Advanced Clinical Practice Apprenticeship MSc
Combine classroom-based teaching and on-the-job learning on this advanced clinical practice apprenticeship programme, gaining valuable experience while remaining in full-time employment. You’ll be a highly effective leader with the skills and knowledge required to assess the development needs of yourself and others.
Overview
| Course length: | 3 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Start dates: | September 2025 September 2026 |
| Location: | Edge Hill University (part-time) |
| Example offers: | You must be a practitioner who is a member of a UK-recognised Professional Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) and have 2:2 or above (or equivalent) in a relevant healthcare-related subject View full entry criteria |
| Subject(s): | Health and Social Care |
| Faculty: | Health, Social Care and Medicine |
| Department: | Medical School |
Advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) offer multiple benefits to health and social care sector. An apprenticeship in advanced clinical practice will allow you to gain valuable on-the-job learning while remaining in full-time employment.
You will undertake 180 credits of modules at Masters level and will be equipped to deliver, sustain and enhance safe, professional and ethical quality of care across health and care services in your field of practice. The degree is underpinned by the four pillars of advanced clinical practice: clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research.
To support this academic journey, apprentices undertake 20% of their clinical time in classroom-based teaching within the University.
All apprentices get a bespoke pathway which takes them from every day clinical practice to working as autonomous practitioners. This is supported by tripartite reviews between the student, University and employer, a unique feature of the apprenticeship.
An accredited degree
This MSc degree is accredited by The Centre of Advancing Clinical Practice. Successful completion of this MSc enables you to meet Health Education North West’s requirements to practise at an advanced level across the health professions spectrum, including roles such as paramedics, operating department practitioners, nurses, dietitians, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
The Centre for Advancing Practice -Accredited Course
What you'll study
The programme will support you in becoming a competent and capable advanced clinical practitioner. You will be equipped with the skills, knowledge and understanding to deliver, sustain and enhance safe, professional, ethical and excellent quality of care across health and care services in your specific area or scope of practice. You will study these modules over the course of three years.
For more information about each module, including the dates and times of module sessions, please see our Continuing Professional Development Modules for Health and Social Care Practitioners pages.
How you'll study
Diverse teaching and learning strategies will be used, ranging from individual personal teacher contact to supported online learning, small group work to teacher-led lectures.
The majority of classes will take place at Edge Hill University. However, some modules may involve study at sites other than Ormskirk, in which case you will be responsible for travel and parking costs.
How you'll be assessed
Assessment methods vary according to the demands of the module but can be through assignments, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, portfolios, seminar presentations and work-based learning projects.
Who will be teaching you
The programme team comprises of expert staff with many years experience in clinical practice in areas such as emergency care, paramedic practice, respiratory care, mental health, primary care and medical practice.
You will also be taught by associate tutors from primary and secondary care, neurology, biological sciences, and areas of senior healthcare management.
Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply.
Entry criteria
To join this course, you must be a practitioner who is a member of a UK-recognised Professional Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB).
You should typically have a degree equivalent to UK first-class or second-class honours (2:2 or above) in a relevant healthcare-related subject. Applicants with a third-class honours degree or a Diploma in a relevant healthcare-related subject, who have adequate clinical experience may also be considered.
You will also need to evidence that you have a Grade C or Grade 4 and above GCSE qualification in Mathematics and English Language, or that you have completed your Level 2 Functional Skills qualification.
You will need to demonstrate your ability to study at Masters level, evidenced within your application by your prior studies and/or experiential learning.
Your employer must also confirm that you are suitable for the role of advanced clinical practitioner in their organisation, with access to the appropriate workplace environment to gain relevant clinical experience throughout the programme, including appropriate clinical supervision by a designated Coordinating Education Supervisor and Associate Workplace Supervisors to meet Health Education England (HEE) requirements.
Working with your employer/workplace organisation, you should have a suitable job role identified for when you are qualified, compliant with the requirements of Health Education England Centre for Advancing Practice, that will direct your programme of study.
Applications must be supported by a reference from your current employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions, for more information about this course.
English language requirements
While international students who are not resident and working in the UK cannot currently join this course, if you are working and resident in the UK but your first language is not English, you will need IELTS 6.5 overall, with a score no lower than 6.0 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.
How to apply
Please visit this page for further information.
Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.
There’s plenty of opportunities to come take a look around campus. Attend one of our open days to see what life at Edge Hill University is all about.
Book an open day
Facilities
The Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine offers outstanding facilities for the education and training of health and social care professionals.
The contemporary teaching and learning resources include leading edge clinical skills facilities, an 860-seat lecture theatre, and a variety of teaching rooms and social learning spaces.
Where you'll study
Finance
Tuition fees
As an Apprentice you will not pay any fees for this course.
Tuition fees
As an Apprentice you will not pay any fees for this course.
Your future career
This programme will enhance your ability to gain employment in more senior roles as an advanced clinical practitioner, within your chosen field of healthcare.
Successful completion of this MSc enables you to meet Health Education North West’s requirements to practice at an advanced level across the health professions spectrum, including roles such as paramedics, operating department practitioners, nurses, dietitians, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
Course changes
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.
Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
