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Advanced Clinical Practice

MSc or PGDip or PGCert

Key facts
Overview
How to apply
Tuition fees
Learning and assessment
Careers and professional development
Why Oxford Brookes University?

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Key facts

Course code

MSC-ACP, PGD-ACP, PGC-ACP

Start dates

January 2025 / September 2025 / January 2026 / September 2026

Application deadline

1 August (for a September start)

1 December (for a January start)

 

Location

Headington (Marston Road site)

Course length

Part time: MSc: 3-5 years. PGDip: 2-4 years. PGCert: 1-2 years.

Department

Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery

Academic level

7

Academic credits

60, 120, 180

Accreditation(s)

MSC-ACP - This programme is accredited by Health Education England’s Centre for Advancing Practice

This course is not available to students classed as International for fees purposes.

Apply now

hlscpdadmissions@brookes.ac.uk

  • Health Education England’s Centre for Advancing Practice

Overview

Our MSc/PGDip/PGCert in Advanced Clinical Practice comprises core modules of study that facilitates and enables experienced clinicians working at the leading edge of their specialty, to grow their expertise across the key four pillars of advanced practice: 

  • clinical practice
  • leadership and management
  • education 
  • research. 
Two people sat across from each other

How to apply

Entry requirements

You must:

  • have a first degree, or prior learning at the equivalent appropriate level
  • have a minimum of three years' post-registration experience in clinical practice
  • be employed in a suitable clinical role, in the UK, with consistent patient contact that facilitates development of knowledge and clinical skills to meet the programme learning outcomes (for example trainee ACP/ANP or equivalent. Equivalent roles will have been mapped to the HEE multi-professional framework (HEE 2017) and lead to an ACP/ANP role as a result of completing the MSc programme
  • have evidence of current professional registration with an appropriate professional body, such as, the Health Care and Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council or General Pharmaceutical Council
  • have access to an appropriate clinical supervisor within your area of practice
  • have explicit written support from your line manager and ACP lead.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
Home (UK) part time
£1,210 per single module

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
2025 / 26
Home (UK) part time
£1,210 per single module

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year your fees will increase each year.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods, please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds, please visit our Refund policy page

Financial support and scholarships

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Learning and assessment

Our course has a flexible modular structure. You will analyse real situations from practice as a basis for examining underlying theoretical issues in Advanced Practice.

The award you receive depends on the number of modules you successfully complete. At any one time you can choose to study:

  • one single module (20 credits, level 7)
  • or two modules / one double module (40 credits, level 7). 
Group of students sat in a row looking at laptops

Study modules

The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip and PGCert awards your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

  • Advanced History Taking and Assessment (20 credits)

    This practice-based module enables you to develop the skills and knowledge needed to take a comprehensive patient history and complete a thorough physical and psychosocial assessment. It will enhance your assessment skills and your ability to accurately describe the patient/client's history and examination findings, using appropriate terminology. You will learn how to report deviations from normal in a succinct manner to colleagues within the multidisciplinary team.

    Note: If you only wish to take this as a standalone module (rather than as part of a long award such as an MSc), then you can apply to be a postgraduate associate student. Contact the Programme Administrator on aphls@brookes.ac.uk / 01865 48 8157 for further details and a link to the online application portal.

  • Diagnostic Reasoning in Practice (20 credits)

    This theory-based module aims to enable students to critically appraise the theory and evidence base that supports the use of diagnostic tests / tools in clinical practice.  With this enhanced knowledge students should be able to make efficient and effective decisions in relation to diagnostic tests / tools when assessing patients/clients health care needs, and planning their management. 

    The main medical sciences will be explored using on-line learning activities and reading. In attendance weeks the relevant medical science will be applied to clinical practice using a ‘case study’, which is explored using a problem based learning approach.

  • Advancing Professional Practice (20 credits)

    In this practice-related module students will have the opportunity to study the development of advanced clinical practice through an understanding of its history and influences on contemporary care contexts. We will explore definitions of advanced clinical practice, the four pillars, philosophy and ethics in relation to advanced practice and the concepts that surround the role. The nature of knowledge in advanced clinical practice and decision making in relationship to patient experience and outcomes will be explored. We will examine the political and legal aspects of advanced clinical practice and reflect on issues such as gender, power and control. Advanced practice as art/science, professional identity, collaborative practice and major theories will be explored and critical thinking will be applied to how these develop.

  • Applied Research Methods (10 credits)

    This module primarily aims to prepare advanced health and social care practitioners for practice-based research. This module therefore enables you to explore the variety of research methods that are used in health service and practice research.  We will examine both primary and secondary research approaches including qualitative and quantitative methods, clinical audit and service evaluation. You will be expected to identify a practice or professional dilemma consistent with your programme of study that may be investigated using one of these means and take this forward should you continue to the dissertation module. The module aims to equip you with the understanding and skills to take forward a realistic, small-scale research project of your own using one of the methods studied.

Optional modules

For PG Diploma and MSc awards

You will have the opportunity to complete three further modules from a list of options from our healthcare portfolio.

Final project

Compulsory modules

  • Dissertation in Advanced Practice (50 credits)

    This module enables you to design and conduct a small research project that is relevant to your professional practice and central to the learning outcomes of the master's programme. It is an opportunity to explore the professional practice dilemma identified in Applied Research Methods and to seek a viable solution. To complete the module, you will collect primary data, undertake secondary data analysis, and conduct a clinical audit or service evaluation. Students are allocated a supervisor for the duration of the module and receive individual research supervision.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Learning and teaching

Each module has an appropriate division between structured and / or blended learning activities, and private study. Opportunities for sharing existing knowledge and experience, and developing new knowledge / understanding and skills, are maximised. In order to optimise students’ contribution, from the range of knowledge, skills, and experience within the group, a variety of teaching and learning strategies will be employed.

You will learn through the following activities: 

  • seminars
  • skills
  • group discussions
  • problem based learning 
  • online learning

You will use self-reflection, the integration of theory and practice and interprofessional collaboration as part of your studies. You will:

  • experience a lively, challenging and supportive learning atmosphere
  • share your learning with peers and colleagues
  • consider how you can contribute to the development of others. 

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

Advanced history taking and assessment NURS7030

  • Practical Scenario Assessment (100%)
  • 'Evaluation of clinical skills practice' assessment (pass / fail)

Advancing Professional Practice NURS7076

  • Reflective essay (100%).

Diagnostic Reasoning in Practice NURS7031

  • Essay and self-assessment of learning (100%).

 Applied Research Methods NURS7061

  • Essay (100%).

Dissertation in Advanced Practice NURS7062

  • 10,000 word thesis (100%), or
  • Poster presentation and journal style article (100%).

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.

Careers and professional development

Students on the course are trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioners, employed in senior clinical roles in healthcare.  It is anticipated that students who complete this programme of study should be well-prepared to achieve career progression and / or function in an advanced clinical practice role within their area of healthcare expertise.

Why Oxford Brookes University?

We have a strong research profile. Our experienced researchers work in the following areas:

  • cancer care
  • children and families
  • drugs and alcohol
  • physical rehabilitation and enablement
  • interprofessional education and collaborative practice.

Our researchers have won external research and consultancy contracts including grants, fellowships and studentships for NHS staff.  

Our research staff collaborate with researchers from across Oxford Brookes University and from the Institute of Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, amongst others.