Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Allied Health Practitioner) (MSc)

About this course

Prepare for an advanced role in clinical practice on this master's degree at the University of Southampton. Our MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Allied Health Practitioner) develops your existing clinical experience and skills, helping you take on greater responsibility as an advanced or consultant practitioner.

The Advanced Allied Health Practitioner pathway is only open to professionals working as experienced registered practitioners in a UK healthcare setting. You’ll need to demonstrate that you have access to the required practice experience and mentorship.

Throughout this degree you’ll:

• examine role development in relation to advanced practice
• explore how to apply evidence to your field of practice and clinical specialty
• apply communication and clinical decision-making skills to your professional practice
• develop new clinical skills in relation to client health assessment, diagnostic reasoning and pharmacology
• show your clinical competence through simulated and practice-based clinical assessment

If you’re eligible to practise as an independent or supplementary prescriber, you will have the opportunity to obtain the V300 non-medical prescribing qualification.

We centre our allied health master's around the 4 pillars of advanced practice:

• advanced clinical practice
• leadership
• education
• research

You’ll learn more about research and evidence-based practice, advanced health assessment, diagnosis, decision making and pharmacology, plus non-medical prescribing. You’ll also explore the place of advanced practice within modern healthcare and your own professional role.

Careers

Our MSc programme will develop your skills and expertise to prepare you for promotion to specialised roles such as:

• advanced nurse practitioner
• advanced practitioner
• advanced critical care practitioner
• advanced health practitioner
• clinical specialist
• consultant practitioner

Students will need a 2:2 degree in a subject from a clinical or science background, and a current professional registration with a relevant UK professional or statutory body – normally the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or the General Pharmaceutical Council; a current job contract in a clinical or clinically-related area; access to a clinical mentor who can assess your practice competency and support your learning; at least 2 years of relevant post-registration clinical experience (3 years before commencing V300 non-medical prescribing); at least 1 satisfactory reference from your current employer, including confirmation of the required practice experience and mentor support.