International Diploma

We are now accepting applications for the 2026/27 cohort which will commence in September. The deadline for applications is 31 May, an outcome of your application will be provided after this date. 

To apply, you should:

• review the entry requirements to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria
• complete the application form and send to internationaldiploma@rcpsych.ac.uk
• send all documents in PDF or Word format only
• name each file with the document number and your name (for example, "1. Application Form - Dr Forename Surname")
• submit your application in one single email.

You will also need to submit:

• evidence of a primary medical qualification from a recognised medical institution, with certified translations if not in English
• evidence of professional medical registration
• copy of photo ID e.g. passport, driving licence (with all details clearly legible).

“The diploma had the right balance of teaching, knowledge sharing and participation. The in-depth self-directed teaching materials in each module was very useful.”

“The diploma has been both intellectually stimulating and professionally transformative for me.”

“This course was a rewarding and impactful learning experience.”

“I have greatly enjoyed the diploma course. It has exceeded my hopes and expectations around updating my knowledge base and confidence in all areas of my practice that involve older adults. I expected a high quality and comprehensive update across each topic but the skill and attention of the curation of the self-study modules was exceptional.”

“During this diploma, I have become more competent in managing Older Adults Mental health through improving my knowledge and skills. I already refer back to the literature as I come across relevant cases and will continue to learn through application.”

“It was a wonderful opportunity to learn from experts in the field, to boost my confidence in taking on this valuable and rewarding work and to advocate for older adults where I work and live.”

“The diploma was so worth the fee and the knowledge acquired through it was invaluable. Thanks to everyone on the team for the flawless delivery of such a complex endeavour.”

“The course not only taught me the theory but also challenged me to apply it within my own context, where resources are minimal, mental health stigma is high, and specialist old age psychiatry services are absent.”

“The diploma has led to changes in how I practice medicine and given me an idea of how to make my healthcare system's services more integrated, accessible, and focused on the patient. I am committed to this road of study and advocacy, aiming to enhance the quality of life and dignity for older individuals confronting mental health difficulties.”

• Commitment: one year part-time, 42 weeks, at least three to four hours a week
• Format: 100% online
• Module based covering major topics in older adults’ mental health
• Small cohorts to foster a collaborative environment where learners can engage in thoughtful discussions and receive guidance from experts in the field.
• Fees: £6,000
• Open to members and non-members of RCPsych

The diploma is targeted at doctors outside of the UK, to support ongoing training in sub-specialty areas in countries where psychiatric training is focused on working age adults, including:

• psychiatrists
• other doctors with significant experience of working in the field of mental health (e.g. family practitioners). We recommend contacting the RCPsych prior to applying to discuss the expected level of knowledge.

The diploma is aimed primarily at those with no specialist training in old age psychiatry.

• Confidence in the assessment and diagnosis of mental disorders presenting in older adults.
• Ability to effectively and safely prescribe medications used within older adults’ mental health.
• Understanding of the clinical and service-related complexities of working within older adults' mental health.
• Skills and resources to develop services for older people within your own clinical practice.
• An approach to understanding older adults’ mental health from a global perspective and an appreciation of the challenges in the delivery of high-quality healthcare in diverse socioeconomic settings.
• On successful completion of the course, candidates will be awarded the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ International Diploma in Older Adults’ Mental Health.

• Access to a community of experts in older adults’ mental health. Our faculty has been selected based on their subject expertise and experience to ensure the highest standards of educational excellence.
• Participants from across the globe. Study together, learning from each other's experiences and challenges.
• Easy-to-use learning platform. The course is delivered using the RCPsych web-based platform, which offers a modern and flexible learning experience to students with access to all the learning resources at any time.
• Support of a dedicated course administrative team.
• Skills acquisition, employability and career progression in fields related to older adults’ mental health.
• Flexibility around work and home commitments and accessibility of content at a time and pace that suits each learner. 

• Primary medical qualification from a recognised medical institution. Please visit the World Directory of Medical Schools.
• Three years’ postgraduate experience working as a psychiatrist, or other doctor with significant experience of working in the field of mental health.
• Professional medical registration with your local regulatory body.
• Recommended English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS Level 6.
• Professional experience in older adults’ mental health or an aspiration to practise in older adults’ mental health.

If you would like advice about requirements before applying, please contact us at internationaldiploma@rcpsych.ac.uk.

This interactive programme will be delivered fully online through a model which blends self-directed learning with tutor-led group learning including:

• eLearning modules
• tutor moderated discussion forums, emphasising peer-to-peer knowledge and experience sharing
• regular webinars so learners can interact with experts in the field
• interactive case-based learning
• formative exercises and assignments including written reflections encouraging participants to engage critically and apply the learning to their experience and practice in their own healthcare systems
• access to an extensive online library
• individualised feedback points during the programme
• a summative piece of written work at the end of the course

This course contains a series of modules, covering major topics in older adults’ mental health, including:

• Assessment in older adults
• Principles of prescribing and psychopharmacology in older adults
• Early to late stage dementia and non-pharmacological approaches to management
• Mood and anxiety disorders
• Delirium
• Psychotic disorders
• Neuropsychiatric disorders .

To successfully complete the programme, you will be expected to:

• spend approximately 15 hours per module (at least 3 to 4 hours a week) on your studies
• attend fortnightly live sessions and actively participate in discussions
• regularly login and participate in the course
• complete a written reflective activity at the end of each module
• participate in discussion forums throughout the course
• produce a written piece of summative work at the end of the course.

An expert reference group has been assembled, including advisors and clinical experts across all international divisions, who have brought their knowledge, experience and skills to help build this exciting initiative and lead on the strategic and clinical direction of the diploma.

• Dr Alex Bailey, International Diploma Course Co-Director
• Dr Kallur Suresh, International Diploma Course Co-Director
• Professor Subodh Dave, Dean
• Dr Abdul Raoof, Associate Dean for Advanced Learning and Conferences
• Professor Mohammed Al-Uzri, Presidential Lead for Global Mental Health
• Dr Mani Krishnan, Chair Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry RCPsych, Consultant & Specialty Clinical Director, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
• Dr Anne Bonnici Mallia, Psychiatry Trainee at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
• Dr Ben Underwood, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
• Dr Bob Barber, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist and Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, Newcastle University
• Dr Catherine Mutisya, Chief Specialist (Psychiatrist) at The Ministry of Health, Nairobi Mental Health Services
• Dr Chris Tsoi, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, Singapore
• Dr Conor Barton, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
• Dr Dan Georgescu, Head – Dept of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Old Age Psychiatry and Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry, Psychiatrische Dienste Aargau AG (PDAG), Switzerland
• Professor Dilip Jeste, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, University of California San Diego
• Dr Emad Shoukry Soliman, ST5 Trainee Psychiatrist, Honorary Clinical Teacher, Sheffield University
• Dr Feras Al Saif, Senior Psychiatry Resident, Ministry of Health, Bahrain
• Dr George Crowther, Consultant in Old Age Liaison Psychiatry, Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust
• Professor George Tadros, Consultant Psychiatrist, Professor of Psychiatry and Dementia, Aston Medical School, Aston University
• Dr Harleen Kaur Birgi, Fellow in Medical Education, North East London NHS Foundation Trust
• Dr Kapila Sachdev, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist, Tower Hamlets Mental Health Care for Older People
• Dr Karel Wildschut, Clinical Director, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
• Dr Leo Chouliaras, Assistant Professor in Old Age Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
• Professor P T Sivakumar, Professor of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India
  
• Dr Rashi Negi, Consultant Psychiatrist for Older adults, Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
• Dr Shabbir Amanullah, President, Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry
• Dr Sharmi Bhattacharyya, Consultant & Clinical Lead, OPMH, North Wales, BCUHB
• Dr Sheeba Ninan, Assistant Professor / Sr. Consultant, (Telemanas) Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India
• Dr Suhana Ahmed, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist & Clinical Director, West London NHS Trust
• Dr Tariq Khan, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
• Dr Vanessa Raymont, Senior Clinical Researcher and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
• Professor Zuzana Walker, Professor of Psychiatry of the Elderly, Division of Psychiatry, University College London