Advanced Clinical Practice MSc

Why study MSc Advanced Clinical Practice at Middlesex University?

Our Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) degree will enable you as an experienced practitioner working at an advanced level to meet the nationally agreed advanced clinical practice criteria. This will include the four pillars of advanced practice (clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research) in order to further develop your role as an advanced clinical practitioner.

The core focus of the programme is the recognition of and building on previously acquired knowledge and skills, combined with workplace learning and supplemented with virtual live and on-demand pre-recorded modules. Key to the programme is the relationship between the trainee, your clinical supervisor and your University tutor.

The following awards (at either MSc or PG Dip) are given depending on practice area: Health Care Practice, Nursing, Mental Health, Midwifery or Primary Care.

We have five different specialisms for this course – Health Care Practice, Nursing, Midwifery, Mental Health and Primary Care Nursing.

Whether studying for a PG Diploma or an master's degree, you will benefit from our pre-programme consultation and advice which continues throughout the course. You'll also benefit from our unique personal tutoring system which takes a proactive approach and echoes the values of ‘building success for all’, helping you to reach your potential as a qualified advanced clinical practitioner.

As an experienced practitioner working at an advanced level, we know that you have the makings of an advanced clinical practitioner having already gained academic qualifications and experience. Our job is to capture that past learning, to work with you and your clinical supervisor to build on your experience by identifying work-place learning opportunities.

Course highlights

• Recognition of prior learning wherever that takes place
• Focus on work place learning
• Pre-course consultation and advice
• Tripartite reviews: clinical supervisor, practitioner, university tutor
• Clinical supervisor preparation and on-going support
• Full accreditation from the Centre for Advancing Practice.

About your course

Student testimonials

"During my MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice at Middlesex University, I found the teaching style precise and effective. Alison Harris and Tina Moore were incredibly supportive as I transitioned into a senior clinical role. They deeply understood the challenges of balancing a full-time job with demanding assignments."

"At one point, I nearly gave up, but Alison’s guidance and Tina’s reassurance helped me persevere. Their patience and dedication ensured I could manage my clinical responsibilities while continuing my studies. I highly recommend Middlesex for its understanding staff and superior teaching style compared to other universities."

Athikur Choudhury, ACP graduate

"In 2021 my clinical director called me to see if I would be interested in the ACP course. I thought this was completely out of my reach with a demanding role professionally and three children and a busy home. However, I looked further into the modules and the variety of those which could be specific for my role as matron and clinical nurse specialist…so I applied!

"The ACP course provided an extensive depth of understanding and knowledge within my specialist area of women's health and cancer, particularly the practice portfolio, physical assessment and project proposal. 

"Broader modules of leadership and service development equipped me with management skills and the confidence to improve practice and patient care. I cannot recommend this course highly enough. The project module was demanding, challenging, but at the same time, it was rewarding to find outcomes and solutions to facilitate change in patient care.

"The ACP course modules are bespoke to your own speciality, and I am so very grateful to my NHS Trust and Middlesex University for their support, for the guidance of my clinical director and the excellent module leaders. The university staff, especially those in the library, could not be more accommodating – especially to someone who had never used some of the software. 

"I am very proud to have started at Middlesex as a student nurse in 1998 and to have achieved my ACP in 2023. I am hoping to support other ACPs in the future at my NHS Trust."

Tara Egan, Lead Nurse – Women's Health, Outpatients & Imaging, CNS Gynae-Oncology, Whittington Trust

"I wanted to become an advanced practitioner ever since the roles first appeared – to advance my career and help to take the nursing profession to the next level. 

"I was finally able to start my studies, but I was daunted by the task of juggling work, family life and studies. I have two small children so I knew it would be no easy task. However, I was soon reassured by the university’s supportive, knowledgeable and accommodating lecturers. Their guidance and feedback inspired me to successfully complete the programme. The modules were well structured and relevant to the ACP role. 

"I am now a qualified ACP and independent non-medical prescriber, working alongside junior doctors, consultants and other professionals in a multidisciplinary team."

Iiris All, ACP graduate

"As a junior nurse I wished to become an advanced practitioner. At that time, I could not find the words to describe what I wanted professionally. From when I began learning about my specialist field (ENT), I knew I wanted to prescribe.

"The physical assessment course was so important for me. I have had to do clinical assessments and triage in many of my previous posts, and this aspect is essential. I did more modules and learned how to develop big projects, do research and prepare a portfolio with my competences in advanced practice. It was quite intense, hard work and exciting, learning how to complete my essays. 

"My tutors were amazing. Looking back, I can say this programme was really important for my professional fulfilment. I learnt a lot, and advanced my practice – as it says in the title. I definitely recommend it."

Julio Rodriguez, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT), West Middlesex Hospital

"This programme allowed me the opportunity to learn, implement and live my dreams. 

"It empowered me to share my experiences and skillset with total strangers, both fellow students and lecturers. We forged friendships and developed as professionals together.  

"It was not without its challenges, but these encouraged us to negotiate the pathway to completion. An amazing course, with brilliant, encouraging lecturers."

Shawn Marie Robinson, Nurse Hysteroscopist, Whittington Trust

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

Fees and funding

The fees below are for the 2025/26 academic year:

UK students¹

Part-time students: £65 per credit

Additional costs

We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.

• Free – laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing
• Free specialist software for your course
• Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

Financial support

We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.

Help from your employer

Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.