Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Science
- Duration
- PGCert 1 year, PGDip 2 years, MSc 3 years
- Entry requirements
-
We require a health professional qualification relevant to nursing or current registration with the relevant professional, statutory or equivalent regulatory body.
You must also hold a relevant honours first degree (Lower Second or above, or equivalent) from an approved higher education institution or evidence of previous advanced study, research or professional experience that the University accepts as qualifying you for entry.
Part-time students whose unit(s) have practical components also need written support from their employer to attend and complete any practice requirements.
- Number of places/applicants
- 15
- How to apply
Applicants must apply online .
See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.
We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc | N | Y | N | N |
Course overview
You will study:
- advanced paediatric anatomy and physiology;
- advanced paediatric examination and assessment;
- reflective teaching and learning;
- independent prescribing;
- research design;
- leadership in professional practice.
Open days
You can find out more about this course and what it's like to study at Manchester by visiting us on a university open day .
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2023, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MSc (part-time)
UK students (per annum): Year 1 £4400; Year 2 £4400; Year 3 £2200
International, including EU, students (per annum): no OS fees
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 529 4563
- cpd.nursing@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/nursing/
- School/Faculty
-
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a health professional qualification relevant to nursing or current registration with the relevant professional, statutory or equivalent regulatory body.
You must also hold a relevant honours first degree (Lower Second or above, or equivalent) from an approved higher education institution or evidence of previous advanced study, research or professional experience that the University accepts as qualifying you for entry.
Part-time students whose unit(s) have practical components also need written support from their employer to attend and complete any practice requirements.
English language
International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system. We ask for English language proof if you are from non-majority English speaking countries (a list of majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office, can be found here ).
Specifically, we require a minimum of:
- IELTS 6.5, with a score of 6.0 or above in each component;
- TOEFL 600 paper-based (with a minimum score on Test of Written English of 6.0);
- TOEFL 250 computer-based (with a minimum score on Test of Written English of 6.0);
- GCSE English Grade C.
See further information about requirements for your country .
English language test validity
Relevant work experience
You should have 3 years post qualification experience and have a mentor in practice who can support you in your development and assessment.
Please seek further information regarding the need for support from your employer while in practice/training, you should be practicing in a clinical role working with children and young people.
Employer support
Applicants must also be able to demonstrate employer support for all of the following for the applicant to undertake this course at UOM:
- Support for development of the applicant to an advanced level within the workplace while on the course, to enable evolution of the scope of practice and responsibilities.
- For the student to organise for a consultant/qualified advanced practitioner to act as their designated Practice Assessor to supervise and support the applicants overall clinical development and facilitate completion of specified practice-based learning activities. Sign off for specific aspects of learning is required during the course.
- Provision of day-to-day supervision and support by an experienced clinical team to enable the development of the knowledge, skills, behaviours, competence and confidence commensurate with this level of practice.
Professional entry qualification
Application and selection
How to apply
Applicants must apply online .
See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.
We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.
Portfolio requirements
UK applicants who do not hold a first degree (or equivalent qualification) may be admitted on the basis of a health/social work professional qualification. To do this, you must demonstrate the ability to study at postgraduate level.
A standardised procedure for assessing this ability will be developed where students are required to submit a portfolio of evidence of equivalence to the achievement of QAA FHEQ level 6 outcomes.
This portfolio will be reviewed by staff from the course team. Such evidence may include a documented track record of innovative practice, leadership, service development, research projects and publications that are clearly underpinned by the academic skills required at level 6.
Course details
Course description
This course is aimed at those working in advanced clinical practice roles.
It offers healthcare practitioners from a range of backgrounds the opportunity to advance their practice through a tailored selection of units, each designed to give you the in-depth knowledge and skills required to autonomously manage complexities in individual patient care, as well as lead and support the transformation of healthcare services through research informed practice and leadership.
The course will equip you with:
- advanced clinical skills to apply to your specific area of practice promoting safe, effective, accessible and high quality patient care;
- the ability to apply theories of leadership and management to your role and area of advanced practice.
We offer a number of pathways including:
- postgraduate certificate;
- postgraduate diploma;
- MSc.
Please note that the academic qualification does not enable you to fulfil the role of an ACP unless all the practical elements have been attained.
Please note the Independent Prescribing unit is a standalone course and applicants must apply for this separately. The Independent Prescribing course at The University of Manchester is accredited by the GPhC and NMC, which permits pharmacists and NMC registrants to study the course. Students from other professions must apply to study and HCPC-accredited independent prescribing course at another university and then Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) the credit. Applicants who are already annotated as Independent Prescribers may be able to APL those credits or chose to study alternative units. Please discuss this with the Programme Director.
Aims
The course aims to give you an advanced level of integrated clinical knowledge and develop cutting-edge skills to help you excel as an advanced practitioner and clinical leader in your field. The highly structured academic programme will run in parallel with a work-based programme of learning.
The aims of the course are to:
- provide a flexible, multi-professional programme of clinically relevant postgraduate study to develop your skills as an advanced clinical practitioner in paediatric settings
- advance your clinical practice and service delivery through enhancement of critical thinking and synthesis of a range of sources of evidence relevant to clinical practice, to inform decision making at an individual, team and/or organisational level;
- enable you to work individually and collaboratively to meet the learning and development needs of practitioners across a range of professions;
- ensure you can meet the changing needs of children and young people, and the people who care for them, by critically evaluating current practice.
Teaching and learning
The course aims to give you an advanced level of integrated clinical knowledge and develop cutting-edge skills to help you excel as advanced practitioners and clinical leaders in your respective field.
To achieve this, the highly structured academic programme will run in parallel with a work-based programme of learning.
University based teaching and learning methods will include interactive workshops, seminars, action learning sets, group and individual tutorials, online activities, simulation and presentations). All approaches are structured to facilitate engagement in your own learning and that of your peers.
Expert practitioners will contribute to teaching, where appropriate.
Work based learning methods are likely to include a range of activities via a number of placements. You will work in partnership with your academic advisor and a workplace mentor. The latter will play a key role in supporting a range of educational opportunities.
Online learning and technology will be used. You will be supported in the development of skills to engage critically with theory, evidence and practice. A strong emphasis on independent and self-directed learning will encourage your development as an autonomous learner and practitioner.
You will use a number of assessed and non-assessed activities to develop key skills and expand your knowledge base. There are no written exams; assessment is based on assignments and other activities such as objective and structured clinical examinations and group work.
Course content for year 1
Advanced Paediatric Anatomy and Physiology (30 credits)
Advanced Paediatric Examination and Assessment (15 credits)
Course content for year 2
Reflective Teaching and Learning practice Unit (15 credits)
Independent Prescribing (30 credits). Please note that Independent Prescribing is mandatory for GPhC and NMC registrants who aren't already annotated as prescribers with their regulator and that other applicants should enquire about the alternative.
Research Design (15 credits)
Note: The Independent Prescribing course is currently only available for registered for Nurses and Pharmacists. Other professionals would select from a range of alternative units.
Course content for year 3
Dissertation 60 credits
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective Teaching and Learning Practice | MEDN67081 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Design | NURS60018 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Post Graduate Research Dissertation | NURS60046 | 60 | Mandatory |
| Advanced Paediatric Diagnostic Skills (A) | NURS60081 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Advanced Paediatric Diagnostic Skills (B): work based learning | NURS60082 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Leadership in Professional Practice | NURS63332 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Reflective Teaching and Learning in Practice | NURS67801 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Independent Prescribing | PHAR61001 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Effective strategies for advanced communication | NURS60092 | 15 | Optional |
Scholarships and bursaries
Facilities
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
Most students complete the course part-time while working in their advanced practice roles.
Advanced clinical practitioners have made a positive impact on primary, secondary and tertiary care.
It is widely accepted that these practitioners will play an increasingly important role within the NHS, particularly given the national supply and skills shortages in the medical and non-medical workforce.
Accrediting organisations
The General Pharmaceutical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council have validated the Independent Prescribing unit, which is also available as a standalone short course .