Professional Practice Health and Social Care, PGDip/MA

This programme offers professionals an opportunity to develop their practice by entering into the current debates within health and social care in a supportive and active learning environment. The core courses equip students with a deeper understanding of these issues and debates along with a high level of writing, research, critical reading and analysis skills that encourage the articulation of a variety of perspectives.

The programme also offers a selection of optional courses ideal for students wishing to develop practice within a particular career context. Students study a general route or select from a range of specialist routes. Routes available include: Generic route; Community Matron; Independent Prescribing; Mental Health; Midwifery; Safeguarding the Welfare of Children and Young People; Therapeutic Counselling; Cosmetic Medicine and Sexual Health.

The programme has three phases. On completion of Phase 1, the student can apply for the award of a postgraduate certificate in Professional Practice in Health and Social Care; at the end of Phase 2 for a postgraduate diploma; and for the MA after completing the third phase.

School

Health & Social Care

Location

Avery Hill Campus

Attendance

Minimum 2½ years part-time Maximum 5 years part-time

Entry Requirements

Applicants must be experienced professionals working in health care and have successfully completed a relevant undergraduate degree programme.

Assessment

Students are assessed through essays and reports that require an analysis of the respective issues within the context of their own practice, and a dissertation.

Career options

This programme enables professionals to examine their current practice in the light of contemporary relevant issues and to develop within a leadership role.

Content

Optional coures include:

• Ethics for Professional Practice
• Inter-Professional Working
• Introduction to Research Methods
• Dissertation
• Portfolio for Innovative Practice

Route options can be chosen from a range including:

• Professional Practice from a Generic Perspective
• Leadership
• Safeguarding the Welfare of Children and Young People
• Sexual Health
• Midwifery
• Community Matron
• Therapeutic Counselling
• Independent Prescribing
• Mental Health (subject to approval)
• Public Health (subject to approval)
• Cosmetic Medicine (subject to approval)

Compulsory courses for completion of the MA include:

• Research and Development
• Independent Work-based Learning Project

Your time at university should be enjoyable and rewarding, and it is important that it is not spoilt by unnecessary financial worries. We recommend that you spend time planning your finances, both before coming to university and while you are here. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.

Find out more about our fees and the support available to you at our:

• Postgraduate finance pages
• International students' finance pages

Teaching and learning outcomes

• Professional Practice in Health and Social Care, DipHE outcomes [PDF]
• Professional Practice in Health and Social Care, MA outcomes [PDF]