Intro

Our Advanced Clinical Practice MSc offers an exciting opportunity to become an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP). This course is open to experienced registered healthcare professionals wishing to advance their career at masters level.

This course supports health professionals, who are taking on the role of ACP, from multi-professional backgrounds such as physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy, paramedic science, midwifery and nursing in both primary and secondary settings.

Advanced clinical practice is an evolving level of practice enabling experienced senior staff working in the NHS and other healthcare organisations to develop their role or innovate their practice.

The master's level course is accredited by the Centre for Advancing Practice and aligned to Health Education England’s Multi-professional Framework (MPF) for England covering the four pillars of advanced practice.

You will conduct a research project including data collection or developing an implementation plan for a change in practice. This invaluable experience will enable ACPs to function at the highest level within the health care system.

The course team is multi-professional and provides specialist and advanced knowledge to students, while supporting them closely through partnerships with employers and mentors in practice.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location Falmer

Part-time 2–6 years

Accredited by the Centre for Advancing Practice

Course aligned to Health Education England’s Multi-professional Framework

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Applicants should:

be registered with an appropriate professional healthcare body in the UK (for example, HCPC, NMC, RCOT) and should normally have a minimum of three years post-registration experience.
be working for a minimum of 15 hours a week in a trainee ACP or ACP role with the backing of your employer or manager. Applicants are normally required to attend an interview.
normally hold a first degree. Applicants who have 60 or more level-6 credits or a non-honours degree meet the requirements if all 60 credits have been awarded in the last five years, otherwise they would normally be expected to demonstrate their ability to study at this level by completing a level-7 module before enrolment

Recognition of Prior Learning/Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPL/RPEL) is available to all students enrolled on educational programmes within the school.

Course content

Course structure

The course is part-time. Normally you will begin the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice course in September and follow the course pathways or routes in order.

All students take a core set of modules in year 1 before choosing between two routes: ACP research advancement or ACP service improvement.

The course is normally taken as 60 credits per year. Modules are 20 credits unless otherwise specified.

The structure detailed here is indicative as the course can be studied over a flexible period up to six years.

student taking another students blood pressure

Year 1

All students take three core modules.

Managing Complexity in Advanced Clinical Practice (ePortfolio)

One from

Advanced Physical Assessment, Pathophysiology and Clinical Decision-making (Adult)
Child Advanced Physical Assessment, Pathophysiology and Clinical Decision-making

One research module from

Research Theory and Application for Health Professionals
Qualitative Research
Mixed Methods Research
Quantitative Research Methods

In years 2 and 3, you choose between two routes: ACP research advancement and ACP service improvement.

ACP research advancement route

Year 2

Independent Prescribing (40 credits)
OR
Advanced Therapeutic Interventions Through Work-based Learning (20 credits) PLUS an education module (Health Professional as Educator OR a 91快活林 and Sussex Medical School education module) (20 credits)
Leading Advanced Practice (20 credits)

Year 3

Dissertation (60 credits)

On this pathway, successful completion of years 1 or 2 enables you to graduate with the Advanced Clinical Practice postgraduate certificate (year 1) or postgraduate diploma (years 1 and 2). The PGDip and PGCert can only be awarded on meeting the four pillars of advanced practice.

ACP service improvement route

Year 2

Pathway 1

Independent Prescribing (40 credits)

Plus one from:

Advancing Competency in Specialism through Work-based Learning (20 credits)
An education module – Health Professional as Educator (20 credits) OR a 91快活林 and Sussex Medical School education module (20 credits)
Advanced Therapeutic Interventions through Work-based Learning (20 credits)

Pathway 2

Advanced Therapeutic Interventions through Work-based Learning (20 credits)
An education module (Health Professional as Educator OR a 91快活林 and Sussex Medical School education module) (20 credits)
Advancing Competency in Specialism through Work-based Learning (20 credits)

Year 3

Leading a Service Improvement Project (LSIP) in Advanced Clinical Practice (40 credits)

Plus one advanced option module from the following:

End of Life: Principles of Care (Advanced Practice)
End of Life Care for People with Long-term Conditions (Advanced Practice)
Heart Failure
Physical Assessment of Cardiac and Respiratory Systems
Respiratory Care
Health Law and Ethics for Informed Practice

Facilities

Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite
Our clinical skills and simulation rooms provide an invaluable tool for assessment and monitoring students' progress throughout the course.

You will benefit from practising a range of skills in an environment simulating real-life professional experiences. Learning by simulation with our mannequins enables you to practice in a safe environment under supervision, so you can apply your knowledge and skills in professional practice with confidence.

Community flat

The community flat is a replica home environment where you'll be able to practise skills and learn from other students while taking part in realistic training scenarios.

Every room is fitted with cameras and microphones, so that students can be directed and monitored from the control room while the observation room provides the opportunity to review, playback and debrief.

student in the control room of our clinical skills suite

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Careers

Professional skills

Successfully completing our accredited programme will enable you to join Health Education England’s Centre of Advancing Practice Practitioner's Directory.

The course develops the advanced clinical practitioner in generalist and specialist skills, and knowledge so that the ACP is able to assess, treat, refer or discharge a range of patients in their care. Advanced physical assessment, diagnostic, therapeutic skills and knowledge are developed through taught and work-based learning.

You should expect the full support of your employer to progress your career to either an ACP role or consultant.

Placements
You will work and learn in your normal place of work as this is a CPD master's course.

students in uniform chatting over their notes

Accreditations

Centre of Advancing Practice
This programme is accredited by the Centre for 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.

Health Education England’s Multi-professional Framework (MPF) for England
The course is aligned to Health Education England’s Multi-professional Framework (MPF) for England covering the four pillars of advanced practice.

We are a member of the Association of Advanced Practice Educators UK (AAPE UK) which provides national guidance on Advanced Clinical Practice education.

Our course team are one of the first working in collaboration with Health Education England on an Academy project for Advanced Clinical Practice.

The following two modules are accredited:

NA7210 Independent Prescribing (Level 7) (meets NMC and HCPC requirements).
HE714 Health Professional as an Educator (Advanced HE (HEA) D1 qualification).

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (Full-time)10,950 GBP

International (Full-time)17,900 GBP

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international postgraduate students
Student finance and budgeting while studying
About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and (pdf).

What's included

Here you’ll find details of specific resources and services that are included in the tuition fee for our allied health professions students. To help you to budget for your studies, there is also information on any additional costs that you may have to pay or can choose to pay in addition to your tuition fee.

Find out how tuition fees enable us to support all of our students with important services, facilities and resources across the university and check out our finance pages for info about fees, funding and scholarships along with advice on international and island fee-paying status.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information.

What's included in your tuition fee

An initial set of specialist uniforms where appropriate.
DBS checks and occupational health checks.
Where health course includes a placement: UK students – travel costs which are over and above your daily journey to university and dual accommodation costs may be reimbursed by .
Course books, magazines and journals are available in the university libraries. You do not need to have your own copies. See the for an up-to-date list of key subject journals and databases.
You will have access to computers and necessary software on campus – and can borrow a laptop from us if yours is broken or you don’t have a computer at home. Specialist equipment is provided to cover essential learning.

Additional course costs

Where health course includes a placement: Overseas students are not covered by the NHS learning support fund. This means that any additional travel or accommodation costs for this course will be your responsibility. Travel to placement may be up to 90 mins each way/travel on public transport at peak time cost, and you may incur additional accommodation and living costs if staying away from your usual home base for the length of your placement.
You’ll need to budget for printing and stationery for personal study, and books if you decide to buy your own.
In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.
Many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices, but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from 91快活林 city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects including education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. 91快活林 and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes and the students' union shop and bar.

The campus has extensive sport and leisure facilities including a fitness suite, swimming pool, outdoor grass football and rugby pitches, sports hall, tennis and badminton courts, and dance and spin studios.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students, and labs and a strength and conditioning suite used by sport students. We’ve recently redeveloped the Falmer campus - learn more about the many facilities our students have access to.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine-minute journey to central 91快活林.

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Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

91快活林: Falmer

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
- Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls offer a range of rooms on our Falmer campus, minutes from your classes, and on the edge of the South Downs.
- Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Falmer campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

student outside the sport and health complex at Falmer

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

About 91快活林

The University of 91快活林 is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. 91快活林 is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the 91快活林 Festival, the Fringe, 91快活林 Digital Festival, 91快活林 Science Festival, the London to 91快活林 bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the 91快活林 Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in 91快活林 enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from 91快活林 to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Maps

Falmer campus

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our 91快活林 Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.

Sport at 91快活林

Sport 91快活林

Sport 91快活林 brings together our sport and recreation services. As a 91快活林 student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.