MSc Supportive, Palliative and End of Life Care

Course summary

• Develop your knowledge and clinical practice in supportive, palliative and end of life care.
• Develop as a generalist or specialist practitioner in your clinical setting.
• Gain an in depth understanding of the key factors impacting on end of life decision making.
• Become autonomous practitioner, improving your research, leadership skills and ability to implement service developments.

On this course, you'll study flexibly around your existing commitments in practice, and apply your knowledge to your role. You'll work collaboratively in researching management strategies for end-of-life care, while studying independently towards a deeper understanding of care.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

This course offers the adaptability that you need to study and work effectively. With the support of supervisors, academics and staff, you'll work towards a deeper understanding of your field.

You'll consider how better to treat, support and care for patients and their families, how to evaluate practice from a philosophical/ethical perspective and how to support decision making at end of life. Topic areas include collaborative working, symptom management, loss, grief and bereavement and research methods for practice.

You learn through

• distance learning through our online learning environment
• group work and collaborative learning
• independent research
• final dissertation/research project

Future careers

We support and develop your potential to progress your career, either in your current organisation or with a new employer. With our advice, you can pursue areas of specialist interest and take modules relevant to your future career.

Graduates from this course gain the skills and knowledge to work in senior nursing and other specialist supportive, palliative and end of life care roles, including

• Macmillan information and support radiographer
• hospice inpatient nurse manager
• lead nurse or consultant nurse
• clinical specialist practitioner, such as physiotherapist, occupational therapist, social worker or speech and language therapist working in supportive and palliative care.

Normally, applicants will hold a first degree or professional qualification which is recognised in the UK in a related health care subject. Examples of a first degree in a relevant subject include Nursing, Therapeutic Radiography or Physiotherapy etc.