Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year
MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship)
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship) | Programme code | PAS3EMSEMS01 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Academic year | 2025/6 | |
| Campus(es) | St Luke's (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
The Advanced Clinical Practice Degree Apprenticeship programme will enable you to develop the skills and expertise required to respond to the challenges facing our modern-day health service. It will provide you with theoretical concepts and practical skills and afford you the opportunity to develop your existing professional roles, while gaining an appreciation of the core requirements of advanced clinical practice.
In July 2017, Health Education England (HEE), in partnership with NHS Improvement and NHS England, launched a national framework that set out a vision for the further development of Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs). The Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in England included a national definition and provided standards for the multi-professional advanced level of practice. This enabled a clear understanding of what constitutes advanced practice and provided principles and guidance for Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals that is applicable to all healthcare settings. These guidelines consisted of the four pillars of advanced practice:
- Clinical Practice
- Leadership and Management
- Education
- Research
Alongside these four pillars, the framework provides a standardised definition of advance clinical practice:
Advanced clinical practice is delivered by experienced, registered health and care practitioners. It is a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making. This is underpinned by a master’s level award or equivalent that encompasses the four pillars of clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research with demonstration of core capabilities and area specific clinical competence.
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 experiences and improve outcomes. (Health Education England 2017, p.8)
In conjunction with the advanced practice framework, momentum for the advanced practice agenda has continued with the publication of multiple high-level strategic documents including the new GP contract and most notably the NHS Long Term Plan (https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/). This document outlines how, with support from Health Education England, there will be strong focus on staff development in order to improve retention. In addition, there is recognition that appropriately trained staff are able to effectively and safely expand their scope of practice in order to create a more adaptable workforce in order to meet the needs of patients.
The MSc Advanced Clinical Practice Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Exeter will offer you the opportunity to undertake modules which will not only support each of the four domains of advanced practice but will allow for the exploration and development of a specialism relative to your own profession. With our wide range of postgraduate module offerings, study at the University of Exeter will enable you to link theory to practice, providing you with the knowledge, understanding and experience to develop as an autonomous and reflective practitioner.
Within our MSc programme, you will be encouraged to apply your learning to practical situations and will be able to study issues of personal interest or areas related to your future career goals. Our ethos of small group, evidence-based learning, augmented with engaging and practical online resources enables significant contact with academic staff whilst concurrently supporting independent flexible study.
1. Health Education England (2017). Multi-Professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in
England. ACP Framework
2. NHS.UK (2019) NHS Long Term Plan (https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/)
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
The aims of the programme are:
• To develop your clinical practice, enabling you to work autonomously and flexibly in order to make complex decisions about how people should be cared for and treated.
• To ensure that you understand the professional, legal and ethical issues within which you work as clinical professionals undertaking advanced practice.
• To promote multidisciplinary practice by involving clinicians and practitioners from a variety of disciplines to understand the wider clinical context of health care service needs.
• To provide you with a sound educational grounding that will encourage critical analysis of literature, documents and policies associated with advanced practice.
• To prepare you to undertake research, audit and evaluative activities that develop your personal knowledge and expertise and can be disseminated in a community of practice, improving evidence-based patient care across systems.
The programme is completed over three years and consists of a combination of theoretical and work-based learning modules that build into a project that allows you to add value and create impact in your organisation by innovating-while-studying.
The programme will use a range of teaching methods including plenary lectures from clinical specialists and academics across a range of professional backgrounds teaching in their areas of research and expertise. Problem-based learning groups where you can explore cases, develop peer support networks and share clinical experiences will support the plenary lectures. Blended learning will be used to support the face-to-face education and a range of online resources will be shared with you to support your learning. All on-line resources will be available via the University of Exeter’s electronic learning environment (ELE) and OneFile e-portfolio system.
The programme aims to provide you with a strong academic underpinning regarding the role of the Advanced Clinical Practitioner in addition to ensuring students are able to explore opportunities to expand their scope of practice in response to clinical need.
4. Programme Structure
The MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Degree Apprenticeship) is a three-year integrated degree apprenticeship programme. It is divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The Degree apprenticeship requires the attainment of 180 credits in total. There is no option for an early exit award of PgCert or PgDip.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
You must successfully complete 180 credits of modules from the compulsory modules in the table below over a three-year period (inclusive of the end point assessment). The Degree apprenticeship requires 20% of an employee’s contracted working hours to be dedicated to the programme.
Descriptions of the individual modules are given in full on the College web site:
Stage 1
Compulsory Modules
Year 1 - 60 credits of compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| HPDM128DA | Principles of Advanced Clinical Practice | 30 | Yes |
| HPDM133DA | Advanced Clinical Assessment and Decision Making | 30 | Yes |
| HPDM165ADA | Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice | 0 | Yes |
Stage 2
Compulsory Modules
Year 2 - 60 credits of compulsory modules
a You must select either HPDM147DA or HPDM132DA which is then deemed compulsory. Previous accredited learning that relates to one of these two professional areas will necessitate the selection of the other compulsory module.
b You must select one module from a choice of: HPDM166DA, HPDM184DA or HPDM065DA, which is then deemed compulsory.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| HPDM147DA | Practice Certificate in Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (see note a) | 45 | Yes |
| HPDM132DA | Advanced Skill Development (see note a) | 45 | Yes |
| HPDM165BDA | Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice (b) | 0 | Yes |
| HPDM065DA | Care of the Older Adult (see note b) | 15 | Yes |
| HPDM184DA | Advanced Clinical Practice in Primary Care (see note b) | 15 | Yes |
| HPDM166DA | Research Skills for Advanced Clinical Practitioners (see note b) | 15 | Yes |
Stage 3
Compulsory Modules
Year 3 - 60 credits of compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| HPDM152DA | Advanced Clinical Practice Improvement Project | 30 | Yes |
| HPDM165CDA | Transitioning to Advanced Clinical Practice | 10 | Yes |
| HPDM120DA | End Point Assessment | 20 | Yes |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Make valid connections to local and national policies and procedures, codes of conduct as relevant to your own profession and the importance of working within boundaries of practice | The programme features a range of learning methods to facilitate knowledge and develop understanding. These include lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars, and problem-based learning, group tasks and laboratories/practical sessions as well as ELE based activities. | The ILOs are assessed by the following individual methods or a combination of these:
Written coursework/essay |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
5. Synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding of theory and practice, to evaluate research and evidence critically | All ILOs are developed through lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical classes; e-learning based teaching, and supervised research project work, supported by directed research of texts and journals. | The ILOs are assessed by the following individual methods or a combination of these:
Written coursework/essay |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
9. Identify, evaluate and maintain qualities to support effective communication in a range of complex and specialised contexts | Participation in seminars, group work, practical and problem-based learning. Students will also develop their critical and analytical skills via lectures tutorials and collaborative learning. | The ILOs are assessed by the following individual methods or a combination of these:
Written coursework/essay |
7. Programme Regulations
Credit The programme consists of 180 credits at NQF level 7 (inclusive of the EPA).
Programme-Specific Progression Rules
You must pass all the modules in the table above. The pass mark for these modules is 50% with an additional requirement to pass all individual assessments within individual modules. If you fail any modules you will not be permitted to continue with the programme and your registration as a student will be terminated with immediate effect.
Programme-Specific Award Rules
You must pass the apprenticeship to be awarded the degree; it is not possible to award the degree without the apprenticeship. The final 20 credits required to achieve the 180 credits necessary for the award of MSc are gained on successful completion of the end point assessment.
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook.
Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
Professional and Workplace mentoring: Apprentices will be allocated an academic mentor whose role it is to support them in their professional development. There will be work based quarterly meetings, known as tripartite reviews, between the apprentice, the academic mentor and the workplace mentor. At each of these meetings the apprentices’ progression and personal development is discussed, reviewed and recorded in the E-Portfolio.
The academic mentor will provide details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties related to being a student of the University. They are able to liaise with the module leads and programme director on apprentices’ behalf, and will provide them with advice and support for the duration of the programme.
Apprentices will also benefit from advice and support from their workplace mentor whose role extends to providing them with opportunities to identify projects, evidence and ongoing professional development.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship)
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | ECTS credits |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 25/01/2021 |
Date of last revision | 29/04/2024 |
|---|
