Advancing Practice

As the only provider of postgraduate level 7 education for the Allied Health Professions (AHPs) in Northern Ireland, this programme provides the profession-specific and interdisciplinary modules needed to facilitate career progression for Allied Health Professionals and healthcare scientists. This course delivers advanced education and professional training in several disciplines including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, podiatry, radiography, dietetics, and healthcare sciences. There is also tailored provision in diabetes foot disease, equine facilitated therapy, collective leadership, and respiratory disease.

This course is delivered part-time via on-campus teaching blocks, or online to facilitate attendance by busy health professionals. Many of the modules in the MSc course can be taken individually as continuing professional development (CPD) or PGCert. If you want to progress to a Postgraduate Diploma and Masters, there are compulsory modules that must be taken. Successful completion of the Masters will provide the development opportunity for AHPs and healthcare scientists to progress to enhance skills in patient care, whilst participation in the postgraduate activity will provide the development opportunity for AHPs to progress to doctoral-level activity.

Work placement / study abroad
You must be practicing in your Professional area at the time of study.

Compulsory modules and course
MSc
Project (60 points)

Postgraduate Diploma
Additional 60 credit points

To exit with Diploma:
One compulsory module (15 points each) - research evidence for health science

If progressing on to MSc level:
Must also take research project preparation (15 points) in addition to those above

Postgraduate Certificate
Free selection of modules from course list up to 60 credit points.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

To view subjects taught on this course, please click on "Course Web Page".

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

Entry Requirements
Applicants must:
(a) have gained
(i) an Honours or non-Honours degree from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland or from a recognized national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or
(ii) an equivalent standard in a Postgraduate Certificate,
Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate or an approved alternative qualification; and
(iii) where applicable be eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and
(iv) normally, currently in relevant employment or have access to the appropriate patient/client group, as approved by the course committee.

(b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent) and for non-native English speakers, IELTS 7.0 (with no contributing band at less than 6.5) or, as an alternative to (a) (i) or (a) (ii) and/or (b)

(c) in exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink").

Start Date: September 2024 and January 2025

Career options
Participation in the postgraduate framework may enhance the opportunities for AHPs within the health service and beyond. The development of the programme was as a direct consequence of the need for profession-specific and interdisciplinary modules to facilitate AHPs in their career progression.

Participation in the postgraduate activity will provide the development opportunity for AHPs to progress to doctoral level activity.