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Start Dates

21 September 2026, 17 May 2027

Duration

1 year part-time


Recent Awards For Excellence

Nursing - QS 2025
Find out more about these awards
About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • You will engage in simulation-based learning activities in order to develop teamwork and critical understanding.
  • You will be taught by experienced acute and critical care practitioners, with guest speakers also contributing.
  • Explore the attributes that influence care decisions within this specialist area.

This course is aimed at registered healthcare professionals working within an acute secondary care environment with adult service users. It is designed to enhance your knowledge and critical understanding of managing and caring for patients within an acute or critical care setting. You will explore and discuss the attributes that influence care decisions within this specialist area, this will allow you to reflect and build upon existing experiences and knowledge.

  • The course was designed and validated in conjunction with local employers and aims to develop you academically as well as clinically.
  • The course provides you with an opportunity to study with colleagues from other disciplines and specialties.
  • You will study modules which are designed to provide you with a better understanding of assessing and caring for patients with acute, critical and emergency care needs.

The material that underpins acute and critical care will be complimented by the opportunity for you to focus your learning on specific areas relevant your clinical practice.

Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

  • Be a Healthcare Practitioner, registered with a professional body such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) with at least 12 months post-registration employment within an acute healthcare setting.
  • Have an honours degree at 2:2 or above, have studied at honours level or can demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills at honours degree standard. We will consider other qualifications and experience on an individual case basis.
What will you learn?

Course Details

This module provides you with the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiological effects of acute illness or traumatic injury along with the examination of current evidence and developments in this field of care. Emphasis throughout the module will be placed on the holistic assessment of the individual with development of subsequent management plans from which to provide optimum care.

This module will provide you 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 practice, 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.

Please note that students cannot double count Personal and Practice Development if a second Postgraduate Certificate is taken.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Interested in a placement?

Placements

You will be required to undertake practice based learning and assessment, which will normally be within your own emergency care setting. However, if there are core competencies that are not achievable you will need to arrange alternative settings which will allow you to meet these.

Where could this lead you?

Your Career

Previous graduates from courses in this subject area have gone on to work in a variety of roles such as Adult nurse, Children's nurse, Health play specialist, Health visitor, High intensity therapist, Learning disability nurse, Mental health nurse, Midwife, Paramedic, Physician associate.*
*Source: Prospects

98%
Percentage of the University's postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating.

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, UK domiciled.

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

£3,088 per 60 credit module

This information is for Home and International students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Modules credits can range from 15 to 60, dependent on the content of the module. Read more about total credits required for a range of degrees, to allow you to calculate the potential total cost.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy and/or to ensure our distance learning fees are competitive.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University. Read more about what is and is not covered by Tuition Fees including compliance for Goods and Services Tax for International Students studying an online course. 

For detailed information please visit www.hud.ac.uk/distance-learning/fees-and-finance/

This information is for Home and International students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Modules credits can range from 15 to 60, dependent on the content of the module. Read more about total credits required for a range of degrees, to allow you to calculate the potential total cost.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy and/or to ensure our distance learning fees are competitive.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University. Read more about what is and is not covered by Tuition Fees including compliance for Goods and Services Tax for International Students studying an online course. 

For detailed information please visit www.hud.ac.uk/distance-learning/fees-and-finance/

Scholarships and Bursaries

Discover what additional help you may be eligible for to support your University studies.

Tuition Fee Loans

Find out more about tuition fee loans available to eligible postgraduate students.

What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

Explore More

Why Hud

Explore the unique opportunities and resources that make our institution a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded and future-focused education.

Need more details?

More Info

Careers support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

Find out more about careers support

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you’ll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you’ll soon discover that you’re never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

See our support services

Teaching Excellence

Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

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Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Department of Nursing may teach you on this course.

Find out more about our staff

Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

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Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

Take a look at your options

Further Study

Many of our graduates stay at Huddersfield to complete postgraduate research degrees at Masters or PhD level.

Discover research degrees
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