Professional Development in Health and Social Care
MSc or PGDip or PGCert
Start dates: September 2025 / January 2026 / September 2026
Full time: MSc: 12 months, Distance learning: 12 months, PGDip: 12 months, PGCert: 6 to 12 months
Part time: depends on the award sought and any credit already attained; maximum of 3 years (Distance Learning 24 months)
Location: Headington, Distance learning
School(s): School of Psychology, Social Work and Public Health
Overview
An ageing population and limited resources are putting pressure on healthcare systems. To be ready for the future, we need to change how healthcare teams care for communities.
Our MSc Professional Development in Health and Social Care is for professionals who want to become leaders in their field. At the same time, you’ll be keen to maintain clinical or professional practice and explore factors impacting health. Perhaps you want to carry out research. Or maybe you want to know how to use the evidence to inform practice.
You’ll pick one of two pathways: structured and unstructured. We’ll help you decide which is right for you, but the structured pathway will be a good fit if you haven’t studied at master’s level before.
The unstructured pathway is for students who want to build on their professional development. Pick modules from across the Faculty of Health and Life Science and choose the degree title you graduate with. It may even be possible to build up study credit from elsewhere to a full master’s degree.
This course is a mirror provision for a pathway in Hong Kong.
Why Oxford Brookes University?
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Two pathways
Pick from our unstructured or structured pathway. Pick unstructured for more control over your modules and choice of your degree title.
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Expert teaching team
We have staff from across continents who have backgrounds in nursing, management, public health and research. Your learning will be informed by their extensive experience.
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Diverse research
Our team is carrying out projects in everything from social inequalities and digital healthcare to nursing practice around hand hygiene.
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Focus on employability
We’ve designed this course to give you the skills you need to take your next step, whether that’s a promotion or carrying out vital research in your field.
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Work-based learning modules
You’ll put your problem-solving skills to the test by proposing solutions to real-world problems in health and social care.
Course details
Course structure
On the structured pathway, you’ll explore areas like evidence-based practice, leadership, and advanced health promotion. These areas are key for giving you the confidence and skills you need to take the next step in your career.
On the unstructured pathway, you’ll have the freedom to choose from an extensive list of CPD modules. A popular option with our students is Operational Management in Health and Social Care. However, you can also choose from specialist areas such as epidemiology, coaching, and children’s emergency care.
Whichever pathway you choose, you’ll learn how to design research to inform practice and policy. This includes carrying out a research project on an area that interests you. Because of our wide range of expertise, we support students on a range of topics, from leadership and management to community health.
Research
The course content is underpinned by the research and scholarship activities of the staff in the fields of consultancy, educational development, management education, leadership development, project management, and related clinical fields including health promotion, drugs and alcohol, and clinical trials.
Over the past few years, these 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, with researchers from the Institute of Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, and with research teams from many other UK and international centres.
Careers
Our students go on to leadership of small teams in their workplace as well as management positions in areas like strategic development. You’ll have skills that are in demand such as the ability to create a business case, use rigorous research methods, write policy documents, and more.
Wherever you decide you want to make a difference, you’ll be ready to solve real-world problems and shape the future of healthcare.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Entry normally requires a UK/EU first degree or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution. Subject to approval by Oxford Brookes University, equivalent professional or other qualifications applicable to health and social care can be considered under some circumstances, particularly if you are registered as a health or social care professional.
Evidence of recent study (within the last 5 years) at degree or equivalent level is highly desirable. Students who do not hold a first UK/EU degree or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution (taken within the last 5 years) OR students who have not studied at degree or equivalent level within the last 5 years will be required to write and submit an assignment which will be taken into account as part of their application.
Six months' experience as a student, employee or volunteer within the health / social care sector (European or International; public, private or voluntary) will normally be required.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
Please see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
International applications
Credit transfer
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.
International qualifications and equivalences
How to apply
Application process
Application for MSc Professional Development in Health and Social Care is via our portal.
Along with your application you will be required to submit:
- two references (professional/academic)
- copies of certificates of previous qualifications
- English language qualifications if your first language is not English
- confirmation of funding.
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
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.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
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
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.
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.