Postgraduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Pain Management at University of Cape Town

Programme overview

A 125-credit NQF level 8 diploma that trains health professionals at all levels of care to apply a biopsychosocial, interdisciplinary and comprehensive primary healthcare approach to managing complex pain conditions.

Faculty: Faculty of Health Sciences | Department: Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine | Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years with a reduced course load (two teaching blocks of up to two weeks per year) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

What you will study

Seven courses: Succeeding in Postgraduate Studies, Principles of Evidence Based Practice, The Multidimensional Nature of Pain, Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Nociception and Pain, Assessment and Measurement of Pain and its Effects, Comprehensive Pain Management, and Pain Management in Complex Conditions.

Career pathways

Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychologists treating people with pain.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Registration with a relevant professional body, English proficiency, a computer skills test, reliable computer and internet access, work in a setting involving management of people with pain, at least one year of clinical experience, and an accredited undergraduate physiology course passed with at least 60%. Profession-specific: doctors MBChB or equivalent; nurses a 4-year Bachelor of Nursing; physiotherapists a 4-year BSc(Physiotherapy); occupational therapists a 4-year BSc(Occupational Therapy); psychologists registered clinical or counselling psychologists. Applicants with NQF 7 degrees and limited anatomy and physiology may first pass Introduction to Postgraduate Studies and The Multidimensional Nature of Pain.

Tuition is charged per module, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

The application fee is R100 for undergraduate and postgraduate applications from South Africa and the SADC region, and R300 for applications from outside the SADC region; it is non-refundable and payable by direct deposit, EFT or credit card (online). UCT students and graduates are exempt except for GSB programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://applyonline.uct.ac.za

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