Name: MSc Professional Practice in Healthcare
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MSc Professional Practice in Healthcare

Overview
Course Details
Entry Requirements
Modules
Fees
Employability
Teaching Team

Study Mode: Full Time
Location: Uxbridge
Duration: Two Years
Start Date: September 2025

You can also study this course:

Part Time

Our Professional Practice (Healthcare) course provides you with a flexible framework to study and will help enhance your knowledge, skills and expertise across a variety of healthcare areas.

Discover our blended academic and hands-on learning, state-of-the-art facilities and supportive lecturers who can help you go further in your career.

Why study MSc Professional Practice in Healthcare?

Tailored for a range of professionals

Our course is designed for a range of healthcare professionals seeking to enhance clinical knowledge and leadership skills at master’s level. It offers you a flexible structure, allowing you to select modules that align with specific professional development needs and career aspirations.

Emphasis on evidence

Our course includes components such as the 'Applied Research for Healthcare Practice' module and equips you with advanced research methodologies. This enables you to design and undertake research relevant to your practice, promoting evidence-based approaches in healthcare settings and learning how to put theory into practice.

Pathways to Advanced Clinical Roles

As a graduate of this course, you are well-prepared for career progression into advanced clinical positions. The MSc professional practice qualification also opens opportunities for further studies, such as our MSc advanced clinical practice, which builds your knowledge even more.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

This is a flexible programme of study which will suit experienced practitioners as well as those who registered more recently, and a number of students will have previous appropriate qualifications from Buckinghamshire New University.

What will I study?

The modules within this course focus on the following topics:

Research
Leadership
Innovative clinical practice from a contemporary perspective
Speciality clinical modules.

This will enable you to innovatively lead, direct and enhance clinical practice, whilst expanding the evidence base for your own area of practice. In order for you to deliver appropriate interventions aimed at the management of patients, the course structure will focus on the evidence for a range of assessment skills and therapeutic management strategies. You will also be able to synthesise contemporary initiatives in relation to current practice and service delivery to creatively provide a safe and effective service.

This course offers you:

flexible study relevant to your current area of practice
range of optional Level 7 theoretical and
clinical modules
opportunities to develop practice based projects
skills in leadership and management in clinical practice settings.

During the course you will be required to complete:

Five option modules (100 credit total)
Core research module (20 credit total)
Practice-based project (60 credits)

How will I be taught and assessed?

A range of teaching strategies will be employed throughout the course, with each module assessed.

At BNU, we recognise roles in this field are hands-on – that’s why you’ll take part in simulated learning experiences using our specialised facilities dedicated to nursing at our Uxbridge campus.

Useful documents

MSc Professional Practice in Healthcare Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

Normally a first degree will be required. However, experienced healthcare professionals with evidence of recent successful study at Level 6 will be considered. Students will have a healthcare background and currently be in clinical practice.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

Modules

Core Modules

Credits

Applied Research for Professional Practice

Credits: 20

This module will help you to develop a conceptual understanding of research methods and approaches. It enables you to gain knowledge to develop an answerable research question, literature searching skill in various databases, understanding different research approaches, and designing a research proposal.

Practice-based Project

Credits: 60

This module will support you in undertaking audit, service evaluation, service development, an extended literature review, scoping review, or primary research. It involves devising and undertaking a research project. You’ll be guided to submit ethical applications or to gain permissions where appropriate.

Optional Modules

Credits

Acute Medical Management and Care

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at nurses working within acute medical care services including emergency departments, acute medical assessment units and other acute medical environments. You’ll gain understanding of the care of individuals who have acute medical issues. The role of the nurse within acute medical care environments will also be explored.

Adopting and Sustaining Improvement in Healthcare Settings

Credits: 20

This module introduces you to programme theory, theories of action and theories of change. Quality improvement tools such as driver diagrams, statistical process control and run charts are introduced, and you’re encouraged to use these tools in your assignment. Heath economics also forms a key part of this module.

Anaesthetic Management

Credits: 20

This module will enable you to provide patient focused care during the anaesthetic phase of the perioperative journey. You’ll gain knowledge, skills and understanding of current issues related to anaesthetic practice. You’ll recognise how you influence individual and team performance within the clinical environment.

Cancer Management and Care

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working within a range of services and care environments that support people with Cancer. You’ll gain understanding of the care of an individual who has Cancer. You’ll be supported to gain a deeper understanding and analysis of care and the use of technologies in practice.

Cardiac Disease Prevention and Management for Non-Specialists (10)

Credits: 20

This module has been designed for registered practitioners who care for people with cardiac disease and would like to develop their knowledge base, but who do not work in specialist cardiac areas. The module will seek to develop practitioners who are able to effectively prevent and manage cardiac disease utilising evidence-based interventions.

Cardiac Management and Care

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working in cardiac care services including acute care, pre-hospital care and rehabilitation environments. We’ll help enhance your knowledge of the pathophysiology and management of patients who have experienced cardiac injury. This clinical theory will be closely linked to enhancement of general critical enquir...

Dementia Management and Care

Credits: 20

This module helps you to gain an understanding of the care of an individual who has dementia. The role of the health care practitioner within various care environments will be explored. Therapeutic interventions are examined in relation to the management of physical symptoms, prevention of complications and provision of evidenced based practice.

Dementia Management and Care (online)

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working within Dementia care services including acute care and community care environments. This module enables you to gain knowledge and understanding of the care of an individual who has Dementia. The role of the health care practitioner within various care environments will be explored.

Diabetes Management and Care

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working within hospital and community health care services including acute care, pre-hospital care and community environments. It is carefully designed to deliver up-to-date theory and to allow discussion of advancements in practice including new interventions and technological developments.

End of Life Care and Symptom Management

Credits: 20

This module is suitable for registered health and social care professionals who wish to increase your skills in caring for patients at the end of their lives across all care settings. It will provide you with the opportunity to critically explore current thinking and emerging research regarding the care of patients with advanced progressive disease...

Frailty Management and Care

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working within services that support people with frailty. It is designed to deliver up-to-date theory and for discussion of advancements in practice. Therapeutic interventions are examined in relation to the management of physical symptoms, prevention of complications and provision of evidenced-based practice.

Infant Feeding in Practice

Credits: 20

This module has carefully been designed to deliver up-to-date theory and evidence-based practice, to allow discussion on the impact of breastfeeding and the long-term protective factors this has on illness and admission to hospital. We’ll help enhance your knowledge of infant feeding practice and potential feeding issues mothers and parents face.

Introduction to Critical Care

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working within critical care services including acute and pre-hospital care environments. We’ll help you gain the knowledge and understanding of the care of an individual who requires critical care services. The role of the health care practitioner within various critical care environments will be explored.

Introduction to Innovation Adoption in Healthcare Practice

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at front line clinical staff working within the NHS including in acute care, community and primary care, ambulatory care and paramedic care. It is also aimed at front line administrative, technical and managerial staff in the NHS who are engaged in modernising NHS working practices. We’ll support you through the process of inno...

Leadership and Management in Healthcare

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working in all healthcare settings. It is carefully designed to deliver leadership and management theories, opening up debate and discussions. The taught content will be linked to your experiences, allowing critical reflection of self and with other students.

Learning From Experience in Practice

Credits: 10

This module is aimed at practitioners working within all health and social care environments. It’s carefully designed to deliver up-to-date education and reflective practice theory. This allows for discussion of advancements in practice, including new interventions and technological developments. The taught content will be linked to your experience...

Learning from Study in Practice

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working within all health and social care environments. It delivers up-to-date education and reflective practice theory, allowing discussion of advancements in practice. We’ll help you develop the reflective skills to enhance practice through the evaluation of and reflection on an episode of study.

Neuroscience Management and Care

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working within neuroscience care services including acute care, pre-hospital care and rehabilitation environments. We’ll help enhance your skills of the pathophysiology and management of patients who have experienced neurological injury. This clinical theory will be linked to enhancement of general critical enq...

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Management and Care

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working within plastic and reconstructive surgery services including acute care, pre-hospital care and rehabilitation environments. We’ll help you enhance your knowledge and skills of the pathophysiology and management of patients who have experienced injury requiring plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Principles and Practice of Infection Prevention and Control

Credits: 20

Gain the knowledge to apply infection prevention and control practices across a range of healthcare settings. This module is an introduction to the underpinning concepts of microbiology and epidemiology of healthcare associated infections, in addition to the principles of risk assessment and decision making in relation to infection control.

Principles of Leg Ulcer Management

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at health care professionals with an interest in lower-limb care and leg ulcer management. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of leg ulcer formation, the impact on wound healing and the importance of holistic assessment and treatment. You’ll develop the skills to deliver evidence-based care to peopl...

Principles of Wound Care

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at health care professionals who would like to enhance their knowledge in wound care. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the physiology of wounds, factors which impacts on wound healing and the importance of holistic assessment and treatment. You’ll develop the skills required to deliver personalised, evidence-based wound ca...

Professional Nurse Advocate Course

Credits: 20

This module builds upon the skills, frameworks, personality and way of thinking that you need to be a professional nurse advocate across a range of social care and health care sectors. 

Recognition and Management of the Seriously Ill Child (0-18 years)

Credits: 20

This contemporary module will help empower you to recognise and safely manage seriously ill children (0-18 years). Although the core content is focused on recognition and management of the seriously ill child, you’ll also learn/develop other essential skills, for example, in team working (understanding human factors).

Recovery Management in the Perioperative Environment

Credits: 20

This module will enable you to provide patient focused care during the recovery phase of the perioperative journey. You’ll gain knowledge, skills and understanding of current issues related to post-surgical practice. You’ll be equipped with strategies that promote patient safety and management of the wider speciality area.

Recognising the Deteriorating Patient

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working within hospital and acute community health care services, including acute care, pre-hospital care and community environments. The taught content is linked to your experiences, allowing critical discussion of practice. It also allows for discussion of advancements in practice.

Respiratory Management and Care

Credits: 20

This module helps you gain knowledge of the care of an individual who has had a respiratory condition. The role of the health care practitioner within various respiratory care environments will be explored. You’ll enhance your understanding of acute care and use of technology in practice. The function of the multi-professional team will be covered.

Surgical Management in the Perioperative Environment

Credits: 20

This module will enable you to provide patient focused care during the surgical phase of the perioperative journey. You’ll gain knowledge, skills and understanding of current issues related to surgical practice. You’ll also be equipped with strategies that promote patient safety and management of the wider speciality area.

Stroke Management and Care

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working within stroke care services including acute care, pre-hospital care and rehabilitation environments. It is carefully designed to deliver up-to-date theory and to allow discussion of advancements in practice. The taught content will be linked to your experiences, allowing critical discussion of practice.

Students, Supervisors and Assessors in Healthcare Practice

Credits: 20

This is designed for practitioners who are responsible for supporting, supervising, teaching and assessing learners in professional practice. The programme will meet the standards laid down by professional bodies for the role of supervisor or assessor in professional practice. The learning outcomes for this module are NMC/HCPC regulated.

Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy - Principles, Management and Care

Credits: 20

The module will give you the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the current Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) as treatment modalities, aiming to enhance their skills and competencies in administering those agents safely. The legal, ethical, quality and safety issues related to the use of SACT will be examined.

Theoretical Concepts in Renal Care

Credits: 40

This is an opportunity to enhance theoretical knowledge and skills to develop a systemic understanding of renal physiology, the pathophysiology of renal dysfunction and therapies available to provide evidence-based, holistic care to patients within the renal care environment. It is delivered at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust with study days ...

The Renal Care Practitioner

Credits: 20

This module facilitates learning in practice. It runs concurrently with Theoretical Concepts in Renal Care. It will provide you with an opportunity to enhance knowledge, understanding and clinical expertise in renal care. This will allow you to be competent and effective in the implementation of holistic evidence-based care delivery for patients wi...

Trauma Management and Care

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at practitioners working within trauma care services including acute care, pre-hospital care and rehabilitation environments. It is carefully designed to deliver up-to-date theory and to allow discussion of advancements in practice including new interventions and technological developments.

Writing for Publication

Credits: 20

This module is aimed at students who have completed research, practice development, innovation or work-based projects at Masters’ level in health or social care and who want to publish their project. On entry, you must have a viable project completed at master's level which has the potential for publication as confirmed by the course tutor or super...

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Home, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £10,110 per year *

Following the Government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we will be increasing our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 per year from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Our part-time fees for UK undergraduate students will increase to £7,145 per annum. Please visit , on the Government’s website, for more information about the changes.

Tuition fees for Home undergraduate students (including with foundation year) may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Government.  

Tuition fees for both new and continuing international students may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year.  

Tuition fees for postgraduate courses and CPD may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year. This increase will apply to both new and continuing students.  

We understand, and really appreciate, the significant financial commitment our students make when they choose to study at BNU. We take our responsibilities to our students very seriously, and are ambitious for each to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career. Our fees help us to continue providing our students with a high-quality education, and to invest in the services and facilities which create an excellent student experience at BNU.

The following factors will be considered by the University when we set the annual fees: measures of inflation such as the retail price indices; projected increases in University costs; and any changes in the level of funding for teaching received from the Government.

Additional course costs and financial support

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

What are my career prospects?

The enhanced skills of analysis that you will gain through this programme of study may lead to promotional opportunities either in the clinical area, or in the fields of education, management or research. You will also have access to progress on to doctoral studies in your specific subject context, and the generic, transferable skills acquired throughout the programme may also open up employment opportunities outside these areas.