University of Dundee

Masters in Medical Education

This case study is from a completely online postgraduate programme for healthcare professionals who may be based anywhere in the world. Key to creating a sense of belonging on this programme has been creating clear student cohorts so that students move through a module together, and the use of small group exercises to allow the sharing of personal experiences and stories that are key to establishing a relationship of trust between students and staff.

Contributor: Dr Susie Schofield



5. Student experience

Students feel much more part of a group since the change from non-cohort to cohorted. This has also had a huge impact on success, progression, completion and retention rates. Student feedback (see below) is largely positive in terms of the benefits of collaborative activities, although comments highlight how different students have different needs, with some receiving adequate peer support in their professional context, and so requiring less from peers on the programme.

Figure 2: Student feedback from end of module surveys