Advanced Clinical Practice MSc

Course Content

• Course Details

  Advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) enhance capacity and capability within teams by supporting existing and more established roles. They improve clinical continuity, provide more patient-focused care, enhance the inter-professional team and help to provide safe, accessible and high-quality care for patients (HEE, 2017).

  The University of Northampton’s MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice course is designed in a systematic manner using a modular approach which enables it to be flexible enough to respond to the needs of stakeholders whilst recognising that students studying this programme will also be employed within practice settings.  Programme design ensures that the four pillars of advanced practice are developed and met by the end of the programme.

  Our MSc ACP suite of programmes will be delivered by a range of teaching methods such as core lectures, group work, online activities, use of case studies and clinical simulation to compliment and enhance work-based learning objectives. Shared learning with other professionals will be a focus of this course and you will be encouraged to develop a critical, evaluative approach to the knowledge embedding the four pillars of advanced clinical practice.

  The full MSc Advanced Clinical Practice award consists of six compulsory modules (180 credits) which include:

  • NURM080 Advanced Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (40 credits)
  • NURM081 Diagnostic Reasoning for Practice (20 credits)
  • NURM114 Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (40 credits)
  • NURM079 Educating and Influencing Others in Healthcare (20 credits)
  • NURM110 Advanced Professional Projects (40 credits)
  • NURM144 Research Dissemination (20 credits)

  The PGCert in Clinical Practice requires you to complete NURM080 and NURM081 (60 credits)

  The PGDip in Clinical Practice requires you to complete NURM080, NURM081, NURM114 and NURM079 (120 credits)

  Supervisor

  Clinical supervision throughout the programme is recommended to support development.  Masters in Advanced Clinical Practice Students will be required to identify a suitable clinical supervisor for work-based learning modules (NURM080 and NURM114) to supervise and sign off clinical practice skills prior to enrolment.

  For further information on the above awards or its associated modules, please contact the team on advancedpractice@northampton.ac.uk

  Modules

  Module information can be found on the Award Map:

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Practice
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Practice
  • MSc Advanced Clinical Practice Degree Apprenticeship
  • MSc Advanced Clinical Practice
  • MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Top-Up)

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• Entry Requirements
  1. Applicants must hold an appropriate healthcare or bachelor’s degree with honours.
  2. Current professional body registration (UK registered).
  3. Employment within a relevant health and social care related environment.

   

  Nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and pharmacists with current professional body registrations are encouraged to apply.

   

  Students who do not have a relevant Bachelor degree must satisfy the University that by virtue of their professional standing, qualification and/or training that they are fit to register for, and to benefit them from, their proposed programme of study. Evidence of recent level 6 study is required.

  Please note that for NURM114, additional PSRB criteria apply for studying this module.

  For further information regarding the award and its associated modules, please contact Laura Elliott, Programme Lead, via advancedpractice@northampton.ac.uk

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• Fees and Funding

  2024/25 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Part Time: £920 per 20 Credit Module
  • UK – Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Practice: (60 Credits) £2,760 (1 Year)
  • UK – Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Practice: (120 Credits) £5,520 (2 Years)
  • UK – MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Top Up): (60 Credits) £2,760 (1 Year)
  • UK – MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Full Award – 180 Credits): Year 1 (60 Credits) £2,760, Year 2 (60 Credits) £2,760* (*may be subject to inflationary increase in 25/26), Year 3 (60 Credits) £2,760* (*may be subject to inflationary increase in 26/27)
  • UK – MSc ACP Degree Apprenticeship – can be fully, or part, funded by the apprenticeship levy. Employers can contact the apprenticeship team for further information via apprenticeships@northampton.ac.uk

  2023/24 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Part Time: £890 per 20 Credit Module
  • UK – Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Practice: (60 Credits) £2,670 (1 Year)
  • UK – Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Practice: (120 Credits) £5,340 (2 Years)
  • UK – MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Top Up): (60 Credits) £2,670 (1 Year)
  • UK – MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Full Award – 180 Credits): Year 1 (60 Credits) £2,670, Year 2 (60 Credits) £2,670* (*may be subject to inflationary increase in 24/25), Year 3 (60 Credits) £2,670* (*may be subject to inflationary increase in 25/26)
  • UK – MSc ACP Degree Apprenticeship – can be fully, or part, funded by the apprenticeship levy. Employers can contact the apprenticeship team for further information via apprenticeships@northampton.ac.uk

  Postgraduate Master’s Loan

  If you are starting a postgraduate master’s course in 2021/22 you may be able to apply for a Master’s Loan through Student Finance England.

  Scholarships and Bursaries

  For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

  For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

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• Programme Accreditation

  Centre for Advancing Practice accreditation

  This advanced nurse practitioner course is accredited by the Centre of Advancing Practice. NHS England’s Centre for Advancing Practice has been established to standardise post-registration education by accrediting advanced practice courses that achieve the standards outlined in the multi-professional Advanced Practice Framework.

  Practitioners who have completed accredited education programmes will be eligible to be listed on the Centre’s Advanced Practice Directory.

  Programme accreditation from the Centre for Advancing Practice will bring a new level of consistency to the workforce and help showcase advanced practice within health and social care.

  Please be aware that accreditation with the Centre of Advancing Practice is only available to those students who have successfully completed the full Masters award, and not those who exit with a PG Diploma or PG Certificate.

  

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