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Advanced Clinical Practice (Critical Care) (MSc/PGDip) (2025 Entry)

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Find out more about our Advanced Clinical Practice (Critical Care) taught degree at Warwick

Imagine if you had the confidence to react more effectively in a critical care situation. Our course in Advanced Clinical Practice (Critical Care) aims to develop clinicians to undertake autonomous practice within critical care environments such as ITU or HEMS and will help you to feel confident in delivering the best possible patient care. Armed with up-to-date knowledge and skills you will have the opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives.

Course overview

This course is designed for healthcare professionals caring for critically ill patients and those working within acute, emergency or critical care environments such as ambulance services, intensive care units and emergency departments.

The course promotes a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, and aims to help you develop the skills to undertake autonomous practice. Core modules focus on clinical examination and diagnostic skills, critical care transfer, and independent and supplementary prescribing.

Skills from this degree

The structure of the course will enable the non-medical clinicians to:

  • Undertake a full systems examination (child and adult)
  • Develop the knowledge and skills to clinically and critically interpret results of tests and investigations.
  • Manage an episode of care autonomously

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

Applicants should:

  • Be in a clinical post at Band 6 or above in a trainee ACP post or similar
  • Have current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health Care Professionals Council or Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  • Hold a BSc degree at 2nd class level, or evidence of Level 7 study
  • Be 4 years post-qualification/ registration

Those without the academic qualifications will have a telephone interview with the course director for a special case request to be made.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

  • Band A
  • With specific component scores of 6.5 in reading and writing.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications although students will need to be practicing in the UK.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

For the MSc:

  • Clinical Examination and Diagnostic Skills for Health Care Professionals
  • Understanding Research and Critical Appraisal in Healthcare (Distance Learning)
  • Independent and Supplementary Prescribing
  • Critical Care Transfer
  • Professional Project

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.

Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

  • Advanced Emergency Practice
  • Special Incident Management
  • Essentials of Clinical Education
  • Introduction to Leadership and Management in Health Care Contexts
  • Work-based Learning

Read more about the core and optional modules on the Medical School's website.

Teaching

This is an interactive programme. You will learn through lectures and seminars, practical group work and guided reading. You will benefit from guided discussions and have the opportunity to practise the skills you have learnt during the sessions.

Class sizes

Class sizes will vary, however on average they comprise of 20-25 students.

Assessment

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

Reading Lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform.

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, listing your allocated lectures, seminars, and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you when you join us.

Your career

Our department has a dedicated careers consultant to help boost your employability and prepare for a career. There are workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples include:

  • Career Society at Medical School Event
  • AFP Interview Preparation
  • Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
  • Foundation Programme (UKFPO) Information evening

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. This course is part of Warwick Medical School which follows a non-standard fee structure. Full fee details are listed via the 'find your course fees' button. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

  • Core text books
  • Printer credits
  • Dissertation binding
  • Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2025 opens on 2 October 2024.

Applications will close on 2 August 2025 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

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We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

  • Warwick hosted events
  • Postgraduate Fairs
  • Live chats
  • Talk and Tours
  • Department events




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Gold standard teaching

Gold, the highest possible rating across all three categories (student experience, student outcomes, and overall) (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)

92% of our research

was assessed as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (Research Excellence Framework 2021)

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About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.