Advanced Clinical Practice (Cardiovascular Health) PgCert, PgDip and MSc

Are you interested in gaining knowledge, practical, leadership and research skills in the area of cardiovascular health? Do you currently work in a clinical or health setting delivering cardiovascular disease prevention strategies or rehabilitative care? Or would you like to do so in the future? This programme aims to enhance an array of career opportunities - whether this be in clinical practice, academic research, leadership, or community health and wellbeing.

This course offers you flexible learning, enabling you to simultaneously maintain a professional role in clinical practice or manage other commitments whilst completing your studies. It’s interdisciplinary in nature and delivered by experienced specialist academics in partnership with national and international leaders and clinical specialists from cardiology, nursing, nutrition, exercise, and behavioural medicine.

You'll complete a series of clinical observations across key areas of cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation. This will give you a thorough understanding of the theory behind the practice. You'll also learn first-hand the practicalities of current service delivery. The research element of the course will provide you with a strong foundation in the practical use of research methods within cardiovascular health and you'll learn how to use research evidence in order to implement best practice within your healthcare setting.

At Brunel, we understand the challenges of fitting study around work and family life. For this reason, we have designed this course to be flexible, so that it can fit around your current commitments. The full master's course can be studied 3 years part-time starting in September.

If you don’t want to commit to part-time study of the entire master's, you can develop your educational portfolio over a longer period of time by undertaking staged study that leads to the award of Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) after one year of study, Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) after two years of study and full Masters (MSc) after three years of study.

Please note that it is important you apply for the stage you will be studying in that year, i.e. to study for the PgDip you must have already completed the PgCert and you only apply for the staged MSc once you have completed the PgDip.

Each stage can be studied 1 year part-time starting in September. You could even just take one or more CPPD modules for your professional development and return to complete your course at a later date.

Induction 18th and 19th September 2024 online.

You’ll benefit from a course designed to incorporate a multidisciplinary perspective that fulfils the Advanced Clinical Practice framework as set out by NHS England (previously HEE). You’ll study key modules in advanced clinical leadership, teaching and learning, evidence-based practice and research.

Alongside this, your specialist modules will cover the breadth of cardiovascular health, from populations at high multifactorial risk to those with established atherosclerotic disease.

The scientific foundation of this degree is lifestyle change (quitting smoking, diet and physical activity) through behavioural approaches, adult education, and health promotion. On graduation, you’ll be able to translate theory into real-world clinical practice.

Each module consists of a taught component, some are delivered virtually and supported by online learning resources.

This course can be studied 3 years part-time or 1 year (staged study) part-time, starting in September.

The in-depth understanding of cardiovascular health gained on this course will prepare you for leadership roles within your specialist area. You’ll have acquired the skills and expertise to treat and improve the lives of people with cardiovascular disease.

This programme is ideal for any health professional with a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, for example nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, physical activity specialists, occupational therapists, physician associates, sports scientists, and health promotion and public health specialists.

All applicants must have a pre-registration degree in relevant allied health profession and the following of relevant experience as a minimum:

1. Students currently working in the UK - At least 1 year of post qualification clinical work experience in the specialism they have applied for. Typically this should be work experience from a ‘Band 6’ level role.
2. Students currently working outside of the UK – At least 2 years post qualification clinical work experience, ideally including at least 1 year in the specialism you have applied for.

You must have met the minimum work experience requirement at the point you apply for the programme. For example, if you submit your application in February 2023, you must have 2 years experience by February 2023 (depending on whether you are working in or outside the UK). This is to make sure that you will definitely have enough experience when you join the course. This does not include internships as they are supervised and therefore technically still part of your training. You should aim to provide documented evidence of your clinical work experience. All applicants should include a detailed CV as part of their application. Applicants who are working outside of the UK should could include letters of recommendations and/or confirmation of employment (we appreciate that what you can provide will vary from one person to another and be dependent on your specific background and employer, so please aim to provide as much documentary evidence when you apply).

• IELTS: 7 (min 6.5 in all areas)
• Pearson: 64 (59 in all subscores)
• BrunELT: 68% (63% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 98 (min 23 in all areas)

UK Staged Master £3,850 per stage.

International Staged Master £7,870 per stage.

The course uses a range of flexible and engaging approaches to assessment. You'll be assessed through exams, critical essays, portfolios, oral presentations, and your dissertation.

The choice of the specific type of assessment will be appropriate to the intended learning outcomes of the taught modules. The assessment strategies will balance the need to demonstrate knowledge and competencies with more in-depth and critical approaches to learning. Such assessment approaches will include examinations, presentations of relevant clinical case scenarios, and coursework, which will take the form of critical assessment of literature and research, critical essays, and the development of the selected portfolio of learning.

Finally, the dissertation provides demonstration of an ability to synthesise and critically evaluate current research underpinning clinical practice, and to develop and undertake relevant research as well as its dissemination.