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MSc Advanced Clinical Practice - Apprenticeship

Prepare for the role of Advanced Clinical Practitioner in primary or secondary care

Year of entry: 2023/24

Start date

September 2023 (term dates)

If you wish to explore this apprenticeship course you will need to talk to your employer first, as there are specific requirements and employment required.

Through the integration of research and theory with practice, you’ll build your knowledge and skills so you can safely assess, diagnose and treat or refer patients presenting with undifferentiated problems. This will include the prescription or administration of medication according to the rules governing your particular profession.

You'll gain professional skills including risk management, resilience and leadership in order to progress your journey towards advanced practice. In addition, you’ll examine the wider context of healthcare and work towards improving health outcomes in collaboration with others, not merely for individuals but also for groups and populations.

On graduation, you’ll be a critically reflective practitioner, able to make informed judgements based on sound analysis, often within unpredictable circumstances. You will be ready to take your place in a range of healthcare settings.

This course has been designed to enable you to achieve the capabilities in the NHS (2017) Advanced Clinical Practice Multi-professional framework and is offered with apprenticeship and non-apprenticeship routes.

This MSc-level course is similar in content to the PGDip Advanced Clinical Practice. However, on the MSc course you will undertake an additional year (Year 3) which includes a service improvement project (dissertation).


Successful completion of the Independent and Supplementary Prescribing module will enable you to legally prescribe medicines and appliances.

Expert speakers

Expert speakers are a great feature of the course. We use them to bring in specialist knowledge to enhance your knowledge base and understanding.

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Course content

Throughout the programme you will need to be able to work with a clinical supervisor (a qualified Advanced Clinical Practitioner, GP or doctor of registrar level or above) in the area of practice where you are currently employed.

You'll spend a full day each week with your clinical supervisor to work on skills and competencies learned in class and to develop your competency in your own area of practice.

This course has been designed to enable you to achieve the capabilities in the NHS (2017) Advanced Clinical Practice Multi-professional framework and the Apprenticeship standard ST0564/01.

Year 1

You will study the evidence underpinning advanced clinical practice, the biological basis of illness and how pathology relates to signs and symptoms in the individual. You will learn how to assess these signs and symptoms through history taking, and physical and mental health assessment, and how to formulate this information into clinical diagnoses and a plan of care.

Core modules

You will take core modules, which may include:

Year 2

You will explore professional issues faced by Advanced Clinical Practitioners and look at how to manage risk and gain resilience. You will also examine the broad context of health, including public health, and how the Advanced Clinical Practitioner can influence outcomes in the healthcare context. You can also qualify as a non-medical prescriber (if you are not already one).

Core modules

You will take core modules, which may include:

Option modules

You will take a selection of option modules, examples of which may include:

Option A (if you are eligible for non-medical prescribing)

Option B (if you are not eligible for non-medical prescribing)

Year 3

You will complete a dissertation in the form of a service improvement project, which you will implement in your own clinical area.

In your final year, you will complete a dissertation in the form of a service improvement project, which will enable you to undertake and implement a project relevant to your own practice and place of work.

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Use their expertise and decision making skills to inform clinical reasoning approaches when dealing with differentiated and undifferentiated individuals' presentations and complex situations, synthesising information from multiple sources to make evidence-based judgements or diagnoses to provide person-centred care.
  • Practise with a high level of autonomy and be accountable for decisions and omissions, adhering to codes of conduct, professional standards and scope of practice, and demonstrating application of relevant, subject-specific competencies, knowledge and behaviours to enhance the care and experience of individuals.
  • Exercise professional judgement to assess and manage risk, facilitating individuals to make informed choices, initiating, evaluating and modifying a range of interventions, and working with multi-agency and interprofessional resources to empower individuals to participate in decisions about their care.
  • Work collaboratively to evaluate own and others' practice, acting as a role model and mentor, engaging in and developing strategies to act on learning, advocating for and contributing to the development of a culture that supports lifelong learning and development.
  • Demonstrate self and team leadership in managing situations that are unfamiliar, complex or unpredictable, being resilient, receptive to challenges and prepared to constructively challenge others and to initiate and manage change at the level of individual, team or organisation, underpinned by theoretical approaches.
  • Engage in collaborative working to develop and apply evidence (generated through evaluation, audit and research) to inform policy/procedures to drive service development and influence clinical practices to enhance quality, productivity and value.

Apprenticeship funding

As an apprentice you do not pay course fees. An apprentice is employed by an organisation which entitles them to earn as they learn. Please contact your employer for further details around apprenticeship routes for this programme.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

You will be learning with and from experts in the field using a combination of lectures, skills sessions, and directed and independent study, all designed to support you in developing your clinical capability and competence. Working in practice for a minimum of one day a week with your clinical supervisor, you will combine the theory with clinical practice.

Teaching location

You primary location will be in your workplace. You may choose to organise placements in other healthcare settings in order to enhance your clinical learning.

You will need access to a computer and internet access, and will be required to travel to the University for teaching sessions and tutorials.

Assessment and feedback

You will be assessed in both theory and practice with formative assessments to support you in identifying areas for development.

Careers and skills

The demand for qualified Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) is growing, and on completion of this course you will be able to apply for and work as an ACP.

Career opportunities

  • A range of advanced clinical practice roles
  • Advanced Clinical Practitioner
  • Strategic healthcare leader and manager
  • Cognitive behavioural psychotherapist
  • Infant mental health practitioner
  • Primary care mental health practitioner

Transferable skills

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

  • Manage risk and influence healthcare practices and policy to become a resilient professional
  • Work in collaboration with others to improve the health of the population
  • Lead on service development and implement change

Entry requirements

Typical offer
Undergraduate degree You should hold an undergraduate degree (exception may be given if you have evidence of recent successfully completed modules at level six).
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

Additional requirements

Level 2 Maths and English or equivalent.

This course is open to healthcare professionals who have current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Health Care Professions Council, or the General Pharmaceutical Council and have at least two years relevant clinical experience.

You need to be able to attend university one day per week during term time and should have the full support of your workplace management.

You may also be required to pass an interview in order to be offered a place on the course.

You must be aged 16 or over, living in England and not in full-time education.

You must have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check and show evidence of Occupational Health clearance.

Applicants are also subject to the eligibility criteria outlined in full in the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Apprenticeship Funding Rules

Extra requirements for students undertaking the non-medical prescribing module

If you intend to undertake this module you need to be a registered nurse, pharmacist or physiotherapist with three years' post-qualification experience and have been working in the clinical field of intended practice for the last year.

You will need to be able to spend a compulsory practice element of 12 days with a designated medical practitioner, and be working in an area where you will be able to prescribe on completion of the module.

You will need separate and specific support from your employing organisation and you must have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check which is under three years old at the time of enrolment.

Recognition of prior learning

Please see our recognition of prior learning policies.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

How to apply

Your employer will circulate details of the apprenticeship and an Expression of Interest Form for completion if you would like to be considered for the programme. Once the deadline has closed, your employer will assess the applications and if you are a suitable candidate, your details will be forwarded to the university.

If your employer puts your name forward, our Apprenticeships Unit will ask you to complete the University of York application.

University of York application

The University application consists of three documents. All must be completed as part of your application.

Online application form

You will receive access to the You@York applicant portal within 24-48 hours of submitting the online application form. Once you have access to the portal you will be able to login to add additional documents.

Initial Assessment form

This is a self-assessment form which is used to assess your eligibility for the programme and identify where you have prior experiential or certificated learning; create an Individual Learning Plan and calculate funding costs.

Supplementary application form

You'll receive full details about completing the supplementary form by email.

Shortlisting and interview

Once the University of York application deadline has closed, the programme team will shortlist applicants for interview.

If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to attend interview with a panel comprising two members of the programme team. You'll be asked questions to determine your suitability for the apprenticeship programme. The panel will discuss with you your responses to the Initial Assessment. You will have the opportunity to ask the panel any questions you may have.

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions