Course Summary

This postgraduate course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to expand your practice and expertise in palliative care. This course will be appropriate for you even if you do not currently work in the NHS as it has the flexibility to be directed at a range of health-related areas.

The highly experienced and supportive teaching team will help you to develop a critical, analytical and reflective approach towards medical education and its practice. This in turn will enable you to undertake greater involvement in clinical practice and research activity using an evidence-based framework.

The course combines an element of teaching and independent study and includes a range of assessment methods.

Why choose this course?

GPs who wish to develop a special interest and nurses who wish to develop research roles will find this course particularly rewarding.

During the course you will:

• Benefit from the University's links to all the major clinical and academic centres in both Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, including the University of Hertfordshire and Cranfield University
• Enhance your academic capability and research methodology skills in order to meet your professional development needs
• Gain a high quality postgraduate qualification

Areas of study you may cover on this course include:

• Research methodology
• Project preparation
• Evidence-based medicine
• Ethical and legal aspects
• Detailed areas of study relating to palliative care

MSCPC

Assessment

The assessment strategy for the programme has been developed to ensure: mapping against learning outcomes and University of Bedfordshire Level M descriptors; appropriate alignment with learning and teaching methods used; relevance and application to workplace based activity of participants; development of a wide range of clinical research skills.

The assessment strategy is designed to encorporate both assessment of learning and assessment for learning elements and includes both formative and summative methods.

Assessment methods used will depend on the chosen pathways and special option modules undertaken but will include:

• Essays and academic papers


• Research Grant Applications and Extended Research Proposals


• Critical Reviews of Literature and Systematic Reviews of Evidence


• Presentation of a scientific paper


• Reflective portfolios


• Critique of clinical research activity in chosen field


• Extended case study(s)


• Research project


• Profession-related Project

Course Learning Outcomes

The programme aims to equip healthcare practitioners with the knowledge and skills to engage positively in a wide spectrum of academic activities. It will provide a firm foundation in the design, implementation and evaluation of clinical research activity in clinical palliative care practice to ensure best practice and higher education settings. It provides opportunities for students to develop these skills in palliative care.

Specifically, this masters level programme aims to enable you to:

1. Adopt a critical, analytical and reflective stance towards clinical research and its practice.

2. Appreciate the principles of evidence based medical care and to consider the implications for your own practice as healthcare professionals.

3. Reflect on and develop palliative care expertise from a holistic perspective.

4. Undertake an-depth review of an appropriate clinical sciences project which either has direct relevance to their work discipline or provides the basis for a future scientific project.

5. Develop of a range of appropriate clinical researcher skills and attitudes.

6. Foster innovation and ethical practice in research and development within medicine and healthcare.

7. Critically evaluate your own performance as a palliative care practitioner in the context of what might be termed best practice.

8. Develop specific palliative care skills.

9. Have the range of skills required to communicate effectively with patients requiring palliative care, carers and other healthcare professionals.

10. Become mindful and compassionate.

External Benchmarking

None.

Educational Aims

This programme is designed to enhance the academic capabilities including clinical research skills of medical and healthcare practitioners and to meet their continuing professional development (CPD) needs and develop advanced practice ability. The programme acknowledges the Report of the Academic Careers Sub-Committee of Modernising Medical Careers and the UKCRC which highlights the value of Masters programmes as a prelude to a doctoral degree and the opportunities it provides as a first stage of training in health personnel such as research methodology and ethics. This programme is designed to meet these needs and those of busy medical and healthcare professionals by adopting a work based blended learning approach, by offering a range of interim awards and ensuring opportunities to pursue and develop their own areas of professional and / or clinical interest. For staff interested in developing academic careers there is an option to develop medical educator skills as part of the programme. This is an innovative programme with no comparable programme available locally.

Student support

Support will be offered by through a range of means including contact with the programme manager, with module co-ordinators, with supervisors and the students own peer groups.

Team working

Throughout the programme students are expected to work collaboratively, in both face to face sessions (e.g. in small group work) in the online environment (e.g. peer group discussions). The importance of collaborative practice and inter-professional activity in both clinical practice and research will be highlighted throughout the programme which has a stong inter-professional ethos. Role modelling of best practice will be demonstrated by the course team who have expertise across medicine and healthcare, in primary and secondary settings.

Career Management Skills

This programme is explicitly designed to meet to foster the career development of Doctors in training, GPs who wish to develop a special interest, nurses who wish to develop advanced clinical and research roles and other health professionals such as therapist, chaplains, social workers who wish to specialise in palliative care.

The programme is designed to provide a foundation for those who are considering greater involvement in clinical research activity and to foster an evidence based approach to practice. The mentorship programme will enable students to identify their future career aspirations and to take steps towards meeting these.

Career/Further study opportunities

The programme is of particular interest to all health care and related professions seeking to enhance their professional development and career opportunities.

The programme will also interest those practitioners who wish to engage in clinical research activity.

Entry

Additional:

UG degree in Medicine / Health related profession with at least 1 year of full time practice (or equivalent) at post-registration level Healthcare professionals without a degree but who have a professional qualification with normally 3 years experience post-registration will be considered.

UK students Undergraduate entry requirements

Standard entry requirements for Foundation degrees (FD/FdSc)

A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.

Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.

• As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.
• Students who require a Tier 4 Student Visa cannot apply for our foundation courses. For these courses the University of Bedfordshire is not able to sponsor Tier 4 Student Visa applications.

Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.

We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.

Standard entry requirements for Undergraduate degrees (BA/BSc)

We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

The general requirement is one of the following:

• UCAS Tariff Score greater than 200, which should include either two A level passes or an AVCE Double Award
• An Access qualification
• Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate or BTEC National Diploma

Postgraduate taught courses

Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the  standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.

• UK/EU students application form
• International (non-EU) students application form
  

Students from the European Union

Entry requirements

As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.

We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.

How to apply

International students

• Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country. If you intend to apply to more than one university in the UK you should apply via UCAS. If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Postgraduate applications should be made directly to the University using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Healthcare, nursing and midwifery students Many of these courses are not available to overseas students due to UK immigration law in regard to bursary funding. Please contact international admissions to find out if you are eligible to apply
• BA Nursing Studies Level 3 (with or without Overseas Nursing Programme) is available to overseas students - please contact International Admissions by email at international-admissions@beds.ac.uk for further information

(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)

Course application form for international students

We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.

• Course application form for direct applications [PDF]

How to complete your course application

Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.

Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL)

APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.

Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `

The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.

We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.

• APL application form for International students [100Kb] updated 041007

What next?

Return your completed application to:

University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Contact International Admissions

T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk

Awarding institution

University of Bedfordshire

Teaching Strategy

The programme aims to model best practice in learning, teaching and assessment and draws upon a wide range of established and innovative approaches to learner support and development. This includes a combination of face to face and online learning approaches. The programme has a strong work based approach to ensure the programme is totally meaningful for each practitioner irrespective of diverse professional background and level of experience.

In particular the programme will include:

• Face to Face Study days wide range of learning and teaching methods including lectures and presentations, small group work, individual and peer group activity


• A blended learning approach whereby the student is guided to met learning outcomes through focused independent study including individual and group work, peer discussions, use of a reflective diary, use of online resources (such as the Universities Virtual Learning Environment (Breo), online / remote access to the Universities learning resources and other online resources


• A strong emphasis on reflective practice, particularly on the specialist palliative care modules


• A range of assessment methods closely aligned to learning and teaching methods and to the development of appropriate research skills and relevance to individuals workplace activity

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

None.

Students with disabilities

The programme is designed with SENDA guidelines in mind. The combination of face-to-face and online resources enable a flexible approach that aims to be learner centred. Where individual support needs are recognised, the programme team will work with others within the University to ensure that student needs are addressed.

Skills Development

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

• Effective communication skills are seen as being core to effective practice in medicine and healthcare and will be fostered throughout the programme. Written communication skills are explictly addressed in formative and summative assessment and will include writing and presenting for different purposes and audiences. For example, presenting a scientific paper, writing a research grant application, developing a patient information leaflet

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

• Students will learn how to work in an online environment both independently and collaboratively. They will be expected to demonstrate effective use of word processing, database and presentation software such as PowerPoint. Depending on clinical research interests some students will develop an understanding of imaging technologies

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

• Research yourself as a clinician throughout the course through the reflective approach of self inquiry. Every assignment is designed to support this process

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

• Constantly challenge your clinical practice for its efficacy, whilst being encouraged to think beyond the box towards creative approaches to clinical situations drawing on research and theories as appropriate

Improving learning and performance

The overall emphasis of this programme is on recognising current and future capabilities as advanced clinicians and clinical researchers. The programme encourages all participants to identify and address their own personal, professional and development needs and the flexible programme allows these to be met. The programme includes multi-source feedback, both written and verbal, ongoing and end point.

Progress files

You will be encouraged to keep an individual Portfolio to enable you to chart your personal progress this can be discussed with your personal tutor as part of your own self assessment and your personal development planning.

Professional standards

During the course clinical guidelines and documents from NICE, along with other examples of best clinical practice will be presented and may act as a guide when you are considering your assignments.

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

At different stages, you will be able to consider how many course learning objectives you have covered and achieved and how they underpin various aspects of your professional practice you are engaged in.