MSc Advanced Practice in Physiotherapy

							                                                                                                   For prospective applicants to the


Entry requirements
                                                                                                   MSc Advanced Practice in Physiotherapy
Academic
Standard academic requirements for postgraduate study include a first or second class
honours degree from a recognised higher education institution. Candidates with other relevant
professional qualifications, must demonstrate post-qualification academic performance, range
and breadth of continuing professional development, relevant professional experience, have
professional recommendation and the motivation and ability to succeed at master’s level.

Subject specific
Some stand-alone inter-professional modules on this programme require applicants to have
two or three years’ practice-based experience prior to access. However, in order to register for
the full award, applicants must be professionally qualified physiotherapists and should normally
have five years’ post-registered/postgraduate practice-based experience of working in health
and/or social care settings. Physiotherapists with a minimum of three years full-time equivalent
experience may be considered in some circumstances, where for example, there is evidence of        Faculty of Health, Medical Sciences and Social Care
advanced standing provided. Applicants should have the support of their employer, if remaining     School of Rehabilitation and Public Health
employed whilst undertaking this course of study.
                                                                                                   This is a master’s-level programme, endorsed by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy,
International and non-NHS students                                                                 for postgraduate/registrant physiotherapists working in health and social care settings.
If English is not the first language and the first degree is not in the English medium, evidence   The programme is designed to support the development of advanced competencies that
of English competence must be provided prior to registration on this course. The minimum           are required to address the needs of stakeholders such as patients/clients and patient/
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score requirement for entry is 7.5 or an     client-centred services.
equivalent recognised by the University. Advice for international students and other information
on English language courses for example, is available at                                           Programme rationale and philosophy
                                                                                                   The rationale for this programme is to respond to the continuing professional development
http://www.cumbria.ac.uk/FutureStudents/International/Welcome.aspx                                 (CPD) needs of physiotherapists by providing a high quality master’s-level physiotherapy
                                                                                                   programme to a diverse community of students; to educate physiotherapists with the personal
International and non-NHS employed students will need to discuss placement opportunities           and professional resources to respond to current and potential market needs in health and
with the course and module leaders. In more specialised modules, such as Non-medical               social care; and to educate physiotherapists with masters-level academic competencies fit to
Prescribing, evidence of current Criminal Record Bureau clearance will be required.                engage in scholarly practice to support the development of the profession and meet the needs
                                                                                                   of all stakeholders.
How to apply
Applications should be made directly to the university. Forms can be obtained from student         Programme aims
                                                                                                   The overall educational aims are to support
recruitment or downloaded from the website.
                                                                                                   • continuing professional development and career progression, enabling practitioners to
Details of current fee rates and delivery dates can be found on the website.                         demonstrate to their regulatory bodies, employers and themselves, that they are engaged
                                                                                                     in life-long learning and developing both clinically and academically in line with the NHS
Contact                                                                                              ‘Knowledge & Skills Framework‘
For queries regarding course content or suitability contact Alan Chamberlain, course leader        • effective learning and the development of skills of critical analysis and synthesis, planning
01228 616032                                                                                         and organisation, evaluation and reflection on professional practice to an advanced level
Alan.Chamberlain@cumbria.ac.uk                                                                     • advancement of skills in assessment, investigation and interpretation of data, clinical
                                                                                                     reasoning, judgment and decision-making, rehabilitation and outcomes
For queries regarding the admissions process contact                                               • application of theories, models, perspectives and approaches within the context of
Student Recruitment, Lancaster campus                                                                contemporary practice.
01524 384 360
professionaladmissions@cumbria.ac.uk

www.cumbria.ac.uk
Programme location                                                                                    Exit points
The programme will run from the University of Cumbria, Lancaster campus and Fusehill Street           To exit the programme with a PgC in Advanced Practice Physiotherapy, the student will have
campus in Carlisle, but some optional modules will only be available in Lancaster eg ultrasound.      completed three modules and 60 credits in total. For example, one core and two optional modules
                                                                                                      within the programme of which one optional module must be in Advanced Practice Physiotherapy.
Programme description                                                                                 To exit the programme with a PgD in Advanced Practice Physiotherapy, the student will have
The programme will be delivered over a maximum of five calendar years part-time or two                completed six modules and 120 credits in total. For example, two core and four optional modules
calendar years full-time. Programme delivery will vary according to modules undertaken, but           within the programme of which one optional module must be in Advanced Practice Physiotherapy.
study blocks and weekly day/evening study sessions are available for certain modules. Applicants
will be able to take specific clinically-related routes through their choice of modules, or a more    Modules
generic route with the possibility of individually negotiated independent study modules.              The MSc consists of two core modules of 20 credits each and a research project or dissertation
                                                                                                      of 60 credits. Students will choose four optional modules; a maximum of three and a minimum
Programme outcomes                                                                                    of one from the Optional Advanced Practice Physiotherapy (APP) listing; a maximum of three
The programme outcomes are determined by the individual core and optional modules                     and a minimum of one from the Optional Inter-professional (IPL) listing (please see examples
available, but students should be able to demonstrate                                                 below). A full list of modules is available upon request.
• master’s-level skills of critical analysis and synthesis of new and accepted knowledge
  and practice
                                                                                                       Core modules                                                                         Credits
• application of theory to practice where the practitioner is accountable in varied and
                                                                                                       CLH 804 Clinical Judgment and Decision-making in Professional Practice                     20
  complex situations
• appraisal of the evidence-base for clinical, educational, research, management and                   RPHH 7306 Research Methods                                                                 20
  leadership practice                                                                                  RPHP 7408 Dissertation                                                                     20
• evaluation of nationally/locally produced service frameworks, policies, pathways and protocols
                                                                                                       Optional (20 credits)* modules                                                       Listing
• exploration of roles and responsibilities in the delivery of patient/client-centred services,
  within the moral, ethical and legal frameworks and dimensions of practice                            RPHP 7400 Advanced Practice in Rehabilitation for Adults with Hand Dysfunction         APP
• clinical judgment and decision-making for complex biopsychosocial health and well being              RPHP 7401 Advanced Practice in the Critically-ill Respiratory Patient                  APP
  needs, in the context of intra/inter-professional and multi-disciplinary care from a plurality of
                                                                                                       RPHP 7402 Advanced Practice in Ergonomics                                              APP
  medical, health and social care providers
• advanced understanding of research methodologies; ability to evaluate and present research.          RPHP 7403 Understanding Pain in Advanced Practice                                      APP
                                                                                                       RPHP 7404 Advanced Practice in the Sporting Environment                                APP
Learning and teaching methods
                                                                                                       RPHP 7405 Advanced Practice in Paediatrics: Collaborative Approaches                   APP
Each module will be supported by the use of Blackboard, the University’s Virtual Learning
Environment. All modules must be passed; the pass mark for each module is 50%. An                      RPHP 7406 Independent Study (Negotiated Learning) Advanced Practice in Therapy         APP
emphasis is will be placed on independent learning, and student-led sessions.
                                                                                                       RPHP 7407 Work-based (Negotiated) Learning Advanced Practice in Therapy                APP

Assessment methods                                                                                     RPHH 7303 Education and Training in Practice Settings                                  IPL
The methods of assessment include the following examples                                               RPHH 7304 Management and Leadership in Health and Social Care Settings                 IPL
Essays and critical reports, written and MCQ examinations, Objective structured clinical
examination (OSCE)/staged clinical assessment, Literature reviews, Case study analysis,                MIS 824 Musculo-skeletal Ultrasound                                                    IPL
Clinical management plan, Oral presentations, Portfolio of evidence, Data analysis and handling,       NMP 800 Non-medical Prescribing                                                        IPL
Research proposal, Dissertation.
                                                                                                      All modules with the exception of RPHP 7408 can also be taken as stand alone modules for CPD.
Programme structure
                                                                                                      * Denotes that the availability of some optional study modules will be subject to demand.
All students will be registered on the MSc programme at the outset, but students exiting from
the programme may be awarded an exit qualification.