Join one of our online information sessions and find out more about postgraduate study at UWS.
Attend a Postgraduate Information Session
The MSc Advanced Practitioner Programme is designed to prepare registered healthcare professionals for the role of Advanced Practitioner. Advanced Practitioners are highly skilled autonomous professionals with the ability to make high level decisions independently, analysing complex problems in a range of healthcare contexts and settings.
The programme is contemporary and multi-professional, developed and delivered by clinical and academic experts. It encompasses learning across all four pillars of advanced practice:
Four distinct pathways are offered, based on the nationally agreed Advanced Practice Competency Frameworks (Scottish Government, 2021). Final award titles are reflective of the pathway undertaken.
The programme is delivered using a hybrid approach. There is in-person campus-based learning at our award-winning Lanarkshire campus, combined with quality synchronous and asynchronous online learning via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Work-based learning is delivered within the student’s own clinical environment.
This MSc Advanced Practitioner programme prepares students for specific advanced practice roles within a healthcare environment. Work-based learning (WBL) is an essential component and is embedded throughout the programme.
WBL takes place within the student’s own practice area, with the support of an identified clinical supervisor. Students are encouraged to contextualise learning to their own practice through signposted WBL activities within each module.
These activities are designed to facilitate the achievement of nationally agreed Advanced Practice competencies. Development and evidence of achievement of these competencies is demonstrated through the UWS Advanced Practice Portfolio, which spans the first two years of the programme.
Applicants should be employed in an advanced practice role or traineeship in an environment relevant to their chosen pathway. They must have access to appropriate support and supervision to gain the required knowledge and skills within their own clinical area.
Applicants will typically possess a degree or equivalent. In the absence of a degree, applicants will be considered on an individual basis with alternative evidence of academic ability considered in line with UWS regulations and at the discretion of the Programme Leader.
Current NMC/HCPC/GPhC registration.
Registered on PVG (protection of Vulnerable Groups) scheme, managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland (or equivalent).
Statement of Support from employer confirming employment in Advanced Practice role and appropriate governance and supervisory arrangements in place to support development of competencies within practice area.
The programme is values-driven; with care, compassion, kindness, integrity, respect, dignity, fairness, and empathy central to the teaching and learning processes.
Students will develop as responsible, ethical and resilient practitioners, equipped with the knowledge, skills and attributes to practice as autonomous and professional advanced practitioners.
The MSc Advanced Practitioner programme uses a modular structure encompassing learning across all four clinical pillars of advanced practice: Clinical Practice, Facilitation of Learning, Leadership and Evidence, Research and Development.
In addition to the modules, students will complete the UWS Advanced Practice Portfolio across the first two years. This portfolio allows students to demonstrate contextualisation and practical application of learning within their advanced practice role along with achievement of the required Advanced Practice competencies.
Students are admitted onto the full MSc. However, there are exit awards at Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate if required. Please note that PgDip is the minimum requirement to be recognised as an advanced practitioner within clinical practice. Students are eligible for PgCert on successful completion of the Year 1 modules and eligible for PgDip on successful completion of Year 2 modules and the UWS Advanced Practice Portfolio.
*This is an NMC/HCPC approved module, to be eligible to undertake the module students must be NMC/HCPC registrants and meet requirements stipulated by the regulators. Options are available for GPhC registrants and those unable to undertake an Independent/Supplementary Prescribing qualification due to prescribing legislation restrictions associated with their professional group. This can be discussed on an individual basis with the programme leader during the admissions process
£1,070 per module (20 credits)
£1,680 per module (20 credits)
£1,680 per module (20 credits)
£2,570 per module (20 credits)
The programme is delivered using a hybrid approach, where in-person campus-based learning at our award-winning Lanarkshire campus, is combined with quality synchronous and asynchronous online learning via our Virtual Learning Environment. There is work-based learning within the student’s own clinical environment.
Modern social learning spaces and clinical skills facilities within the physical campus, combined with state-of-the-art digital environments, support and encourage social interaction and active learning within a multidisciplinary student population through the use of group discussions, debate and simulation.
Students are supported to contextualise their learning to their own practice through authentic learning methods. These include simulated clinical scenarios, case-based discussions and work-based learning activities, which encourage theory/practice links. This contextualisation allows co-design of a learning journey that meets the programme learning outcomes and aligns with the student’s individual learning needs and goals.
Students are taught and supported throughout the programme by an experienced academic team. They will be allocated an educational supervisor/personal tutor, experienced in their chosen pathway.
In addition, students nominate a clinical supervisor at the point of admission. This supervisor will be an experienced practitioner in the student’s field of practice. They will support the students to develop and evidence competencies within clinical practice.
A range of innovative and authentic assessment strategies are utilised throughout the programme including objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), case studies, essays, oral presentations, digital presentations and discussion forums.
In addition to the module assessments, the UWS Advanced Practice Portfolio spans the first two years of the programme, allowing students to apply their learning from within modules, along with their evolving clinical experience, to demonstrate development and achievement of nationally agreed advanced practice competencies through work-based feedback and assessments.
The MSc Advanced Practitioner programme fulfils the academic requirements for a wide range of generalist and specialist advanced practice roles including:
Personal development planning is embedded within the programme. The UWS Advanced Practice Portfolio is the foundation for a career-long portfolio, where continued competence and development is evidenced to aid career progression to senior advanced practitioner, consultant level, senior leadership and management, research and education roles.
There is also potential to progress with further study. For example, PhD, DProf, MPhil, MRes.
All students should apply directly to the University through our online application system. Before you apply, you should check that you meet our entry requirements and you should have all your supporting documents ready.
The first stage of the process is to complete the initial application form. You will then receive a follow-up email with further instructions relating to your application including documents that you will need to forward to support your application, e.g. degree transcripts and certificates etc.
Most courses don't have a formal closing date, but they will close when they are full; apply early to avoid disappointment. There may also be funding deadlines that apply to you.
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) applies to all international students and researchers (apart from exempt nationalities) who are subject to UK immigration control and are intending to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects.
Students and researchers who are nationals of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the United States of America do not need an ATAS certificate.
An ATAS certificate may be required for certain taught postgraduate master's degrees for international students at UWS.
For the latest information on ATAS and details of eligibility and how to apply for a certificate check the UK Government's dedicated ATAS web pages.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
We will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.