Advancing Practice in Palliative Care - MSc/PgDip/PgCert

Structure and exit awards

You can opt to study for the full MSc (180 credits), a PgDip (120 credits) or a PgCert (60 credits).

You can also register as an associate student to complete a single module for CPD. On completion of a single module, you may wish to complete further modules and progress your studies to a named award. Please contact the palliative care team or contact Hilary Gardner (Pathway Lead) for further information on single module study. All students initially enrol on the master's route.

Teaching, learning and assessment

All modules are delivered online and are studied from a distance. Additional support is available for those new to or returning to master’s level study.

There are a variety of assessment methods, including critical and reflective coursework, ePortfolios, presentations and practice-based assessments.

Teaching hours and attendance

No on-campus attendance is required at QMU, and course material is delivered entirely online. Each 20-credit module will equate to approximately 200 hours of study, including regular online contact and independent experiential learning.

Class sizes

You will join a multi-professional online community of learners and will have the opportunity to interact and share your experiences.

Teaching staff

You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.

You will study the following modules: 

• Advancing Practice in Complex Pain and Symptoms in Palliative Care (20 credits): This module will facilitate your engagement in critical exploration of the evidence surrounding complex pain and symptoms experienced by people living with life-limiting illness.
• Advancing Practice in Psychological, Social and Spiritual Aspects of Palliative Care (20 credits: This module is designed to enable you to develop a greater understanding of the psychological, social, and spiritual needs of people living with life-limiting illness, in all care settings.
• Communication with People Living with Life-limiting Illness (20 credits): This module will facilitate the development of your communication skills to support challenging conversations related to coping, adjusting to living with life-limiting illness, and future care planning, whilst examining evidence on communication theories and models.
• Fundamentals of Advancing Practice (20 credits): This module will provide you with critical knowledge and understanding of advanced practice.
• Methods of Enquiry (20 credits): This module will provide you with an understanding of research principles, methodologies, and analysis.

For those learners wishing to complete the Non-Medical Prescribing/V300 qualification, you must complete at least one palliative care module, as well as the following modules:  

• Assessing and Planning Care for Persons, People and Populations (20 credits): This module will prepare students to adopt systematic approaches to assessing and planning care and support for persons, people and populations by applying clinical reasoning and decision-making models within person-centred assessment frameworks.  This module is a prerequisite for the Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Health Care Professionals module if an assessment module has not been completed, or you are unable to evidence competency in assessment skills through practice as part of the application for- 
• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Health Care Professionals (40 credits): The module will develop the skills to become a prescriber in your particular area and gain a recordable entry on your professional register.   
• Optional module (20 credits): You will complete one of the optional modules from any approved Framework modules.
• Dissertation (40/60 credits): For the MSc, you will also complete a dissertation.  

The changing health and social care landscape means that, throughout their careers, an increasing number of practitioners across all care settings will encounter people and families living with life-limiting illnesses and complex health and palliative care needs.

As palliative care becomes everyone's responsibility, there is a growing demand for health and social care practitioners to possess advanced knowledge of palliative care, a critical understanding, and leadership skills. Whether working in hospitals, community settings, care homes, hospices, or social care services, our course is designed to advance professional and personal development with the specialist knowledge, clinical insight, and research-informed skills required in roles that will influence practice, lead service improvement, and provide high-quality palliative and end-of-life care across diverse settings.

Join a growing community of practitioners committed to improving care for people living with life-limiting illness in one of the most important and rapidly evolving areas of healthcare practice.

Entry requirements

• An Honours degree or equivalent in a health or care-related subject.
• You will be a registered health or social care professional currently working with people living with life-limiting illness and have palliative care needs.

International students:

• You will be required to provide evidence of English language competence at no less than IELTS 6.5 with no individual component score less than 6.0.
• Please note that, as this course is fully online, the University cannot sponsor international students to study here on a student visa.

Other requirements

The Advancing Competencies and the Advancing Portfolio core modules require learners to be working in the specific area of practice and/or have access to a suitable workplace setting along with the support of a line manager and workplace mentor.  

Disability/health conditions

If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or learning disability, it should not stand in the way of your studying at QMU. However, if you are not sure whether your disability might be a barrier in your studies or in relation to the professional standards, please contact the disability service who will be able to have a conversation with you about reasonable adjustments and supports available to you.

Applying for this course

For more information on applying, or to apply for this course, please follow the links in the 'Start your application' box at the top right of this page. 

Application deadline

Typically, December for a January start and August for a September start.

Contact the Palliative Care team, contact Hilary Gardner or contact Admissions

More information on our forthcoming open events

• The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2027/28 Entry - Terms and Conditions (Postgraduate).
• The information on this page is correct at the time of posting (October 2026) but is subject to change. In the event that modules change, QMU will seek to use reasonable endeavours to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on students. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.