MSc Professional Practice (plus negotiated endorsement)
This programme is for health and social care practitioners who wish to focus on a specific field of practice for which there is currently no programme to meet their specific needs.
Our unique and flexible approach lets you plan your own tailored programme, with a minimum of compulsory modules and flexibility in the title and modules that comprise your award. The structure of the award has been designed to accommodate the individual needs of students whilst also maintaining the highest levels of academic integrity.
Where appropriate, you may obtain input from other organisations - such as other Higher Education institutions (HEI) - which can be included in your learning agreement and evidenced through the process of Assessment of Prior Learning (APL).
Please note that international students may undertake the MSc Professional Practice programme, but this does not lead to entitlement to practise as a qualified nurse within the UK. Where appropriate, students would gain placement experience either as an undergraduate student working under the supervision of qualified staff, or as an unqualified health or care worker.
You may also apply for the intermediate awards of Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip).
Entry standards
Applicants will normally be graduates with a relevant professional qualification and be working in the area of health and social care relevant to the programme.
Candidates may be invited to attend an interview.
Non-graduates must demonstrate potential to achieve at postgraduate level.
English language requirements
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).
Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.
MSc Professional Practice (plus negotiated endorsement) - structure and modules
Module Titles
Compulsory Module (award of PGCert)
- Personal and Professional Development
- 45 optional credit modules
Compulsory Modules (award of PGDip or MSc)
- Personal and Professional Development
- Research for Practice
- Learning Review
- 60 optional module credits
Compulsory Module
(all awards)
Personal and Professional Development
The aim of this module is to create a culture of development, whereby you can focus on and design your personal and professional journey of development, leading to depth in learning and independence. The focus of the module is personal and professional development, with the exploration ranging from the philosophical nature of self, the concept of development, the nature of knowledge and the value of experience, leading on to self-assessment, reflexivity and deep learning. You will use this module to create your personal award structure, including module choice and time frame.
Compulsory Modules
(award of PGDip or MSc)
Research for Practice
We assist you to explore the nature of the research enterprise and its relationship to the natural and social sciences which include health, education and/or social care. You will develop a critical understanding of the range of theoretical, methodological and ethical issues associated with the study of health, education and social care. You will examine the convention of dividing research into qualitative and quantitative approaches and their relationship to evidence-based policy and practice, the measurement of clinical effectiveness and evaluation of educational practices. We support you to develop your own perspectives regarding research practice for education, health and/or social care.
Learning Review
The aim of this module is to enable you to obtain a comprehensive picture of your journey of development throughout the award. You must have completed at least 100 credits of study to enable you to critically review how your practice has altered following exploration of your learning and to what extent theoretical evidence-based knowledge has been contextualised into practice.
Optional Modules
- Advanced Communication Skills (15)
- Assessment in Public Health Practice (15)
- Cancer Pathophysiology and Treatment (15)
- Case Management (15)
- Challenges in Pain Management (15)
- Chronic Disease Management (15)
- Clinical Issues in Palliative Care (15)
- Contemporary Approaches to Mental Health (15)
- Current Issues in Advanced Midwifery Practice (15)
- Developing Dementia Care (15)
- Epidemiology and Health Protection (15)
- Ethics (15)
- Independent Learning (15)
- Leadership and Management (15)
- Leading Empowered Partnerships (15)
- Learning Through Professional Practice (15)
- Minor Ailments Management (15)
- Minor Injuries Management (15)
- Nurse Independent/Supplementary Prescribing (V300) (30)
- Nutrition (15)
- Personal and Professional Development (15)
- Principles and Practice of Perineal Repair for the Midwife (15)
- Protecting and Safeguarding the Child (15)
- Psychosocial Aspects of Care (15)
- Radiotherapy and Supportive Care (15)
- Sexual Health (15)
- Skills for the Children’s Workforce (15)
- Valuing Work-based Learning (15)
Subject information
Philosophy and Rationale
The underpinning philosophy of this pioneering award is built around the concept of personal development and identifying an individual’s personal journey, thus contributing to lifelong learning.
The health care workplace is developing rapidly, and with that, the needs of the student. The curriculum model has been designed to be flexible, encouraging you to become independent in your learning, fostering motivation and critical thinking.
The priority will be to have an individual, focused curriculum that naturally flows, is personally centred on you and is progressive, linking subject matter, theory and practice.
It is envisaged that as a potential student, you will engage in developmental discussions with a variety of individuals, that is to say, where relevant, your manager, colleagues and/or education staff from the HEI, to explore your knowledge, skills and experience, leading to the identification of your learning needs and requirement for further study.
The award fosters this approach, so that you will be assisted to make informed decisions as to your journey of development, meeting personal, professional and organisational needs, demonstrating accountability to self and to your employer.
Moreover, it will empower you to become autonomous in your learning journey. You will be encouraged to explore your work context and identify personal and professional developmental aims, discussing and negotiating these with employers, peers and academic staff. You will be required to plan and negotiate approval for your programme of study and the accompanying endorsement.
Once you have a clear view of your personal aims and learning outcomes, you can then implement your plan, undertaking modules as required, demonstrating, by successful achievement and skill development, that you are making sense of your practice context and chosen journey.
This is the progress review stage, where you are helped to maintain and review your progress. You complete the process of learning with your research project, and demonstrate your personal and professional development by the application of your enhanced knowledge and skills to real situations relevant to the practice content.
Programme Structure and Modules
MSc Professional Practice (plus negotiated endorsement) - entry standards
Entry standards
Applicants will normally be graduates with a relevant professional qualification and be working in the area of health and social care relevant to the programme.
Candidates may be invited to attend an interview.
Non-graduates must demonstrate potential to achieve at postgraduate level.
English language requirements
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).
Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.
Planned intake
Maximum of 30
Programme director
MSc Professional Practice (plus negotiated endorsement) - fees and funding
Fees
Professional Practice:
UK/EU - £8,125
Overseas - £11,550 (This award is available with practice placements for an enhanced fee. Please contact the department for further information.)
MSc Professional Practice (plus negotiated endorsement) - professional context
MSc Professional Practice (plus negotiated endorsement) - teaching
MSc Professional Practice (plus negotiated endorsement) - learning
MSc Professional Practice (plus negotiated endorsement) - graduate profile
MSc Professional Practice (plus negotiated endorsement) - more
International Students
International students who have not sought or would be unable to seek registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) can undertake the MSc Professional Practice programme. The student would therefore not be able to practise as a qualified nurse within the UK. Where appropriate he/she would gain placement experience either as an undergraduate student working under the supervision of qualified staff, or as an unqualified health or social care worker.
Focusing on Your Own Needs
The Learning Through Professional Practice and Independent Learning modules are specifically designed to enable you to focus on an area specific to you and may not follow the conventional module format. You are able to incorporate learning from a range of sources, such as work-based learning, attending sessions of other modules where the whole module content would be inappropriate to meet specific learning needs, directed reading and clinical observation.
Learning Through Professional Practice gives you some guidance in terms of expected content and considers the relevant bio/psych/social aspects of your chosen focus, assessment, management of care, reflective and evidence-based practice and effective communication skills.
The Independent Learning module takes a similar approach, but has no specified aims or outcomes stated, thus enabling you to create a totally self-focused module around a subject you need to learn. This may be drawn from recognition of need within your own personal and professional development and enables you to be very flexible, focused and innovative in your learning.
Student Experience
Initially an informal discussion or interview may take place with the Director of Studies to offer information regarding the award and exploration of your previous learning and development. You will be required to demonstrate how you are able to study at postgraduate level.
At this meeting a general discussion will take place that will assist you to make an informed decision as to the right journey of development for you. This will be based on your needs, wishes and interests, taking into account the requirements for your professional role.
Where relevant, a clear statement of support for study from your manager will be required to ensure that you are able to achieve the required study time for the modules. Where more than one student applies at a similar time, the students will be grouped into a learning set for support.
Full-time and part-time modes of study
The programme will be delivered on a part-time negotiated basis; however, this does not preclude students who are able to achieve full-time study status accessing the programme. Full-time study may also allow the inclusion of Practice credit, extending the full-time programme to two years’ duration.
Distance-learning provision
Each module has been designed so that the learning and teaching strategies incorporate many elements. Whilst traditional distance-learning material will not form part of the programme, it is envisaged that certain learning activities will be carried out at a distance through the use of ULearn technology.
MSc Professional Practice (plus negotiated endorsement) - apply
You can apply for this programme online using the link(s) below. We recommend making an application as soon as you can, even if you do not have all the necessary supporting information ready at that time.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to enter a username and password. If you've used our application system before, please enter your details or click the forgotten password link.
If you are a new user, you will need to create a username and password by clicking the New User button.
Programme length
The programme is usually undertaken on a negotiated part-time basis over a maximum of five years; however, a one/two-year full-time route is available. Both routes may be studied with / without practice.
Programme director
For general enquiries
T: 0800 980 3200 or
+44 (0)1483 681681
E: pg-enquiries@surrey.ac.uk
For admissions enquiries
T: +44 (0)1483 682957
E: l.dams@surrey.ac.uk