This course is designed for people from a range of professional backgrounds including nursing, physiotherapy, paramedic practitioners, pharmacists and other health professionals working in primary care, community care, and secondary care settings.

Applicants who have successfully completed a non-medical prescribing course at another UK HEI and have registered this qualification with their professional body will automatically be granted Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) of 40 CATS points towards the Independent and Supplementary Prescribing module in year 2. Applicants will be required to provide original evidence of their qualification and professional registration of this qualification.

The course is modular and organised in blocks of study lasting between one and five days at a time, which can be consecutive days within the same week or spread out over several weeks.

PG Certificate (60 CATS points):

• Clinical Examination and Diagnostic Skills for Health Care Professionals (40 CATS)
• Understanding Research and Critical Appraisal in Healthcare (Distance learning) (20 CATs)

PG Diploma (120 CATS points): The PG Certificate modules above plus:

• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (40 CATs)
• One optional module (see choices below)

MSc (180 CATS points): The PG Certificate and Diploma modules above plus:

• Professional Project (40 CATS)
• One optional module (see choices below)

Most modules can also be taken as a standalone Postgraduate Award.

Optional modules

• Advanced Emergency Practice
• Essentials of Clinical Education

• Introduction to Leadership and Management in Health Care Contexts

• Special Incident Management
• Work-based Learning

Induction module

Before completing the course, you will undertake the Induction and Professional Development module, introducing you to all the underpinning regulations, guidance, and support available to you during your postgraduate study.

Exit qualifications:

Those students that are not able to complete the MSc stage will be eligible for PG Certificate and PG Diploma qualifications, providing that they have completed the modules required per stage, as above.

This is an interactive programme. You will learn through lectures and seminars, practical group work and guided reading. This programme is delivered by a blended learning approach which will include a mixture of face to face and online learning. You will benefit from guided discussions and have the opportunity to practice the skills you have learnt during the sessions.

Assessment for each module can be seen by looking at the relevant module page but typically consists of written essays of 3,000 - 4,000 words, a portfolio and/or an Objective Structured Long Examination Record (OSLER). The Professional Project is assessed by 4,000-word project report and a poster presentation.