Course overview
This is one of the specialised pathways of the MSc Advanced Professional Practice.
If you’re interested in continuing your professional development across a range of subject areas, then an MSc APP in Clinical Sciences could be the answer. Learn research methods, evidence-based practice and analytical skills, without having to leave your working environment. Develop self-direction, experiential learning and reflective practice while you work and use what you learn every day to make a difference to your career and your practice.
Our MSc APP Clinical Sciences course is open for applications via our online application system.
Apply for 2021
For general questions on the MSc APP Clinical Sciences course qualification or to register your interest in the course, please use the contact form below.
Key Information
- Course title:
- MSc APP Clinical Sciences
- Qualification:
- MSc APP
- Duration:
- Normally 3 Years
- Study mode:
- Part Time
Course leader

Michelle Holmes
MRes, BSc (Hons), Lecturer in Research Methods
Michelle is a Lecturer in Research Methods at AECC University College and Postgraduate Framework Lead for the School of Chiropractic. She is also the convenor for the Centre of Clinical and Applied Service Provision Research responsible for steering and reporting on research activity on patient outcomes and delivery of health service.
Course details
You’ll learn in the main by self-study and will be assessed through reflective and critical writing essays. We know how busy your lives can be so we’ve kept necessary attendance at the AECC University College campus as low as we can. When you do need to join us on campus, we’ve scheduled lectures in handy blocks towards the end of the week and at the weekends.
All of our MSc APP courses are split into three stages, and you have the chance to get a qualification even if you can’t commit to the entire MSc course of three or four years of study. At the end of stage one, you’ll qualify for a PgCert (60 Level 7 credits), at stage two you’ll qualify for a PgDip (120 Level 7 credits) and finally an MSc at the end of stage three (180 Level 7 credits).
The Research Methods and Audit Methods units can now be completed at stage 2/year 2 or stage 3/year 3.
Even though this course is part-time and you won’t have to come to campus regularly, you won’t be alone. You’ll be able to speak with your unit tutors who’ll give you the support that you need to get you through the course. Talk to them through email, phone calls, or schedule one-to-one sessions. Suitable for all healthcare professions working in clinical practice no matter your area of interest.
Important dates: for all MSc Advanced Professional Practice courses
16 Sep 2020: Induction and Professional Clinical Practice (Year/Stage 1)
17 Sep – 20 Sep 2020: Evidence Based Practice (Year/Stage 1)
23 Sep 2020: Audit Methods (Year/Stage 2 or Year/Stage 3)
24 Sep – 26 Sep 2020: Research Methods (Year/Stage 2 or Year/Stage 3)
Unit breakdown
Units
- Professional Clinical Practice (worth 20 credits)
- This first unit lays the foundation of the course and aims to help you develop self-direction through experiential learning and reflective practice. This is taught alongside our Induction Seminar.
- Assessment: Critical reflective account, approximately 2,500 words, worth 50% and Case study, approximately 2,500 words, worth 50%.
- Evidence-based Practice (worth 20 credits)
- Healthcare is always changing and developing, so it’s important to keep up to date with current research evidence, and know when and where to include this in your clinical practice. You’ll develop skills in searching, finding, critically appraising, and applying research evidence to your patients.
- Assessment: Evidence-based case report, approximately 2,500 words, worth 50% and Critical Appraisal of a given research paper, approximately 2,500 words, worth 50%.
- Structured Learning Event 1 (worth 20 credits)
- Identifying your learning needs as a professional, going to learning events, and applying what you’ve learnt in your everyday practice is all part of your continuing professional development. This unit will help you develop skills in reflection and critical evaluation, application of new knowledge and skills, and reflection in evaluating changes in your own performance. You’ll attend a seminar (that has been approved by your Pathway leader) and your assignment will be based on your learning experiences and outcomes in practice. If you attend an AECC seminar then you’ll only have to pay the student rate.
- Assessment: Critical review of learning outcomes, approximately 5,000 words, worth 100%.
In this stage you’ll have the chance to select the units that suit you. All units have M Level Credits assigned to them. You’ll need to pick units that total 60 M Level Credits for the PgDip.
Units
- Structured Learning Event 2 (worth 20 credits)
- In this unit you’ll be given the chance to attend another seminar (that has been approved by your Pathway leader) and your assignment will be based on your learning experiences and outcomes in practice. If you attend an AECC seminar then you’ll only have to pay the student rate.
- Assessment: Critical review of learning outcomes, approximately 5,000 words.
- Structured Learning Event 3 (worth 20 credits)
- Attend a third seminar (that has been approved by your Pathway leader) and complete an assignment based on your learning experiences and outcomes in practice. If you attend an AECC seminar then you’ll only have to pay the student rate.
- Assessment: Critical review of learning outcomes, approximately 5,000 words.
- Current Advances in Practice (worth 20 credits)
- New research and information is constantly being shared, and it can be difficult to keep on top of it all. This unit aims to help you develop skills in searching and finding information, and understanding what to do with conflicting information and how to apply this to your patients and practice. You’ll have the chance to select your own topic depending on your needs and interests.
- Assessment: Critical review of the literature, approximately 5,000 words, worth 100%.
- Clinical Placement (worth 40 credits)
- Develop expertise in clinical practice, learning in your clinic placement and through self-directed learning. You’ll arrange - in negotiation with your Unit Leader - a supervisor to support and direct you in developing your portfolio. Taking a self-directed approach to find material and reach your learning outcomes is important in this unit. The placement should, ideally, be in a specialism that interests you, and where you could complete a research dissertation during the Masters stage of the course. You’ll need to complete a logbook, too, summarising what you learned and the number of hours you spent in the placement or as self-directed study. You’ll spend a minimum of 25 hours in your placement, and your Clinical Supervisor should sign each entry in your logbook. A minimum of 50 hours in total will be spent on overall learning, a mixture of time at the placement and self-directed study.
- Assessment: Critical reflective report on the placement, approximately 3,000 words, worth 40%, and two evidence-based case studies, approximately 2,250 words, each worth 30%. You’ll also need to produce your logbook.
- Orthopaedic Practice (worth 20 credits)
- Enhance your knowledge and understanding of the diagnosis and management of orthopaedic conditions. You’ll reflect on the diagnostic accuracy of relevant investigations and evidence of efficacy of management options, while you develop the knowledge and understanding of an evidence-based approach to diagnosis and management. This unit will also aim to help you develop a critical awareness of particular issues in orthopaedic practice, specific to those in geriatric and paediatric groups.
- Assessment: Two critical accounts of the use of a problem solving approach and the assessment and management of orthopaedics conditions within clinical practice, approximately 2,500 words, worth a total of 100%.
For your final stage in MSc APP Clinical Sciences, you can pick between two unit groups.
Group 1
- Research Methods (20 credits)
- Understanding different types of clinical research designs and which designs are best to answer particular questions are important in evidence-based practice. You’ll not only develop skills in clinical research designs, data collection, and data analysis, but this unit prepares you to identify potential areas for research and plan an investigation.
- Assessment: Reflective Research Protocol, approximately 5,000 words, worth 100%.
- Dissertation (40 credits)
- You’ll complete a research investigation in an area that applies to your professional practice. You’re likely to carry out the investigation in your workplace, collecting and analysing real-time clinical data, but facilities at the AECC may also be available. You’ll be supported by expert research supervision, institutional research facilities, and ethics approval boards.
- Assessment: Research Dissertation, approximately 10,000 words, worth 100%.
Group 2
- Audit Methods (20 credits)
- This unit will develop your skills in data collection and data analysis based on audit findings, and ways to improve clinical practice.
- Assessment: Reflective audit protocol, approximately 5,000 words, worth 100%.
- Clinical Audit (40 credits)
- A clinical audit is very relevant to professional practice, as it allows recommendations to be made to improve both your practice and how you approach your work. You’ll complete a Clinical Audit as part of your Masters.
- Assessment: Clinical Audit, approximately 10,000 words, worth 100%.
Entry Requirements
How do I apply?
Applications for 2021 for our MSc APP Clinical Sciences course are open through our online application system. You will need to provide your educational history, a personal statement and a satisfactory reference. The deadline for receipt of applications is late August 2021.
Apply for 2021
For general questions on the MSc APP Clinical Sciences entry requirements or to register your interest in the course please use the contact form below.
What qualification do I need?
You’ll need a recognised first qualification in line with the admissions regulations.
Our MSc APP Clinical science course is designed for health practitioners in professional practice, so if you’re working and have an undergraduate degree in medicine, chiropractic, physiotherapy, osteopathy, exercise science, sport science, nursing, or another health related degree, then you’re almost ready to go.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language we’d be looking for one of the following:
- IELTS (academic) overall score of 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each section
- TOEFL overall score of 79 with minimum scores of 17 in writing and listening, 18 in reading and 20 in speaking
- An undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a UK university
- A completed undergraduate or postgraduate degree which has been taught in a ‘majority English-speaking’ country. These are: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America
DOWNLOAD A LIST OF ACCEPTED ENGLISH LANGUAGE QUALIFICATIONS
We may be able to consider other English language qualifications, so call or email our Admissions team and they will be happy to help. Try to book your language tests as early in the year as you can, just in case re-sits are needed.
If you’ve already successfully completed the PgCert Professional Development (Chiropractic) then you don’t have to complete the Professional Clinical Practice unit in stage 1. Talk to your Pathway Leader about any prior learning as this could count towards your credits.
If you have an undergraduate degree that’s not listed, it may still be considered - it all depends on the level of human biological science completed in the course. Talk to Admissions by email or calling us on 01202 436200 and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.
For more information about our admissions policies and procedures, including our Admissions Complaints and Appeals Policy, please click here.
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? LET US ANSWER THEM IN OUR APPLICATION FAQS
Course Fees
Our current course costs for the MSc APP Clinical Sciences course for 2021 entry are shown below.
UK/ROI/Channel Islands
£3,686.00 per annum based on students undertaking 60 credits per academic year.
International
£6,144.00 per annum based on students undertaking 60 credits per academic year.
Discounted rates may be available.
Note: For students to be eligible for funding from Student Finance England, they must be studying on an eligible course at a provider registered with the Office for Students (OfS). AECC University College is registered with the OfS. You can view the register and search for our name.
Our tuition fees policy can be found here on our latest policies page.
Please visit our student finance pages for more information on additional costs and fees/funding.
Should you have any questions on course fees please contact our admissions team on the form below.
We use cookies to track usage and preferences. Find out more