Masters Degrees (Palliative)

The MSc in Palliative Medicine for Health Care Professionals provides high quality distance education for clinicians working with neonates, children and adults in many different settings in all parts of the world. At the core of its design and delivery is the desire to improve patient outcomes wherever palliative care is practiced by its students and to enhance the quality of palliative care through research and quality improvement. 

Using the palliative care approach as defined by the World Health Assembly in 2014 (WHO 2014) is an increasingly important imperative for health care professionals throughout the world in order to meet the palliative care needs of their populations. Although cancer as a burden of disease remains an issue globally, there are rising numbers of patients, including neonates and children, with palliative care needs from other conditions. These include learning disability, dementia, frailty and elderly people with multiple co-morbidities.  

The vision of the course is to improve patient care by delivering accessible education through which we aim to support health-care professionals to develop, share and extend their knowledge, understanding and application of evidence based medicine, best practice and governance frameworks in palliative care appropriate to their own professional settings.  

The taught stages (years 1 and 2) cover the core understanding, frameworks, challenges and research evidence relevant to optimising and developing the practice of palliative medicine and palliative care. The MSc (year 3) provides the opportunity for students to identify an issue of importance in their own practice and carry out an evidence based project intended to contribute to knowledge and practice in palliative medicine and palliative care. 

Distinctive features

The course covers the palliative care needs of patients regardless of diagnosis, recognising the global need for palliative care knowledge and skills.

Our online course materials include interactive quizzes, reading materials, audio podcasts and short video clips to widen access to learning and make it more engaging. The course work offers a variety of assessments enabling you to demonstrate the application of knowledge gained into your own practice and particular work setting. 

Since 1989 we have aimed to recruit and deliver education to the global palliative care community. Alumni of the course have held such positions as the National Clinical Director for End of Life Care for NHS England, the CEO of Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance and have developed and lead palliative care globally (for example, Bosnia, South Africa, India, Singapore, Hong Kong and Nepal). The international conference held in Cardiff in 2014 (‘Cardiff 25’) marked these achievements.

Structure

The MSc consists of three stages – “stage T1” (60 credits), “stage T2” (60 credits) and “stage R” (60 credit research dissertation)

The total normal duration to complete the full MSc programme is three academic years (stages T1, T2 & R), from the date of initial registration on the programme.

A Postgraduate Certificate (“PgCert”) in Palliative Medicine for Health Care Professionals exit point is available for students successfully completing a minimum of 60 credits, only where these include the award of credit for all ‘required’ core modules from stage T1 plus one optional module from stage T1.

A Postgraduate Diploma (“PgDip”) in Palliative Medicine for Health Care Professionals exit point is available for students successfully completing a minimum of 120 credits, only where these include the award of credit for all ‘required’ core modules from stages T1 and T2, plus one optional module from stage T1.

A student’s dissertation, which shall normally be of not more than 20,000 words and supported by such other material as may be considered appropriate to the subject, shall embody the results of his/her period of project work. The subject of each student’s dissertation shall be approved by the Chair of the Board of Studies concerned or his/her nominee.

Assessment

The assessments have been chosen to ensure that the learning outcomes are appropriately tested and provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate they have met them. Specific assessment methods for each module are detailed within the relevant Module Description.

Formative and summative assessment is through module assignments including methods such as: case reflections, critical appraisals, online quizzes, creating posters, opinion pieces, communication strategies or proposals. Standardised marking schemes will be used for all summative assessment and the feedback provided for each completed assignment to guide the student for future assignments.

The dissertation stage will be assessed based on the final dissertation. The dissertation will be assigned 60 credits and, in combination with the taught stage(s), shall be weighted 50% for the purpose of calculating the final mark.

Career Prospects

The course delivers Masters level education and thus enables you to demonstrate you are taking the opportunity to develop your abilities in critical analysis, problem-solving, decision-making, finding and using evidence and in dealing with complex issues in palliative care.

Whilst we do not formally assess clinical skills or competencies in a face to face context (so the course is not a substitute for a formal specialty training programme), studying at this level should help successful students demonstrate numerous academic skills that should be highly regarded in relation to their career development and progression. In particular, the course offers opportunities to demonstrate the development of knowledge and skills in relation to the application of evidence based medicine and the potential enhancement of services and governance frameworks in palliative care. As such, if should provide evidence of commitment and potential that may assist you in relation to taking on greater responsibilities or perhaps seeking management, research, scholarship or leadership roles in palliative care.

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The MPH in Palliative Care Research is designed for students wishing to pursue a service or academic career in palliative care. It will provide you with an excellent understanding of both research and public health issues, thus increasing your career opportunities.

Why study Palliative Care Research at Dundee?

Dundee is ideally placed to deliver the MPH in Palliative Care. The Division of Population Health Sciences has several internationally recognised research programmes, with associated academic and research staff, and the Division also houses the renowned Health Informatics Centre (HIC) which provides researchers access to anonymised record-linked data. This includes routinely collected NHS patient datasets for the whole population.

The MPH degree has been run successfully in Dundee for over 25 years and our past students now contribute to the global public health workforce. Building on this success, we are ideally placed to offer a new exit - in palliative care research - from the core MPH. The MPH Palliative Care Research presents an opportunity to integrate public health with quality palliative care research and the clinical palliative care services. This provides a rich learning environment for prospective students.

Research led supervision

The Co-Director of the course, Dr Deans Buchanan, was recently appointed Consultant in Palliative Medicine. The Tayside Palliative Care Service is well placed to support excellence in research and in research training. The varied clinical settings throughout Tayside provide an excellent basis for research projects. Clinicians from within the palliative care service will supervise dissertations and include: Dr Rosie Conway, Dr Claire Douglas, Dr Fiona McFatter, Dr Martin Leiper and Dr Alison Morrison. In addition, Dr Bridget Johnston, Reader in Palliative Care (School of Nursing and Midwifery) will also contribute to the teaching and supervision of students.

Aims of the Programme

This course will provide you with:

* The necessary skills and expertise to enable you to undertake well designed research and interpret research data.
* The requisite communication skills and understanding of the importance of such communication.

Teaching & Assessment

This course is based in the School of Medicine. The MPH in Palliative Care Research degree course starts in September each year and lasts for 12 months on a full time basis, or 24 months on a part time basis.

How you will be taught

A variety of teaching methods will be used including traditional lectures; tutorials; discussion sessions; self directed learning including the use of internet based resources; and supervised research.

The MPH programme of studies provides teaching within a supportive environment and students are encouraged to contact lecturers to raise specific questions.

What you will study

Semester 1:
Epidemiology (15 SCQF credits)
Introduction to Clinical Statistics (15 SCQF credits)
Palliative care: Foundations and research part 1 (7 SCQF credits)

Semester 2, part 1
Research methods (15 SCQF credits)
Applied Statistics with Routine Health Datasets (15 SCQF credits)
Palliative care: Foundations and research part 2 (3 SCQF credits)

Semester 2, part 2
Spatial Epidemiology (5 SCQF credits) OR Data Visualization (5 SCQF credits)
Systematic reviews (5 SCQF credits)

Dissertation
The purpose of the dissertation is to enable students to write a dissertation which utilises all of the knowledge and expertise that they have acquired during the taught component of the course.

How you will be assessed

Performance is monitored by formal examinations and continuous assessment. Formative assessment is delivered through group and individual feedback during the tutorials, discussion sessions and on coursework. Summative assessment is based on assignments and examinations. Examinations are marked by two independent members of the School who are blinded to student identity. Guidelines for markers are provided. The dissertations are also double marked.

Careers

An MPH (Palliative Care Research) will enhance the employability of professionals interested in palliative care research.

For Specialty Trainees in Palliative Medicine this will add distinct skills sets and an essential understanding of both research and public health issues. Such qualifications will open job opportunities in academic medicine and at policy development levels. This course is compatible with the Palliative Medicine Curriculum and dissertation projects could be undertaken in candidates own localities.

Non-medical staff (including nursing staff) will benefit from the same skill set and enhanced ability to enter academic palliative care. Multi-professional learning is encouraged and dissertation projects can be tailored to specific backgrounds.

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Develop the skills necessary to appraise evidence based care and conduct research on issues of palliative care to inform clinical practice and service development. MSc and PG Diploma: six modules plus research study project for MSc. PG Certificate: three modules.

Key benefits

- The programme has a national and international reputation attracting students from all over the world.

- The programme is focused strongly on evidence and on understanding how to conduct research in palliative care and related areas.

- Teaching staff are key academics, practitioners and policy-makers in the field of palliative care. Visiting lecturers are drawn from across the UK and internationally.

- The programme is based at the Cicely Saunders Institute, a WHO Collaborating Centre for palliative care and rehabilitation which is at the heart of national and international research and academic-clinical collaborations.

Visit the website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-courses/palliative-care-msc-pg-dip-pg-cert.aspx

Course details

- Description -

Our primary aim is to improve the ability, competence and confidence of students to care for patients with advanced disease and their families. This relies heavily on critically appraising existing evidence of the effectiveness, appropriateness and acceptability of existing interventions (both medical and psychosocial) and services.

The programme is multi-disciplinary - palliative care professionals from all disciplines learn alongside each other. It is jointly run with St Christopher's Hospice, which is widely regarded as the pioneer institution of the modern hospice movement with a reputation for excellence in clinical practice, research and education.

This multi-professional MSc is a joint development between Guy's, King's & St Thomas' School of Medicine and St Christopher's Hospice. We aim to develop the skills you need to appraise research and evidence in issues of palliative care to inform your clinical practice and service development.

You will develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the many clinical, social, psychological, and ethical issues in palliative care and their assessment and management. You will also acquire the skills required to critically appraise the evidence of both existing and new treatments and carry out your own research.

- Purpose -

To develop the skills necessary to appraise evidence-based care and conduct research on issues of palliative care in order to inform clinical practice and service development in the field of palliative care.

- Course format and assessment -

MSc and PG Diploma students take four core and two optional modules. In addition, MSc students complete a research study project. PG Certificate students study two core and one optional module. Assessment is by examinations and coursework, and for MSc students, completion of a research study project.

Career prospects

We are aware that many former students have become experts in their field making notable contributions to patient and family care and influencing palliative care policy locally, nationally and internationally. Specifically, many former specialist training registrars in palliative medicine have progressed their careers to assume challenging and exciting consultant posts in hospital, hospice and community settings. This is also true for a growing number of clinical nurse specialists who are now nurse consultants. Increasing numbers of former students have gone on to successfully conduct PhDs in palliative care related areas. Further, the course has provided many students with exciting opportunities to conduct high quality research which has successfully been disseminated at scientific meetings or high quality peer-reviewed journals.

How to apply: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/taught-courses.aspx

About Postgraduate Study at King’s College London:

To study for a postgraduate degree at King’s College London is to study at the city’s most central university and at one of the top 20 universities worldwide (2015/16 QS World Rankings). Graduates will benefit from close connections with the UK’s professional, political, legal, commercial, scientific and cultural life, while the excellent reputation of our MA and MRes programmes ensures our postgraduate alumni are highly sought after by some of the world’s most prestigious employers. We provide graduates with skills that are highly valued in business, government, academia and the professions.

Scholarships & Funding:

All current PGT offer-holders and new PGT applicants are welcome to apply for the scholarships. For more information and to learn how to apply visit: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/funding/sources

Free language tuition with the Modern Language Centre:

If you are studying for any postgraduate taught degree at King’s you can take a module from a choice of over 25 languages without any additional cost. Visit: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/mlc

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This course has been designed to enable health and social care professionals to enhance care provided to patients and families facing physical, psychosocial and spiritual issues associated with life-limiting illness.

It is based on the core competencies in palliative care identified by the European Association for Palliative Care. It is also congruent with core competences and principles for health and social care professionals working with adults at the end of life and aligns with DH and HEE priorities for workforce development in palliative and end of life care. It reflects the multi-professional nature of palliative care and health and social care professionals are given the opportunity to learn together; therefore, student learning is facilitated by a multi-professional teaching team using a Blended Learning Approach with a particular emphasis on linking theory to practice.

The course offers flexibility where students can choose to undertake the course on full time or part time basis. In addition, the course offers a choice of module from the CPPD portfolio to suits student’s personal and professional needs. Please see the website for more information:

http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/courses/course-finder/palliative-end-life-care-pgcert-pgdip-msc#course_tab_overview

Modules

Year 1

Palliative approaches to pain and symptom management
Psychosocial, ethical and spiritual aspects of palliative care practice
End of life care: Dementia and other non-malignant conditions

Year 2

Innovation for excellence - Leading service change
Research in health and social care

Year 3

Dissertation

Assessment

The course utilises a variety of assessment strategies that have been designed to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of palliative care practice and to respond to the learning needs of students from different clinical backgrounds; in addition, ensuring that all the learning outcomes are met.

The postgraduate certificate in Palliative and End of Life Care comprises a range of assessment methods including; problem based case-scenario multiple choice question exam, case study assignment and oral presentation.

The postgraduate diploma in Palliative and End of Life Care comprises a research methods module, which is assessed by a research critique, enabling students to develop practical skills for identifying, critically reviewing and synthesising research evidence relevant to palliative care practice.

The MSc Palliative and End of Life Care comprises of a dissertation module, enabling students to consolidate and extend their understanding of research and evaluation design or of systematic literature review.

Teaching and learning

A Blended Learning Approach approach is used, meaning student learning is facilitated through a combination of face to face teaching and delivery of content via digital and online media. It allows for a greater variety and flexibility than a traditional classroom set up and responds to the learning needs of modern learners. For example, a classroom lecture may be accompanied by online discussion forums or other online activities where students have the opportunity to interact and share experiences and knowledge with some element of student control over time, place and space.

Students will be supported to develop their academic skills and be able to work at level 7. This will be facilitated through tutorials, workshops and feedback from formative assessments. Skills for learning team will provide a workshop at the beginning of each semester on critical thinking, academic writing and use of grammar. Students can access additional support through the student centre as needed. The module leader and teaching team will provide tutorials on assessments and review draft work of students as needed. Assessment feedback will also provide guidance that will assist further academic development.

Each student will be assigned a named academic contact as a personal tutor who will be selected from the course team. The personal tutors will provide academic guidance and pastoral support across the programme of study and review wider academic progress. Formal meeting will be scheduled once every academic year to facilitate progress, review and provide academic feedback. Additional meetings can be arranged as required.

Professional links

This course is jointly delivered by London South Bank University and Saint Francis Hospice.

Employability

Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required to provide high quality palliative and end of life care, participants will be well positioned to assume advanced clinical, education and leadership roles in a variety of clinical settings nationally and internationally.

LSBU Employability Services

LSBU is committed to supporting you develop your employability and succeed in getting a job after you have graduated. Your qualification will certainly help, but in a competitive market you also need to work on your employability, and on your career search. Our Employability Service will support you in developing your skills, finding a job, interview techniques, work experience or an internship, and will help you assess what you need to do to get the job you want at the end of your course. LSBU offers a comprehensive Employability Service, with a range of initiatives to complement your studies, including:

• Direct engagement from employers who come in to interview and talk to students
• Job Shop and on-campus recruitment agencies to help your job search
• Mentoring and work shadowing schemes.

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The postgraduate certificate in palliative care looks at the development of effective palliative and end-of-life care, which is a major priority for health providers both nationally and internationally.

This palliative care nursing course addresses the complex challenges end-of-life care creates for societies and health professionals, including a range of ethical, social, professional and cultural issues that need careful analysis.

This online palliative care nursing course is designed to develop and enhance the knowledge and skills you require to promote, lead and drive high quality care for the palliative patient and their families in their care setting. Your studies will centre on current philosophies that underpin palliative care, bringing together a range of clinical and academic experts from this field.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/313-postgraduate-certificate-palliative-care-distance-learning

What you will study

Modules:
- Therapeutic Management of Life Limiting Illness in Palliative Care: Assessment and management of complex symptoms

The assessment and management of complex symptoms including pain, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, depression, fatigue and agitation will be explored and appropriate interventions critically discussed. Consideration through the module will be given to psychosocial issues, such as, anxiety and depression within patients who have a life limiting illness and the communication strategies used in relation to managing difficult symptoms.

- Nature and Scope of Palliative Care: Specific issues pertinent to the delivery of effective palliative care

This will explore issues pertaining to palliative care via case studies and a narrative approach. These can include euthanasia, the right to die, and the use of advanced directives while considering the issue of capacity and choice.

- End of Life Care: Role of the professional in the care of an individual at the end of life, including perspectives from the individual and family

You will critically explore the role of the professional in the care of an individual at the end of their life. It will include exploring the impact of death and dying from a holistic perspective on the individual and family. The themes of loss, grief and bereavement will be central within this module. Professional, legal and ethical issues related to death and dying will also be considered through the module.

Learning and teaching methods

You will be taught through online discussion forums via the University’ learning portal Blackboard.

Work Experience and Employment Prospects

This course will enable students to demonstrate clear evidence of ongoing professional development in line with national strategic plans.

Assessment methods

Assessment involves written assignments and achievement of clinical competencies. You will receive key learning materials and be supported throughout the course by the module team and your contact with other students.

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This course is for health and social care professionals working with patients requiring palliative care and their families. It has been developed in partnership with St Columba’s Hospice by an interdisciplinary planning team. It has been designed to prepare experienced practitioners from all disciplines involved in the care of patients and families at the end of life for advanced roles in palliative care. It is relevant to those providing specialist or generalist palliative care. Practitioners may be in posts involving clinical practice, research, management and/or education. The course is based on the belief that palliative care is interdisciplinary and therefore requires interdisciplinary education

Teaching, learning and assessment

The teaching and learning approaches used encourage you to be independent and participative learners using a blended approach with face to face and online using the Hub at QMU. These approaches, for example, will engage you in modified lectures, problem-based learning, small group discussion and communication skills rehearsal. Assessment methods include case study analysis, poster presentation, collaborative presentation and portfolio. While as a postgraduate student you will predominantly be working independently, there is a strong structure for academic support. Normally, there are fewer than 20 students in the class. This ensures that individuals receive excellent support and benefit from interaction with other students.

Teaching hours and attendance

Each taught specialist module requires approximately five days of attendance at the St Columba’s Hospice Education Centre. Other modules have different study patterns. The Hospice Education Team would be delighted to discuss the time commitment with you.

Modules

Core modules (both 15 credits) : Supporting the Patient and Family in Palliative Care/Developing Advanced Communication Skills in Palliative Care

For those in a clinical role, you will also complete: Working with People with Complex Pain and Symptoms/ Shadows and Horizons: Advancing Palliative Care Practice (15 credits) OR another 15 credit module from the QMU Person-centred Practice Framework.

For those in a non-clinical role, you will also complete: Shadows and Horizons: Advancing Palliative Care Practice (15 credits) AND one further 15 credit module from the PcP Framework.

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This part time, online course covers all aspects of delivering care to patients, including treatment modalities, biological, psychosocial and ethical perspectives. Developed and delivered with well-established cancer institutes and oncological and palliative care expertise, you will experience a comprehensive and intellectually stimulating experience wherever you are in the world.

Palliative Care is an important part of health care for those suffering from life-limiting illnesses and their families. In May 2012 the World Health Organisation (WHO) passed a resolution to incorporate palliative care into regular health care. This course has been designed to cover all aspects of palliative care, including:
-Pain
-Emotional and psychological care
-Medical, spiritual, social, and economic care

You can also take optional modules such as health economics, health technologies and medical ethics.

The course is designed to provide those working in palliative care and related professional roles with detailed knowledge about the interrelationship between oncology and clinical cancer service provision.

Through the course you will develop clinical leadership, clinical excellence and the ability to cultivate interdisciplinary collaboration in the delivery of evidence based oncology/palliative care. This includes sharing mutually valuable information to help develop clinical practice. You will be introduced to the basis of research in palliative care, preparing you for further research within the field.

We have designed this course in collaboration with the Northern Institute for Cancer Research (NICR) and it is delivered in association with the Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC).

Our students include:
-Doctors
-Nurses
-Pharmacists
-Physiotherapists
-Occupational therapists
-Radiographers

Senior House Officers and Registrars training for part one of the Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) examination or in medical oncology

Staff

Newcastle and the North East of England have a tremendous amount of palliative care expertise and all our teaching staff are healthcare professionals actively involved in research. This knowledge base provides a comprehensive, intellectually stimulating, and extremely useful educational experience to all students involved in it.

The course is led by Dr Charles Kelly, Deputy Degree Programme Director and Consultant Clinical Oncologist.

Delivery

The course is taught online, so you can choose to study anytime and anywhere. This flexibility means that you can fit your studies around your other commitments, plus learning online will develop your online literacy as a transferable skill.

You will be given an account on Blackboard, our managed learning environment, and an email address. Blackboard is accessible across a variety of operating systems and browsers, check that your equipment is compatible. Our materials and supporting reading are accessible across a variety of devices including desktop computers, tablets and mobile phones.

Online delivery is structured in weekly topics, guiding your learning via tutorials, videos, discussions and formative exercises. The courses are full of interactive exercises and activities, including immediate feedback from automatically scored activities and practices. You can discuss the course, ask questions and get help with problems through the course discussion groups or through emailing your module leader. The networking opportunities of this course give you a multi-disciplinary awareness to your studies.

Your first task will be to complete a short induction module before studying between 10 and 30 credits per semester. You will be assessed in a variety of ways including:
-Multiple choice question exams
-Essays
-Presentations
-Case studies

Each 10 credit module is the equivalent to 100 hours of notional study time, which includes:
-Studying the course materials
-Online networking with fellow students
-Directed reading
-Research
-Interactive and collaborative activities
-Preparing assessments

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The Ulster Palliative Care Postgraduate Diploma/ MSc is a multi-disciplinary programme which aims to develop and enhance the knowledge, skills and competence of health and social care professionals who come into contact with patients who have palliative and end of life care needs. Students will develop the knowledge, skills and competence to provide compassionate and person-centered care and will be provided with the capacity to take responsibility for advancing professional development to address constantly changing palliative care demands.

Visit the website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/course/msc-palliative-care-pt-j

Course detail

- Description -

This programme leads to the academic awards of PGCert/PGDip/MSc in Palliative Care. The Postgraduate Certificate is awarded after completing 60 credits and the Postgraduate Diploma after completing 120 credits.

For the Postgraduate Diploma there are four compulsory modules: Principles of Palliative & End of Life Care (30 credits), Loss, Grief & Bereavement (15 credits) Therapeutic Communication Skills for Health and Social Care Professionals (15 credits) and Advanced Methods in Research and Development in Health and Social Care (30 credits). Students then choose optional modules to the value of 30 credits including: Person Centered Practice (15 credits), Leadership in Professional Practice (15 credits), Professional Decision making and Accountability (15 credits) and Advanced knowledge in Symptom Management in Palliative Care (30 credits).

To gain the master's award, a further 60 credits must be completed in the form of the masters Dissertation Project module.

Career options

Successful completion of the programme would enable individuals to advance within
their chosen field of palliative and end of life care. It would also be helpful for those seeking to develop their existing professional practice and to take on leadership roles.

How to apply: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply#pg

Why Choose Ulster University ?

1. Over 92% of our graduates are in work or further study six months after graduation.
2. We are a top UK university for providing courses with a period of work placement.
3. Our teaching and the learning experience we deliver are rated at the highest level by the Quality Assurance Agency.
4. We recruit international students from more than 100 different countries.
5. More than 4,000 students from over 50 countries have successfully completed eLearning courses at Ulster University.

Flexible payment

To help spread the cost of your studies, tuition fees can be paid back in monthly instalments while you learn. If you study for a one-year, full-time master’s, you can pay your fees up-front, in one lump sum, or in either five* or ten* equal monthly payments. If you study for a master’s on a part-time basis (e.g. over three years), you can pay each year’s fees up-front or in five or ten equal monthly payments each year. This flexibility allows you to spread the payment of your fees over each academic year. Find out more by visiting https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/fees-and-finance/postgraduate

Scholarships

A comprehensive range of financial scholarships, awards and prizes are available to undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. Scholarships recognise the many ways in which our students are outstanding in their subject. Individuals may be able to apply directly or may automatically be nominated for awards. Visit the website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/fees-and-finance/scholarships

English Language Tuition

CELT offers courses and consultations in English language and study skills to Ulster University students of all subjects, levels and nationalities. Students and researchers for whom English is an additional language can access free CELT support throughout the academic year: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/international/english-language-support

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Overview

Major advances in medical technology, increased expectations, and changing moral attitudes have combined to generate many complex ethical and legal problems in the fields related to medical ethics and palliative care. Individuals who care for patients with life-threatening illnesses can face particularly pressing and difficult moral choices. The course provides an opportunity to gain a deeper and more systematic understanding of these issues, and to explore the moral problems health care professionals working in these areas may face.

Teaching is delivered in short intense blocks, enabling those in full-time employment to do the course part-time and fit it around the demands of their work wherever they are based. The course is taught in Liverpool by lecturers from Keele’s Centre for Professional Ethics (PEAK) and the Learning & Teaching Department of the Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute. From time to time, law lecturers from Keele University may provide specialist input, and external expert speakers may also be invited to speak on the course. This is an exciting joint venture uniting academic and practical expertise.

Students come from a wide range of backgrounds within the field of health care and many diverse geographical locations. Past and current students have reported that meeting and exchanging ideas with others who work in different fields and in different parts of the country is one of the major benefits of the course.

The Medical Ethics and Palliative Care teaching team have many years experience of teaching postgraduate applied ethics courses. We are aware of the special problems and challenges which may face mature students and those combining study with full-time work, and therefore we do our utmost to offer a supportive and stimulating environment for learning. Each student is assigned a personal supervisor from the teaching team, whom they can contact for help or advice at any time during the course.

Teaching staff also work at the forefront of research in medical ethics, which helps to give the course a contemporary edge. In the recent 2014 REF, staff from Keele's Healthcare Law and Bioethics cluster who teach on the MA were part of Keele's Philosophy submission, which was ranked first in the country for its Impact work. The impact submission was based on staff's work in the field of Biomedical ethics, with 80% of this work judged as being world-leading and the remaining 20% as being of internationally excellent.

See the website - https://www.keele.ac.uk/pgtcourses/medicalethicsandpalliativecare/

Course Content

The MA in Medical Ethics and Palliative Care involves both taught sessions and a chance for students to write a dissertation on a topic of their choosing related to the course. Teaching occurs in four three-day modules that run between October and April. This innovative structure has proved particularly popular with health care professionals in full-time employment as it allows students to combine study with full-time work, family and other commitments. It also enables students who are based in all areas of the UK and beyond to attend. Contact between students and staff, and between students, is facilitated between modules to create a distinctive student community.

The MA requires the successful completion of 180 M Level credits, made up of four 30-credit taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation. It can be taken either full-time or part-time. When taken part-time the four taught modules are completed in the first year, with the dissertation being completed in the second year. When taking this route there are no specific attendance requirements during the second year apart from a one-day research skills workshop – you may meet your supervisor at mutually convenient times, keep in touch via email or phone, or use a combination of methods.

When taken full-time, the course is completed within one year with the dissertation being submitted at the start of September.

Some students may not want to do the whole course. An alternative route is to leave after completing the four taught modules. Successful completion of these will lead to the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Ethics and Palliative Care.

Teaching & Assessment

Each teaching block is followed by an assignment. For module one this is made up of three short written tasks, whilst for each of modules 2, 3 and 4 the assignment consists of a 4,000-word essay. All modules must be passed in order to proceed to the dissertation.

Additional Costs

Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines we do not anticipate any additional costs for this post graduate programme.

Find information on Scholarships here - http://www.keele.ac.uk/studentfunding/bursariesscholarships/

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Gain an expert understanding of palliative and end of life care and its aims to achieve the best quality of life for patients facing life-threatening illness on this course. You also learn how to give vital treatment for their condition. Your studies focus on a holistic approach to symptom management for the patient and psychological, social and spiritual support for the patient and their family.

This course is ideal for experienced practitioners providing day-to-day care to patients in their homes, hospitals, hospices and nursing homes.

We have designed this course to make it easy to fit around your work and suit your professional needs. You can tailor your studies to your needs and area of practice, through a mix of core and optional modules. And you complete your studies via distance learning through our online learning environment allowing you to learn in the way most suited to your personal circumstances.

The course was developed by a multiprofessional team for a multiprofessional workforce. The learning, teaching and assessment strategies reflect the interprofessional working in supportive and palliative care helping develop more effective teamwork. Various professionals contribute to the teaching.

An academic supervisor will support your dissertation, on a topic which we work with you to devise. Dissertations can benefit you and your employer through implementation of your research findings. Study at this level also develops autonomous practice in professionals, improving their leadership skills and ability to implement service developments.

For more information, see the website: https://www.shu.ac.uk/study-here/find-a-course/mscpgdippgcert-supportive-and-palliative-care

PgCert End of Life Care

If you don't want to complete the full MSc, you can stop your studies at the end of year one and receive the PgCert End of Life Care. You can rejoin and complete the Msc at a later date.

Accreditation of previous certificated learning

We encourage the awarding of academic credit for previous certificated study that you may have completed in this area. This means you could be exempt from some modules, gaining your award in a shorter time.

Study individual modules

You can study individual modules from this course and gain academic credit towards a qualification. Visit our continuing professional development website for more information: http://www.shu.ac.uk/faculties/hwb/cpd/modules.html

Course structure

Distance learning – typically 3 years. Starts September and January.

Course structure
-The Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) is achieved by successfully completing 60 credits.
-The Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) is achieved by successfully completing 120 credits.
-The Masters (MSc) award is achieved by successfully completing 180 credits.

Postgraduate Certificate core modules
-End of life decision making (30 credits)
-Loss, grief and bereavement (15 credits)
-Complexities of symptom management (15 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma core modules
-Collaborative working in supportive and palliative care (15 credits)
-Research methods for practice (15 credits)
Postgraduate Diploma optional modules
-30 credits from either Sheffield Hallam University or elsewhere, as long as they are relevant to the course. Examples include:
-Psychology of cancer care (30 credits)
-Advanced communication and information in supportive care (30 credits)
-Informed consent in healthcare practice (15 credits)

Masters
-Dissertation (60 credits)

Assessment: assignments; seminar presentation; group work.

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Summary

This course is designed to progressively enhance ability to provide expert care, lead and transform clinical services, develop others and contribute to clinical research in the specialties of cancer, palliative and end of life care.

Modules: Specialist practice in cancer palliative and end of life care; policy and service design in cancer, palliative and end of life care; international and contemporary perspectives of clinical leadership in cancer; palliative and end of life care; e-learning for generic research methods; 1 module selected from the choice available across the university, appropriate to the student’s practice; dissertation.

Visit our website for further information...

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MSc, PG Dip and PG Cert in Palliative Care – multi professional courses jointly developed by King's College London and St Christopher's Hospice. The courses are specifically designed to appeal to future leaders of palliative and end of life care. This may be in clinical or social care, or in teaching and research. The aim of the courses is to help you develop the skills necessary to appraise research and evidence on palliative care, and to improve clinical practice and lead services. Website: http://www.csi.kcl.ac.uk/

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Studying this award will provide you with the knowledge, understanding and skills in the principles and practice of holistic palliative/end of life care and you will have the opportunity to critically analyse local and national influences on care and their implications for service delivery.

Undertaking each of the modules within this course will allow you the opportunity to cover a variety of skills important for your development as a qualified health and/or social care individual, in a way which helps you to bring together theory and practice. As a graduate nurse you will reflect a knowledgeable and enterprising approach to health and social care and adopt a critical, analytical and imaginative approach to your practice.

This Masters Programme will equip you, as a health and social care professional, with the necessary skills and knowledge required to ensure the highest possible standards of palliative/end of life care are provided to people with a life limiting progressive illness, including those with a malignant or non-malignant disease.

This Masters Programme also aims to enable practitioners to demonstrate expertise and advanced skills in the management of a case-load and/or healthcare staff in the support of people with a life limiting illness requiring palliative/end of life care.

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Are you involved with providing palliative care? Worried that your skills are no longer relevant in a changing and dynamic health economy? Whether you've taken a break from employment and want to refresh your technique, or you want to ensure the level of service you're providing is up to date, then our PgC course will help put you on the right track.

Thanks to our flexible approach to learning, you'll complete your studies at a pace that best suits your lifestyle. We provide a wide range of study options based around contemporary practice, giving you the latest insight into your specialist field of care. By taking this course, not only will you be providing a better level of care to your patients, but you'll increase your own job prospects and go onto bigger things in your profession!

You will need to complete an induction prior to commencement of your first module. We have a comprehensive online induction package to welcome you to both the University and your programme of study. Alternatively, classroom-based induction days take place at our Lancaster and Carlisle campuses and are usually scheduled for the first week of each semester.

Course outline

This award is designed for practitioners working with people with palliative care needs, and their families/carers, who wish to enhance and develop their clinical and academic skills. The closing date for applications is 5 working days prior to the module start date or, if this is your first module, 5 working days prior to the induction date.

Other admission details

Admissions criteria are per the University Admissions Policy. Normally applicants will be required to hold an Honours degree classification 2ii or above in a cognate subject. For applicants who do not meet this requirement, non-standard entry criteria will apply. In such cases, applicants will be interviewed using a proforma. It is expected that such candidates will have evidence of successful study at level 6 (or equivalent) within the preceding 5 years.

Applications will be reviewed on an individual basis and potential students will be offered advice by an academic tutor on the suitability of the award and their module choice within the award, dependent on factors such as currency of prior learning, and their personal and professional development needs. Students should be able to show potential benefit from studying for the award and a commitment to attempting the assessment items.

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This primarily online program is open to health care professionals with a completed health-care related undergraduate honour degree and a minimum of two years' experience in a health-related field. We welcome applications from health care professionals, including nurses, physicians, physician assistants, physiotherapists, dentists, social workers, psychologists, etc.

A partnership with the de Souza Institute will afford health care professionals seeking advanced preparation in oncology and palliative care a unique opportunity for professional development at the graduate level. Students will learn using a combination of the University of Windsor’s online collaborative educational environment and state-of-the-art on-site simulation facility, making it accessible to health care professionals across Canada and beyond.

The de Souza Institute contributes to course development and student support for those taking the graduate level diploma. Established in 2008, the institute provides educational support and professional development to health care professionals caring for cancer patients and families. The institute’s role in this partnership will be to support research training in oncology, to co-host some of the course offerings, and to facilitate clinical placements in 14 Ontario regional cancer centres. This unique model of learning between the University of Windsor and de Souza Institute will ensure that students pursuing advanced practice education have access to the latest standards in cancer and palliative care.

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