Advancing Practice MSc

Responding to the needs of modern healthcare, this is a dynamic and multi-faceted postgraduate programme that helps practitioners to move confidently into new and more demanding areas of work.

This interdisciplinary course develops a critical appreciation of health and social care within a contemporary, social, political, economic and cultural context.

Modules include Advanced Adult Health Assessment and Leading and Managing people. The course is modular and as such can be studied either full or part-time. It will appeal if you are providing or interested in care and health in the statutory, voluntary or private sectors.

The course will develop your critical thinking and evaluative skills. The flexible postgraduate modular scheme means you can study at your own pace, and there are opportunities to design a personally focused course to meet individual needs and interests.

The course will enable you to get involved in debate and share ideas with other students from a range of different backgrounds and perspectives within the health, social care and welfare sector.

There are three awards available in Advancing Practice

MSc Advancing Practice for which you will do:
MSAP4001    Challenging and Enhancing Service Delivery
MSAP4002    Research Methods in Healthcare
Any 4 or 5 modules, depending on the size of dissertation you choose
MSAP4005 or MSAP4006    Dissertation (40 or 60 credits)

MSc Advancing Practice (Healthcare Leadership and Management) for which you will do:
MSAP4001    Challenging and Enhancing Service Delivery
MSAP4002    Research Methods in Healthcare
MSAP4071    Leading and Managing People
MSAP4072    Leading and Managing Change for Quality Improvement
Another modue of your choice
MSAP4006    Dissertation

MSc Advancing Practice (Clinical Practitioner) for which you will do:
MSAP4001    Challenging and Enhancing Service Delivery
MSAP4002    Research Methods in Healthcare
MSAP4020    Advanced Adult Health Assessment
MSAP4021    Non Medical Prescribing
MSAP4005 or MSAP4006 Dissertation (40 or 60 credits)

If you do the 40 credit dissertation you can also do one other optional module of your choice.

How to Apply

For all taught postgraduate and PG Cert programmes, please apply directly to University of Worcester. You can download an application form, or can contact the Admissions office on 01905 855111 / pg-admissions@worc.ac.uk 

Please post your completed application form to:
Admissions Office
University Of Worcester
Henwick Grove
Worcester
WR2 6AJ

Alternatively you can apply online for postgraduate programmes at University of Worcester via the Prospects online directory of postgraduate programmes. There is no fee for using the online application service. When we receive your application form, your details will be passed to the Masters Programme Leader who will contact you to arrange an informal interview. You may include additional material, such as references, in support of your application or bring them with you to interview. You can apply for postgraduate taught courses and PG Certs at any time, but preferably as early as possible before the start of the academic year, which begins in September.

Study options

The course is modular and can be studied full time in one year or part-time in a maximum of 6 years.

Each module you achieve will give you 20 CAT (Credit Accumulation and Transfer) points. You need a total of 180 for the whole MSc. Most modules are run during the day in a variety of different formats, some are half days and some full days. Modules usually occupy about 6 days but in some modules some of these days are replaced by online or independent learning. Most modules (but not all) are run over a 15 week period.

Typically, a practitioner working full time might undertake one module each semester, and with 9 to undertake, could complete it in 4 years. However you could move through the programme faster if you wish.

Get in touch

Admissions Office
01905 855111
admissions@worc.ac.uk

Advancing Practice Office
cpdinfo@worc.ac.uk

Applicants should hold an honours degree preferably in a subject associated with health, social care or social welfare. If you don’t have a degree we are always open to discuss equivalents.

The programme is open to professionals and non-professionals as well as those in practice and not in practice.

Some modules and awards may require specific entry criteria. This is especially so if they are associated with awards from a regulatory body such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council or Health Professions Council. Details are on the module flyers.

Students may be asked to an informal interview, depending on their application information. All students are asked to supply an academic reference, preferably from an academic who has taught you in the last few years. If this is not possible, a professional reference is required.

Modules

Mandatory modules  

The mandatory modules for the MSc are MSAP4001 and MSAP4002, both of which we recommend you do first,  and  one of the Dissertation modules at the end.

MSAP4001  is also mandatory for a MAP postgraduate certificate (Excluding the Teacher or Domestic Violence Awards) with any other two modules.

MSAP4001 and MSAP4002 are also mandatory for any postgraduate diploma, with any other four modules.

Semester 1  

MSAP4001 Challenging and Enhancing Service Delivery
MSAP4002 Research Methods
MSAP4005 Dissertation
MSAP4006 Dissertation
MSAP4030 Contemporary Issues in Sexual Health
MSAP4040 Facilitating Learning (Post Graduate Certificate: Teacher in Health and Social Care)
MSAP4071 Leading and Managing People
MSAP4080 - MSAP4086 Negotiated Learning
MSAP4090/4095/4096 Negotiated Group Learning

Semester 2   

MSAP4002 Research Methods
MSAP4020 Advanced Adult Health Assessment
MSAP4021 Non-Medical Prescribing
MSAP4030 Contemporary Issues in Sexual Health
MSAP4041 Context of learning and leading learning (Post Graduate Certificate: Teacher in Health and Social Care)
MSAP4072 Leading and Managing Change for Quality Improvement
Negotiated Learning
Negotiated Group Learning

Module choice:  All students must undertake a total of 9 modules, which must include MSAP4001, MSAP4002 and one of the Dissertation modules.

Most modules are run during the day in a variety of different formats, some are half days and some full days. Modules usually occupy about 6 days but in some modules some of these days are replaced by online or independent learning. Most modules (but not all) are run over a 15 week period. 

You might also want to consider these modules from other programmes. You can then use the APL process to credit them to the MSc Advancing Practice:

NUTH4011 Masters Skills for Nutritional Therapy
NUTH4012 Diet Therapy 1
NUTH4013 Diet Therapy 2

MDVM4001 Theoretical Perspectives on Gender, Violence and Interpersonal Relationships
MDVM4002 The Cost of Domestic Violence
MDVM4003 Recognition and Response

Assessment

Assessments are designed to help you develop your skills and knowledge as well as helping you to develop postgraduate level skills in critique and analysis. We will provide you with feedback throughout your course. Methods are mostly of a written nature, including essays, reports and personal independent project(s). However, there are some oral presentations and seminars, online. In addition some assessments are practical and competency based, requiring the construction of portfolios. Some modules have enquiry based assessments.

Teaching and Learning Methods
The teaching and learning strategies will develop your knowledge, academic and transferable skills and student autonomy.

Your experience will include seminars, presentations, lectures, small group work and independent study with tutorial support.

A number of modules will include on-line learning using the virtual learning environment Blackboard blended with attendance at university. The Sexual Health module is completely on-line

Joseph Musasizi

Student, Advancing Practice MSc

Joseph Musasizi, from Uganda, is studying for a Masters degree in Advancing Practice as part of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme.

“Worcester is very nice and the people are very friendly. This is the first time I have been to the UK and I like it very much. I am very much looking forward to spending the next year studying here.”

Joseph studied for a degree in Social Work and Social Administration in Uganda and is hoping this Masters degree will help him to pursue a successful career in social work in his home country.

Academic department

Institute of Health & Society  

“The University is a leading innovator in the fields of health and social care. Unique appointments such as the UK’s first professors of perinatal education and tissue viability demonstrate our commitment to research excellence.”
Louise Jones, Head of Institute

Employability

Postgraduate study will mark you out in today’s competitive job market, showing that you have enhanced knowledge in this subject area, as well as highlighting your ability to analyse, communicate and apply theory – all skills which are sought after by employers.

Health & Society News

You might also be interested in..

Successful Alumni

Lynn Dale

Lynn Dale graduated after five years of part time study, alongside her full time job.

Read Lynn's story

Open Days

Open days

Download
a prospectus

Download a prospectus