Our Professional Practice in Health framework provides learners with a structured approach to continuing workforce development allowing professionals looking to develop their practice to undertake credit bearing modules and work towards a degree, masters, graduate certificate or post-graduate certificate over an extended period. The modules included within the framework can also be undertaken as single modules on request, please contact the team for more information.
Delivered part-time in an online and blended format, the programme accommodates working professionals, allowing them to study at their own pace and apply newly acquired insights directly to their practice.
For employers and stakeholders, this translates into a highly skilled, safe, and adaptable workforce prepared to tackle today’s healthcare challenges. With streamlined processes that support module and programme delivery, reaching a broader audience of potential students, the programme’s impact is amplified and contributes to the goals of emerging NHS workforce plans and Northumbria University’s Strategy 2030.
Alongside the core modules designed to underpin your progress, students will be encouraged to choose from our substantial suite of optional modules to build their own award in line with their development needs and stakeholder workforce development plans leading to a student-centred approach to learning.
Studying Standalone Modules
All modules within the Professional Practice in Health programme can still be taken as standalone modules. You may enroll on a single module without joining the full Professional Practice in Health Framework programme but you must apply via one of the selected Level 6 or Level 7 programmes which are listed further down this page.
Which programme should I apply for?
Most single modules can be studied at the Level 6 Graduate Certificate route and the Level 7 Post Graduate Certificate route. If you would like to do this we encourage you to contact Programme Leads for discussion about your individualised award via this email nsapplicantservices@northumbria.ac.uk.
Any credits gained from standalone modules can also be used later (within 5 years) to build toward the recognised award if you choose.
If you wish to opt-out of any modules or leave your course you can access guidance here.
Please find below a list of all the modules available as part of the Professional Practice in Health programmes.
We encourage you to contact Programme Leads for discussion about your individualised award via this email nsapplicantservices@northumbria.ac.uk.
- Management of acute and chronic neurological conditions (L6/L7)
- Respiratory disorders (L6/L7)
- Cardiac health in contemporary clinical practice (L6/L7)
- Prevention and management of diabetes in adults (L6/L7)
- Non-medical prescribing (L6/L7)
- History taking and clinical skills in contemporary health care settings (L6/L7)
- Children and young people recognition and emergency care in critical illness (L6/L7)
- Managing pain and symptoms in advanced disease (L6/L7)
- Promoting sexual health in healthcare practice (L6/L7)
- Supporting survivors of sexual violence/abuse (L6/L7)
- Enhanced phases of peri-operative practice (L6/L7)
- Application of public health principles in professional practice (L6/L7)
- Advanced clinical assessment skills when working with babies, children and young people (L6/L7)
- Foundations in healthcare education (L6/L7)
- Managing strategic thinking in healthcare (L6/L7)
- Leadership, management and decision making in healthcare (L6/L7)
- Leading quality and service improvement in healthcare (L6/L7)
- Understanding and development of evidence for practice (L6)
- Improving outcomes in healthcare (L6)
- Critical evaluation in contemporary practice (L7)
- Research approaches and methods in healthcare practice (L7)
- Enhancing practice through research and improvement (L7)
Please Note:
For applicants who wish to undertake V300 (non-medical prescribing) as part of this framework – please note additional checks are required in order to ensure you are fully prepared to undertake this module and in accordance with PSRB requirements. These additional checks must be carried out at least 6 weeks prior to module start. For applicants wishing to undertake this module in September, all checks must be completed by the 18th August, for January start, checks must be completed by 20th November, therefore, programme application and acceptance of offer must be completed before these dates. Because of these processes, V300 is not on the module list for selection. Please contact the programme leaders who will ensure your module preference for V300 is recorded and the correct processes are started.
LEVEL 6
The BSc (Hons) award is designed for students who wish to consolidate their practice and evidence their professional development beyond Diploma in HE level and to progress their career or underpin their health and social practice role.
This programme allows the building of a coherent award, bespoke to the student, beyond their graduate studies leading to either a Generic award or a Leadership and Management bracketed award.
The award is studied through a combination of physical or online lectures, seminar, workshop, and practical sessions, with the opportunity of tutorial supervisions as appropriate to the teaching content. You will be supported by a personal tutor throughout your studies. You will be able to use online reading lists, and you are encouraged to use subject-specific, online library resources, electronic databases, and periodicals. You will have access to Blackboard Ultra, our online learning platform, which will host online learning and collaboration where appropriate and house module and programme materials. Learning support is supported by our library services team and their substantial experience supporting and developing learning either face to face or online.
The award consists of 120 credits at level 6 and can be studied in 2-5 years invoiced on a module credit basis.
Recognised prior learning (RPL) is considered on an individual basis in line with industry standards and alignment to programme learning outcomes. Entrants should be UK based and for certain modules hold a relevant health and social practice professional registration with bodies such as NMC or HCPC and normally have a Diploma of HE or Advanced Diploma of HE for degree entry in a subject related to their registration status.
Lower-level awards can be achieved if desired, at exit points at the end of year 1 with 60 credits at level 6 (GCert) structured by the student’s needs and using current university regulations.
LEVEL 7
The MSc award is designed for students who are already in possession of an Honours degree in a health and social practice related subject and wish to study at master's level (level 7) to progress their career or further underpin their health and social practice role beyond graduate level.
This programme allows the building of a coherent award, bespoke to the student, beyond their graduate studies leading to a Generic award or a Leadership and Management bracketed award.
The MSc award is studied through a combination of physical or online lectures, seminar, workshop, and practical sessions, with the opportunity of tutorial supervisions as appropriate to the teaching content. You will be supported by a personal tutor throughout your studies. You will be able to use online reading lists, and you are encouraged to use subject-specific, online library resources, electronic databases, and periodicals. You will have access to Blackboard Ultra, our online learning platform, which will host online learning and collaboration where appropriate and house module and programme materials. Learning support is supported by our library services team and their substantial experience supporting and developing learning either face to face or online.
The award consists of 180 credits at level 7 and can be studied in 3-5 years flexibly around the needs of the student using current university regulations and is invoiced on a module credit basis.
Lower-level awards can be achieved if desired, at exit points at the end of year 1 with 60 credits at level 7 (PGCert) or at the end of year 2 with 120 credits (PGDip) structured by the student’s needs and using current university regulations.
Recognised prior learning (RPL) is considered on an individual basis in line with industry standards and alignment to programme learning outcomes. Entrants should be UK based and for certain modules hold a relevant health and social practice professional registration with bodies such as NMC or HCPC and normally have a minimum 2:2 Honours degree in a subject related to their registration status.
Graduate Certificate Programme (Level 6)
The graduate certificate is designed for students who are already in possession of an Honours degree in a health and social practice related subject and wish to study at graduate level (level 6).
This programme allows the building of a coherent award, bespoke to the student, beyond their graduate studies. The Grad Cert award is studied through a combination of physical or online lectures, seminar, workshop, and practical sessions, with the opportunity of tutorial supervisions as appropriate to the teaching content. You will be supported by a personal tutor throughout your studies. You will be able to use online reading lists, and you are encouraged to use subject-specific, online library resources, electronic databases, and periodicals. You will have access to Blackboard Ultra, our online learning platform, which will host online learning and collaboration where appropriate and house module and programme materials. Learning support is supported by our library services team and their substantial experience supporting and developing learning either face to face or online.
The award consists of 60 credits at level 6 and can be studied in 2-5 years flexibly around the needs of the student and is invoiced on a module credit basis. Entrants should be UK based and for certain modules hold a relevant health and social practice professional registration with bodies such as NMC or HCPC and normally have a Honours degree in a subject related to their registration status.
Postgraduate Certificate Programme (Level 7)
The Postgraduate Certificate is designed for students who are already in possession of an Honours degree in a health and social practice related subject and wish to study at graduate level 7.
This programme allows the building of a coherent award, bespoke to the student, beyond their graduate studies. The Postgraduate Certificate award is studied through a combination of physical or online lectures, seminar, workshop, and practical sessions, with the opportunity of tutorial supervisions as appropriate to the teaching content. You will be supported by a personal tutor throughout your studies. You will be able to use online reading lists, and you are encouraged to use subject-specific, online library resources, electronic databases, and periodicals. You will have access to Blackboard Ultra, our online learning platform, which will host online learning and collaboration where appropriate and house module and programme materials. Learning support is supported by our library services team and their substantial experience supporting and developing learning either face to face or online.
The award consists of 60 credits at level 7 and can be studied in 2-5 years flexibly around the needs of the student and is invoiced on a module credit basis.
Entrants should be UK based and for certain modules hold a relevant health and social practice professional registration with bodies such as NMC or HCPC and normally have a Honours degree in a subject related to their registration status.
