Advanced Clinical Practice MSc

The full MSc Advanced Clinical Practice programme at DMU develops the practitioner’s ability to appraise research, think critically, and prepares you to work further beyond the role of an expert clinician.

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive community. That’s why most of our postgraduate taught students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You will benefit from more regular assessments and feedback, a better study-life balance, and a simplified timetable that provides more time for work, professional development, caring responsibilities, and everything else that's important to you. Our block-taught courses are informed by industry practice, often accredited by professional bodies, and are delivered by passionate and talented academics, who will help you develop the skills to achieve your goals.

Overview

777ӰԺ’s (DMU) MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice offers a curriculum aligned to Health Education England’s Multi- Professional Framework for Advancing Practice (NHS England, 2017).

The course has been designed so that graduates qualify with advanced level knowledge, skills and capabilities across four pillars (Clinical Practice, Leadership, Education and Research). The course has been developed for experienced Registered Health Professionals (nurses, allied health professionals such as pharmacists, paramedics, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists) working in primary, secondary and tertiary health care environments. This course provides a thorough preparation for clinicians to enable them on completion of their studies to work at a higher level of practice.

Advanced practitioners are in demand across all sectors of the health service. This course provides the opportunity to study at the highly regarded School of Nursing and Midwifery at DMU, which has over nine years’ experience of delivering Advanced Clinical Practice education. The Advanced Clinical Practice Programme throughout this time has supported the development of nurses and allied health professionals to work both safely and effectively at an advanced level of practice.

The course prepares you to become an expert clinician and clinical leader and helps you frame compassionate education that builds and develops teams. On successful completion of the course, you will have the necessary skills and confidence to be able to influence the strategic direction of patient care, and enhance the quality and standard of care delivery. Throughout the course you will be encouraged to develop knowledge, skills and competencies commensurate of an enquiring and reflective clinician.

Teaching is provided by experienced qualified advanced practitioners many of whom regularly work in clinical practice and there are strong supportive links between the Advanced Clinical Practice team and our local clinical partner organisations.

You will develop to an advanced level; essential Consultation skills, competencies in Diagnostic and Clinical reasoning enabling you to have the confidence in managing clinical complexity and issues of clinical uncertainty. The course also provides you with advanced level knowledge of Research methodologies plus contemporary Leadership principles: their application is developed within the final module, where you will research and advocate a service improvement project within your own clinical area.

Our programme of study emphasises collaboration and innovation, ensuring you are equipped to lead and shape clinical practice and service delivery for the future.

Key features

Why choose DMU? This course is aimed at experienced healthcare practitioners registered with a relevant professional body (NMC/HCPC/GPhC) who wish to be prepared to fulfil Advanced Clinical Practitioner roles, upon successful completion of the course.
Contemporary education: DMU benefits from close links with Health Education England, the Midlands ACP Forum and Midlands Universities Advanced Practice Group, ensuring that we provide first class education that reflects contemporary industry standards in Advanced Clinical Practice.
An innovative educational programme: The programme will have two intakes per academic year (October and January). Each cohort will offer a prescribing and non-prescribing pathway. The Non prescribing pathway includes the opportunity to develop knowledge across a variety of post graduate taught modules that reflect your practice area or specialist clinical interest.
Develop your skills: Build on your existing clinical skills and knowledge becoming competent at delivering and designing advanced level clinical practice. Alongside this you will develop expertise in Advanced level competencies across all four pillars by studying topics of leadership, collaboration, management and applied educational theory.
Expert teaching: Learn from current Advanced Clinical Practitioners and senior guest lecturers, bringing real-world insights to your learning.
Immersive learning: Engage in learning and development across varied learning styles and strategies, these include: lectures, seminars, practice-based learning which includes simulation, plus case study presentation and discussion. The programme team and more widely the university has a strong focus on ensuring you as an individual learner have the support and encouragement you need to achieve your potential.
Career focused: The Advanced Clinical Practice programme team will be seeking accreditation with NHS England and have a strong commitment that ensures compliance with any future NMC validation requirements.
An added offer: In discussion with the Advanced Clinical Practice Programme team and dependent upon specific criteria there may be the opportunity for students to apply for the Nurse advocate or Professional Health Care Practitioner Advocate module free of charge on successful completion of your MSc ACP programme.

For further information contact

The ACP programme team:

E: advanced.practiceprogramme@dmu.ac.uk

Learning Beyond Registration Admissions team:

T: +44 (0)0116 201 3892
E: Katherine.sothcott-palmer@dmu.ac.uk

More courses like this:

MSc in Professional Clinical Practice

Advanced Clinical Practice Degree Apprenticeship

DMU has been shortlisted for the Postgraduate Award in the 2025 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), as voted for by students.

UK
EU/International

Start dates:

Prescribing pathway (October and January)
Non-Prescribing pathway (October and January)

Course code: B90085

Duration: Students are able to complete the programme part time in three to six years. There is no full-time option.

Attendance: Hybrid approach to module delivery this is dependent upon the module studied.

Location of study:

Learning takes place at DMU in Leicester, usually in Edith Murphy building, the Hawthorn Building or Heritage House. Locations will be given at the start of each module, and any changes communicated using Learning Zone (DMU virtual Learning Environment).

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

International students who do not currently have employment rights in the UK are not eligible for this course.

Entry criteria

Standard entry requirements:

Students need to have a current professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), or Health care Professions Council (HCPH) or the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Students must have approximately 3 years post-qualification experience.
Normally hold an Honours Degree or equivalent in a health-related discipline (Hons 2:2 or above).
If you don’t have an honours degree you may still be admitted if you have significant appropriate experience and can provide evidence of your ability to undertake the course successfully and benefit from it by providing evidence of continuing professional development that indicates your ability to study at Masters level.
You will need recent evidence of study at Level 6 (within the last two years).
You must have a patient-facing role and usually be contracted to work a minimum of 30hours per week in one relevant clinical environment with access to appropriate clinical support and supervision enabling development of knowledge and skills to an advanced level.
You must have the full support of your line manager. In order to be able to undertake this course you must be able to demonstrate the following:

Clinical support and supervision enabling development of knowledge and skills to an advanced level.
Your employer is required to provide day to day support by an experienced clinical team that aids development and professional growth commensurate with advanced level practice.
For the duration of the programme both you and/or your employer are required to nominate and accommodate a practice supervisor (Doctor/experienced ACP/senior clinician) that supports your overall clinical development and that enables your scope of practice and responsibilities to evolve over time. The practice supervisor facilitates completion of specific practice-based competencies; however, other experienced senior colleagues may also support clinical sign off for various competencies across the programme.

English language requirements:

IIf English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall is essential. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Programme Pathway selection:

As part of the university’s recruitment to the Advanced Clinical Practice programme, students are required to meet with a member of the programme at which time selection of the programme pathway will be confirmed.

Structure and assessment

While course details are accurate at the time of publication, updates may occur. We will inform you of any significant changes where possible.

Prescribing pathways and intakes

October intake:

October intake Prescribing pathway
Prescribing pathway
Year 1 Consultation and Clinical Examination, 30 credits. Clinical Reasoning, 15 credits. Leadership, 15 credits. Year 2 Research, 15 credits. Applied prescribing and Pharmacology, combined 45 credits: These modules are accredited by the following professional bodies: NMC, HCPC. Or Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing GPhC (45 credits). If you RPL a prescribing qualification into the programme of less than 45 credits: you will be required to select from the university's Level 7 postgraduate modules. 15/30 credits. Year 3 Advanced Practice Service Development, 60 credits. Each year in all pathways you will complete a portfolio of practice which aims to bridge theory and practice. You will be required to meet competencies that reflect the four pillars of advanced practice. The portfolio is designed to support your professional growth and development whilst reflecting the diversity of ACP roles and responsibilities. Portfolio, 1, 2, 3. Total 180 credits.

January intake:

January intake - Full MSc (shortened duration)
Prescribing Pathway - Full MSc (shortened duration)
Year 1 Consultation and Clinical Examination, 30 credits. Leadership, 15 credits. Year 2 Research, 15 credits; and Clinical Reasoning, 15 credits. Applied prescribing and Pharmacology, combined 45 credits: These modules are accredited by the following professional bodies: NMC, HCPC. Or Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing GPhC (45 credits). If you RPL a prescribing qualification into the programme of less than 45 credits: you will be required to select from the university's Level 7 postgraduate modules. 15/30 credits. Year 3 Advanced Practice Service Development, 60 credits. Each year in all pathways you will complete a portfolio of practice that reflects credentialing pathways and which aims to bridge theory and practice. You will be required to meet competencies that reflect the four pillars of advanced practice. The portfolio is designed to support your professional growth and development. Portfolio 1, 2,3 Total 180 credits.

Non-Prescribing pathways and intakes

October intake:

Non-Prescribing pathway
Non-Prescribing pathway
Year 1 Consultation and Clinical Examination, 30 credits Clinical Reasoning, 15 credits Leadership, 15 credits Year 2 Research, 15 credits. Select from key modules from the universities Level 7 postgraduate modules in order that you can meet your specific requirements and that best meets your professional speciality or interest. 45 credits (from 15/ 30 credit modules). Year 3 Advanced Practice Service Development, 60 credits. Each year in all pathways you will complete a portfolio of practice that reflects credentialing pathways and which aims to bridge theory and practice. You will be required to meet competencies that reflect the four pillars of advanced practice. The portfolio is designed to support your professional growth and development. Portfolio, 1, 2, 3. Total 180 credits.

January intake:

Non-Prescribing Pathway - Full MSc (shortened duration)
Non-Prescribing pathway - Full MSc (shortened duration)
Year 1 Consultation and Clinical Examination, 30 credits Leadership, 15 credits Year 2 Research, 15 credits, and Clinical Reasoning, 15 credits. Select from key modules from the universities Level 7 postgraduate modules in order that you can meet your specific requirements and that best meets your professional speciality or interest. 45 credits (from a selection of 15/ 30 credit modules). Year 3 Advanced Practice Service Development, 60 credits. Each year in all pathways you will complete a portfolio of practice that reflects credentialing pathways and which aims to bridge theory and practice. You will be required to meet competencies that reflect the four pillars of advanced practice. The portfolio is designed to support your professional growth and development. Portfolio, 1, 2, 3. Total 180 credits

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Academic expertise

The course will be led by Programme Lead Kate Sothcott, and supported by Joanne Steventon who are both qualified and experienced Advanced Clinical Practitioners, and who share a passion to support others develop into the dynamic role of Advanced Clinical Practice.

Anne Staines is a key member of the university’s Advanced Clinical Practice teaching team: a charismatic teacher with a strong focus on developing students know how in terms of clinical reasoning, Anne continues to work as a senior Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

Programme delivery is enhanced by the support of the University’s Senior Lecturer’ who are specialists in areas such as leadership, research and prescribing. Furthermore, we offer high quality visiting guest lecturers who add to the vibrancy and diversity of teaching staff who support the delivery of this programme.

Teaching and assessment

The course embraces a diversity of learning methodologies: you will have lectures and seminars that are both face to face and online, you will be supported to become confident inquisitive independent learners. We aim to build a vibrant, supportive community of learning where you feel empowered to engage, challenge, and develop Advanced Clinical Practice skills.

Topics are delivered through a dynamic mix of lectures, groupwork, workshops, and immersive practical sessions. These sessions will seek to on occasion simulate real-world health situations or problems, in order to challenging you to become confident in finding effective answers, approaches and solutions that you will face once qualified. Innovative teaching methods, such as flipped classroom delivery, peer-to peer learning in addition to activities that encourage your academic development such as: journal clubs, seminars, and writing, cafes are designed within the curriculum to foster both academic and personal growth.

Assessment methods, across the ACP programmes there is a variety of the assessment approaches, that are designed to strengthen your knowledge and skills of Advanced Clinical Practice. In addition to essays and exams, you will complete OSCE’s, presentations, reports, and practice-based learning by and completing a competencies-based portfolio. Importantly, this course does not include a traditional thesis, focusing instead on a “hands-on” approach to learning in which you will consider issues of service development. Through diversifying the assessments across the programme and including real world assessments we aim to prepare you for a career in Advanced Clinical Practice.

Teaching contact hours

Contact hours in a typical week will depend to some extent on the optional modules you choose to study, however, typically you will have up to seven contact hours of teaching.

Facilities and features

Health and Life Sciences facilities

DMU’s city campus offers a vibrant and accessible environment for living and learning. As students you will study in modern, purpose-built spaces with contemporary teaching technologies.

The Kiberlain Library provides a well-equipped study space with compute stations, plasma screens and extensive collection of resources. Nearby the Queen Elizabeth 11 Diamond Jubilee leisure centre features a 25-metre swimming pool, climbing wall, sports fall, fitness suite and dance studio.

At the heart of the campus, the student’s union hosts over 200 groups and societies, including 40 sports clubs and numerous volunteering opportunities. The campus also boasts the Food village, offering a variety of cuisines to suit all tastes

Library services

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our , e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Learning Zone, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live , online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our , and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Learning zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Opportunities and careers

Graduate careers

The course emphasises practical learning and employability, that as a graduate of Advanced Clinical Practice you can become an expert clinician, clinical leader and helps you frame compassionate education in order to build and develop teams. On successful completion of the course, you will have been given opportunity to develop the necessary skills and confidence so that within your own area you are able to influence the strategic direction of patient care, in order to enhance the quality and standard of care delivery.

Take your next steps

Postgraduate research students are nurtured and recognised by scholars and research leaders.

DMU graduates can benefit from a tuition fee discount, available on selected full-time and part-time postgraduate taught courses.

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