Advanced Clinical Practice MSc

Course overview

This programme is for experienced practitioners, such as nurses, pharmacists, radiographers, audiologists, cardiac physiologists, ambulance staff and midwives, who have clinical practice access with patient management responsibilities.

It’s designed to support the development of experienced, registered health and care practitioners to a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making. This master’s level award encompasses the four pillars of clinical practice:

• Clinical practice.
• Leadership and management.
• Education.
• Research.

Advanced Clinical Practice embodies the ability to manage clinical care in partnership with individuals, families and carers. It includes the analysis and synthesis of complex problems across a range of settings, enabling innovative solutions to enhance people’s healthcare experience and improve outcomes. Practitioners will also be able to demonstrate core capabilities and area specific clinical competence.

The aim of this programme is to provide healthcare practitioners with the knowledge and skills for advanced clinical practice that will enable them to function competently in:

• Providing effective healthcare.
• Improving the quality and health outcomes.
• Evaluation and research.
• Leading and developing practice.
• Developing self and others.
• Working across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Innovation and changing practice.

The School of Healthcare is one of the largest multi-professional health schools in the country. You’ll have the opportunity to study in a research-intensive university, alongside those with whom you’ll work in clinical practice.

The programme leader is Ian Goulden: i.goulden@leeds.ac.uk

Course details

The Masters in Advanced Clinical Practice course has three compulsory modules focusing on advancing practice, innovation and research. The programme will comprise 75 compulsory credits and 105 optional credits. The programme should be completed in two to three years.

Optional modules are focused on developing knowledge and skills for advanced clinical practice.

N.B. Some modules may not deliver every year, and some may have specific entry criteria.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Advanced Clinical Practice MSc in the course catalogue

Year 2 compulsory modules

Learning and teaching

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

The programme aims to keep the assessment load at a manageable level whilst ensuring that students are adequately prepared for the role. As such whenever possible, assessment methods will support day to day practice and will test/exam practice applicable knowledge and skills. The aim is for the assessment to be of use within the workplace as well as providing evidence that you have achieved the learning outcomes for the module.

A range of assessment methods are used in the various modules that will make up this programme. Assessments will depend to a large extent on the optional modules selected. Alongside the academic components of the programme you will complete an e-portfolio to confirm achievement of the required ACP knowledge. skills and behaviours.

Applying

Entry requirements

Applicants must:

• Be a currently practising registered healthcare practitioner.
• Hold a degree in a health-related discipline. Normally this will be an Honours degree at 2:1 classification or above. However individual consideration will be given to suitable applicants who do not have an Honours degree or who do not have a 2:1 classification).
• Be in employment as a trainee advanced clinical practitioner or be in a role in which the programme outcomes can be achieved (please contact the programme leader for advice).
• Have a satisfactory application and interview.

Student selection

Eligible students will be interviewed either as part of their employer’s recruitment process or separately within the University.

English language requirements

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Application deadline

We traditionally accept applications up to the end of July for September intakes and the end of November for January intakes.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Admissions policy

Taught Admissions Policy 2025-26

This course is taught by

School of Healthcare

Contact us

School of Healthcare Admissions Team

Email: admissions@healthcare.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £14,250 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

There is no external funding available for this programme. It must be either self or employer funded.

Career opportunities

This programme is a workforce training programme rather than a traditional MSc. This means that the course provides a excellent spingboard for:

• science graduates looking for an opportunity to pursue a career in industry, clinical service or a related discipline, go on to do doctoral research or enter academic medicine
• clinicians interested in a clinical academic career

Many of our past students are now doing PhDs across the UK or internationally. Some are working in NGOs or in the industry. Talented graduates from the Masters will be strongly supported to join PhD programmes in the institutes here at the University.