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Surgical specialties

Urology Diploma

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A live online diploma in adult urology, built around the decisions you make on call, in clinic and in the multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting: urological emergencies, stones and functional urology, prostate cancer, bladder, kidney and testis cancer, andrology and the paediatric conditions adult urologists still meet.

Teaching is anchored on current UK and European guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS), the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) and the European Association of Urology (EAU), with US differences flagged where they change practice. Twenty-five weekly sessions across five modules, taught live by practising urologists you can question.

Course director
To be announced
Format
25 live weekly sessions on Zoom, in 5 modules
Dates
Confirmed when enrolment opens

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Abdominal X-ray taken after a contrast injection, with the drainage systems of both kidneys showing bright white on either side of the spine.
Image: intravenous urogram by © Nevit Dilmen via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Who it is for

Senior trainees, fellows and early-career consultants in urology, and general surgeons who manage urological emergencies, worldwide.

The programme

25 one-hour sessions in 5 modules, each with its learning objectives. This is the draft programme: the course director reviews and refines it before enrolment opens, so session titles may change.

Module 1 · Sessions 1 to 5Urological emergencies

  1. 1. Renal colic and the obstructed, infected kidney

    • Assess suspected renal colic and choose imaging in line with NICE NG118
    • Advise on medical expulsive therapy using current trial evidence
    • Recognise an obstructed infected kidney as an emergency
    • Choose between ureteric stent and nephrostomy for decompression

  2. 2. Urinary tract infection and urosepsis

    • Choose antibiotic and duration for lower UTI, pyelonephritis and prostatitis in line with NICE guidance
    • Investigate recurrent UTI and decide who needs urological assessment
    • Manage catheter-associated UTI without over-treating colonisation
    • Recognise urosepsis and arrange source control

  3. 3. The acute scrotum and Fournier's gangrene

    • Recognise testicular torsion and take the patient to theatre without waiting for imaging
    • Perform the key steps of scrotal exploration and fixation
    • Distinguish epididymo-orchitis from torsion and treat it
    • Recognise Fournier's gangrene and plan urgent debridement

  4. 4. Urinary retention and catheter problems

    • Distinguish acute, chronic and high-pressure chronic retention
    • Manage post-obstructive diuresis safely
    • Plan a trial without catheter that improves the chance of success
    • Insert or supervise a suprapubic catheter with the safety checks it needs

  5. 5. Urological trauma, iatrogenic injury and priapism

    • Grade a renal injury and select patients for non-operative management
    • Recognise bladder and urethral injury in pelvic trauma and avoid making it worse
    • Repair or divert an iatrogenic ureteric injury found during or after surgery
    • Manage ischaemic priapism in time to preserve erectile function
Module 2 · Sessions 6 to 10Stones, the upper tract and functional urology

  1. 6. Kidney and ureteric stones: choosing treatment

    • Choose between shockwave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy and PCNL for a given stone
    • Counsel a patient on the risks and benefits of each option
    • Decide when a stent is needed after ureteroscopy
    • Recognise and manage complications of stone surgery, including sepsis

  2. 7. Stone prevention and metabolic assessment

    • Identify stone formers who need a metabolic assessment
    • Interpret a 24-hour urine collection
    • Advise diet, fluid and drug prevention matched to stone type
    • Plan the management of a stone in pregnancy

  3. 8. Male lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic enlargement

    • Assess a man with LUTS using a symptom score, frequency volume chart and flow test
    • Choose drug treatment in line with NICE CG97
    • Choose between TURP, enucleation and minimally invasive options for a given patient
    • Counsel on the sexual and continence effects of each option

  4. 9. Female urinary incontinence and the mesh story

    • Classify urinary incontinence in women and start conservative treatment
    • Present surgical options for stress incontinence in line with NICE NG123
    • Hold a shared decision conversation that reflects the lessons of the Cumberlege review
    • Recognise mesh complications and refer to a specialist centre

  5. 10. Overactive bladder, neurogenic bladder and urethral stricture

    • Choose drug treatment for overactive bladder, weighing anticholinergic burden
    • Select patients for botulinum toxin or neuromodulation
    • Protect the upper tracts in a neurogenic bladder
    • Choose between urethrotomy and urethroplasty for a urethral stricture
Module 3 · Sessions 11 to 15Prostate cancer

  1. 11. PSA, risk and early detection

    • Counsel a man on the benefits and harms of a PSA test
    • Identify men at higher risk who need a lower threshold for assessment
    • Explain the UK NSC 2026 recommendation and how it differs from US practice
    • Decide who needs referral after a raised PSA

  2. 12. MRI-first diagnosis and prostate biopsy

    • Interpret a PI-RADS v2.1 MRI report to decide on biopsy
    • Plan a transperineal biopsy with targeted and systematic cores
    • Reduce infection and other complications of biopsy
    • Assign a Cambridge Prognostic Group from biopsy, PSA and staging

  3. 13. Localised prostate cancer

    • Select men for active surveillance and plan their monitoring
    • Present surgery, radiotherapy and surveillance using ProtecT 15-year outcomes
    • Explain the functional trade-offs of each treatment
    • Hold a shared decision conversation that respects the patient's priorities

  4. 14. Advanced and metastatic prostate cancer

    • Stage high-risk and recurrent disease and interpret PSMA PET findings
    • Start androgen deprivation therapy and manage its side effects
    • Explain treatment intensification options with the oncology team
    • Recognise metastatic spinal cord compression and act within hours

  5. 15. After prostate cancer treatment

    • Define biochemical recurrence after surgery and after radiotherapy
    • Plan salvage treatment with the oncology team
    • Choose a treatment for post-prostatectomy incontinence
    • Manage late radiation toxicity to the bladder and urethra
Module 4 · Sessions 16 to 20Bladder, kidney, upper tract and testis cancer

  1. 16. Haematuria and suspected bladder cancer

    • Apply NICE NG12 and BAUS guidance to decide who needs haematuria investigation
    • Plan a one-stop haematuria assessment
    • Recognise findings on cystoscopy and CT urography that need urgent action
    • Explain to a patient why some tests are not needed

  2. 17. Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

    • Perform a TURBT that meets quality markers
    • Assign an EAU NMIBC risk group
    • Choose intravesical therapy and surveillance for each risk group
    • Recognise BCG-unresponsive disease and present the options, including cystectomy

  3. 18. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer

    • Plan staging and neoadjuvant treatment with the MDT
    • Present cystectomy and bladder preservation options fairly
    • Choose a urinary diversion with the patient
    • Apply enhanced recovery after cystectomy using iROC evidence

  4. 19. Kidney cancer and renal masses

    • Classify a cystic renal mass using Bosniak v2019
    • Select patients for surveillance, biopsy, ablation or surgery
    • Choose between partial and radical nephrectomy
    • Identify patients for whom adjuvant immunotherapy should be discussed

  5. 20. Testis, penile and upper tract urothelial cancer

    • Assess a testicular mass and arrange orchidectomy with sperm banking offered
    • Interpret tumour markers before and after orchidectomy
    • Plan diagnosis and treatment of upper tract urothelial carcinoma using POUT evidence
    • Refer suspected penile cancer to a specialist centre
Module 5 · Sessions 21 to 25Andrology, paediatric urology and professional practice

  1. 21. Erectile dysfunction, Peyronie's disease and male hypogonadism

    • Assess erectile dysfunction including cardiovascular risk
    • Choose treatment for erectile dysfunction in a stepwise way
    • Plan management of Peyronie's disease
    • Diagnose testosterone deficiency and decide who should be treated

  2. 22. Male infertility and vasectomy

    • Interpret a semen analysis and decide on referral
    • Plan investigation of azoospermia
    • Counsel and consent a man for vasectomy, including the failure and pain risks
    • Advise on vasectomy reversal versus sperm retrieval

  3. 23. Paediatric urology for the adult urologist

    • Time referral and surgery for undescended testis
    • Investigate a child with UTI in line with NICE NG224
    • Recognise conditions that need a paediatric urologist
    • Plan a safe transition from paediatric to adult urology care

  4. 24. New technology, robotics and service quality

    • Introduce a new procedure through local governance and NICE guidance
    • Plan a safe learning curve for a robotic procedure
    • Move suitable procedures to day case
    • Use GIRFT recommendations to improve a urology service

  5. 25. Complex case review and professional practice

    • Apply the course to complex urology cases in a panel discussion
    • Present a complication at a morbidity and mortality meeting
    • Fulfil the professional duty of candour after harm
    • Plan your own development towards a subspecialty practice

What the diploma includes

  • 25 live sessions on Zoom, one evening a week, with recordings for the weeks you miss.
  • Practising specialists teaching live, so you can put your questions to them.
  • Weekly MCQs and a final written assessment.
  • A digital certificate carrying your final classification.

Lead or teach the Urology Diploma

We are looking for a course director and faculty from the specialty. Sessions are one hour in the UK evening, live on Zoom, and paid.

Apply to teach