A 1‐year distance learning course, divided into six modules, has been developed at the University of Wales College of Medicine. The course leads to a Diploma in Palliative Medicine. Study is based in the participant's own clinical practice, with reading and audio‐taped materials supplied weekly. Written work, which is returned to the University Department for marking and comment, is designed to enhance team building within the student's own clinical practice by addressing factual, attitudinal, protocol and administrative approaches to care. The whole course is based on the principles of problem‐based learning and learner‐centred teaching.Course work contributes to the final examination mark. In addition, the students maintain a personal learning portfolio during the course. The portfolio must demonstrate the student's ability to incorporate the course work into clinical practice and an ability to appraise their own medical decision‐making. This portfolio contributes to final examination marks.Each participant must undertake and write a report on an audit of palliative care in his or her own clinical practice, which is marked towards the final exam.There are two residential weekends during which communication skills are taugh; and these are formally examined in the final examination.We describe the course design and report the results of the first year. Twenty‐six course participants entered the 1990–91 course, of whom 24 obtained the Diploma in Palliative Medicine, one wit