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    Health Sciences - MSc

    Rapid changes in health and social care practice requires practitioners who can cope with diverse demands. Responding to these needs, our innovative MSc aims to enhance your application of specialist theory in a specific practice area to facilitate a higher level of professional practice in health and social care. 

    Month of entry

    • September

    Mode of study

    • Part time

    Location

    Subject area

    • Health and Rehabilitation, Medicine, Midwifery, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Social work

    Fees for 2023/24 academic year

    • Part time £4,900 per year.

    Duration of study

    • 3 years part time, 5 years modular
    Apply for Health Sciences (Generic Route) Apply for Health Sciences (Child Care Law) Apply for Health Sciences (Clinical Education) Apply for Health Sciences (Clinical Practice - Online) Apply for Health Sciences (Critical Care Practice) Apply for Health Sciences (Ethics and Law) Apply for Health Sciences (Ethics and Palliative Care) Apply for Health Sciences (Headache Disorders) Apply for Health Sciences (Heart Failure Practice) Apply for Health Sciences (Leadership and Management) Apply for Health Sciences (Mental Health) Apply for Health Sciences (Neonatal Practice) Apply for Health Sciences (Safeguarding) Apply for Health Sciences (General Practice) - only open to students under the Keele/GEMS-KIMS Initiative

    Why study Health Sciences at Keele University?

    Enhance your application of specialist theory to a specific practice area to facilitate a higher level of professional practice in health and social care
    All current teaching staff hold active NMC registration as either a nurse or midwife and have extensive experience as clinicians in practice
    Explore module content that is pertinent to the health and social care reforms
    Collaborate with students from various professions within the field to share knowledge and ideas to promote patient-centered care
    Tripartite collaboration and assessment facilitates planning of learning experiences to meet your learning outcomes

    Course summary

    Ideal for health and social care practitioners looking to advance their career, our MSc Health Sciences is aligned to recent policy developments that emphasise the importance of developing programmes appropriate to the needs of the future health care workforce.

    Our innovative programme encourages you to explore a variety of themes that underpin the delivery of excellent professional practice in health and social care.

    From education, a work-based focus, leadership and clinical management to evidence-based practice, research and professional role development, this innovative programme will enable you to acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of your profession, informed by current practice, scholarship and research.

    The MSc is grounded in professional practice and will offer the opportunity to create and interpret new knowledge through research and advanced scholarship, which will enable you to achieve the standards determined by the FHEQ for a master's degree (QAA, 2021).

    As you explore the various themes throughout the programme you will acquire skills in self management, critical reflection, evaluation, professional decision making and leadership to inform best practice and effect positive change.

    Engaging with work-based learning activities will also support the development and implementation of evidence-based practice - helping with evaluation and leadership of projects in your practice setting.

    On completion of the programme you will be able to:

    • Apply research to professional situations, both practical and theoretical
    • Solve problems in creative and innovative ways
    • Make decisions in challenging situations
    • Use a range of techniques and research methods applicable to your professional activities
    • Communicate effectively, with colleagues and a wider audience, in a variety of media

    MSc Health Sciences offers a variety of pathways, including:

    • MSc Health Sciences (Generic)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Child Care Law)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Clinical Education)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Clinical Practice - Online)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Critical Care Practice)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Ethics and Law)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Ethics and Palliative Care)
    • MSc Health Sciences (General Practice)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Headache Disorders)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Heart Failure Practice)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Leadership and Management)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Mental Health)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Neonatal Practice)
    • MSc Health Sciences (Safeguarding)

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    Our Expertise

    All current teaching staff hold active NMC registration as either a nurse or midwife and have extensive experience as clinicians in practice. Academics from other Schools who contribute to the programme are registered with the appropriate professional bodies (e.g. GMC, HCPC, GPC). 

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    Course structure

    The programme will be delivered on a modular basis, normally completed within five years or on a part-time basis over three years.

    Year one

    You will study two core modules in personal, professional development, evidence-based research and leadership and management. You will also have the opportunity to choose an optional module that is suited to your professional needs. 

    Year two

    You will choose a specific pathway that relates to your clinical, leadership or educational area of interest. As a result of the combination of generic and elective content undertaken, you will have developed the ability to align your new skills and enhanced knowledge to critically appraise, apply evidence and leardership skills to your area of practice. 

    Year three

    Your third year will provide you with the opportunity to complete either an Advanced Work-based Practice Project OR a Research Dissertation (if Research Methods in Health module has been completed). 

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    Entry requirements

    Entrants to this programme will usually:

    • Work in clinical practice, management, research or teach within a healthcare setting
    • Hold current first level Professional Registration with a relevant regulatory body e.g., Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
    • Be required to demonstrate success at Level 6 study

    Practitioners with extensive practice experience and no formal undergraduate degree will be considered for entry on the basis of evidence presented within their professional portfolio and discussion at interview.

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    Funding

    We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our bursaries and scholarships webpages for more information. 

    It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in this case, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.

    Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2023 start date falls in the 2022/23 academic year. Please see the 2022/23 academic year fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2023.

    Planning your funding

    It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.

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    Facilities

    The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences utilises modern teaching facilities, including skills labs and the anatomy suite where appropriate, to enhance and support the student learning experience. All facilities are equipped with computers, internet access and projection equipment. Rooms are designed to be flexible and can be used for larger groups, also more informally for small groups working together. 

     Learning resources available on the programme include: 

    • An extensive collection of materials relevant to postgraduate study held in both the main university library on Keele's main campus, and in the health library on the campus of Royal Stoke University Hospital. A number of relevant journals are also accessible online to all registered students and are accessible from anywhere in the world with a University username and password.
    • The Keele Learning Environment (KLE) provides easy access to a wide range of learning resources including lecture notes and presentations, discussion boards and blogs, enabling students and tutors to discuss topics, access information about the programme and modules, and access other materials designed specifically for particular modules.
    • Computers for student use are situated in both the main library and also in the health library.
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    Your career

    The MSc Health Sciences develops your role as a practitioner by equipping you with the in-depth knowledge and understanding to sustain a person-centred approach and deliver a higher level of professional practice in health and social care.

    You will graduate with a suite of skills including:

    • Effective self-management and leadership
    • Solving problems in creative and innovative ways
    • Critical reflection, evaluation and professional decision making
    • The ability to promote effective collaborative, interdisciplinary and interagency working practices
    • Engaging with work-based learning to support the development and implementation of evidence-based practice
    • The ability to use a range of techniques and research methods applicable to your professional activities

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    Teaching, learning and assessment

    To promote and realise an element of work-based learning, a range of strategies will be drawn upon in different combinations. The programme lead, personal tutor, module leaders and work-based facilitators, where appropriate, will take into consideration your prior experience in determining which strategies to implement.

    In your programme you will sometimes be expected to role play and engage in simulated clinical scenarios with other students, such as the practice and observation of practical skills in physical contact with other students. For some specific practices, this may necessitate modification of dress - e.g., to shorts and t-shirt.  These activities will be conducted in a professional, safe,  respectful and culturally sensitive way, under the supervision of academic staff, according to a defined protocol.

    Methods of teaching include:

    • Lead lectures
    • Workshops
    • Small group learning
    • Keele's virtual learning environment (KLE) will be used to facilitate online discussions, blogs, e-learning, conditional release tasks and access to a wide range of web-based learning resources and research tools

    Assessment

    A range of assessments will be used in the programme to ensure validity and reliability of assessment and to motivate learning. Regular 'compiling' of evidence of experiences and reflecting on what has actually been achieved, will be part of the learning process to diagnose strengths and weaknesses and identify areas for 'new learning'.

    Assessment methods used in the programme include:

    • Written assignments
    • Learning logs
    • Reflective accounts
    • Programme Agreement Plans
    • Practice reports
    • Problem-solving exercises
    • Oral/poster/video presentations

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    Keele Postgraduate Association

    Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.

    KPA interior

    Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.

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