Professional Practice BSc(Hons) top-up degree

How to apply

You first apply for a module and are registered for the degree on your second module.

• Online application guidance notes (pdf)
• 2025-26 Module timetable
  Includes module dates and costs
• Module withdrawal policy, with change/withdrawal form (pdf)
• Sponsor form (other sponsors) (pdf)

Course structure

The Professional Practice degree BSc(Hons) award carries a total of 120 level 6 credits. You will complete the following:

• Option modules (60 credits)
• Evidence-based Practice (20 credits)
• Quality Improvement Proposal (40 credits)

Most of the modules are taught over one semester. Some of them require practical experience for registration. Teaching and assessment methods also vary.

Visit the Professional Practice degrees blog to find out more.

Syllabus

You will complete 60 credits of option modules*. These include:

Modules

Core modules

• Evidence-based Practice

  This module will enhance your critical understanding of evidence-based practice in health and social care. You will develop the knowledge and skills to search for and critically appraise different forms of published evidence and make recommendations for using research, quality improvement, audit, service evaluation and grey literature in academic assignments and health and social care practice.

• Quality Improvement Proposal

  In this module you will prepare a quality improvement proposal around a topic linked to your expertise and area of practice. You will connect the themes and perspectives covered in your course to real-world contexts and develop strategies to effectively organise, analyse and evaluate information and data.

Options*

• Return to Field of Practice and Specialist Community Public Health Nursing

  This module enables lapsed nurses to renew registration with the NMC and re-enter registered practice as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse. You will gain the up-to-date competence, knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to maintain safe and effective standards of client care.

• Return to Practice for Nursing

  Return to Practice for Nursing enables lapsed nurses to renew registration with the Nursing Midwifery Council and re-enter registered practice. It will provide you with the necessary competence, knowledge, skills and confidence to maintain safe and effective standards of client care.

• Leadership and Managing within Care Organisations

  In this module you will explore various aspects of leadership within the care sector. You’ll get the opportunity to identify and analyse management and leadership issues in the context of care organisations so that you are able to achieve, maintain and develop high quality client care.

• Integrated Care for the Older Person (Level 6)

  This module focuses on integrated person-centred care in complex health and social care systems for older people living with long-term conditions and frailty. Areas covered will include contemporary and critical understandings of care and care ethics; shared decision-making, collaboration, coordination and co-production; integrated health and social care systems; and case management in health and social care.

• Care of the Acutely Ill Adult (Level 6)

  This module equips you with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to care for acutely ill adult patients. Specifically, you will develop the ability to assess patients, recognise deterioration and escalate concerns with the multidisciplinary team using a structured, evidence-based approach. You will also learn how to effectively communicate and work within a team.

• 12-lead ECG Interpretation (Level 6)

  This module will enable you to develop a systematic method of 12-lead ECG interpretation in clinical practice and understand the significance of these findings for patient care, including the differences associated with gender and race. You will also look at the psychosocial care of patients with a cardiac diagnosis from a 12-lead ECG and their families.

• Physical Assessment of Adults (Level 6)

  Increasingly, health care professionals are required to carry out in-depth physical assessments for their roles in clinical practice. In this module, you will develop the skills to conduct a holistic health history and physical assessment across the range of body systems, interpret assessment findings, recognise abnormalities and plan clinical decisions.

• Renal: Dialysis and Enhanced Renal Care (Level 6)

  This module will broaden your knowledge of chronic dialysis therapies and expand your skills in caring for clients with chronic kidney disease and kidney transplantation. It will assist you in effectively planning and delivering evidence-based renal practice in line with current local and national policies.

• Renal: Acute Kidney Injury (Level 6)

  Despite advancements in medical technology, acute kidney injury (AKI) remains common within primary and tertiary healthcare settings and is associated with high death rates and long-term complications. In this module you will explore areas including renal anatomy and physiology, electrolyte and fluid balance; haematology, blood biochemistry, AKI biomarkers, acute screening and acid-base balance; dietary management of AKI; and how to support patients with AKI.

• Emergency Care (Level 6)

  This module prepares you to extend and develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to care for adult patients with acute and/or chronic presentations and/or trauma injuries who require emergency admission to hospital. The module promotes the use of evidence-based practice in relation to emergency care clinical knowledge and skills.

• Work-based Learning (Level 6)

  This module gives you the opportunity to manage your own work-based learning, enabling you to actively shape your learning experiences within the workplace. This learning approach will help develop your skills in negotiation, collaborative working, problem-solving, critical reflection and fitness for purpose. You will use literature and theories to help understand and analyse your experiences.

• Health Law and Ethics for Professional Practice

  This module will increase your depth of knowledge and critical understanding of professional and ethico-legal issues with a focus on the rapidly changing culture of the healthcare system. It will support you in actively encouraging equality, diversity, rights and responsibilities and enable you to promote the interests of your clients, particularly when their rights have been compromised.

• Sustainable Healthcare Principles (Level 6 Classroom)

  There is an urgent need for more environmentally sustainable, financially affordable and socially responsible healthcare. During this module you will develop in-depth knowledge about the complexity of planetary health links to the healthcare sector and apply the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to healthcare practice. You will look at areas including climate justice, human rights and ethical issues related to planetary health and sustainable healthcare.

• Cardiac Arrhythmias (Level 6)

  This module will develop your knowledge of the causes and management of patients with cardiac arrhythmias, including drug therapies, devices and invasive and non-invasive interventions. Topics include anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology related to cardiac rhythms; principles of electrocardiography; the psychosocial care of patients and families; and sudden cardiac arrhythmic death syndromes.

• 12-lead ECG (Level 6)

  During this module you will develop a systematic method of 12-lead ECG interpretation in clinical practice and an appreciation of the significance these findings have for patient care, including the differences associated with gender and race. You will also consider the psychosocial care of patients with a cardiac diagnosis from a 12-lead ECG and their families.

• Child Physical Assessment (Level 6)

  During this module you will develop and demonstrate the critical knowledge and clinical and interpersonal skills needed to undertake a holistic physical health assessment of infants, children and young people for a range of body systems. This includes taking a health history, clinical examination, interpreting assessment findings and clinical decision-making.

• Physical Assessment of Cardiac and Respiratory Conditions (Level 6)

  In this module, you will learn to take a focused health history of the cardiac and respiratory body systems and become familiar with the tools, techniques and equipment required for physical assessment of these systems. You will learn how to interpret assessment findings, recognise cardio-respiratory abnormalities and study the clinical presentation and management of common cardiac and respiratory conditions.

• Minor Injuries and Illnesses (Level 6)

  During this module you will develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to care for adults presenting with minor injuries and illnesses within a range of healthcare settings. The module promotes evidence-based practice for the prioritisation, planning, implementation and evaluation of healthcare for these patients.

• Heart Failure (Level 6)

  The number of people living with heart failure continues to rise in the UK and they are supported by healthcare professionals working across integrated care systems. This module draws on content from the Heart Failure Specialist Nurse Competency Framework and explores the theory and practice underpinning the assessment and management of patients with heart failure, from diagnosis through to end of life.

• Coronary Heart Disease (Level 6)

  Coronary heart disease remains a major cause of illness and death in the UK and the importance of primary prevention and rapid intervention for patients with acute coronary syndromes is crucial. This module enables you to explore the assessment, diagnosis, management and interventions required for patients with coronary heart disease and acute coronary syndromes and study the evidence-based guidelines for these patients.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Course fees

The cost of the course will vary according to which modules you decide to take. See the module timetable on the Health CPD Modules website for further information or contact us.

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Local area

Maps

Support and wellbeing

Sport at Brighton