Course Summary

This course offers the unique opportunity to have your professional experience recognised by the award of up to 90 Masters level academic credits, through the Accreditation of Prior and Experiental Learning (APEL) processes. You may also use Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) acquired at other institutions.

You have the opportunity to build your own programme of learning that meets your specific learning needs with the aim of improving your employability prospects. If you wish to make an APEL claim against your practice experience you will be required to undertake an APEL Portfolio.

All students accessing this course will be expected to complete a Personal Development Planning (PDP) learning contract to demonstrate how their chosen units relate to their personal and professional development.

Why choose this course?

As part of this course, you are expected to complete a learning contract that actively engages you in the process of PDP. The units you select will be specifically related to your career development. After completing this course, you may wish to progress into the following areas: senior roles in health and social care environments, specialist practioner roles, teaching roles, research, consultancy and health/social service management.

During the course you will:

• Benefit from a course offered in a flexible format
• Be able to follow your own subject discipline
• Be able to gain credit for your professional experiences

Areas of study you may cover on this course include:

• Assessment and diagnostic skills
• Assessing and evaluating performance
• Examination of the newborn
• Human factors, environment and design in patient safety
• Influencing people and organisations
• Managing multiple health needs
• Nurse and midwife independent and supplementary prescribing
• Patient safety
• Project management in health and social care
• Supervising learning and development
• Leadership healthcare practice

MSHST

Assessment

Due to the nature of this course you will be exposed to a variety of assessment methods that have been designed specifically to assess skills development and demonstrate the learning outcomes of the individual units. These include portfolios, learning contracts, exams, practicals, essays, reports, poster presentations. These will help to prepare you for a range of activities once you have completed the course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Postgraduate Certificate in Health Studies

Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to:

1. Accurately assess your personal and professional development needs and take the lead in managing these needs.

2. Work collaboratively with your personal tutor in managing the pathway you have chosen.

3. Evaluate and select appropriate evidence that demonstrates a depth of knowledge and systematic understanding of what underpins your professional role.

Postgraduate Diploma in Health Studies

Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to:

1. Accurately assess your personal and professional development needs and take the lead in managing these needs.

2. Work collaboratively with your personal tutor in managing the pathway you have chosen.

3. Evaluate and select appropriate evidence that demonstrates a depth of knowledge and systematic understanding of what underpins your professional role.

4. Establish the critical features of your experience and justify the recognition of this experience as a health / social care professional.

5. Demonstrate a professional and positive attitude towards personal and professional development.

Master of Science in Health Studies

Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to:

1. Accurately assess your personal and professional development needs and take the lead in managing these needs.

2. Work collaboratively with your personal tutor in managing the pathway you have chosen to achieve the MSc Health Studies.

3. Evaluate and select appropriate evidence that demonstrates a depth of knowledge and systematic understanding of what underpins your professional role.

3. Establish the critical features of your experience and justify the recognition of this experience as a health / social care professional.

4. Demonstrate a professional and positive attitude towards personal and professional development.

5. Evaluate your overall approach to your development as a result of this course, demonstrating creativity in how you approach and meet your learning and development needs.

6. Undertake an extensive dissertation project that has relevance to you role and your personal and professional development.

External Benchmarking

There are no subject specific external benchmarks relating to this course though the philosophy underpinning the course builds upon the Knowledge and Skills Framework for continuing professional development (Department of Health, 2004).

Educational Aims

Key to the MSc Health Studies is the recognition of relevant professional experience and personal and professional development planning.

Postgraduate Certificate in Health Studies

The aims of this course are to:

• Promote relevant and meaningful learning that reflects the development needs of professionals within health and social care environments


• Provide a supportive educational environment in which participants can apply the evidence based knowledge and skills acquired on the course to enhance their personal and professional effectiveness


• Enhance participants capacity to independently evaluate relevant research and practice including the ability to synthesize information from a range of sources and the capacity to deal with complexity, contradictions and gaps in the current evidence base

Postgraduate Diploma in Health Studies

The aims of this course are to:

• Promote relevant and meaningful learning that reflects the development needs of professionals within health and social care environments


• Provide a supportive educational environment in which participants can apply the evidence based knowledge and skills acquired on the course to enhance their personal and professional effectiveness


• Enhance participants capacity to independently evaluate relevant research and practice including the ability to synthesize information from a range of sources and the capacity to deal with complexity, contradictions and gaps in the current evidence base


• Facilitate the establishment of future learning and professional development goals


• Foster the development of leadership skills to enhance the quality of practice

Master of Science in Health Studies

The aims of this course are to:

• Promote relevant and meaningful learning that reflects the development needs of professionals within health and social care environments


• Provide a supportive educational environment in which participants can apply the evidence based knowledge and skills acquired on the course to enhance their personal and professional effectiveness


• Enhance participants capacity to independently evaluate relevant research and practice including the ability to synthesize information from a range of sources and the capacity to deal with complexity, contradictions and gaps in the current evidence base


• Facilitate the establishment of future learning and professional development goals


• Equip participants with the skills to complete a substantial piece of work which they can use to drive change to enhance the quality of service provision in their area of practice

Student support

Students will have access to all student support services from with in the University. In addition to this students will be allocated a personal tutor who will assist them in either completing their APEL claim or accessing units that are most suitable for meeting their learning needs. They will also have access to a BREO site that will give them further guidance.

Team working

Team working is promoted throughout the M level units that you will be able to access. You will be actively involved in group work and be encouraged to develop relationships with staff and your peers that facilitate your learning.

Career Management Skills

Students will be actively encouraged to participate in the development of their career management skills and will take the lead on accessing the Centre for Personal and Careers development. Students will undertake a self-assessment to identify their strengths, interests and development needs in relation to external criteria e.g. the requirements of an occupation, employer organisation or industry sector. Students will be exposed to the SOAR process in the learning contract unit.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

All students are expected to complete a learning contract that actively engages them in the process of PDP. The units they select will be specifically related to their career development.

On completing this course students are likely to progress into the following areas:

• Senior roles in health and social care environments


• Specialist practitioner roles


• Teaching roles


• Research


• Consultancy


• Health / social service management

Further study:

This course will facilitate the acquisition of skills to enable future PDP and identification of learning needs and opportunities.

Entry

Additional:

Relevant professional experience with evidence of study at diploma and or degree level.

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 units available to you offer a range of different teaching strategies in order to meet the learning needs of a diverse range of students. These strategies include lectures, seminars, group work, e-learning, practicals, case studies, learning contract and portfolio development. This ensures that all students have the opportunity to learn in an environment that suits their learning style.

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

NA

Students with disabilities

Students will have access to Student Services and will be encouraged to actively seek any assistance they require in order to have needs met in relation to a disability they may have. Students will be able to access further advice and support from the Disability Advice Team and from the Disabilities BREO site.

Skills Development

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

• Work collaboratively with your personal tutor and peers


• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to achieve the outcomes of your assignments


• Show accurate and fluent use of language in presenting information

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

• Use recommended databases to access information


• Produce written and verbal assignments


• Carry out effective internet and database searching and referencing

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

• Independently evaluate research and associated methodologies


• Synthesise information from relevant sources

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

• Autonomously synthesise information and ideas and propose new hypotheses


• Create new approaches to ideas


• Respond to problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge

Improving learning and performance

The ethos underpinning this course is one of personalised learning. Personalised learner development is a key feature of the Universitys distinctive curriculum, the purpose of which is to develop the identity of the learner, their self-awareness and their preparedness for future opportunities.

In order to meet the ethos of personalised learning the course teams strategy for engaging you in your own learning and development and for making you more aware of how you learn, is as follows:

• Students will be given formative and summative feedback on their continuing development and will be encouraged to reflect on their progress. This will engage students in the process of using assessment feedback


• Students will be actively involved in the assessment process particularly in relation to the learning contract unit


• Students will be given greater responsibility for their own development. This process will be supported by a personal tutor


• The personal tutor will play a key role in facilitating the student in identifying units of study that meet their learning needs and / or against which they can make an APEL


• Study skills will be developed throughout the course but more specifically with the use of the learning contract unit

Progress files

A progress file will be kept on each student outlining their progression on the MSc Health Studies. This will take the form of a summary of the progression in meeting the learning outcomes identified in the learning contract. This will be implemented through the personal tutor system.

Professional standards

Professional attitudes are important to enable engagement in the world beyond the University. It is expected therefore that you will adopt behaviours and attitudes that reflect a sense of professionalism in how you approach different learning opportunities and situations. In return the course team will respond positively towards this.

The student and staff are therefore expected to do the following:

Student

• Be punctual for session and tutorials


• Respect the learning environment and others in the group


• Inform the course lead or personal tutor if you are unable to attend a class or tutorial meeting


• Take the lead in your learning and development


• Follow University policies and procedures especially in relation to the writing and submission of assessments

Staff

• Inform the student in advance if you need to cancel a session or tutorial


• Respond to email within 5 working days unless on leave


• Ensure assessment results are published on the expected date


• Promote a learning environment that facilitates mutual respect

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

Students will be introduced to the concept of professional standards in their induction programme and will have the above outlined to them. Adherence to these standards will be monitored by the course leader who will liaise with the unit leaders. If there are any issues that need to be addressed the personal tutor will be informed and will document this in the students progress file and contact the student to discuss the issues further. The student will be offered support to address the issues. However any persistent non-adherence to these professional standards may result in the student being discontinued from the course.