Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) has announced Scotland’s first university-accredited postgraduate diploma in non-surgical medical aesthetics.
Designed to support safe practice in a rapidly expanding sector and align with forthcoming Scottish Government regulation, the new part-time programme will welcome its first students in September 2026, according to GCU.
The university explains that the course has been developed by its School of Health and Life Sciences, and will provide registered healthcare professionals with combined advanced academic study, simulation-based training and supervised clinical practice.
GCU further outlines that the programme has been developed through consultation with key stakeholders, including the Scottish Government, the Scottish Medical Aesthetics Safety Group (SMASG), NHS Scotland and professional bodies across the aesthetics sector.
Dr Val Ness, head of department for nursing, community and public health at GCU, commented,“This programme has been designed to provide practitioners with the clinical knowledge, judgement and governance awareness needed to practise safely and responsibly. By combining advanced academic study with supervised clinical experience, we aim to support practitioners to deliver treatments ethically, recognise and manage complications and place patient safety at the centre of practice as the sector moves towards stronger regulation.”