Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £3,980 for the course
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How long will I study?
1 Year
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2026
Course summary
- Work towards the four pillars of advanced clinical practice.
- Gain hands-on clinical experience and robust theoretical knowledge.
- Learn in a state-of-the-art simulated clinical environment with experienced staff.
- Combine academic study with at least 15 hours of clinical scanning per week.
- Join a course accredited by the Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education.
Our PgCert Focus Scope Ultrasound course is designed particularly for nurses carrying out early pregnancy assessments, or for midwives extending their practice to include third trimester ultrasound scanning. You’ll study academic modules alongside a minimum of 15 hours per week of supervised clinical scanning in your workplace. You’ll graduate with the skills, knowledge and professional accreditation of an effective ultrasound practitioner.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
You’ll be taught and supported by a team of experienced sonographers – who are HCPC registered and have significant clinical, research and teaching expertise – plus a clinical supervisor in your workplace.
The PGCert is based on taught academic modules, clinical experience and simulation. You’ll make extensive use of simulated clinical environments while gaining practical experience that you’ve arranged in your own workplace.
The course structure and modules are designed to support your development in the areas most relevant to your own learning needs and your employer's service requirements.
You learn through:
- group discussion
- student-led seminars
- e-learning activities
- workshops and demonstrations
- keynote lectures
- simulation-based training
- focused clinical workbooks
- supervised clinical experience
- academic visits
- formative appraisals
Key Themes
This course provides the essential theoretical foundation to support and enhance your practical ultrasound training, equipping you to become a competent and safe ultrasound practitioner.
We’ll focus on developing advanced skills in either early pregnancy ultrasound assessment or third trimester ultrasound assessment. Throughout the course you’ll gain the knowledge and experience needed to practise lawfully, safely and effectively – enabling you to manage and independently report complex caseloads within your chosen scope of focused practice.
Course-Level Support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate-level employment through a number of key areas. These include:
- access to student support advisers to help with your personal, academic and career development
- access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
Applied learning
Work Placements
Alongside your academic learning, you’ll be supported in clinical practice by a dedicated clinical supervisor to help you develop in your role as a sonographer. You’ll be expected to complete a minimum of 15 hours of supervised ultrasound scanning each week within your role – please note we don’t arrange this experience for you.
For each clinical area you undertake, you’ll complete a clinical workbook, including an appraisal of your clinical competence in that area. You’ll also complete two formative clinical appraisals across the year, before your final summative assessment.
Course leaders and tutors
Elizabeth Bullivant
Senior Lecturer, Postgraduate Medical Ultrasound Course LeaderElizabeth Bullivant
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Applied Ultrasound Physics For Safe Practice
Elective modules
Evaluating Service Improvement (Distance Learning)
Leadership In Practice (Distance Learning)
Learning And Teaching For Practice (Distance Learning)
Research And Innovation In Healthcare Practice
Ultrasound In Early Pregnancy Assessment
Ultrasound In The 3Rd Trimester Of Pregnancy
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- medical ultrasound
- NHS and private healthcare sonography roles
- advanced clinical practice roles
You could also progress to the Postgraduate Diploma or the MSc in Medical Ultrasound. Please note though – you can’t transfer the Focus Scope 15 credit module onto other ultrasound awards.
Equipment and facilities
You’ll study at our Collegiate Campus, in a vibrant student area just off Ecclesall Road. You’ll learn through a structured mix of lectures, seminars, practical sessions and digital learning resources, with access to advanced simulation technology and clinical training environments.
You’ll work with:
- dedicated ultrasound machines
- transvaginal phantoms
- an abdominal phantom
- an obstetric phantom
- online learning platforms and digital resources
These resources help you build clinical confidence and capability in a safe and supported setting.
Where will I study?
You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
Collegiate campus
Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.
Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities
Collegiate library
Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEntry requirements
All students
Relevant Bachelor's (honours) 2:2 degree in a science or healthcare subject.
Relevant professional qualification which includes: - Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) General Medical Council (GMC) Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Society of Vascular Technologist (SVT)
Relevant work experience
Relevant workplace opportunities and organisation support. You must have access to 15 hours per week ultrasound scanning in the UK, to include all ultrasound examinations required as part of the module. Scanning must be with an appropriately qualified clinical supervisor for the duration of the module. Clinical placement is not provided by the University. Please note, if your clinical placement is terminated for any reason the University is not responsible for finding an alternative. You will be required to withdraw from the course in these circumstances.
As part of your application, you are required to complete a clinical agreement form which includes details of your employing NHS Trust and confirmed arrangements for clinical supervision, including details of your appropriately qualified clinical supervisor.
You need to provide one supporting reference from the department offering clinical placement to confirm your suitability to train in ultrasound.
Recognition of prior learning will be considered for credits achieved from other CASE accredited UK ultrasound courses. Exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis.
Applicants whose first language is not English and who are required to provide a language test certificate as evidence of their proficiency must ensure that it is, or is comparable to, IELTS level 7.0 with no element below 6.5.
Additional information for EU/International students
This course is not open to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK. If you are an international applicant but do not require a student visa, email our Admissions Team to find out whether you’re eligible to apply.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2026/27 is £3,980 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £12,858 is available in 2025/26 for home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 277.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
