Postgraduate Taught

This programme has been designed to be highly flexible in terms of student choice. There is only one core (compulsory) module of Research Methods in Health, which must be undertaken prior to the dissertation stage. Remaining modules can be chosen from the wide range offered by Schools both within and outside the Faculty of Health. This flexible choice of modules allows the student to design a programme of study that matches his or her perceived needs for personal and professional development. Such choice would be facilitated, managed, and approved by the Course Director, to ensure overall coherence of the modules chosen within the programme. The programme is distinctive in that it is designed to be of interest to a wide range of health professionals and to those from other disciplines with an interest in health or health care delivery. Health professionals require both academic accreditation and flexibility when pursuing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and our postgraduate courses endeavour to fulfil these needs. This flexible course is available on a part-time or a modular route – up to 5 years. Additionally, modules can be taken as independent standalone units of study.

There are four Schools in the Faculty of Health: the School of Health and Rehabilitation, the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the School of Pharmacy. Each of these offers a range of modules at postgraduate (M) level, each of which can potentially form part of a programme of study on this course. In addition, there are a number of modules offered within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Natural Science with a strong relevance to health.

Although hosted in the School of Health and Rehabilitation, this course is a faculty-based programme and draws on modules from across the Faculty of Health and the wider University, encouraging and facilitating interdisciplinary and interprofessional education. The aim of this flexible modular course is to broaden the student’s knowledge and understanding in the field of health sciences, and encourage personal and professional development. It is also about fostering greater insight into how different disciplines, through a programme of shared learning and teaching, can contribute to this aim.

The course is open to a wide range of health professionals, e.g. medical practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, pharmacists and clinical psychologists, and those from other disciplines with an interest in health, e.g. psychologists, social scientists. Applicants should normally have a first or secondclass honours degree, or equivalent qualification, in a relevant subject.

Applicants should be aware that some modules which focus on practical clinical skills may require applicants to have completed at least 12 months of relevant professional work experience by 30 June prior to admission and/or be registered with an appropriate professional regulatory body. Professional indemnity insurance may also be required.

For students whose first language is not English, evidence will be required of successful completion of an English Language qualification such as TOEFL (minimum 600) or IELTS (minimum 6.5 with at least 6 in each sub-test). All applications are assessed on an individual basis. Applicants should ensure that their personal statements identify why they wish to study this course.

The MSc programme comprises taught modules to the value of 120 M Level credits and a dissertation of 60 M Level credits, giving a total of 180 credits. Students may choose to finish their studies after completing 60 taught credits (Postgraduate Certificate) or 120 taught credits (Postgraduate Diploma), or they may study any module on a stand-alone basis and obtain the relevant credits. The part-time MSc programme can be completed in two years, but students may take up to five years if they wish to follow the modular route. The structure of the course therefore allows flexible learning in accordance with individual student interests and needs.

The core module of Research Methods in Health will underpin the knowledge and skills needed to undertake the dissertation. Other modules may be chosen from a wide range available within Schools in the faculty, and within some Schools outside the faculty, thus meeting the needs of individuals to review and evaluate the scientific background of their own specialism and to integrate this into their professional practice.

Course Modules

For details about the modules offered within the Faculty (School of Health and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Pharmacy) go to www.keele.ac.uk/health/postgraduatetaught/individualmodules/

For a Postgraduate Certificate 60 credits must be obtained (choice of all options) and for a Postgraduate Diploma 120 credits must be obtained, including the core (compulsory) module of Research Methods, plus choice from option modules. For the MSc a dissertation on a topic related to the course must additionally be completed. Dissertation workshops provide support for students. An appropriate supervisor to support the dissertation process will be allocated from within the Faculty.

A small number of examples are given below of option modules (credit value in parentheses) which may be chosen from an extensive range of over 100 modules:

From the School of Health & Rehabilitation

Evidence Based Practice (15), Assessment and Measurement (15), Introducing Acupuncture (15), Principles and Practice of Joint and Soft Tissue Injection (15), Applied Clinical Anatomy 1 (15) Applied Clinical Anatomy 2 (30), Quantitative Data Analysis (advanced) (20), Physiology and Pharmacology of Pain (15), Dynamic Ultrasound Imaging (15), Concepts of Neurological Rehabilitation (15), Essentials of Manual Therapy Assessment for Spinal Dysfunction (15).

From the School of Medicine

Management of Patients with Chronic Diseases in Primary Care (15), Introduction to Health care Ethics (15), Reflective Practice (15), Principles of Gerontology (30), Health Service Management (15), Psychological Models – Understanding People’s Experience (15), Minor Surgery for General Practitioners and other Disciplines (15), Statistics and Epidemiology (15).

From the School of Pharmacy

Managing Palliative Care (15), Ethical Issues in Prescribing (5), Managing Women’s Health (5), Promoting Health through Community Pharmacy (10), Managing Depression (5)

For further details about other modules which may be chosen as options, please use the link below and then choose further links to visit the website of each School within the Faculty (e.g. Health & Rehabilitation, Medicine, Nursing & Midwifery, Pharmacy).

Availability of options may be subject to change in any year and other modules may also be available. Some modules involving practical clinical skills require UK Professional Council registration and professional indemnity insurance.

Accreditation of Prior Learning  (APCL and APEL)

Candidates can also apply for Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) exemption against option modules, provided they are consistent with the aims of the programme and are approved by the Course Director. Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) is also available for some modules.

Lecture sessions are led by a variety of experienced authorities in their field. Therefore, the student receives a wide knowledge base from academics and practising experts. Teaching methods include: lead lectures, tutor and student led tutorials, problem solving scenarios, case studies, presentations, computer practicals, small group work and the use of the Virtual Learning Environment.

The programme is assessed by a variety of techniques chosen to reflect the aims and objectives and teaching methods of individual modules, for example: critical review papers, essays, portfolios, presentations, interactive practical examinations, assessment in the field and use of the VLE (online assessments), and dissertation. The pass mark for all modules is 50%.