Program Overview

Advanced Clinical Practitioner MSc

Overview

The MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner is a higher-level clinical apprenticeship programme designed and developed with local NHS trusts and healthcare providers in line with the Health Education England Multi-Professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice. This framework requires healthcare professionals who are working at an advanced level have developed and can evidence the underpinning role/discipline specific competencies and the associated knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to the clinical setting and advanced practice role.

Why us?

• The programme has been developed in line with the national requirements for Advanced Clinical Practice and in conjunction with local NHS trusts and healthcare providers. Using a range of learning opportunities both in the university and workplace, practitioners can develop, refine and consolidate their learning experiences as they develop the required competencies for Advanced Practice
• The University of Sunderland's apprenticeship provision has been rated good by Ofsted (July 2024)
• The programme is led, taught and supported by a range of advanced practitioners from a variety of clinical backgrounds to ensure the educational approaches utilised in the programme are both clinically current and embedded in clinical practice
• The University of Sunderland is 1st in the North East for how teaching staff make the subject engaging. (National Student Survey, 2024)

Course structure

Course content is designed to develop competency in the four pillars of Advanced Practice and to allow individual practitioners and ACP roles to develop according to locally negotiated competency areas where relevant.

Year 1 (Postgraduate Certificate in Skills for Advanced Practice)

• Core modules (adult or paediatric, or chronic disease):
  • Advanced Clinical Management Skills (20 credits)
  • Enhanced Prescribing for Health Professionals (40 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Advanced Paediatric Clinical Skills (20 credits)
  • Advanced Clinical Management of Chronic Disease (20 credits)
  • Advanced Medicines Management for Advanced Clinical Practice (40 credits)

Year 2 (Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Practice)

• Core modules:
  • Education in Advanced Clinical Practice (20 credits)
  • Leadership in Advanced Clinical Practice (20 credits)
  • Evidence-based Advanced Clinical Practice (20 credits)

Year 3 (MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner)

• Core modules:
  • Dissemination of Advanced Clinical Practice (40 credits)
  • Accreditation of Advanced Clinical Practice (20 credits)

Facilities

We use a hybrid approach to teaching by utilising our exceptional Sciences Complex resources, together with an online virtual learning environment. You can therefore make use of the excellent facilities and resources both on and off campus.

Entry requirements

• The programme is work-based and, as such, is subject to learners being employed full-time in an ACP position, a trainee ACP position or equivalent.
• Applicants must be employed by a supporting trust to access the apprenticeship programme and meet the following entry criteria:
  • Registered healthcare professional registered with the NMC, HCPC or equivalent
  • Employed in an ACP, trainee ACP role or equivalent
  • Hold a 2:2 or above in a first degree or have significant relevant recent level 6 study. Applicants who do not hold a first degree are invited to discuss their application with the programme lead prior to application
  • All applicants who are not qualified V300 prescribers, or HCPC prescribers must also meet the entry requirements of the Enhanced Prescribing for Health Professionals
  • Applicants whose first language is not English, must achieve a minimum IELTS score of 7
  • Have a designated educational supervisor who will support the applicant for the duration of the programme.

Fees and finance

Larger organisations can use their apprenticeship levy and government top-up to pay tuition and professional fees of higher apprenticeships. For smaller employers, the government pays 95%, with the remainder co-invested by the business.

Career ready

This programme is a key qualification needed for anyone wanting to become an advanced clinical practitioner or operate in an advanced practice role.