of Health |
Note: The availability of each of the elective courses offered in a given academic year will be based on student numbers. Some of the courses are currently delivered in Spring semester only.
*Linked courses. If one is selected, the other must be selected as well for the completion of 10 ECTS.
Assessment
Assessments for the Masters of Science in Family Medicine have been accredited by the RCGP. The course assessments are based on the following pillars:
- A written applied knowledge examination
- A workplace-based assessment portfolio
- Either:
- The design, implementation, completion and write-up of a research project or,
- The design of a research proposal and written examinations for the chosen elective modules
Admission Requirements
1. A medical degree granted by an institution recognised in the country where it is offered.
2. Evidence of current registration with the relevant medical council.
3. You must be involved in clinical practice throughout the duration of your enrolment in the programme.
4. Evidence of English proficiency is required as follows:
6.5 overall in the IELTS (with 6.5 in writing and a minimum of 6.0 in all other elements)
Or: 79 in TOEFL iBT
Or: grade 5 in the GCSE (or B with the old grading system),
Or: a score of 5 in English in the International Baccalaureate Standard Level (SL),
Or: a score of 8 in English in the European Baccalaureate.
Students whose native language is English and who originate from the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada (provided that language of instruction at school/ undergraduate/ postgraduate level was English), are exempt from this requirement. Third country nationals who have completed a degree, taught in English, in any of the aforementioned countries, will be required to submit evidence of English language certification as submitted for admission to that degree, to be exempt from the above.
5. Two (2) professional reference letters.
6. An online Interview, which assesses your professional ability and commitment, empathy, initiative and resilience, communication skills, organisational and problem-solving skills, and teamwork.
Tuition Costs – Scholarships
A key objective of our Family Medicine programme is to contribute to the improvement of population health across the globe. In support of this goal, scholarships are available to allow access to the course by doctors in a wide range of countries with varying levels of development.
All students applying for entry in Fall 2025, will be awarded a 20% scholarship reducing tuition to €14,400 for the Master in Family Medicine. Further scholarships can be awarded with the submission of a scholarship application based on demonstrated financial need and can cover up to 30% of tuition costs with instalment plans available. If you qualify for a scholarship, total tuition can be significantly reduced from original tuition fees of €18,000 for the Master in Family Medicine.
Our Admissions Advisers can provide more details: [email protected]
Scholarships available
Primary Care Advancement Scholars
Type: Need-based
Students with financial need are eligible to apply for this need-based scholarship award. In order to be considered for this scholarship, in addition to the scholarship application, students need to provide evidence of financial need.
Scholarship Terms
- Only students who have been accepted to the MScFM are eligible to submit a scholarship application.
- Scholarships are applied on a pro-rata basis to each course in the MScFM.
- The University of Nicosia reserves the right, at its sole discretion to award or not award any scholarship to any student and/or to change the number of scholarships awarded, their eligibility requirements or any other aspect of the financial aid program.
- Final tuition is subject to course load as there may be minimal variation in costs, pending the timeline of completion.