Advanced Clinical Practice MSc
Study level: Postgraduate
This master’s course aims to provide continuing professional development for a range of healthcare professions and is rooted in the Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice (HEE, 2017).
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Coventry University (Vauxhall, London)
Study mode
Part-time
Duration
3 years part-time
Course code
HLST221 (various - see overview section)
Start date
September 2023
January 2024
Course overview
This course is designed to enhance your ability to work across clinical teams and take on leadership responsibilities in multi-disciplinary roles, and ultimately enhance the care provided for patients.
You will have the chance to utilise evidence and research to shape your practice and current and future healthcare delivery through innovation and change.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
This course is aimed at experienced healthcare practitioners registered with a relevant professional body (NMC/HCPC/GPharmC) who wish to be prepared to fulfil specific Advanced Clinical Practitioner roles, upon successfully completing the course.
Successful completion of the course will prepare you to:
- Become expert clinicians and clinical leaders - educating, developing and building teams.
- Enhance the quality and standard of patient care
- Influence the strategic direction of patient care within your own field of practice
- Develop into an enquiring and reflective clinician.
The Advanced Clinical Practice MSc is approved and supported through Health Education England, working across the West Midlands, the West Midlands ACP Forum and West Midlands Universities Advanced Practice Group.
You can study this degree via the following pathways:
- HLST221 Advanced Clinical Practice MSc (Integrated Care Pathway)
- HLST223 Advanced Clinical Practice MSc (Urgent and Emergency Care Pathway)
- HLST226 Advanced Clinical Practice MSc (Generic Pathway)
- HLST213 Advanced Clinical Practice MSc (General Pathway)
- HLST215 Advanced Clinical Practice MSc (Musculoskeletal Pathway)
- HLST217 Advanced Clinical Practice MSc (Neonatal Pathway)
- HLST219 Advanced Clinical Practice MSc (Children and Young People Pathway)
- HLST249 Advanced Clinical Practice MSc (Mental Health Pathway)
- HLST277 Advanced Clinical Practice MSc (Mental Health Non-prescribing Pathway)
It is also available as a Level 7 apprenticeship, which some NHS Trusts fund through the apprenticeship levy.
Memberships
Members of Association of Advanced Practice Educators (AAPE).
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Medicine modules (and independent prescribing last year too!). Both modules were interesting and challenging in equal measure, delivered by passionate, credible lecturers. I've been lucky enough to study at a few universities now, and I have to say I would recommend Coventry to all my healthcare colleagues.

What you'll study
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
A wide range of educationally transformative learning opportunities are designed to develop clinical practice and other skills. These include simulation, role-specific work-based learning utilising expertise from the breadth of clinical practice and up-to-date approaches including problem-based scenarios from the real world of practice.
Inter-professional and collaborative experiences are at the heart of the course. The development in the final year of a proposal for a service improvement project will give you the opportunity to develop project leadership skills. The importance of effective supervision/mentorship in practice is afforded high priority and emphasis since it is crucial in helping you to apply theory to practice.
Teaching contact hours
One day taught/attended session per week at the Coventry campus for three 13-week terms per year.
Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 12-16 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Assessment
Assessment methods are varied and may include:
- Essays
- Observed Simulated Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
- Video/audio logs
- Portfolio viva
- Case presentations
- Simulated consultations
- Poster defence
- Project reports.
They are designed to give you the opportunity to measure effective safe clinical practice, while also delivering practical skills in presentation and engagement with colleagues. Together they can feed forward into your ongoing growth and development.
The creation of an individual practice portfolio, feeds throughout the course demonstrating advanced clinical practice competence, capability and expertise within your specific field of practice.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.
Fees and funding
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK | Not available | £11,200 (part-time total fee) |
EU | Not available | Not available |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Careers and opportunities
Graduates typically progress into Advanced Clinical Practitioner roles in a range of settings in primary/secondary/tertiary care, in the NHS and some private services.
How to apply
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UK students
Part-time students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Complete your application form to get started.
Open application formFor questions regarding study and admissions please contact the HLS CPD Admissions Team:
+44(0)24 7765 5158
+44(0)24 7765 5989
+44(0)24 7765 7142
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Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and international opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.