School of Health Professions

MSc Advanced Professional Practice in Neurological Rehabilitation

Duration

1 year
Course type

Full-time, Part-time route available
Study location Plymouth
Register for open evening
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Are you a qualified health and social care professional working in Neurological Rehabilitation? Do you want to develop advanced practitioner skills and knowledge along with a critical thinking ethos? Do you want to challenge your current practice and be innovative in applying your studies to your area of practice? This successful pathway is taught by an enthusiastic research active team who are specialists in neurological rehabilitation, and is endorsed by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Your career as a healthcare professional starts here

The first-class new home for our healthcare teaching and research providing students with skills to meet the needs of 21st century careers.

InterCity Place
InterCity Place
A unique new learning space where undergraduate and postgraduate students from the largest breadth of health disciplines in the South-West learn together under one roof, with expert practitioners.
Medical students using the Anatomage table clinical
Plymouth Integrative Health and Social Care Education Centre (PIHC)
Experience an interprofessional learning environment across our health programmes that will prepare you for life as a healthcare professional.
First choice for health
Become a healthcare professional of the future
Collaboration across the schools helps students to learn with, from and about each other, gaining the real-world experience employers seek.

Key features
  • Progress your health professions career and become a leader in this specialist area with a programme formed on evidence-based clinical practice, incorporating practical skill development*.
  • Increase your skills in reflection, analysis and critical debate, as well as developing your knowledge base of this cutting-edge subject. The assignments for all modules are designed to help you link theory to practice. 
  • Learn from research active teaching staff, with national and international reputations in this specialist area. You’ll be encouraged to join the faculty’s Rehabilitation research group , nested under the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research , and will work with our experienced staff on your own research project.
  • Further your research skills through use of the University’s highly advanced equipment at the Human Movement and Function Laboratory.
  • Take the opportunity to choose specialist skills modules such as Injection Therapy for your continuing professional development (CPD).
  • Make the most of our blended learning approach, which combines short study blocks and distance learning technologies with face-to-face teaching, enhancing the learning process by allowing time for reflection.
  • Take advantage of flexible study – you can complete the programme over one year full time or two to six years part time. Your study will comprise of a mixture of lectures, practicals, seminars and tutorials. The full-time route is suitable for international students, who will be supported to choose optional modules with non-clinical assignments.
  • Choose from three award pathways with full and part-time options: Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert), 60 credits; Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip), 120 credits; and Masters (MSc), 180 credits.
  • Train and practice your professional healthcare skills in an inspiring purpose-built environment, InterCity Place . 
*As this programme is designed for qualified practitioners there is no requirement of a clinical placement component. Neither the programme nor any of its pathways lead to eligibility to apply for registration with a regulatory body. 
Please note that when you enrol on this programme, you always enrol to study the master degree but we offer three exit awards: PgCert, PgDip and MSc.

Course details
The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Advanced Professional Practice in Neurological Rehabilitation pathway specification_4468

Entry requirements
You’ll normally be a health or social care professional with a first degree (BSc (Hons) at 2.2 or above or European first cycle equivalent). You will normally have a professional or therapeutic role within a neurological rehabilitation environment, for example, in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing or speech and language therapy. If you have a related academic degree, or do not have a degree but have appropriate experience related to the programme, you may be eligible to apply.
You must also provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English in accordance with the University’s admissions code of practice – IELTS requirement is 6.5 average with a minimum of 5.5 in each category. If you need to improve your English language to get onto a degree course at the University, you can book a pre-sessional academic English course ). 
You’ll be individually assessed for your ability to study at this level and therefore an interview may be necessary. You’ll normally be required to submit a short piece of writing as part of the admissions process.
AP(E)L:
Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential, are accepted and will be assessed following University regulations and faculty procedures.
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS):
This programme is equivalent to 90 ECTS credits (second cycle) with 30 ECTS credits at postgraduate certificate, 60 credits at postgraduate diploma and 90 credits at masters degree. Each 20 credit module has the equivalent of 10 ECTS credits and assumes a notional student effort of between 200-300 hours.
Successful completion of this pathway does not lead to eligibility to apply for registration with a UK-based regulatory body.
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary .

Fees, costs and funding
Student 2025-26 2026-27
Home £11,350 £11,700
International £19,550 £20,150
Part time (Home) £1,260 per 20 credit module £1,300 per 20 credit module
 
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per a number of credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding . 
PLEASE NOTE:
The UK Government has announced that a levy on tuition fee income in the region of 6% of an international student’s tuition fees may be introduced. If implemented, the University reserves the right to increase your tuition fees accordingly. The Government has made it clear that it has not officially decided on its stance and it is possible that the eventual levy amount or arrangements may differ from the initial proposal. Therefore, the University reserves the right to adjust tuition fees in accordance with the Government’s final position on this levy.
We understand that clarity around tuition fees is important when planning your studies. Therefore, please note that the tuition fee shown on this page may change as a result of the introduction of a levy. We advise you to monitor this page regularly to stay informed of any updates to your tuition fees.
 
Additional costs
Please be aware that there may be additional costs to undertaking your studies relating to printing of course materials, and requirement for an initial outlay for travel and accommodation in respect of practice placement. If you have any questions regarding these costs please contact pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk. 
International
If you are studying on a programme where placements are integral to your study there are costs associated with travel and accommodation. Please speak with the programme admissions tutor to find out more.
In order to cater for the needs of the NHS workforce, this full-time programme is also available as a part-time programme, which is flexible in nature and allows up to five years for students to complete the full MSc. For this reason, students on the programme are unable to claim support via the Student Loans Company Postgraduate Loan. The SLC stipulates that only full-time programmes without a part time equivalent can be funded. If you think that you will have trouble funding your place on the programme, we would recommend a discussion with your employer to see whether any financial support can be granted. 

Tuition fee discount for University of Plymouth graduates

If you studied your undergraduate degree at Plymouth, you may be eligible for a fee discount if you complete your postgraduate studies here as well.
  • 10% or 20% discount on tuition fees for home students 

How to apply

Apply online

Applying for this programme

Applications for this programme are to be submitted online.  Please select either part-time or full-time above and then click on the blue ‘Apply’ button above.
Please note - If you are an international applicant, you must select ‘Full-time’.
Applicants will also be required to submit:
  • References from two referees – ideally one academic and one work.
  • Curriculum Vitae.
  • A copy of your degree certificate or equivalent.
  • Evidence of recent IELTS may also be required.
The deadline for the receipt of international applications is 30 May 2025 for entry in September 2025.
What happens after I apply?

After your application is submitted, your application will be processed and reviewed by the Programme Lead for a decision on your suitability to study this programme.  You will be notified through your Applicant Portal with the decision.  
Any questions please contact:
Professional Development Unit
 Intercity Place
 University of Plymouth
 Drake Circus
 Plymouth, PL4 8AA
Please note that you will be enrolled on the full MSc programme. You may choose to exit with the qualification of PgCert upon completion of an appropriate 60 credits, or a PgDip upon completion of an appropriate 120 credits. More information is contained within the Programme Specification in the Course Details section.
For applicants with disabilities

If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by the University of Plymouth, please visit our Disability Services webpage.
 
 
 

Studying MSc Advanced Professional Practice – what's in it for me?

The Human Movement and Function Laboratory

Human Movement and Function Laboratory

The Human Movement and Function Laboratory (HMFL) uses a range of highly advanced equipment, often in combination, in order to provide analysis and perspective on an individual’s movement and function.
Injection therapy

Injection therapy

Our injection therapy module enables relevant health professionals to provide advanced assessment, intervention and management involving injections of Corticosteroid in neurological and musculoskeletal settings. 
We currently run one injection therapy module as part of the Advanced Professional Practice programme: 
 
 

Graduate profiles

 
Macy Fan, APP

The masters was pivotal in shaping my career direction.

It helped me discover my passion for working with underserved populations and inspired me to move from a primarily clinical role towards a research-focused academic pathway. The research skills I developed, combined with exposure to the importance of patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE), motivated me to pursue a PhD and contribute to improving knowledge and services in areas that are often overlooked.
Macy Fan, recent graduate 

 
 
 
Jessica Cachia, MSc Advanced Professional Practice in Neurological Rehabilitation graduate

Obtaining this masters degree has acted as an asset to my career. It has added to my knowledge with regards to treating neurological patients, allowing me to provide more evidence-based, and thus more effective treatment regimes to such patients.

 

The content of this programme was the best out of all the universities that I viewed. The available programmes of study at Plymouth are going from strength to strength in order to facilitate highly skilled graduates who can become leaders in clinical research.

Angie Logan

Studying at Plymouth has provided me with a great foundation and has put in place a life-long learning trajectory in my chosen profession. I learned skills such as critical thinking, professionalism, self-confidence, research, data analysis, how to apply evidence to practice, reflective practice, and scientific writing.

Auwal Abdullahi

Studying at Plymouth enhanced my knowledge and understanding of complex neuroanatomy and physiology and how this relates to human movement. The lecturers on the course are all experts in their field, so the standard of teaching is very high.

Paula Dimarco
 

People

Signpost in the mountain at sunset

MSc Advanced Professional Practice pathways

Both the School of Health Professions and the School of Nursing and Midwifery offer the MSc Advanced Professional Practice programme; together we offer a wide range of specialist and generic pathways to meet the educational needs of all health and social care professionals.
Christina - student blogs page

Postgraduate scholarships for international students

We offer several scholarships for international students who wish to study postgraduate taught (PGT) degree programmes.
Plymouth Hoe

English for Academic Purposes

We offer a range of courses to help you develop your academic English language skills.
These include pre-sessional academic English courses for undergraduates, taught postgraduates and research students along with insessional language classes, tutorials and activities to support students who have English as a second language.