Advancing Practice

Entry requirements

Current professional registration as a Nurse, Allied Health Professional or Social Care Professional is required for entry to this MSc. Applicants are also usually required to have a degree qualification.

You do not have to be considering an Advanced Practioner role to apply for this course, although as part of the MSc in Advancing Practice we do offer a clinical pathway, which would support you if you are either in a trainee or substantive Advanced Practitioner role. If you are not in one of these roles, we have a wide range of modules to suit your practice area.

We welcome applications from those who are just about to complete a professional undergraduate degree qualification in either Nursing, Social Work or any of the Allied Health Professions.

MSc Advancing Practice

We welcome international applications for the MSc Advancing Practice as this is delivered completely online.

We accept applicants that have an ordinary degree and are currently working in practice or students in their final year of study will also be considered but this will be conditional on you obtaining registration and gaining employment (full or part-time, even if it is on the bank).

MSc Advancing Practice (Clinical Practice) Pathway

Only UK applicants are eligible for the MSc Advancing Practice (Clinical Practice) pathway.

Current professional registration as nurse, health or social care practitioner plus a minimum of an ordinary degree with three years clinical experience. This is essential to undertake the clinical modules.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

The health and social care needs of the population are changing globally, highlighted most recently by the Covid-19 pandemic. The delivery of Health and Social Care supports integrated services focusing on prevention, early intervention and enablement to support people to live well for as long as possible in their own homes and communities. Health and social care professionals working in integrated teams, play a critical part in realising this vision. These roles have developed and expanded to meet new challenges and this Masters course has therefore been designed to support you to gain skills, confidence and knowledge to work effectively at an advanced level.

Working in partnership with clinical experts, patients and health care providers, this course is designed for any health professional working in a clinical, education, management or research role who is keen to challenge their thinking, gain new skills and make a difference to their practice.

We welcome applications from those about to complete pre-registration degree courses, those post-registration health care professionals working in practice, or those studying as part of other post-graduate level courses.

The course offers two different pathways:

Pathway A: Advancing Practice

This is suitable for all registered health care professionals within and outside of the UK, who are keen to gain advanced knowledge and expertise in contemporary healthcare issues to lead and influence within their role. The modules for this award are delivered entirely online which means this can be completed by professionals practising anywhere in the world.

Pathway B: Advancing Practice (Clinical Practice)

This is only suitable for health professionals practising in the UK who are working towards an advanced practice role or who require advanced skills to meet the demands of their current role and whose work is primarily clinically focused.

To gain this award, you are required to undertake two compulsory clinical modules:

• Advanced Clinical Assessment and Examination
• Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals

These compulsory modules require face-to-face attendance for teaching and assessment to take place. In addition, the Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals module leads to a qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), therefore you must be practising and registered within the UK to undertake this.

Teaching at Stirling is practice-focused, with an emphasis on employability and transforming careers.

Information for international students

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Indicator 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill
• Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 176 overall with a minimum of 169 in each sub-skill
• Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 169 in each sub-skill
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill
• IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking
• IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition Test 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking
• Trinity ISE II Pass overall and Merit in all sub-skills, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
• Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
• Duolingo 105 overall with a minimum of 95 in each sub-skill
• LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator - Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill

If you are from India, Bangladesh, Ghana or Nigeria please also check your country/region specific page for any additional, or changes to, English language requirements.

For more information on ways that you can meet our English language requirements, including options to waive the requirement, please read our information on English language requirements.