The Oxford Online Programme in Sleep Medicine is for active medical professionals with an interest in sleep disorders. The master’s course is from Oxford’s Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, which is dedicated to the neuroscience of sleep and to advancing our understanding of how sleep and circadian rhythm disruption (SCRD) affects health.

Course leader Chris Harvey, PhD, says in a release: “Sleep medicine is a rapidly growing area. This course is aimed at a wide range of health professionals, from nurse practitioners and dentists through to consultants, not just specialists in SCRD.”

The director of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), professor Russell Foster, says: “Despite the prevalence and consequences of SCRD, its origins remain a mystery, its detection is frequently overlooked, and it is rarely treated. While there are other courses globally that cover sleep science, the Oxford course will take the research work of the SCNi into the clinic, where it will be used to benefit patients with a broad range of clinical conditions.”

Harvey says, “The average medic receives half an hour of training on sleep and sleep disorders across their entire education. Delivering this course, and doing it online, means that we can share the Institute’s expertise with professionals across the world. That means more people who are more able to identify patients with these conditions and ensure they get help to understand, treat, and manage this issue.”

The development of this new MSc has been possible because of the recent appointments to the SCNi of Professor Colin Espie, professor of Sleep Medicine and Simon Kyle, PhD, who will be directing the course.

The course is due to start in October 2016. It leads to the award of a Postgraduate Diploma or a Master of Science degree for those who also complete research focussed assessments.