Teaching and Training Programmes​​​​

Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME)

Programme Coordinator: Dr Shireen Najam

The undergraduate training is a 4-week rotation during the 4th year of the MBBS programme, followed by an end-of-term examination and a written paper at the end of the year. Students learn to manage common mental illnesses, and to identify and refer appropriately for severe mental illnesses. The rotation imparts communication skills and helps students learn the bio-psycho-social model of etiology for different diseases.

Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME)

Programme Director: Dr Shireen Najam

The Psychiatry Residency Programme at Aga Khan University is designed to produce competent psychiatrists who have the skills to pursue a career in either academic or clinical Psychiatry in a culturally informed manner to meet Pakistan's mental health service needs. The training programme offers broad-based training in recognition and management of mental disorders. It also boasts a large and diverse body of expert faculty who facilitate nurturing of leaders in our profession. The training programme emphasizes essential diagnostic and psychotherapeutic skills, and trainees from all over the country are encouraged to apply. The Psychiatry Residency Programme is recognised by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan for DCPS and FCPS (Psychiatry) training.​​​​ Learn more about the residency programme by clicking here.


Online Courses (VLE)

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) enables participants to:

  • ​​Attend courses in their own time and at their convenience. Self-paced and flexible learning.

  • ​Access the course from anywhere in the world​​​

​Observership / Elective Programme

We accept attachment or observership in the department from students who have completed a rotation in their own institution before their application could be considered. Applications may be submitted upon successful completion of third professional examination, eight semesters or by those students currently in MBBS final year. Interested candidates can click here to visit the Elective Programme page.

The students are attached to different consultants in the department once a week, enabling them to gain exposure to various psychiatric illnesses and modes of management in inpatient and outpatient setting. Within the inpatient setting, they would be required to participate in weekly ward rounds and occupational therapy of the inpatients and have a weekly supervisory meeting with the clinical psychologist to discuss various issues in clinical psychology.​ They may receive an opportunity to participate in an ongoing research in the department, and upon request and the discretion of the consultant, they may be provided with a letter of recommendation.​​