
MSc Advanced Clinical Practice
Prepare for the role of Advanced Clinical Practitioner in primary or secondary care
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
This course will enable you to develop competency in advanced clinical practice while working in your existing healthcare setting.
If you would like to apply for the Advanced Clinical Practitioner apprenticeship route, please contact your employer in the first instance.
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. If you wish to explore an apprenticeship, you will need to talk to your employer about this as there are specific requirements and employment required.
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).
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Centre of Advancing Practice (nhs.uk).
Health Education England’s Centre for Advancing Practice has been established to standardise post-registration education by accrediting advanced practice courses that achieve the standards outlined in the multi-professional Advanced Practice Framework. Practitioners who have completed accredited education programmes will be eligible to be listed on the Centre’s Advanced Practice Directory.
Please be aware that this is only available to those students who have successfully completed the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice programme and not to those who have exited the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma.
Successful completion of the Independent and Supplementary Prescribing module will enable you to legally prescribe medicines and appliances.

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.
Modules
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
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
Option modules
You will also study three option modules:
Option A (If you are eligible for non-medical prescribing)
- Independent and Supplementary prescribing for non-medical prescribers (30 credits)
- Developing Professional Practice (10 credits)
Option B (if you have previously studied Non-medical Prescribing at Level 6)
Year 3
Core modules
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Learning outcomes
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Learning outcomes for this course
- 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.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2025/26
Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
---|---|---|
Part-time (3 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. This is course is currently not available to overseas applicants who need a UKVI Student visa to study in the UK. |
£3,733 | £8,633 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
- UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
- International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Additional costs
There are no specific additional fees for this course. You may choose to buy your own textbooks, which will cost around £150, however, these will also be available from the library. You may also want to print out some documents. We would anticipate the cost of printing would be up to £30.
Funding information
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
Funding opportunities
Chevening Scholarships
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
Departmental funding
- Florence Nightingale Foundation - scholarships for midwives
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.
Facilities
You will benefit from our state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Unit, which replicates a number of areas of healthcare in which you may work.
Teaching location
You will be based in the Department of Health Sciences, which is on Campus West. The majority of your teaching will take place in Alcuin, or at other locations across Campus West.
Students will work in their own area of clinical practice throughout the programme. Students may choose to organise placements in other healthcare settings in order to enhance their clinical learning.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
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
Qualification | 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
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 have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check and show evidence of Occupational Health clearance.
Apprentices only
Those funded as an apprentice must be employed as an apprentice. English and maths at Level 2 with Grade 4 or equivalent will be required prior to undertaking End Point Assessment (Transition to Advanced Practice module)
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 complete 90 hours learning in practice under the supervision of a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP).
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. We accept the following qualifications:
Qualification | Minimum requirement |
---|---|
IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
TOEFL | 87, minimum 21 in each component |
Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
If you haven't met our English language requirements
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Next steps
Contact us
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