Advanced Practice in Healthcare MSc/Diploma/Certificate

Dubai Campus

Start date
September 2024, January 2025
Duration
1 year full-time; 2-3 years part-time
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

2024/25
1 year full-time: AED 138,456
2 years part-time: AED 69,228 (per year)
3 years part-time: AED 46,152 (per year)

Scholarships available



Taught by our team of expert clinicians, academics, and researchers, this multi-professional programme is designed to develop your research, teaching, management and clinical assessment skills required to meet the constantly evolving demands of those leading and aspiring to lead clinical teams in healthcare.

Subject to Ministry of Education accreditation

Based on the successful MSc Advanced Practice in Healthcare delivered on our UK campus, our Dubai programme offers a combination of academic and real world teaching that will support your development as a leader in healthcare.

This programme is aimed at licensed registered healthcare professionals from nursing, midwifery and all allied health professional backgrounds (e.g. physiotherapy, pharmacy, paramedicine and occupational therapy) who wish to advance their practice and develop knowledge and skills essential to the role of advanced practitioner and/or clinical team leader. You will study modules in leadership, evidence-based practice, research, education and advanced practice. You will develop research and leadership skills and importantly, enhance your practice as a reflective practitioner. We see graduates of this programme becoming innovators contributing to the transformation of healthcare delivery and providing clinical leadership.

This programme will build on your initial graduate health professional education and extend and develop your knowledge, skills and capabilities in the four domains of advanced practice.

Programme lead

Dr Eloise Phillips

Eloise PhillipsDr Eloise Phillips is a highly experienced advanced practitioner and has worked globally in clinical practice, healthcare management and leadership and academia. Dr Phillips is passionate regarding the advanced practice agenda and providing all healthcare professionals with the opportunities to influence and shape service provision and progress their careers.

Eloise’s PhD work contributed to service level change and provision within Community and Urgent Care in the UK NHS, and she continues to pursue research within the areas of Multimorbidity, Advanced Practice, Patient Safety and Healthcare Education. With previous National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) tenures, Eloise continues to provide expert reviews for the NIHR and provides PhD supervision and external examining for students and universities globally.

 View Dr Phillip's staff profile

Assistant Professor

Dr Mark Che Bruce

Che is a paramedic registered with the HCPC and has been working within the NHS for around 36 years.

He has 20 years experience of education and previously helped write and launch the first BSc (hons) paramedic programme that was recognised by the HCPC. Following this, Che has worked extensively within emergency medicine as an advanced clinical practitioner whilst gaining his MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice.

He has been actively involved in the College of paramedics post graduate curriculum development and remains a HCPC registered paramedic and none medical prescriber whilst working in the UAE.

View Dr Bruce's staff profile

I’m interested in advancing my clinical skills, research skills, and medical education skills. I found that this program is the only program that fulfils this aspiration. Furthermore, the educators of this program are lead educators in the field of advance clinical practice in the UK with many years of experience in different fields of health service.

Amin Alawneh, MSc Advanced Practice in Healthcare student

Why study this course?

  • Global recognition - We offer the same world-class education in Dubai as we do on our UK campus; you will study the same high quality curriculum underpinned by the same quality assurance processes.
  • World-renowned teaching - Drawing upon the University's world leading expertise, your learning will be facilitated by our distinguished research and teaching staff. You will benefit from contributions from experienced clinical academics, educators and researchers who will enrich your learning and development.
  • Build transferable skills: Our credit accumulation structure, with exit awards at postgraduate certificate (level 7: 60 credits) and diploma (level 7: 120 credits), allows you to transfer your learning, offering greater mobility. All the awards, irrespective of where you exit, will add value to your CV. Your learning, based on the four domains of advanced practice, will be an excellent springboard for developing your clinical leadership skills.
  • Specialise: This multi-professional programme will allow you to explore and advance your specialist area of practice whilst studying and learning from other members of the multidisciplinary team.
  • World-class facilities: You will have access to our world-class learning facilities and you will join a community of postgraduate students with shared learning opportunities between UK and Dubai. 
  • Mode of delivery: All teaching and learning is via face to face on campus delivery with occasional online sessions. 

Modules

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The modules listed below are those currently intended for students starting in 2022. Please ensure you review these modules for updates before applying for the programme.

  • Creating and Applying Evidence (20 credits)
  • Health Service Management (20 credits)
  • Principles of Advanced Clinical Decision Making  (20 credits)
  • Teaching and Learning for Healthcare Professionals (20 credits)
  • Improvement and Innovation (20 credits)
  • Mixed Methods Research Design (20 credits)
  • Research Project/Dissertation (60 credits)

Fees

2023/24

1 year full-time: AED 125,868
2 years part-time: AED 62,934 (per year)
3 years part-time: AED 41,956 (per year)

2024/25

1 year full-time: AED 138,456
2 years part-time: AED 69,228 (per year)
3 years part-time: AED 46,152 (per year)

Scholarships

We have a number of scholarships available.

Find out more about our scholarships

How To Apply

To find out more about our application process please visit our how to apply page before starting your application.

Our Standard Requirements

  • An undergraduate Honours degree (normally 2i or equivalent) in your clinical field of practice
  • Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development that shows an ability to study at Masters level
  • At least 12 months of clinical experience post qualification

To apply you need to be a licensed registered healthcare professional (with a license from your country or from the UAE) from nursing, midwifery and all allied health professional backgrounds (e.g. physiotherapy, pharmacy, paramedicine and occupational therapy).

International students

Academic requirements

We accept a range of international qualifications - use the dropdown box below to select your country and see the equivalencies to the above UK requirements.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band.

If you are made an offer of a place to study and you do not already meet the language requirement, you have the option to enrol on our English for Academic Purposes Presessional Course. If you successfully complete this, you will be able to fulfil the language requirement without needing to take a further qualification.


  • IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

International Requirements


As an University of Birmingham student, you will learn from world-leading experts, as well as your clinical peers, thereby receiving a rich diversity of academic knowledge and experience. You will benefit from many different innovative approaches to teaching aimed at enhancing your learning. 

From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself within your professional role, essential for advancing your clinical practice. 

Course delivery

We offer a combination of evening and weekend classes which are designed to accommodate working professionals and those who choose to study full-time.

Our draft timetable for full-time students is designed to deliver teaching on one or two evenings from 18:00-21:00 and on Saturday from 09:00-17:00 or Sunday 09:00-17:00 (day varies per module). Each module is block taught over 3 weeks. Part-time students will study during these hours as per the number of modules they choose to study.

Please note that the example timetable is to be used as a guide and is subject to change. Our term dates are also available online. For further information, please contact the Programme Director, Dr Eloise Phillips e.e.phillips@bham.ac.uk.

View example timetable for MSc Advanced Practice in Healthcare

Teaching styles

  • Lectures are delivered by subject specialists, clinicians, service users and carers. Many of the lectures are from experts who practice and/or research in their specific field. 
  • Small group tutorials run alongside the lecture course, addressing any individual problems you may have and allowing you to consolidate lecture material. 
  • Peer group learning is used to reinforce teaching and provides an opportunity to collaboratively learn from your peers, deepening your understanding of key material. 
  • Self-study is an essential part of the course, helping you to further your understanding and demonstrate your commitment to the course.
  • Comprehensive support system is in place to assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues.

Assessment Methods

The programme has a variety of assessment styles including essays, oral presentations, case based discussions and a dissertation project.

The dissertation is a substantial piece of work. For this, you will be supervised by an academic within the department and supported by a series of online resources. The dissertation is assessed by two examiners.

As a University of Birmingham graduate, you will thrive in the workplace as you to apply your knowledge and skills to your chosen career.

This programme is aimed at healthcare professionals from nursing, midwifery and allied health professional (e.g. physiotherapy and occupational therapy) backgrounds who wish to advance their practice, and develop knowledge and skills essential to the role of advanced practitioner and/or clinical team leader. This programme will be of interest to those wishing to work at advanced levels of practice or those who are currently working as specialist practitioners in bespoke clinical areas. 

Careers Service

During your studies you will have access to a wide range of dedicated support, helping you to achieve your career goals. These include:

  • Individual careers advice from the International Careers Consultant and specialist careers advisers, who will be able to answer your requests for advice and guidance
  • Apply Yourself coaching workshops and online tutorials to help you present yourself effectively to employers and recruiters and develop an effective CV
  • Practical help with preparing for interviews and attending assessment centres Access to global job opportunities online and job search webinars
  • Opportunities to network with alumni and potential employers
  • Access to a range of careers information online to help you consider your next stage after your degree and develop an individual career action plan

By making the most of the wide range of services available, you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.