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

Apply online

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

Apply now for your place

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.

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
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 Brighton and Sussex Medical School education module) (20 credits)
Leading Advanced Practice (20 credits)

Year 3

Research 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 Brighton 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 Brighton 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 (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)
Advanced Management of Heart Failure
Advanced Physical Assessment of Cardiac and Respiratory Systems
Advanced Respiratory Care
Complex Care Management for Long-term Conditions and Frailty
Health Law and Ethics for Informed Practice
Developing Expertise in Healthcare Reasoning.

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.

Flexible Learning Environment

The Flexible Learning Environment is an adapted home environment in a residential location 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.

AdClinicalPract-Facilities_-_Clinical_Skills

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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.

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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).

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 of Sport and Health Sciences.

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (Full-time)11,800 GBP

International (Full-time)15,800 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 full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Sport and Health Sciences in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

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 the NHS learning support fund.
- Overseas students are not covered by the NHS scheme, 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.
An initial set of specialist clothing and uniforms, where required, are included in the course fees.
DBS checks and occupational health checks, where required, are included in the fees.
Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 if buying your own copies.
In sport courses, UK-based field trips are available in some option modules in the final year. You do not have to take these option modules to complete the degree programme. Where a field trip is present costs are covered but you are expected to make a contribution towards food. Typically this is £50.
For sports courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your living costs and travel. Physical Education (QTS teacher training) students can claim travel costs to their school placement.
The school runs a number of day trips which students do not pay for. There may be some food and drink costs and you should budget around £30 per year.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

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 Brighton city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects – from 2024 these will include education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. Brighton 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 sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. New facilities are being developed ready for September 2024 when all of our sport and health students will be based here. Learn more about the changes at Falmer.

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 Brighton.

Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

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

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton 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. Brighton 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 Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton 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 Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also 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 Brighton 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.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton 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.

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

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.