MSc Advanced Professional Practice in Neurological Rehabilitation

• 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 Institute of Health and Community, 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 five 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.
• This programme is accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

*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.

• Programme overview
• Advance your practice by developing theoretical knowledge and skills and a creative, critical and analytical approach to practice. Study core modules to develop your advanced practitioner skills: applying evidence to practice, developing self and others, project design for research, and a research dissertation. You’ll also study specific and optional modules related to neurological rehabilitation, enabling you to apply your knowledge to the assessment and management of people with neurological conditions, and can take modules as standalone options for continuing professional development (CPD). We use a range of assessments, designed to link knowledge and skills to your area of practice and to develop advanced practitioner skills such as evidence-based case studies, portfolios, service delivery proposals and written and oral work. Our graduates apply what they learn – they disseminate knowledge and skills, leading and developing practice, or choose to progress to further studies.
  
  
  For further information on the modules that make up this programme please visit MSc Advanced Professional Practice module information. Full time or international students will be supported to choose optional modules with non-clinical assignments.
  

  Core modules

  • ADV702 Applying Evidence to Practice

    Focusing on the application of evidence based practice (EBP) to professional practice; you’ll learn how to use research to guide best practice. You will also identify a question relevant to your area of practice, review and critique the literature in this area, and plan and evaluate any necessary change to professional practice.

  • ADV715 Project Design for Research

    You’ll explore methodology and methods relevant to the development of a research project and by the end of the module you’ll formulate a research proposal. You’ll learn how to define and refine a research question, select and appraise methodology, address ethical considerations, and select and appraise data collection and analysis techniques.

  • ADV716 Research Dissertation

    You’ll complete your dissertation as part of your Advanced Professional Practice Masters programme under supervision from the module team and a named dissertation supervisor.

  • ADV768 Clinical Assessment and Management in Neurology

    The module will (a) highlight how understanding neuroanatomy/physiology can aid in the interpretation of the signs and symptoms of commonly encountered neurological conditions (b) facilitate the development of assessment and management skills.

  Optional modules

  • ADV708 Injection Therapy for Health Professionals (Botulinum Toxin)

    Participants on this module must be registered with a suitable health professions council or Nursing and Midwifery council. A suitably qualified supervisor within practice should be identified prior to attendance on the module. Participants must demonstrate a suitable level of expertise prior to attendance on the module, this will usually be through interview.

  • ADV710 Pathomechanics and Rehabilitation of Gait and Balance

    This module focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic interventions of health professionals managing patients with gait and balance problems. Gait and balance are explored alongside theoretical and practical approaches to rehabilitation in a wide variety of conditions.

  • ADV735 Advancing the Management of Long Term Conditions

    This module focuses on critically applying knowledge and understanding to support service development for people with long term conditions' that is person centred; promoting self-management and collaborative working. This module is based on best practice discussed within national and international policy and guidelines. It will explore in depth the impact of long term conditions on the individual, their family and carers.

  • ADV739 Rehabilitation: Cognition, Perception and Behaviour

    This module will draw on the fields of neuropsychology, neuroscience and rehabilitation to explore cognitive and perceptual domains such as memory, executive function, attention and language. An inter-disciplinary team will highlight the functional and psychosocial impact of dysfunction to these domains and provide a critical review of current clinical interventions.

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

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 Plymouth 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.

When to apply

Applications for this programme can usually be made throughout the year. Please check the closing date and apply as early as possible as our programmes are popular.

Apply for this programme

Applications should be made by using the relevant PDF or Word application form.

Postgraduate application form DOC – A ten page DOC application form for postgraduate students to print, fill in and mail to the University

Postgraduate application form PDF – A ten page PDF application form for postgraduate students to print, fill in and mail to the University

International student postgraduate application form DOC – Postgraduate taught programmes application form for international students

International student postgraduate application form PDF – Postgraduate taught programmes application form for international students

Printed application forms are also available and can be obtained from the Professional Development Unit. Please send your completed application form to the address or email listed below:

Professional Development Unit
4th floor, Rolle Building
Plymouth University
Drake Circus
Plymouth PL4 8AA

Email: pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk

Tel: +44 1752 586951

What happens after I apply?

You will normally receive a decision on your application within four weeks of us receiving your application. You may be asked to provide additional information, to take part in an interview (which in the case if you are an overseas student may be by telephone or video conference) or you will be sent a decision by letter or email.

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

Support is also available from our International Office, if you are an overseas student applying to the University.