Advanced Healthcare Practice - MSc

The MSc in Advanced Healthcare Practice is designed to enhance graduates’ critical thinking and develop evidence-based practitioners as future leaders of effective services. Graduates will obtain in-depth knowledge of an area of Health Sciences to apply to their professional practice. From this MSc, graduates will be able to describe and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of the current range of theory and research. They will reflect critically on their own and others’ learning styles and practice.

Students can register on a fulltime or part-time basis. Students must complete 6 - 8 taught modules, to include two core modules (Evidence Based Practice and Research Methods) and 4-6 elective modules from the modules available, with a research thesis. The full-time option can be completed over three academic semesters. In the flexible part-time option, students may pace the programme in light of their current workload and register for one, two or three modules per semester, with a maximum period of registration of three years. This flexible approach takes into account the educational, professional, clinical and financial demands of the student, the employer and clinical service. Students may also enter this MSc as a graduate of the Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Practice, with the option to carry over credits accrued on that programme, at the discretion of the programme team.

Depending on the module, the academic work may include classes, seminars, self-directed learning and/or e-learning, both on and off campus. Although online modules are available, please confirm this with the module leader/course director before registering. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they can attend all relevant module components.

Programme Aims:

On successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of an area of Health Sciences and its application to the students' professional practice.
• Describe and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of the current range of theoretical and research underpinning that area.
• Reflect critically on their own learning style and practice and others' research and clinical practice.
• Explain their clinical role and contribution in relation to the concept of health and well-being.
• Evaluate their own learning needs and be able to structure appropriate self-directed learning to meet these needs.
• Conceptualise healthcare & social care issues from alternative theoretical perspectives and synthesise, develop and communicate creative solutions to address issues relating to healthcare provision.