The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences Continuing Professional Development Framework (HSS CPD Framework) offers stand-alone credit bearing ‘work-based’ units at 7 which relate to professional roles, be they in the health professions or social work and social care. Culmination of a pre-requisite numbers of credits, lead to a MA Advanced Practice or interim award. 

The structure of the Framework is such that you can take ‘bite sized chunks’ of study according to your needs and select to exit with credit only from a single unit or two, or alternatively continue for a whole award. Learning is based on the philosophy of the facilitation of education that focuses on the needs of clients rather than that of a particular profession, by providing you with learning which supports you to develop ‘the skills and confidence to work effectively in an increasingly complex working environment’ (Department of Health 2012:15).

Course exit points
There are various entry and exit points.  

• Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice: Complete 60 credits from our continuing professional development framework. 
• Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Practice: Complete an additional 60 credits (120 credits in total) from our continuing professional development framework. 
• MA in Advanced Practice: having competed 120 credits at Master’s level, you will need to complete a further 60 credits in an independent study in Service Improvement Project, focusing on an aspect of your professional practice and/or service. 

Please see the programme diagram under 'Downloads' on the right hand side of this page.

Timeframes
For students who registered on their first level 7 CPD unit with Bournemouth University prior to 01 February 2018 the maximum completion time to MA is 10 years. For students who undertake their first level 7 CPD unit with Bournemouth University after 01 February 2018 the maximum time in 5 years.

Why study MA Advanced Practice at BU?

• We’ve designed this course so you can study individual units, allowing you to steadily work towards a postgraduate qualification, flexibly and at your own pace. 
• Choose from a large variety of units to complete this qualification, mixing and matching the units best suited to your development. 
• You can sign up to one unit at a time, and there are various entry and exit points. You have 5 years to achieve all the units for a Master’s degree.
• This course allows you to show your ability to critically evaluate your practice and make evidence-based judgements. 
• Integrate new and existing skills in a work setting while maintaining and developing high quality health and social care in your current workplace. 
• Please note: if you are a healthcare professional that wishes to consider an advanced clinical practice role please view the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice course. 

Normally students may enter Level 7 study if they have been awarded:

• Undergraduate degree (honours or non-honours)
• An equivalent qualification (the learning outcome of which are demonstrably appropriate in terms of knowledge, understanding and skills) equivalent to 120 credits at Level 6.

Fees and funding:

You will need to pay or indicate employer support of payment for unit or course fees to the university.

Applicants should contact their employing organisation for further details.

Pre-purchased places

The Faculty of Health & Social Sciences has contractual arrangements with NHS organisations and Local Authorities for pre-paid places on specified modules including NHS South of England. If you work within Dorset & Somerset or Hampshire & Isle of Wight you may be able to access the pre-paid places. These arrangements allow NHS Trusts and Local Authorities to nominate the staff they wish to send on each unit or course.

The pre-arranged agreements allow individuals, such as yourself, a route to access appropriate professional development opportunities that are seen as strategically important to your organisation (in consultation with your Line Manager/Education Co-ordinator). All requests for pre-paid places must first be agreed by your organisation prior to completing an application.

Course review:

In order to take advantage of new approaches to learning and teaching, as well as developments in practice to benefit our students we regularly review all of our courses. This course is currently going through this process and we will update this page to give you full information about what we will be offering once the review process has concluded.  These changes will come into effect for all new students from September 2025. Applicants will be notified by our admissions team of any changes.