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Advanced Clinical Practice MSc

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    This course is eligible for Master's loan funding. Find out more.
    This course is eligible for Master's loan funding. Find out more.
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    Overview

    The development of the Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) role is one of the ways the Government is modernising the National Health Service and reshaping the workforce to improve the quality of healthcare and meet the changing needs of the population. Advanced clinical practice is delivered by experienced, registered healthcare practitioners. The role characterised by a high degree of autonomy and decision making in a context of complexity and uncertainty, holding accountability for decisions made.

    • This Centre for Advancing Practice accredited course consists of theoretical and clinically focused modules that enable you to meet the four pillars of professional practice – clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research. As well as associated core capabilities at the level of advanced clinical practice articulated in HEE (2017) Multi-professional Framework for ACP.
    • The course provides theoretical and clinically focused education and training to support the expansion of practice and the development of new skills; specifically, clinical history taking, clinical examination skills and consultation skills.
    • It offers you the opportunity to enhance your current knowledge and practice related to the four pillars of advanced clinical practice and may lead to career progression into advanced level roles across all specialties of practice.
    • You will be taught by a team of passionate academics who have a wealth of skills, expertise and professional credibility related to advanced clinical practice.
    • You will be able to study specific routes to support your clinical practice, these include Primary Care, Critical Care, Emergency Care, Mental Health Care and Cancer Care.

    Key Information

    Entry requirements

    You must hold:

    • Current registration on Part 1 of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register, Health and Care Professions Council or the General Pharmaceutical Council. A period of 3 years post-registration experience will be required.
    • A first degree in your specialism or another relevant health related subject is also required, or you must provide other evidence of your ability to study at postgraduate level.

    If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

    Start dates

    21 September 2026

    Duration

    3 years part-time

    Course Detail

    Core modules:

    Core Clinical Assessment, Skills and Decision-making for Advanced Practice

    Situated around the HEE core capabilities for advanced clinical practice, you will study the theoretical principles required to carry out effective assessment, diagnosis and management of undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions in addition to pre-diagnosed conditions related to body systems. You will explore how to generate differential diagnoses in addition to making informed collaborative decisions about the management of your patient’s presentation. Emphasis throughout the module will be placed on a person-centred holistic approach to assessment with development of management plans from which to provide optimum care.

    Fundamentals of Contemporary Advanced Practice

    In this module you will explore the four pillars of advanced level practice (clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research). The module will enhance your knowledge and skills in each of the four pillars and enable you to analyse and synthesise these to inform your clinical decision-making and the development of your Advanced Clinical Practitioner role. The module will challenge you to identify how healthcare policy impacts on your area of advanced clinical practice.

    One of the following:

    Developing Advanced Practice in the Workplace

    This module provides the opportunity to enhance your advanced knowledge and understanding of pathophysiology applied to acute or chronic illness, along with the examination of current evidence and developments in this field of care. Emphasis throughout the module will be placed on a person-centred holistic approach to assessment with development of management plans from which to provide optimum care. You will study the principles required to carry out advanced consultation to achieve effective assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions, in addition to pre-diagnosed conditions, related to your area of practice

    Developing Advanced Practice in the Workplace (Cancer Care)

    This module provides the opportunity to enhance your advanced knowledge and understanding of pathophysiology applied to cancer, along with the examination of current evidence and developments in this field of care. Emphasis throughout the module will be placed on a person-centred holistic approach to assessment with development of management plans from which to provide optimum care. You will study the principles required to carry out advanced consultation to achieve effective assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of cancer and/or associated conditions, including treatment related effects, relevant to your area of practice.

    Developing Advanced Practice in the Workplace (Critical Care)

    This module provides the opportunity to enhance your advanced knowledge and understanding of pathophysiology applied to acute or chronic illness, along with the examination of current evidence and developments in this field of care. Emphasis throughout the module will be placed on a person-centred holistic approach to assessment with development of management plans from which to provide optimum care. You will study the principles required to carry out advanced consultation to achieve effective assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions, in addition to pre-diagnosed conditions, related to your area of practice.

    Developing Advanced Practice in the Workplace (Emergency Care)

    This module provides the opportunity to enhance your advanced knowledge and understanding of pathophysiology applied to acute and chronic illness, trauma and acute injury along with the examination of current evidence and developments in this field of care. Emphasis throughout the module will be placed on a person-centred holistic approach to assessment with development of management plans from which to provide optimum care. You will study the principles required to carry out advanced consultation to achieve effective assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions, in addition to pre-diagnosed conditions, related to your area of practice.

    Developing Advanced Practice in the Workplace (Mental Health Care)

    This module provides the opportunity to enhance your advanced knowledge and understanding of pathophysiology applied to acute or chronic mental health conditions and illness, along with the examination of current evidence and developments in this field of care. Emphasis throughout the module will be placed on a person-centred holistic approach to assessment with development of management plans from which to provide optimum care. You will study the principles required to carry out advanced consultation to achieve effective assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions, in addition to pre-diagnosed conditions, related to your area of practice.

    Developing Advanced Practice in the Workplace (Primary Care)

    This module provides the opportunity to enhance your advanced knowledge and understanding of pathophysiology applied to acute or chronic illness, along with the examination of current evidence and developments in this field of care. Emphasis throughout the module will be placed on a person-centred holistic approach to assessment with development of management plans from which to provide optimum care. You will study the principles required to carry out advanced consultation to achieve effective assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions, in addition to pre-diagnosed conditions, related to your area of practice.

    Plus one of the following:

    This is a compulsory module for all students who are able to register as an Independent Prescriber with their professional body.

    Independent and Supplementary Prescribing

    This module helps to prepare you to be an Independent and Supplementary Prescriber. You will explore the relevant professional, legal, ethical policy, evidence-based and practice components of prescribing. You will undertake coursework, examinations in pharmacology and numeracy and complete 90 hours of clinical practice with a practice supervisor and practice assessor.

    Professional groups unable to register as an Independent prescriber and students who are already qualified as an Independent prescriber will undertake a module from a list which may include:

    Caring for children and young people

    This module provides the opportunity for all healthcare professionals who work with and care for children and young people to further develop their knowledge and skills, which can be applied to their current work environment. Children differ physiologically, emotionally and developmentally so therefore require individual care. You will explore the anatomical and physiological differences in children; normal child development; ethical, legal and professional issues in caring for children and young people; paediatric pharmacology including pain management; communicating and engaging with children; spotting the sick child; paediatric resuscitation; mental health; the injured child and medical and surgical conditions seen in children.

    Electrocardiograph (ECG) Monitoring and Interpretation

    This course will challenge you to develop your existing knowledge of ECGs. You will be provided with the opportunity to analyse and understand complex rhythm strips and 12 lead ECGs in turn, enabling diagnosis recommendations based on the information provided.

    Long Term Conditions Management (Diabetes, COPD, Long COVID and Frailty)

    This module provides the opportunity for you to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the short and long term clinical management of the individual with long-term conditions. Throughout the module you will need to take into consideration the implications for patients and carers facing the reality of living well, or dying as a result of a long-term condition. You will develop your understanding of the principles of case management and therapeutic interventions.

    Managing Minor Injuries

    You will have the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in relation to assessment, diagnosis, and management of undifferentiated and undiagnosed minor injuries in your own clinical setting. You will be supported by experienced minor injury clinicians to demonstrate competency in clinical skills applied to the context of your clinical practice. A personal portfolio will be developed as part of the course, based within a clinical setting which will allow you to demonstrate the application of theory into practice.

    Personal and Practice Development

    You will be provided with the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and understanding of an area of interest to support your continuing professional development needs. Informed by robust evidence based, you will have the flexibility to apply and reflect your individual personal and/or practice development learning needs expanding your knowledge and abilities within your practice.

    Core modules:

    Advancing Clinical Practice Project

    This module provides you with an opportunity to integrate the skills and learning afforded by your Master's programme. You will develop a proposal and have the opportunity to implement and analyse it into an advancing practice project. The emphasis will be on a project which meets your individual educational and professional developmental needs whilst having the potential to advance your clinical practice.

    Advanced Practice Portfolio of Evidence

    Situated around the HEE Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice four pillars of practice and associated capabilities, alongside identified area-specific competencies, this module will focus on producing a collected portfolio of evidence demonstrating achievement of the capabilities and competencies for your advanced clinical practice role. It is designed to provide a synoptic assessment of the knowledge, skills, and behaviours of the HEE Multi-professional Advanced Clinical Practice Framework. You will demonstrate your own knowledge, skills, and behaviours across the Advanced Clinical Practitioner Framework and, where applicable, area- specific competencies.

    Learning and teaching are delivered through lectures, group work, practical/simulation teaching, and on-line workbooks. Student-centred learning is used where appropriate with peer review and support an integral part of the learning process.

    In relation to developing your research skills and knowledge, you will produce a dissertation in the final module of the course. You will be supported by a supervisor allocated to you at the beginning of the dissertation module (this may utilise a group supervision model).

    The taught modules are designed to develop your current level of knowledge and skills, promote and embed transferable skills and enable you to progressively increase your knowledge, skills and confidence in each of the pillars of advanced clinical practice.

    This course has modules making up 180 credits over the 3 Years, with each credit being 10 hours of study (1800 hours in total). An average [Approximately*] 28% (3679 hours) of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors [face to face or online] in [lectures, seminars, tutorials, practicals and workshops]. The remainder of the time will be spent on independent study. Assessments takes place through a variety of [exams, coursework, etc].

    Subject to mode of study. *Based on current core and compulsory modules. Calculated using data from the academic year 2024/25, as of November 2024.

    Teaching

    The teaching year for most courses normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Teaching on other courses including professional courses, postgraduate taught, research, distance learning and apprenticeship may have other start dates including January and May. All start dates can be found on each course page and term dates are also available. Students on a full-time course may have to attend every day of the week. Students who choose to study a full-time course on a part-time basis will generally attend modules at the same time as our full-time students. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.

    Our courses are taught at our University campus and you can expect that your lectures and seminars will be held face to face, except in cases of emergency or if specifically stated otherwise in the module description.

    Feedback

    Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

    Progression

    You may progress to the next stage of your course or research degree, subject to meeting University assessment criteria and professional, statutory, or regulatory body guidelines.

    1. Triple proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

    2. We are first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 22 since 2008 (2023 data).

    3. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

    Placements

    Whilst studying this course, you must be working in a clinical placement within primary or secondary care and will require an educational supervisor and workplace supervisors. If offered a place, you will be required to identify an educational supervisor who will supervise you throughout the course and assess the development of your clinical skills. This placement is usually within your own area of practice.

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    Important information

    We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

    Changes to a course you have applied for

    If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

    Cancellation of a course you have applied for

    Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

    Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

    We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

    Changes to option modules

    Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

    Major changes

    We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

    For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

    Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

    Termination of course

    In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

    When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

    The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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