Acute Medicine for Advanced Clinical Practice 20 credits

This course will support development of knowledge and skills to map towards key elements of the Advanced Clinical Practice in Acute Medicine Clinical Framework (Health Education England 2022).  

The course will develop your knowledge of common acute medicine presentations and develop the diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills to facilitate the delivery of a comprehensive management plan to optimise patient safety and outcome.

The learning and teaching approaches will be underpinned by detailed consideration of the relevant evidence base research and theory. There will be opportunities for collaborative learning and engagement with clinicians.

Learning outcomes

• Undertakes an advanced clinical assessment in the context of complexity and uncertainty and applies critical thinking to inform diagnosis, decision-making and ongoing management.
• Critically evaluates acute medical intervention for patients, recognising the acutely deteriorating patient.
• Critically appraises the pathophysiological underpinning common acute medicine presentations.
• Critically reflects on their involvement in situations where legal or ethical issues are challenging or complex and uses that reflection to further develop their own practice.

Course dates

• 30th September September 2025
• 1st, 14th, 15th , 28th, and 29th October 2025
• 11th and 25th November 2025
• Assessment dates 2nd and 9th December 2025

Assessment

• Closed book examination (1 hour)– 50% weighting.
•  Objective Structured Long Examination (2x15 minute stations) – OSLER – 50 % weighting/

Both elements need minimum pass mark of 50% to pass the module. 

Credits

20 credits

Module prequalification:

• Advanced Physical Health Assessment 0235083
• Advanced Clinical Decision Making 0235078

Or equivalent advanced clinical practice modules previously achieved as part of a MSc Advanced Clinical Practice qualification or equivalent, as approved by Module Lead.

Module prerequisites:

• Students must have evidence of employment within an acute medicine or secondary care emergency department environment, due to the work-based learning element of the module. Please discuss with module lead re suitability criteria.
• Students must be employed as a Trainee ACP or an ACP.

Fees for 2025 entry

Microcredential (Home): £1,211

Please note the Microcredential is not open to International students.

Why choose a Postgraduate Microcredential short course?

• Microcredentials offer the perfect opportunity to boost your CV without the commitment of a full degree
• Usually taken from existing modules within a Masters, they can be used as standalone credentials with some also counting as academic credits at postgraduate level
• Add a postgraduate level qualification to your CV
• Develop the specialist skills you need for your career goals
• Alumni status with the University of Birmingham
• Learners will have the same access to our student support and campus facilities as our students on full degree programmes.

Please note the deadline for submitting an application:

• Applicants eligible for Home fees are to apply a minimum of 6 weeks before the module start date.
• Applicants eligible for Overseas fees are to apply a minimum of 3 months before the module start date.

Please note that once registered for the microcredential you cannot swap for the non-credit short course version.