Advanced Clinical Practice MSc

Key Facts

  • Level

    Postgraduate

  • Duration

    3 - 5 years Part-time

  • Starting

    February, September

  • Fees UK 24/25

    PGCert: £2,760
    PGDip: £5,520
    MSc (Top Up): £2,760
    MSc: Year 1 £2,760, Year 2 £2,760, Year 3 £2,760*

  • Location

Get in touch


For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK/EU Students enquiries

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

Overview


The University of Northampton’s MSc 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.

Professional Body: Centre for Advancing Practice accreditation.

Advanced Clinical Practice MSc
Advanced Clinical Practice Top-Up MSc
Advanced Clinical Practice PGCert
Advanced Clinical Practice PGDip
Apprenticeship route

Updated 15/03/2024

Highlights


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

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).

    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.

    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 five 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)
    • OTHM010 Professional Project (60 credits)

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

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

    Supervisor

    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:

  • Admissions to the MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice enables all nurse, midwife and SCPHN registrants OR Allied Health Professionals registered with the HCPC (including NHS, Self-employed or non-NHS employed registrants) to apply for entry to the programme.

    Admission to the programme is dependent on the following minimum criteria:

    • The applicant must be an NMC or HCPC registered for 3 years prior to applying to the programme.
    • Have employer support and protected learning time.
    • A current Disclosure and Barring Services check had been undertaken (for NURM114).

    The Admissions Policy for MSc Advanced Clinical Practice courses is in accordance with the University’s admissions for students, Equality and Diversity policies. It seeks to select the students from diverse educational and social backgrounds who can benefit from and motivation to complete the programme.

    The MSc Advanced Clinical Practice programme welcomes applications from those from a variety of educational qualifications and will consider on merit applicants with no formal qualifications.

    All applicants need to have:

    • An appropriate healthcare or bachelor’s degree with honours.
    • Must be employed within a health and social care related environment and be a UK registered healthcare professional

    or

    • Those without a relevant bachelor’s 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.

    As per the University of Northampton Academic Regulations where an applicant for admission to a programme is unable to present evidence relating to the general entry requirements, they may be considered for ‘special admission’. In such cases the Special Admissions Policy must be followed, which identifies principles governing the admission of associate students. In these circumstances applicants will be referred to the programme leader to discuss suitability for ‘special admission’.

    How to apply

    All applicants must be currently registered with a professional body (NMC/HCPC) and been registered for a minimum of 3 years.

    To apply, both you and your manager need to complete the WBL agreement form and submit the form with your online application. You are also required to present your manager with the WBL manager letter along with the WBL Agreement form for their approval. You can find these documents on the Master’s application guidance page.

    You can find information about how to apply for this course on the Health CPD application page.

    A current DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check will be required to access the Programme.

    For further information regarding this advanced clinical practitioner masters and it associated modules please contact Julie Holloway, Programme Lead, on advancedpractice@northampton.ac.uk

  • 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 Advanced Clinical Practice: (60 Credits) £2,760 (1 Year)
    • UK – Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced 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 Advanced Clinical Practice: (60 Credits) £2,670 (1 Year)
    • UK – Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced 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.

  • Centre for Advancing Practice accreditation

    This advanced nurse practitioner course is accredited by the Centre of Advancing Practice. Health Education 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.

Staff


Placeholder image for Tracey Ali, Senior Lecturer - Leadership in Health & Social Care
Tracey Ali

Senior Lecturer - Leadership in Health & Social Care


Faculty of Health, Education and Society

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Laura Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Practice Development - Nursing
Laura Elliott

Senior Lecturer in Practice Development - Nursing


Faculty of Health, Education and Society

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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


Learning Hub


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

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