Undergraduate course
BSc (Hons)
Professional Development in Long Term Conditions
This programme will build on your ability to care for patients with long-term conditions as well as enabling you to support your patients to manage their own health and agree a care plan based on their personal needs.Immersive learning
Develop effective partnerships with members of the multi-disciplinary team by respecting each professional’s role and responsibilities, while also gaining the skills to improve patient care through better collaboration across professional and organisational boundaries.
Practical experience
Engage in a programme designed to reflect the current health and social care priorities in managing long-term conditions, offering flexibility and responsiveness to meet both employer needs and evolving service delivery requirements.
Shape future healthcare
Choose optional modules that align with your specific work role and support your development as a critical and reflective practitioner. Build a broad set of transferable skills, and contribute effectively to improving services.
About
Develop confidence, competence and emotional resilience to consistently exercise personal responsibility and professional accountability for decision making and the provision of high-quality safe care. Gain the knowledge and ability to care for patients with long-term conditions and assist them to manage their own health by creating care plans based on their individual needs.
This course is for you if...
you want a flexibly designed programme enabling you to ‘step on and step off’ over a five-year period in response to service need and professional circumstances
you want to develop the confidence, competence, and resilience to take responsibility for your decisions and deliver safe, high-quality care
you'd like to explore current therapeutic, technological, and complementary interventions to help empower patients and their families to live life to the fullest
you are eager to underpin your interventions with the best available evidence, contemporary knowledge and high-level clinical decision-making skills
Details
Programme overview
This programme offers the awards of BSc /BSc (Hons), Graduate Certificate, and Graduate Diploma.
BSc - to achieve a BSc you will need to earn 80 credits by undertaking:
HEAD360 Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making (20 credits - core module)
ADV605 Advancing the Management of Long-term Conditions (20 credits - core module)
Plus a further 40 credits from your choice of module (see the link below for a list of
modules available).
HEAD360 Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making (20 credits - core module)
ADV605 Advancing the Management of Long-term Conditions (20 credits - core module)
Plus a further 40 credits from your choice of module (see the link below for a list of
modules available).
BSc (Hons) - to achieve a BSc (Hons) you will need to earn 120 credits by undertaking:
HEAD360 Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making (20 credits - core module)
ADV605 Advancing the Management of Long-term Conditions (20 credits - core module)
HEAD361 Independent Study (40 credits - core module)
Plus a further 40 credits from your choice of module (see the link below for a list of modules available).
Click here for a link to a list of optional modules
Examples of optional modules (not an exhaustive list):
HEAD362 - Clinical Judgement and Decision Making in Healthcare
HEAD392 - Diabetes Mellitus
HEAD385 - Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - management in primary care
Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma - please see the ‘Experience’ panel below for further details.
Examples of optional modules (not an exhaustive list):
HEAD362 - Clinical Judgement and Decision Making in Healthcare
HEAD392 - Diabetes Mellitus
HEAD385 - Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - management in primary care
Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma - please see the ‘Experience’ panel below for further details.
Which modules can I study?
There are a number of core, pathway specific and optional modules associated with the BSc (Hons)/BSc Professional Development course pathways, as well as four different exit awards.
The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.
Experience
Previous experience / education
If you have previously obtained a health-related honours degree at 2:2 or above, you are eligible to access the course via the following routes:
Graduate Certificate Professional Development in Long Term Conditions - 60 credits at degree level from a choice of pathway specific modules.
Graduate Diploma Professional Development in Long Term Conditions - 120 credits at degree level from a choice of pathway specific modules.
For details on the pathway specific modules that you will need to undertake to achieve one of these awards, please contact the Professional Development Unit Admissions
Team at PDUAdmissions@plymouth.ac.uk or 01752 586951.
Graduate Certificate Professional Development in Long Term Conditions - 60 credits at degree level from a choice of pathway specific modules.
Graduate Diploma Professional Development in Long Term Conditions - 120 credits at degree level from a choice of pathway specific modules.
For details on the pathway specific modules that you will need to undertake to achieve one of these awards, please contact the Professional Development Unit Admissions
Team at PDUAdmissions@plymouth.ac.uk or 01752 586951.
Life in Plymouth
Plymouth's maritime history and coastal location have an undeniable influence on life in the city. The walk from our main campus to the seafront is only about one mile, providing loads of opportunity to relax and unwind during your studies. You don’t need to leave the city to get to the coast!
The overall vibe of the city is perfect. You are by the sea so it is still laid back, but you have all the conveniences of living in a city.
Jenna
Current student
Current student
Life in the city
Discover what Plymouth and its unique geographical location have to offer
Explore your accommodation options
Discover our range of student accommodation options and find out how you can get a guaranteed place in halls
Get involved with one of our many student groups
Our large student population, active Students' Union, and abundance of student-led clubs and societies blend to create a busy and vibrant student scene
Careers
Opportunities for postgraduate study
There are a wide range of Postgraduate opportunities for graduates to explore.
Follow the link below for a full list of modules and programmes that can be undertaken via the Professional Development Unit.
Find out more
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Tuition fees for part-time UK students starting in 2026-2027 academic year
Part-time study
The fee for this programme is dependant on the modules undertaken. Please see the relevant Faculty of Health Professional Development Module Fees for further information.
Apply
Entry requirements
To be eligible for the BSc or BSc (Hons) programme you will need to be either a registered health and social care professional or a health and social care worker in possession of previous study at level 5 (foundation degree /diploma of higher education). You will also need to be working in an environment in which end of life care needs are delivered.
If you wish to undertake the graduate certificate and graduate diploma award pathways you must already hold an honours degree at 2:2 or above in a health or health related subject as well as working in an environment in which end of life care needs are delivered.
If you wish to undertake any clinical skills modules as part of your programme you will need to be working in an environment where you can meet the learning outcomes.
Applicants whose first language is not English must also provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English in accordance with the University’s Admissions Code of Practice – minimum overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of 6.5 average with a minimum 5.5 in each category.
RPL:
Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential are accepted and will be assessed following University regulations and faculty procedures.
Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential are accepted and will be assessed following University regulations and faculty procedures.
Extended entry requirements
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.
To be accepted onto a degree course with us, you must have a suitable English language qualification.
Applying
Please use the Apply button below and return the form to:
What happens after I apply?
Once your application has been processed, you will receive confirmation of enrolment by email. If there is any information outstanding, you will be contacted by email initially requesting it. As part of the application process, you may be asked to provide additional information, or to take part in an interview/informal discussion (which, if you are an overseas applicant, may be by telephone or video conference).
If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by the University of Plymouth, please visit Additional Support for students with an impairment, health condition or disability.
Institution code
NA
NA
Duration
5 years
Course type
Part-time
Study location
Plymouth
Plymouth
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