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 is the answer for you. Designed to allow busy professionals a clear pathway to postgraduate masters, this course will reinvigorate clinical practice and challenge you to develop yourself with reflective, autonomous practice at a higher level.
Learn research methods, evidence-informed practice and analytical skills. 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, likely leading to changes in how you run your practice, brought about by considered academic and reflective processes to benefit both you and your patients.
To speak to the MSc APP Clinical Sciences course leader, arrange a tour of our campus or for general questions on this postgraduate 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
Peter Miller
BSc, DC, MSc, PD, FRCC (Orth), FEAC (Ortho), FHEA, DChiro - Principal Lecturer (Clinical Management)
Peter is currently Principal Lecturer in Clinical Management at the AECC UC and teaches myofascial medicine and adjustive technique across a number of units. Peter also leads professional practice in year 2 of the undergraduate chiropractic programme. Peter is framework lead for the MSc APP framework and programme lead for the MSc APP Clinical science and PGCert Professional Development programmes run at the AECC UC. Peter also leads a number of units across the Universities post graduate provision.
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.
Though this course is part-time and you won’t need to come to campus regularly, you won’t be alone. You’ll be able to speak with your unit tutors who will give you the support that you need to get you through the course. Talk to them through email, phone calls, or even scheduled one-to-one sessions at the AECC University College campus. Register your interest and a member of our team will get back to you.
Important dates: for all MSc Advanced Professional Practice courses
09/10/19: Induction and Professional Clinical Practice (Year/Stage 1)
10/10/19-12/10/19: Evidence Based Practice (Year/Stage 1)
16/10/19: Audit Methods (Year/Stage 2 or Year/Stage 3)
17/10/19-19/10/19: 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 10 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 are made through our online application system. You will need to provide details about your educational history, a personal statement and a satisfactory reference. To register for an application account press the button below.
Applications for October 2020 entry will open in late October 2019.
What qualifications 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
There are a lot of things to consider when applying for a degree, including course fees. Our current course costs for the MSc APP Clinical Sciences course (2019/2020) entry are per annum and are shown below.
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Fee status
|
Full Fees Rate
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Discounted rate when fees paid before 31 October 2019
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Home/EU |
£2,630
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£2,499
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*ELQ or EEA
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£3,480
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£3,306
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Overseas |
£4,560
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£4,332
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*You are classed as an ELQ student if the course which you are applying to is an equivalent or lower qualification to one you have previously achieved.
Please note that fees after your 1st year should not increase by more than RPI + 1% (UK Retail price index - RPI).
Potential discounts for APP applicants:
1. AECC University College Alumni receive 10% for the duration of their study
2. Recent graduates (2014 - 2019) receive 50% in the first year of study
Take a look at our Fees and Funding page to find out more.
Starting a postgraduate course for the first time? If you are under 60 and live in the UK, you might qualify for a Postgraduate Loan of up to £10,000 to help with your study costs. This is being offered to people starting a postgraduate course from 1st September 2019. Find out more about postgraduate loans and if you qualify on the gov.uk website.
We’d like to let you know that your course fees are due annually, and may be subject to change. Decisions about changes to course fees, arrangements, and dates for teaching sessions are the right of the course organisers - they’ll let you know if anything is due to change. Bear in mind that the fees currently advertised by the AECC UC are for the first year of the programme only. We advise to budget for an increase of up to 5% for each following year. All increased fees will be posted to the AECC UC student website, so don’t worry if you forget.
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 here and search for our name.
Our tuition fees policy and information on any expected additional costs for each of our courses can be found on our latest policies page. Should you have any questions on course fees please contact our admissions team on the form below
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