Course summary

This is a progressive and flexible programme of postgraduate study, with an overarching theme of advanced practice in healthcare. The flexible, modular nature of this programme allows healthcare professionals to structure their studies to meet with their own professional needs. There are options for profession specific pathways through the programme, which may be clinical, managerial or more generic, and guidance on module choices is offered by the programme team.‌ Our postgraduate students are from multi-professional backgrounds and we encourage interprofessional learning and education. Students who register for an award have potential exit points at Postgraduate Certificate (PGC), Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) and Masters degree (MSc). The PGC or PGD may be taken as either free standing awards or as an intermediate exit award for any student who has successfully completed the modules required for these awards or who have failed to progress to the next level of study. The MSc programme must be completed within 6 years from the date of first registration, and for a PGD and PGC the maximum period of registration is 4 and 3 years respectively. Students who wish to register for an individual postgraduate module for the purpose of continuing professional development (CPD) will not be registered on the programme. However, accrued CPD credits can normally be transferred into the programme for a formal award. Application for accreditation of credits from other Higher Education Institutions can also be considered, up to a maximum of 60 credits for the MSc. The programme has two intakes per year: Semester one (September), and Semester 2 (February), and is part-time. It is modular, with mandatory modules and optional choices. Teaching takes place throughout the calendar year, and there are three assessment points per year. On this modular programme students can study stand-alone credit rated modules (for which Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CATS) points will be awarded). Or to achieve an award: PGC - a student must successfully complete 60 credits at M level, with not more than 15 credits at level 6 and no dissertation credits; PGD - a student must successfully complete 120 credits at M level, with not more than 30 credits at level 6 and no dissertation credits; MSc - degree a student must complete 180 credits at M level, with not more than 30 credits at level 6 and to include a 60 credit dissertation. Days and times of attendance at the University will depend on the modules selected. Timetables are available before the start of each academic year and can be discussed with the programme team and module leaders at the point of registration.