Advanced Clinical Practice MSc

Home
Courses by subject
Advanced Clinical Practice MSc

Key Facts

Level

Master'sPG MSc
Duration

3 - 5 years Part-time
Starting

September, January

UK Fees 25/26 >

PGCert: £2,830
PGDip: £5,660
MSc (Top Up): £2,830
MSc: Year 1 £2,830, Year 2 £2,830, Year 3 £2,830*
Location >

Waterside

Updated 20/03/2025

Discovery Days

Updated 20/03/2025

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

Overview

The University of Northampton’s MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice course aims to equip healthcare professionals with advanced clinical skills and knowledge needed to lead and develop complex evidence-based clinical decisions, whilst enhancing service delivery and improving health outcomes within Practice. Linked to the four pillars of ‘Advanced Practice’; clinical, education, leadership and research; students studying for their masters in advanced clinical practice will also benefit from learning with specialists from a range of healthcare settings, whilst ensuring patient safety and ethical practice.

Programme accredited by NHSE Centre of Advancing Practice

Highlights

Accredited Programme with Centre of Advancing Practice
Work-based learning
Inter-professional learning
Professional body recordable prescribing qualification

External view of Senate building at the University of Northampton, which is a modern building with cream features and grey roads surrounding it.

The big and spacious modern Senate building has various types of learning spaces, teaching rooms, our Bloomberg suite, Morley Room lecture hall, and cafes.

Aerial view of University of Northampton, Waterside campus featuring multiple modern buildings, a river, and surrounding greenery and open fields. Car parks and residential areas are visible in the background.

Waterside campus has everything students needs from: Learning Hub featuring 24/7 library, Creative Hub, on-site shop, restaurant, cafes and food outlets, multi-faith chaplaincy, student village hall, Students' Union and more. With only a short walk over the bridge into the town centre.

Internal view of the Learning Hub, showing barriers towards elevators and in the background the student information desk. There is a large clock on the wall. A person is walking through the spacious lobby.

The Learning Hub and Student Information Desk would be a student's first point of call when needing support.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must hold an appropriate healthcare or bachelor’s degree with honours.
Current professional body registration (UK registered).
Employment within a relevant health and social care-related environment.
Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years of experience in practice.

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

Upcoming Discovery Days

Discovery Days give you the best experience and insight to courses, people and facilities that interest you. Make your choice easier and come meet us.

Course Content

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 Advanced Clinical Practice MSc course, studied part-time, is designed systematically using a modular approach that 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 programme 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 Practitioner award consists of six compulsory modules (180 credits) which include:
- Advanced Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (NURM080) – 40 credits
- Diagnostic Reasoning for Practice (NURM081) – 20 credits
- Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (NURM114) – 40 credits
- Educating and Influencing Others in Healthcare (NURM079) – 20 credits
- Advanced Professional Projects (NURM110) – 40 credits
- Research Dissemination (NURM144) – 20 credits
The PGCert in Clinical Practice requires you to complete Advanced Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (NURM080) andDiagnostic Reasoning for Practice (NURM081).

The PGDip in Clinical Practice requires you to complete Advanced Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (NURM080) and Diagnostic Reasoning for Practice (NURM081), Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (NURM114) andEducating and Influencing Others in Healthcare (NURM079).

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:
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.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 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) £2,830 (1 Year)
UK – Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Practice: (120 Credits) £5,660 (2 Years)
UK – MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Top Up): (60 Credits) £2,830 (1 Year)
UK – MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Full Award – 180 Credits): Year 1 (60 Credits) £2,830, Year 2 (60 Credits) £2,830* (*may be subject to inflationary increase in 25/26), Year 3 (60 Credits) £2,830* (*may be subject to inflationary increase in 26/27). The fees quoted assumes students will be studying 60 credits each academic year from the outset over three years. However, the amount students will actually be charged each academic year will be depend on the amount of modules studied.
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

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.
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.
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). The fees quoted assumes students will be studying 60 credits each academic year from the outset over three years. However, the amount students will actually be charged each academic year will be depend on the amount of modules studied.
- 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

Staff

Senior Lecturer in Practice Development - Nursing
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Laura Elliott

Senior Lecturer in Nursing
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Jonathan Mounsey

Senior Lecturer - Primary Healthcare
Advanced Clinical Practice MSc

Julie Holloway

Further Study Opportunities

There is opportunity for those who wish to continue educational study and work at academic Level 8 on completion of the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice award, to register for the Doctor of Professional Practice or a PhD which are also offered at the University of Northampton.

Facilities

The Learning Hub is at the heart of the campus and home to the student information desk.

Learning Hub

The Learning Hub is at the heart of the campus and home to the student information desk.

Learning Hub

Related Courses

Is this course for you?

Discovery Days

What are you looking for?

Courses

Events

Staff

Advanced Clinical Practice MSc

Key Facts

Get in touch

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

Overview

Highlights

Entry Requirements

Upcoming Discovery Days

Course Content

Supervisor

Modules

Centre for Advancing Practice accreditation

Fees and Funding

Staff

Jonathan Mounsey

Julie Holloway

Laura Elliott

Jonathan Mounsey

Julie Holloway

Laura Elliott

Jonathan Mounsey

Julie Holloway

Laura Elliott

Jonathan Mounsey

Julie Holloway

Laura Elliott

Jonathan Mounsey

Further Study Opportunities

Facilities

Learning Hub

Learning Hub

Learning Hub

Related Courses

Is this course for you?

Share

What are you looking for?

Courses

Events

Staff

Apply Now