MSc Advanced Clinical Practice

What you will study

YEAR 1 

MODULES

• Clinical Assessment, Diagnostics and Reasoning in Advanced Practice: Part 1
• Minor Injuries Assessment and Management (optional)
• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Nurses (V300) (optional) 
• Minor Illnesses Assessment and Management (optional)
• Principles of Wound Care (optional)
• Negotiated module (optional)

Having studied 60 credits in year one, students may exit with a Postgraduate Certificate.

YEAR 2

MODULES

• Complexities of Healthcare in Advanced Practice
• Advancing Leadership and Evidence Based Practice
• Clinical Assessment, Diagnostics and Reasoning in Advanced Practice: Part 2

Having studied 120 credits in years 1 & 2, students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma.

YEAR 3

MODULES

• Dissertation

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Entry requirements & applying

To be accepted onto the programme, candidates must:

• Hold current registration with a professional statutory body pertaining to their area of advanced practice.
• Hold a degree in a discipline cognate to their professional qualification, or hold a non-graduate qualification which the university has deemed to be of a satisfactory standard for the purpose of postgraduate admission. Candidates without a full honours degree at 2:2 and above will be required to submit a 1,500 word essay on a topic chosen by the admissions team as part of the induction process. This will be assessed using the Level 6 academic criteria (Appendix I) and must demonstrate achievement at 50% or above for successful admission to the programme. Alternatively, recent successful completion of an appropriate Level 6 module such as Research Methods, Non-Medical Prescribing at Level 6 or Preparing for Master’s Level Study will allow admission to the programme, subject to programme team agreement.
• Have a minimum of two years full-time equivalent post-registration clinical experience.
• Be employed in a clinical role with a high level of autonomy, or be able to secure a placement to the above for a minimum of two days per week, or be in a Trainee Advanced Practitioner role.
• Have a Designated Supervising Medical Practitioner (DSMP) (for those students undertaking Non-Medical Prescribing and Clinical Assessment in Advanced Practice modules) and have mentorship support during their practice placement from their employing organisation.

N.B. If undertaking Non-Medical Prescribing, further admissions criteria apply which will supersede those above (contact the programme lead for further information). If undertaking Mentorship in Practice or Learning and Teaching in Practice, students must satisfy the pre-requisites for these modules (contact the programme lead for further information). Students without a first degree who are accepted to the programme will be able to take the Non-Medical Prescribing module (where eligible), but may only take this at Level 6 (in accordance with Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements).

Teaching & Assessment

Advanced Clinical Practice students will be assessed in a variety of ways. The balance between the different forms of assessment is determined by the different aims and learning outcomes of the modules.

Assessment methods include academic assignments, case studies, poster presentations and examinations. As the programme is concerned with learning in practice, all students have a clinical portfolio which is completed as they progress through the modules. All students are required to have a DSMP and a mentor in order to support learning and assessment in practice.

Teaching and Learning

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping you deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

Career prospects

Our Careers & Employability service is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.

On successful completion of the Advanced Clinical Practice/Advanced Clinical Practice (Therapies) course, students will be eligible to apply for advanced practice roles in a variety of settings.

In Wales, students will be eligible to use the title ‘Advanced’ on completion of the MSc.

As it is validated by the relevant PSRBs, on completion of the Non-Medical Prescribing module students will be able to record this qualification with their professional body (NMC, HCPC, GPhC).

Fees & funding

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the fee FAQs.

All fees are subject to any changes in government policy, view our postgraduate fees.

Programme specification

You can see the full programme specification here.