MSc Professional Clinical Practice

Examine modern policy and practice initiatives in health and social care, gaining a critical understanding of the research methodologies and evidence-based practice which underpin them.

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    • Overview

    Course Length: Up to 6 Years Part-Time
    Start Dates: September 2020, February 2021, September 2021, February 2022
    Subjects: Health and Social Care
    Location: Edge Hill University
    University Hospital Aintree
    • Apply independent and advanced thinking to modern policy and practice initiatives in health and social care;
    • Gain a critical understanding of the research methodologies and evidence-based practice which contribute to the ever changing health and social care environment;
    • Tailor the programme to your individual needs and study at your own pace.

    This MSc in Professional Clinical Practice has been designed to enable graduate nurses and health and social care practitioners to choose an academic pathway suited to their individual employability and practice. The programme is an ideal foundation for potential practice development roles, academic teaching, management, leadership, a career in research of further study at PhD level. With only two core elements, which prepare you for and immerse you in research, there is extensive scope to devise a programme tailored to your individual needs and other commitments.

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    • Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine

    In Depth

    What will I study?

    The programme consists of 100 credits of core modules and 80 credits of option modules. The core modules introduce you to the research process and allow you to develop a research proposal and complete a dissertation.

    The flexible nature of the programme allows you to choose from a variety of potential subject areas for your option modules. For example, you will have the opportunity to explore themes such as leadership, mental health, clinical supervision, public health, health promotion or learning disabilities.

    How will I study?

    This MSc is delivered through lectures, workshops, seminars, group work and critical debates. The aim is to provide a framework to underpin the development of critical thinking and sharing in the learning process. The approach varies between modules and will often incorporate blended learning, where face-to-face sessions are supported by the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

    How will I 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. All of your assessed work can be focused on your own specific areas of interest.

    Who will be teaching me?

    Edge Hill University enjoys an excellent reputation for teaching quality. The teaching team comprises staff from the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine and the Evidence Based Practice Research Centre. You will be taught by experts in professional clinical practice who publish in international journals and present at national and international conferences.

    A Great Study Environment

    The Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine is one of the leading providers of education and training for health and social care professionals in the North West of England.

    Offering some of the best facilities for health, social care and medicine students in the country, the outstanding 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.

    The faculty is home to a thriving research culture which includes a series of staff and student conference programmes, guest lectures and seminars, as well as active research groups.

    Modules

    Expand All

    HEA4034Negotiated Learning Shell (20 credits)

    Negotiated Learning Shell provides an opportunity for you to study a topic or work-related issue at Masters level. It involves you identifying the chosen area for study before developing and negotiating a learning contract, which will outline the what, how, when, where and why of the study period as well as the means of assessment to showcase the acquired learning.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    HEA4444Research Methods (20 credits)

    Research Methods introduces you to the research process including the philosophical fundamentals of both quantitative and qualitative traditions and a range of research methodologies. The module will enable you to demonstrate the ability to critically appraise a range of research methodologies and plan a small-scale empirical project in your chosen discipline, as well as gaining awareness of the theoretical and practical implications of undertaking such a study.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    HEA4081Dissertation for Health and Social Care Professionals (60 credits)

    Dissertation for Health and Social Care Professionals enables you to focus upon a significant piece of investigative enquiry from conceptualisation through to completion. Within this module, ‘research’ is interpreted as including empirical research involving qualitative and/or quantitative methods, service evaluation, clinical audit, systematic review or a negotiated investigative enquiry unique to your own field of specialism, for example historical/archival research. The subject chosen will reflect (and be directly relevant to) an identifiable area of the programme’s curriculum content and will be negotiated and agreed with the course team.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    You will select  a further 80 credits of modules from the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine CPD portfolio.

    Optional modules provide an element of choice within the programme 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.

    For more information about each module, including the dates and times of module sessions, please visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/cpdmodules.

    Timetables

    You can expect to receive your timetable at enrolment. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day or evening of the week.

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information, however our programmes 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 accrediting 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.

    Entry Criteria

    Entry Requirements

    The normal minimum entry requirement is a degree equivalent to UK first-class or second-class honours (2:2 or above) in a health or social care related subject. Since the focus for the programme is to link theory to practice, you are expected to have access to a suitable working environment. All applicants will be offered an academic interview.

    Recognition of Prior Learning

    Edge Hill University recognises learning gained elsewhere, whether through academic credit and qualifications acquired from other relevant courses of study or through recognition of an individual’s professional and employment experience (also referred to as ‘experiential learning’). This may include credit or learning undertaken at another university.

    Previous learning that is recognised in this way may be used towards meeting the entry requirements for a programme and/or for exemption from part of a programme. It is your responsibility to make a claim for recognition of prior learning. For guidance, please consult the University’s academic regulations (sections C7 and F3.1) or contact the faculty in which you are interested in studying.

    Career Prospects

    What are my career prospects?

    On successful completion of the programme you will become proficient, creative and innovative in analysing and evaluating perspectives in health and social care practice.

    You will have the knowledge and expertise to function at an advanced level within the contemporary political, social and economic environment, able to develop strategies for quality enhancement in both role and service development.

    Finance

    Tuition Fees

    Tuition fees for studying on this MSc are £34 per credit for UK and EU students enrolling on the programme in academic year 2020/21, i.e. £680 per 20 credit module.

    180 credits are required to complete a Masters degree.

    The University may administer a small inflationary rise in part-time postgraduate tuition fees in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

    Financial Support

    For comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK and EU students joining postgraduate courses at Edge Hill University in academic year 2020/21, together with details of how to apply for potential funding, please view our Money Matters 2020/21 guide at www.edgehill.ac.uk/postgradfinance2020.

    Apply

    How to Apply

    Apply directly to Edge Hill University.

    Download the Health and Social Care Professional Development pathway application form (pdf) and notes for guidance (pdf).

    Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/applydirect to access the relevant application form and to find out more about the application process.

    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.

    Get in Touch

    If you have any questions about this programme, please contact:

    • Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine Student Recruitment and Marketing Support Team
    • Tel: 01695 657249
    • Email: cpdenquiries@edgehill.ac.uk

    If you would like to talk to the programme leaders about the course in more detail, please contact:

    Course Changes

    Expand All This page outlines any material changes to course content, programme structure, assessment methods, entry criteria, and modes of study or delivery, implemented in the past two years.

    11th January 2019 - Change of Modules

    HEA4444 Research Methods (20 credits) replaces HEA4045 Research: The Development of a Research Proposal (20 credits) as a compulsory module.