Advanced Clinical Practice, MSc, PgCert or PgDip

Advanced Clinical Practice, MSc, PgCert or PgDip

Introduction

If you're a nurse, physiotherapist, paramedic or other health care practitioner working in an advanced or advancing role looking to enhance your professional development and are based within travel distance of Aberdeen then our course provides a flexible programme in which to develop your knowledge and clinical skills. The programme is framed on the four pillars of advanced practice - clinical practice, facilitating learning, leadership and evidence, research and development.

Study Information

Study Options

Learning Mode
Blended Learning
Degree Qualification
MSc, PgCert or PgDip
Duration
9 months, 24 months or 36 months
Study Mode
Part Time
Start Month
September
Location of Study
Aberdeen

The provision of healthcare today requires a team that works collaboratively and utilises the strengths of the team to provide optimal patient centred care depending on their specific needs at the time. All clinical roles within healthcare are evolving and expanding. Taking on an Advanced Clinical Practice role will require you as the healthcare professional to develop new skills and knowledge harmonious with the four pillars of advanced practice (clinical practice, facilitating learning, leadership and evidence and research development), and to develop high-level critical reasoning, judgement and decision making skills.

We have designed a programme that delivers the range of expertise and skills that are now expected of an advanced practitioner whether they are working in the acute sector or health and social care integration services. The delivery of the programme has a blended learning approach including interprofessional sessions within the fundamentals of clinical method and decision-making courses. Please note that you will be required to attend face to face sessions at the University of Aberdeen Foresterhill Campus for these courses. In these sessions we invite patient partners to help support your learning in a safe, simulated clinical environment.

The programme offers choice and there are options for a research or more applied approach if that was desired. This programme is delivered in partnership with our NHS colleagues by senior clinicians and clinical academics from medicine and staff from PA, nursing and the allied health professions.

Available Programmes of Study

Students primarily enrol for the PgCert (1st year) then choose to continue through to PgDip (2nd year) and MSc (3rd year) subject to personal development goals.

MSc

Advanced Clinical Practice

Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month Location  
MSc 36 months Blended Learning Part Time September Aberdeen More
PgDip

Advanced Clinical Practice

Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month Location  
PgDip 24 months Blended Learning Part Time September Aberdeen More
PgCert

Advanced Clinical Practice

Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month Location  
PgCert 9 months Blended Learning Part Time September Aberdeen More

Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programme(s) above.

We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints. Please see our InfoHub pages for further information.

Fee Information

Additional Fee Information

  • Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programmes section above.
  • In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
  • For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our InfoHub Tuition Fees page.

Scholarships

Eligible self-funded international Masters students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Visit our Funding Database to find out more and see our full range of scholarships.

How You'll Study

Hands on demonstration and clinical skills teaching will take place on the Foresterhill Health Campus site and in your own area of practice. With the blended learning approach, lectures and teaching resources will be available online via MyAberdeen.

Learning Methods

  • Clinical Learning
  • E-learning
  • Peer Learning
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Assessment Methods

During the programme you will experience a variety of assessment methods including, written examinations and assignments, OSCEs, development of a portfolio including clinical practice assessments which will vary and be specific depending on the course requirements.

Why Study Advanced Clinical Practice?

  • The aim of this course is to provide practitioners with the required knowledge, skills and confidence to manage an episode of care for patients that may have very complex care needs.
  • The programme has been and will continue to be developed using the framework provided by the 4 pillars of Advanced Practice:- clinical practice, leadership, facilitating and learning and evidence, research and development.
  • This programme will enable the student to become a highly autonomous practitioner with ability to make clinical decisions and develop care plans that optimise patient care. 
  • The non-medical prescribing courses are accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council giving you the V300 award, required for advanced practice.
  • The programme is undertaken through part-time study to accommodate the parallel duties of clinical and academic staff and student. 
  • Face to face teaching including simulation will be delivered at the Foresterhill Health Campus, which is one of the largest health campuses in Europe.

What Our Students Say

Steve Costello

Steve Costello

Steve Costello

The lecturers are passionate about what they do and excel to ensure that you achieve and benefit from your time at the school, allowing you to take that knowledge and develop personally.

Charlotte Mcintyre

Charlotte Mcintyre

Charlotte Mcintyre

This MSc is essential to me developing the skills and knowledge to become a safe and effective advanced nurse practitioner. The support and guidance I have received has been pivotal to me not only clinically but also personally.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.

To apply for this programme you must be a registered nurse or allied health professional working towards, or in an advanced clinical role in healthcare.

Please be aware that within the programme there are study sessions delivered on our campus in Aberdeen and you will be required to attend these sessions in person.

Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.

English Language Requirements

To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

IELTS Academic:

OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0

TOEFL iBT:

OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21

PTE Academic:

OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59

Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:

OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Read more about specific English Language requirements here.

Document Requirements

You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.

CV
an up-to-date CV/Resumé
Degree Certificate
a degree certificate showing your qualifications
Degree Transcript
a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
Personal Statement
a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme

Careers

The PgCert Advanced Clinical Practice is the first step towards the MSc, the completion of which will enable you to attain an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) role within clinical practice. The knowledge and skills gained from this programme will enable you as an ACP to go on to consolidate your learning and in turn continue to evolve and develop the role of the ACP. Becoming an established ACP is to become an integral and essential member of the multi-disciplinary team that provides a professional consistency within the team. This will greatly enhance the patient experience and aim to give them timely optimal care. Career progression within healthcare for ACP roles include becoming Senior ACP and then Advanced Practice Consultants.

Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Our non-medical prescribing courses are accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council giving you the V300 award, required for advanced practice.

Image for useful fact about this Subject

1st in the UK for Medicine

The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition is ranked 1st in the UK for Medicine (Guardian University Guide 2024)

Our Experts

The programme will be delivered by an experienced, multidisciplinary team of internationally renowned educators, researchers and NHS staff.

Other Experts
Professor Rona Patey
Dr Jonathon Whitfield, Medical Consultant , NHS Grampian
Programme Coordinator
Helen Gray

Information About Staff Changes

You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time; please see our InfoHub pages for further information.

Facilities

Image for Foresterhill Health Campus
Foresterhill Health Campus

Foresterhill Health Campus

The Foresterhill Health Campus is one of the largest clinical complexes in Europe which includes the Medical School, large teaching hospital, the Institute of Medical Sciences and the Rowett Institute.

Get in Touch

Contact Details

Address
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX