MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Part time)
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 3 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
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Course Overview
Our Advanced Professional Practice programme reflects national and international benchmarks for advanced level professional practice for the healthcare workforce, while supporting you to build a personalised qualification around your own advancing professional practice role.
In addition to core modules, you'll choose from a wide range of optional modules, allowing you to tailor the programme to the context of your career. This programme is accredited by NHS England’s Centre for Advancing Practice and is therefore closely aligned to the NHS England Multi-Professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in England (HEE, 2017).
Most modules are available as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) standalone modules. Please visit our CPD section for further information about individual CPD modules which can help you to progress into this programme.
As this programme requires you to be assessed in practice and to undertake a service improvement project within your clinical setting, you must have the support of your organisation. It’s essential that your organisation commits to meeting the programme's assessment and governance requirements.
Here at UEA, you’ll benefit from our innovative online and blended teaching and learning methods. We embrace and encourage diverse professional perspectives and backgrounds to promote an inclusive and participatory approach. Our course is underpinned by the four pillars of advanced practice. We also offer an individual approach to help you evaluate your limitations and strengths, encouraging you to reflect on your learning journey and career goals. We’ll support you to achieve your full potential, offering you access to a range of advisers and specialists within the school, as well as the University’s dedicated student support service. You’ll graduate with the knowledge and skills to progress your career to the next level, ready to meet the ever-changing demands of modern healthcare practice.
Accreditations
As an NHSE -accredited programme, if you’re working in an advanced practice role, completion of the MSc Advanced Professional Practice allows you to register with NHS England as an Advanced Practitioner. Dependent on your role within practice and the modules selected, there is also potential for application for credentialing with external bodies. Credentialling is available via the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
Study and Modules
Structure
You'll complete 60 credits, including at least one 20-credit core module in term one or term two. Optional modules can also be selected to reflect the role and setting in which you work and your professional interests. Some modules are subject to further entry requirements, which may require organisational support.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Many of our modules are taught fully online or have a significant online learning component. Asynchronous learning (learning resources and activities which you engage with flexibly, on a day and time that is convenient to you) is supported by focused live seminars and tutorials, which you’re expected to attend.
Some modules are taught face-to-face on the UEA campus, or have a face-to-face component, meaning that you’re expected to attend in person. Our state-of-the-art, purpose-built skills and simulation facilities provide excellent learning opportunities to advance your practice in a safe and encouraging environment.
Module organisers are experienced academics with a strong clinical background. Modules are further supported by teams of knowledgeable academics and practitioners with appropriate specialist expertise and the experience to help you to apply your academic learning to practice. The learners on the Advanced Professional Practice programme are also part of the module team, providing valuable multi-professional insight and perspectives to enrich learning.
Each module is assigned a specified number of ‘effort’ hours. The teaching and learning activities timetabled and any practice-based learning and assessment will account for many of the hours, but there is an expectation that you'll undertake independent study in each module involving finding, appraising and applying evidence to inform your thinking and academic writing, as well as general notetaking and preparation for assessment. This will not only enhance your learning experience but will also help develop a sound evidence-base to support your academic preparedness for an advanced practice r
Assessment
A range of assessment methods are used throughout the programme, which have been carefully considered enabling you to demonstrate effectively both the learning outcomes for each module and your progression in relation to the pillars and principles of advanced practice.
Formative and summative assessment strategies across the programme include written assignments, unseen examinations, case study analysis and evaluation, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), group/individual poster/oral presentations, evaluative conversations, practice assessment documents and portfolios.
Structure
You'll complete another 60 credits, including at least one 20-credit core module in term one or term two, taking your total number of credits to 120. Optional modules can be selected to reflect the role and setting in which you work and your professional interests. Some modules are subject to further entry requirements, which may require organisational support.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In year two, your learning will continue with many modules taught fully online or with significant online components. Some modules require face-to-face attendance at the UEA campus, utilising our state-of-the-art skills and simulation facilities for safe and effective practice enhancement.
Modules are led by experienced academics with clinical backgrounds and supported by knowledgeable teams to help you apply academic learning to practice. Learners in the Advanced Professional Practice program contribute valuable multi-professional insights to enrich the learning experience.
Each module has designated "effort" hours, encompassing scheduled activities, practice-based learning, and assessments. You’re expected to engage in independent study, including evidence appraisal and application to inform your thinking and academic writing. This approach enhances your learning experience and prepares you for an advanced practice role.
Comprehensive personal and academic support systems are also in place to enable you to receive additional support if required.
Assessment
In your second year, the programme continues to employ a variety of assessment methods, designed to effectively demonstrate your learning outcomes for each module and your progress in advanced practice principles.
Both formative and summative assessments are used, including written assignments, unseen examinations, case study analysis and evaluation, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), group or individual poster and oral presentations, evaluative conversations, practice assessment documents, and portfolios
Structure
You'll complete a further 60 credits, taking your total number of credits to 180. In addition to the 40-credit module, for which you'll require organisational governance and support, you'll take either one 20-credit core module or, if you have completed all three 20-credit core modules for the programme in years one and two, one optional 20-credit module, in either term one or term three You can start the 40-credit module either in term one or in term two. Some optional modules are subject to further entry requirements, which may require organisational support.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In your final year, you’ll continue to engage with modules delivered online or with significant online components. You can engage with asynchronous learning materials and activities at your convenience, supplemented by required live seminars and tutorials. Some modules require in-person attendance at the UEA campus, where our advanced skills and simulation facilities offer excellent learning opportunities.
Modules are taught by seasoned academics with strong clinical backgrounds and supported by expert teams.
Each module specifies several "effort" hours, including scheduled learning activities, practice-based learning, and assessments. Additionally, you’re expected to conduct independent study, such as finding, evaluating, and applying evidence to support your academic writing and thinking. This independent work not only enhances your learning experience but also helps build a robust evidence base for your advanced practice role.
Assessment
As before, in your third year, the programme features a diverse range of assessment methods, carefully designed to allow you to effectively demonstrate the learning outcomes for each module and your advancement in the pillars and principles of advanced practice.
Assessment strategies include both formative and summative approaches such as written assignments, unseen examinations, case study analysis and evaluation, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), group or individual poster and oral presentations, evaluative conversations, practice assessment documents, and portfolios.
In your third year, you’ll also undertake a 40-credit service improvement project module. This involves planning, conducting, and evaluating a practice-based project aimed at enhancing routine practice within your service. This module allows you to apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program in clinical practice, leadership, education, and research.
Employability
After the Course
Whether you’re looking for promotion or to advance your knowledge and skills more generally, complete our programme and you'll walk away armed with the academic and practice-based evidence you require to support your professional progression. You'll be able to demonstrate learning across the pillars of advanced practice, with the emphasis dependent on the pathway you have chosen and the modules you’ve selected.
As an HEE-accredited programme, if you’re working in an advanced practice role, completion of the MSc Advanced Professional Practice allows you to register with HEE as an Advanced Practitioner.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Advanced Clinical Practitioner
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in January and September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2 within the last 5 years
Degree Subject
Health Care subject
- Additional Entry Requirements
We can consider current Registered Healthcare professionals (including Nurses, Midwives, Paramedics, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists) with a minimum of 2 years post registration practice experience, working at Band 5 and above in a suitable clinical facing role with equivalent evidence of recent study in the last 5 years which includes
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Two or more degree level 6 CPD modules achieving 55% and above
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One or more Masters level 7 CPD modules achieving 50% and above
Memorandum of Understanding
You must submit a Memorandum of Understanding at the time of application. Your manager will need to confirm that you will be given the time and resources required for the programme.
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in January and September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent within the last 5 years.
Degree Subject
Health Care subject
- Additional Entry Requirements
We can consider current Registered Healthcare professionals (including Nurses, Midwives, Paramedics, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists) with a minimum of 2 years post registration practice experience, working at Band 5 and above in a suitable clinical facing role with equivalent evidence of recent study in the last 5 years which includes
-
Two or more degree level 6 CPD modules achieving 55% and above
-
One or more Masters level 7 CPD modules achieving 50% and above
Memorandum of Understanding
You must submit a Memorandum of Understanding at the time of application. Your manager will need to confirm that you will be given the time and resources required for the programme.
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- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 7.0 overall (minimum 6.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
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UK Students: £10,675
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International Students: £22,700
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You can find information regarding costs associated with this course on our Fees and finance webpages.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.