Advanced Healthcare Practice

Entry requirements

Healthcare clinicians with a professionally and academically accredited BSc (Hons) (level 8 National Qualifications Authority of Ireland recognised) or equivalent in a health profession* at a minimum award of 2.2 hons level or above.

*Health Profession: Doctors, Nurses, Health and Social Care Professionals. Health and Social Care Professionals encompasses the list of professions regulated under the Health and Social Care Professions Act (2005) Ireland. These are clinical biochemist; dietician; medical scientist; occupational therapist; orthoptist; physiotherapist; podiatrist; psychologist; radiographer; social care worker; social worker; speech and language therapist.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The MSc in Advanced Healthcare Practice is designed to enhance graduates’ critical thinking and develop evidence based practitioners as future leaders of effective services. Graduates will obtain in-depth knowledge of an area of Health Sciences to apply to their professional practice. From this MSc, graduates will be able to describe and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of the current range of theory and research. They will reflect critically on their own and others’ learning styles and practice.

Students can register on a fulltime or part-time basis. Students must complete 6 - 8 taught modules, to include two core modules and 4-6 elective modules from the modules available, with a research thesis. The full-time option is completed over three academic semesters. In the flexible part-time option, students register for one, two or three modules per semester, with maximum period of registration being three years. Offering the programme in this way addresses the educational, professional, clinical and financial demands of the student, the employer and clinical service.

Depending on the module, the academic work may include classes, seminars, self-directed learning and/or e-learning, both on and off campus.

From the MSc, graduate will be able to describe and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of the current range of theroy and research in their clinical field. They will reflect critically on their own and others' learning styles and practice. The end of the programme, graduates will have met the following programme learning outcomes:

Knowledge- Breadth & Kind:

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of an area of Health Sciences and its application to the students' professional practice.
• Describe and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of the current range of theoretical and research underpinning that area.

Know-how and Skills - range and selectivity:

• Reflect critically on their own learning style and practice and others' research and clinical practice.

Competence - context and role:

• Explain their clinical role and contribution in relation to the concept of health and well-being.

Competence - learning to learn:

• Evaluate their own learning needs and be able to structure appropriate self-directed learning to meet these needs.

Competence - insight:

• Conceptualise healthcare & social care issues from alternative theoretical perspectives and synthesise, develop and communicate creative solutions to address issues relating to healthcare provision.