Advanced Clinical Practice Degree Apprenticeship


Institution code	H36
Course length	Part Time, 3 Years
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Entry requirements

UCAS points A Level BTEC
112-120 BBC-BBB DMM-DDM

Additional requirements

GCSE English and maths at a minimum grade of 4/C or functional skills level 2 or the ESFA acceptable equivalent
Applicants with evidence of equivalent professional development or academic proficiency will be considered
Applicants with non-European academic qualifications will need to supply evidence of equivalency through NARIC.

UCAS points	A Level	BTEC
112-120	BBC-BBB	DMM-DDM

About the course

Apprenticeship Standard: Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Final Award: MSc Advanced Clinical Practice

This new MSc has been developed in collaboration with experienced health practitioners and NHS organisations to enable registered health professionals, who are working at higher levels of practice, to develop their career to achieve the capabilities of advanced practice as set out in the Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Practice (Health Education England 2017).

This is a multi-professional programme, open to nurses, midwives, paramedics, dietitians, pharmacists, physiotherapists, radiographers and radiotherapists. It will provide opportunities to challenge and critically analyse your professional practice and to achieve the learning and development required for you to achieve your scope of practice as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

The programme involves a significant level of work based learning in the practice setting where you will develop your scope of practice across the 4 pillars of advanced practice – advanced clinical practice, education, research and leadership (HEE 2017) .

In order to undertake either pathway you will need a supervisor with appropriate skills to support you to become an advanced clinical practitioner.

Level 7

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
AHP Independent Prescribing	30 Credits	Optional
This Level 7 module is designed to enable physiotherapists, podiatrists, therapeutic radiographers and paramedics to develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to demonstrate a critical, evidence-based approach to safe, appropriate and cost-effective practice as an independent/supplementary prescriber, in partnership with members of the multi-disciplinary prescribing team. Students will be facilitated in the review and analysis of systematic approaches to assessment and diagnosis, drug actions and the use of evidence-based sources to inform prescribing practice, including the decision not to prescribe. The legal and professional frameworks underpinning prescribing practice will be evaluated to ensure governance of their prescribing practice and promote safe and accountable practice in team members. The module involves a blended learning approach incorporating the University's managed learning environment, Canvas. Inter-professional learning occurs with prescribing students from the allied health professions, nursing and midwifery prescribing students.
AHP Supplementary Prescribing	30 Credits	Optional
This Level 7 module is designed to enable diagnostic radiographers and dietitians to develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to undertake safe, appropriate and cost-effective supplementary prescribing practice in partnership with patients, carers and members of the multi-disciplinary prescribing team. Students will be facilitated in the review and analysis of systematic approaches to assessment and diagnosis, drug actions and the use of evidence-based sources to inform prescribing practice, including the decision not to prescribe. The legal and professional frameworks underpinning prescribing practice will be evaluated to ensure governance of their prescribing practice and promote safe and accountable practice in team members. The module involves a blended learning approach incorporating the University's managed learning environment, Canvas. Inter-professional learning occurs with prescribing students from independent prescribing students from a physiotherapist, paramedic, therapeutic radiographer or podiatrist background, pharmacist, nursing and midwifery prescribing students.
Integrating Research with Professional Practice	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will examine the epistemology of research, the principles and history of ethical research and a critical analysis of how it is used in practice. Key aspects of content will address concepts of rigour and trustworthiness in assessment which involves patient narratives, as well as methods of increasing reliability, validity and standardising direct measurement techniques in relation to an assessment protocol, research or audit tool. The emphasis throughout this module will be on the use and relevance of research skills to practitioners seeking to assess, improve or evaluate services. The module will harness students existing personal and life skills and knowledge of care as a basis for developing learning that is relevant and focussed on their practice needs and stage of professional development.
Nurse Independent Prescribing	30 Credits	Optional
This Level 7 module is designed to enable nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses to develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to demonstrate a critical, evidence-based approach to safe, appropriate and cost-effective practice as an independent/supplementary prescriber, in partnership with members of the multi-disciplinary prescribing team. Students will be facilitated in the critical review and analysis of systematic approaches to assessment and diagnosis, drug actions and the use of evidence-based sources to inform prescribing practice, including the decision not to prescribe. The legal and professional frameworks underpinning prescribing practice will be analysed critically to ensure governance of their prescribing practice and promote safe and accountable practice in team members. The module involves a blended learning approach incorporating the University's managed learning environment, StudyNet. Inter-professional learning occurs with prescribing students from the allied health professions and pharmacist prescribing students.
Advanced Clinical Practice	15 Credits	Compulsory
The aim of this module is to enable students to understand and evaluate the international, national and local agendas for Advanced Clinical Practice. This will include examining the legal, professional and ethical perspectives of advanced Practice and explore the associated risk and governance issues.
Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Indicators	15 Credits	Compulsory
The aim of this module is to enable students to continue to develop knowledge, understanding and skills of advanced health assessment and clinical examination and the importance of these in relation to diagnostic indicators.
Leadership, Education and Developing Others	30 Credits	Compulsory
The aim of this module is to enable students to continue to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills of leadership, education and professional development. The module enables students to critically review leadership within the context of the advanced practice role, to understand the leaning and teaching approaches that support clinical development and to evaluate strategies to support and develop themselves and others.
Pharmacist Independent Prescribing L7	30 Credits	Optional
This Level 7 Module is designed to enable pharmacists to develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to undertake safe, appropriate and cost-effective independent prescribing practice in partnership with patients, carers and members of the multi-disciplinary prescribing team. Students will develop a critical understanding of the pathophysiology of conditions within their intended area of prescribing practice, systematic approaches to assessment and diagnosis, drug actions and the use of evidence based information sources to guide the selection of the appropriate pharmacological product. The legal, professional and ethical issues involved in prescribing practice will be analysed to ensure that practitioners work at all times within the framework ensuring professional accountability in practice. The module involves a blended learning approach incorporating the Universitys managed learning environment, StudyNet. Inter-professional learning occurs with prescribing students from the Allied Health Professions and nurse/midwife prescribing students.

Course fact sheets
MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Degree Apprenticeship)	Download
MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Degree Apprenticeship)	Download

Programme specifications
MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Degree Apprenticeship)	Download
MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Degree Apprenticeship)	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	n/a
Applications open to international and EU students	No

Dates

2025

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
01/09/2025	30/09/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
20/01/2026	31/01/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
01/09/2025	30/09/2026	2	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
18/01/2026	31/01/2027	2	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
01/09/2025	30/09/2026	3	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
17/01/2026	31/01/2027	3	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)

2026

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
01/09/2026	30/09/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
20/01/2027	31/01/2028	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
01/09/2026	30/09/2027	2	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
18/01/2027	31/01/2028	2	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
01/09/2026	30/09/2027	3	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
17/01/2027	31/01/2028	3	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)

Find out more

Learner events Employ an apprentice

Learner events

Employ an apprentice

What type of applicant are you?

UK 2025

UK 2026 and beyond

International