Advanced Practice (Apprenticeship) MSc
This apprenticeship is employer led: applications must be submitted by employers on behalf of their staff.
Start Dates
21 September 2026
Duration
3 years part-time
Eligibility Criteria
Permanent Employment in relevant field
Overview
Why choose Huddersfield for this course?
- Outstanding Quality - Huddersfield is an Ofsted Outstanding provider, delivering top-tier apprenticeship training.
- You will be taught by a team of passionate academics who have a wealth of expertise related to advanced clinical practice.
- Study specific routes to support your clinical practice, including Primary Care, Cricitical Care and Mental Health Care.
Accreditation and Professional Links
Recognised connections to give you an extra edge when you graduate. Read More
Advanced Practitioners (APs) are a relatively new career pathway in heath provision. Trainee APs can be from a variety of multi-professional backgrounds bringing with them a wealth of clinical experience. APs are part of Government plans to modernise and transform the health service and will help to meet ongoing changes and challenges of the NHS, including increasing service provision to meet the needs of patients in a variety of clinical settings. With increased patient demand, ageing populations, patients with multiple co-morbidities, complexity and poly-pharmacy APs provide holistic clinical care to enhance the patient experience and improve health and social care outcomes. Advanced practice in all fields requires expert clinical, leadership and education skills underpinned by high quality research and evidence base to support practice developments. The course challenges the depth and breadth of your knowledge and supports you to demonstrate a high level of practice so you can function at the leading edge of advanced practice.
The apprenticeship course provides the opportunity for experienced registered healthcare professionals to gain 180 FHEQ level 7 credits and a Master of Science award. It is designed to provide those who are working as AP apprentices, with an opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, behaviours and values required to meet the Institute for Apprenticeships Advanced Practice Standard and for an Advanced Practitioner role as part of the health and social care workforce.
The complexity of the course requires you to apply advanced theoretical knowledge in your clinical practice. To achieve this, you will study part-time for three years, attending the University for the equivalent of one day per week (minimum 20% out of practice training). The expected length of time to complete the course will be detailed in the Commitment Statement (Individual Learning Plan) agreed by the apprentice, employer and the University following your Initial Needs Assessment.
You will be able to study specific routes to support your education including: Primary Care, Critical Care, Emergency Care, Mental Health Care, Cancer Care or Generic.
The University of Huddersfield has the highest Apprenticeship Qualification Achievement Rate (QAR) among Higher Education Institutions in England.*
Our 2023/24 QAR was 87.6% and coupled with our Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rating displays the excellent learning experience for apprentices and their employers at the University of Huddersfield.
If you’re thinking of studying an apprenticeship course or are an employer looking for an apprenticeship for your employees, you’ll also find useful information on our Degree Apprenticeship webpages.
*Excludes providers with fewer than 100 apprentices.
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 minimum period of 3 years post-registration experience.
- A first degree in your specialism or another relevant health related subject is required, or evidence of ability to study at postgraduate level.
- GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme or equivalent.
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.
Course Details
This route is for all students who are able to register as an Independent Prescriber with their professional body. You will choose 2 optional modules in this year. One of the following:
Plus, the following:
For more information on when and how we update our modules please see the ‘Legal Information’ section below.
This route is for professional groups unable to register as an Independent prescriber and students who are already qualified as an Independent prescriber. You will choose 2 optional modules in this year. One of the following:
Plus one of the following:
For more information on when and how we update our modules please see the ‘Legal Information’ section below.
Teaching and Assessment
Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.
Placements
Supervision and assessment in clinical practice, when studying on this course:
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You are required to be working in clinical practice in primary, community or secondary care.
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You will require a Clinical Educator who will supervise and assess you in clinic practice.
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Your employer must confirm that they are able to release you for ‘off the job training’ to attend all university study days.
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You and your employer are responsible for identifying an appropriately qualified, occupationally competent clinical educator who will supervise the development of your clinical skills and will assess your level of competence in clinical practice to provide evidence of your achievement of course and module learning outcomes. The course leader will provide the University’s criteria for the clinical educator role.
Fees and Finance
As an apprentice, there is no tuition fee to pay for the higher or degree apprenticeship. Tuition fees are covered by your employer and the government through the Levy. As you'll be a paid employee, you are not able to take out a student loan.
Are you an employer? You’ll find lots of information about how apprenticeships are funded via the levy on our Degree Apprenticeship webpages.
If you require further information, please contact apprenticeships@hud.ac.uk
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
Ofsted Outstanding courses
Huddersfield is one of only two universities in four years rated Ofsted Outstanding for apprenticeships, praised for research-informed teaching and strong employer links.
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.
Explore Huddersfield
Make Huddersfield your home. A Yorkshire town, surrounded by beautiful countryside, with easy access to neighbouring cities; Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. You’ll find plenty of places to eat, drink, shop and socialise, there’s ambitious plans for future development. Our campus is situated next to the town centre - making your commute a breeze.
Find out more
Your Student Experience
Get involved in great opportunities helping you to make friends from all across the world and create lifelong memories. Join one of over 100 societies with the Students’ Union, experience new cultures through global events, earn whilst you learn and build your skills via our Global Professional Award.
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Budget Friendly
Huddersfield is not only one of the friendliest towns, it also offers you a lower cost of living than most big cities. This means you could have more money to spend, making your uni experience even better. On campus you’ll also find plenty of facilities and services to help you budget and make your money go further.
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Sustainability Matters
We’re committed to sustainability and aim to be carbon neutral by 2030. Our plan includes reducing emissions, enhancing biodiversity, and improving wellbeing through sustainable buildings. We’re investing in digital solutions, low-impact travel, and embedding sustainability into teaching and research, investing over £1m in carbon reduction.
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Committed to Your Future
Since 2015, we’ve invested £198 million to create spaces where you can learn, collaborate and thrive. We’re continuously investing in our campus with your wellbeing in mind—adding features that make our buildings healthier, more supportive and better places for you to succeed.
Read moreMore 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 supportStudent 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 servicesTeaching 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.
Find out moreInspiring Academics
Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Department of Allied Health Professions, Sport and Exercise may teach you on this course.
Find out more about our staffResearch Excellence
You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.
Find out moreAccommodation
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 optionsFurther Study
Many of our graduates stay at Huddersfield to complete postgraduate research degrees at Masters or PhD level.
Discover research degreesLegal information
When you enrol as an apprentice learner 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 our disciplinary procedure. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you’ll be asked to agree to them when you join us as an apprentice. You’ll find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you’ll also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to.
Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons:
Changes to a course you have applied for but not yet started
If we propose to make a major change to an apprenticeship course that you have applied for, then we will tell you and your employer as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.
Although we always try and run all the courses we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or delay your course start date if we consider this reasonably necessary, 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 and your employer as soon as reasonably possible. In such instances, we will work with you and your employer to agree a deferred start date, or cancel your application and, if appropriate, provide information regarding other local apprenticeship providers.
Changes to your course after you enrol as an apprentice
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 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, 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 requirements of an updated version of the apprenticeship standard relevant to your course; 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 damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.
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 and your employer as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered or claiming an interim award and exiting the University.
If a major change affects your course, we will notify you and your employer as soon as possible and will carry out suitable consultation with affected apprentices. If you and your employer reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment we will work with both of you to try to find an appropriate solution. Where one cannot be found we will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring your remaining apprenticeship learning to another training provider if you and your employer wish to do so.
Termination of employment
As your employer is funding your apprenticeship course, you must remain in relevant employment for the duration of the course until you have completed your end point assessment. Under the apprenticeship rules, if you are made redundant and you have completed 75% of the practical period or have less than 6 months left, then you may complete the course. Otherwise, unless you find alternative relevant employment within 12 weeks of the date you are made redundant, then you’ll be withdrawn from the course.
The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University. The ESFA is the principal regulator for your apprenticeship course.