What does the Diploma involve?

© James Austin 2002
Last updated 8 March 2009

There are two components to the Diploma:

• Module 1 consists of a Dissertation, and a 45 minute viva on your dissertation. The Dissertation is a paper of 4000 - 6000 words, consisting of either a critical review of an intensive-care topic, or of original research relating to intensive care. The majority of candidates so far have done 'review' dissertations, but a few have presented extracts from prior research work. The topic for the dissertation needs to be approved in advance (deadline about five months ahead of the exam) by the IBTICM. The deadline for the dissertation itself is about two months ahead of the exam. If the dissertation is not up to scratch the IBTICM can refuse to invite you to the exam (but they only refund half your entrance fee!). Candidates with previous research theses (e.g. MD or PhD) can apply to the IBTICM for exemption from the dissertation component (including the viva!).

• Module 2 consists of the Educational Training Record (ETR), and four more vivas. The ETR consists of a summary of your training placements, outlining roughly the range of clinical cases and practical skills covered; and ten case reports of 750 - 1500 words each. These should be cases that taught you something interesting about ICU Medicine. They have to be formatted to a set structure: Clinical problem; Management; Discussion of the case and relevant literature; Lessons learnt; and References (minimum 4, maximum 10). The four Module 2 vivas are:
  

1. A half-hour viva covering your ETR case reports
2. A half-hour viva covering clinical scenarios and data interpretation (15 minutes long case, 3 x 5 minutes short cases - plus 10 minutes preview)
3. Two half-hour vivas on general ICU topics

You must pass the dissertation viva, and at least two of the other three sections. Most people choose to sit the Module 1 and Module 2 vivas on the same day, though you do now have the option to do them at separate sittings.

All this and more are to be found in the official DICM Regulations - or, in summary form, in the DICM Calendar - on the IBTICM website.