Advanced Practice in Health Care

Entry requirements

Due to the nature of this MSc programme, there are specific requirements set by the Health Boards regards funding and applications for this MSc. For those applicants from:

• Swansea Bay Health Board - nursing applicants will need to speak to the lead nurse for education prior to applying to the University to assess suitability. Likewise, allied health applicants would need to speak to their respective education / professional leads. Please note that Swansea Bay Health Board do not support any applications from a health care registrant at band 5.
• Hywel Dda Health Board – all applicants need to seek line manager approval and apply for higher awards funding prior applying to the University.
• Welsh Ambulance Service Trust – all applicants will need to speak to the advanced practice lead for their locality and apply for advanced practice funding within WAST.
• Other Health Boards – you would need to discuss and seek approval for the application from your line manager. You will also need to identify your funding avenue prior to application.
• Self-Funding Applicants – any applicant wishing to self-fund their studies will need to speak to the programme director for the MSc prior to application.

Upon applying to the University, a decision will be made to offer an interview. Interviews are held jointly by the respected health boards and acceptance onto the course is made collaboratively between the University and Health Board. Self-funding applicants will be interviewed by the academic team.

In addition to Health Board requirements, the MSc has specific requirements.

To apply for this course you need to be qualified for a minimum of three years and have a 2.2 degree or its equivalent in a relevant subject.

You may be able to enrol without an initial degree and /or may be required to undertake pre-requisite studies at level 6.

This prerequisite study ensures that you have adequate academic skills for Master’s level study and could be used towards getting a first level degree.

Months of entry

March, September

Course content

Our master’s degree in Advanced Practice in Health Care is designed for experienced healthcare practitioners who want to consolidate their skills and expand their expertise across the four pillars of advanced practice: clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research. This programme equips you with the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively to complex and evolving healthcare needs.

Throughout the course, you will develop advanced assessment, diagnostic, and disease management skills, with the opportunity to apply for non-medical prescribing studies.

You will also refine critical research and analytical skills in relation to clinical practice and enhance professional reflective techniques, including critical enquiry, creative problem-solving, and collaborative, compassionate leadership. By engaging with, applying, and generating knowledge, you will contribute to improving care and reducing health inequalities. You will also support the sustainability and transformation of health services.

Why Advanced Practice in Health Care at Swansea?

At Swansea, you’ll study a programme designed to meet NHS workforce priorities and the evolving needs of modern healthcare, delivered across our St David’s Park Campus in Carmarthen and Singleton Park Campus in Swansea. We offer full-time and part-time routes, giving you options to fit your professional commitments.

Our full-time programme, commissioned by the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, is strategically aligned with NHS workforce planning, enabling you to qualify as an advanced practitioner in time to support urgent and emergency care during peak winter demand.

Our part-time option provides additional flexibility for experienced clinicians across our health board catchment area, and is available for both September and March intakes.

You will benefit from year-long, practice-based modules that allow you to develop advanced clinical skills safely and confidently, integrating theory with supervised practice. This structure ensures you gain the depth of experience needed for autonomous practice.

Beyond clinical expertise, you will build leadership, research, and innovation skills that prepare you to drive service improvement and shape the future of healthcare. Our strong links with NHS organisations and alignment with the HEIW Advanced Practice Framework mean your learning is relevant, impactful, and valued by employers.

Your Advanced Practice in Health Care experience

When you join our MSc/PGDip Advanced Practice in Health Care, you will learn in a supportive and inclusive environment that values your experience as a clinician. The programme is delivered through a blended learning model, combining online resources with immersive, in-person study days, so you can balance your studies with your professional commitments while gaining hands-on experience.

Your learning will be practice-focused and deeply connected to real-world healthcare, with clinical placement as a core element of the programme. You will apply theory in supervised clinical settings, engage in simulation exercises, and take part in case-based discussions that mirror the challenges of advanced roles. Teaching is led by a multi-professional team of advanced practitioners and academics who bring current clinical insights and research expertise into every session, ensuring that what you learn is relevant and immediately applicable.

Collaboration is at the heart of the programme. You will work alongside peers from Nursing, Paramedicine, and Allied Health Professions, building the teamwork and leadership skills essential for integrated care. Digital tools and innovative technologies are embedded throughout your studies, from interactive anatomy platforms to immersive simulation, preparing you for the future of healthcare. You will also explore global health perspectives, sustainability, and health inequalities, equipping you to lead change both locally and internationally.

Fees and funding

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page: www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships