MSc Health and Medical Simulation
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, examinations may be replaced by an alternative form of assessment during the academic year 2020/2021. Please refer to the Programme Specification on these pages for further details.
About the course
This programme offers the opportunity to study all aspects of Simulation as way of providing education and training to others, whilst grounding it firmly in a sound evidence based knowledge of educational theory and practice. You will have the opportunity to study all aspects of the theory and practice of health and medical education in the workplace, the design, and delivery of scenarios and simulation sessions, planning simulation facilities, programming simulators. You will also have the opportunity to study medical emergencies and managing risk, leadership and teamwork, business skills, and evidence based practice.
What are the key skills that I will gain?
On a masters programme you will gain many different skills and a lot of knowledge. The main aims of this programme is to:
- Provide you with the knowledge and skills required to utilize high and low fidelity simulation as a training and educational tool to improve the knowledge and skills of participants
- Enable you to empower others to transfer learning acquired in simulation scenarios to the workplace in order to improve services and increase patient safety
- Enable you to evaluate the effectiveness of your teaching in simulation on the knowledge and skills of other health care practitioners in order to increase patient safety and improve the quality of services
- Enable you to critically appraise best evidence in order to inform your educational and training practice in simulation
Is this for me?
If you are involved in the provision of medical or healthcare simulation then this programme has a route for you. As a clinician you may be from a medical or other healthcare background where you are involved in the provision of training and education which would benefit from the utilisation of simulation, or you may already be using simulation as an education or training tool. If you do not have a clinical background you may be interested in the technical side of simulation, and the leadership and business acumen that might benefit you in your role. There are a range of modules and awards within the MSc that would add to your professional development in the field.
Course Structure
The MSc in Health and Medical Simulation is designed around three core compulsory modules, two (compulsory) modules of common interest and one optional module.
The three core modules are;
- Health & Medical Simulation: Design & Delivery
- Medical Emergencies & Human Error: Managing Risk & Improving Services
- Health & Medical Education in the Workplace
The two compulsory modules (common interest) are
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Healthcare Disciplines Project
Student can study one of the following optional modules;
- Leadership in Practice
- Work Based Learning
- Technology Enhanced Learning
Students will follow a personalised and flexible programme of study that provides an optimal opportunity for learning, whether they are full-time or part-time.
The matrix below provides an example of how the pathway of study generally flows.
Full-time mode
Semester A
Evidence-based Practice, Health and Medical Simulation
Semester B
Health and Medical Education in the Workplace; Medical Emergencies and Human Error, or Leadership in Practice
Semester C
Work-based Learning in Health and Medical Practice, Healthcare Disciplines Project
Part-time mode
Year 1
Semester A: Evidence-based Practice
Semester B: Health and Medical Education in the Workplace
Year 2
Semester A: Health and Medical Simulation
Semester B: Medical Emergencies and Human Error; Leadership in Practice or Work-based Learning in Health & Medical Practice
Year 3
Semester A: Work-based Learning in Health and Medical Practice
Semester B: Healthcare Disciplines Project, or Service Improvement Project
Details of the modules can be found by clicking on the ‘modules’ tab
What will I gain?
The programme leads to the award of MSc Health and Medical Simulation; Postgraduate Diploma in Health and Medical Simulation; or Postgraduate Certificate in Health and Medical Simulation, depending on the number and combination of modules that you choose to study
Why choose this course?
Simulation is now recognised as a key component in managing medical emergencies, understanding the effect of interpersonal and team dynamics on quality of patient care, increasing patient safety and improving services. Therefore, there is a growing need for clinical facilitators who are developed to deliver high quality simulation training and education.
The University of Hertfordshire has state of the art simulation facilities, a track record, and the expertise in simulation education. This programme is unique in the UK.
The MSc Health and Medical Simulation has been developed to enable students to develop advanced knowledge and skills needed to provide high quality effective education and training across a range of situations, using Simulation as the primary tool.
What will I study?
Teaching Approach
Our teaching places the student experience in the forefront of what we do. We use contemporary educational approaches that embrace adult learning in the development of a positive, safe educational environment to encourage active facilitated learning for our students.
Key staff
Admissions tutor: Ken Spearpoint
Careers
The use of medical simulation and the teaching of human factors is a rapidly developing area within medical and healthcare education. A number of our previous students have achieved significant promotions and career enhancements following or during this programme of study.
Please note that some of the images and videos on our course pages may have been taken before social distancing rules in the UK came into force.