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Part Time: 3 months | Start date: January

This module is aimed at practising healthcare professionals who are in roles requiring, or that will require, advanced skills in diagnostics to support differential diagnosis and critical thinking. The module can be studied stand-alone or as part of the MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice.

Through academic study days and workplace-based learning, students will be supported to develop skills in analysing, evaluating, and recording information in relation to enhanced patient care roles. This module is also particularly suited for students who are working or planning a role as, an independent prescriber and/or advanced clinical practitioner.

This 20-credit module will focus on supporting practitioners to apply a range of clinical and scientific knowledge to the interpretation of common haematological, biochemical, microbiological, and immunological tests, as well as the principles of radiological imaging. The module is assessed through coursework.

This module is run as alternate half-day weekly workshops; the weeks when you are not attending campus are timetabled for directed study. Between each workshop, there are online activities to complete before the next workshop. It is up to students when they complete the online activities and whether they aim to achieve them in one sitting or spread out over the time between the two workshops. For each directed study week students should allow up to three hours to complete the activities. After the study days have finished the directed study days allow time to complete the coursework task.

Although directed study time is included on the timetable as a guide, CIPPET encourage students and employers to discuss when and how protected study time is allocated so that it promotes positive work-study-life balances for individual students, whilst recognising the need to maintain a service provision.

Upcoming cohort enrolment options:

January 2025 – this module runs on an annual basis.

  • Deadline for applications: 09:00, 21 December 2024.
  • Deadline for enrolment: 17:00, 3 Jan 2025 (only complete applications will be accepted and allowed to enrol so we recommend you apply in plenty of time).
  • Study days: Wednesdays 09:00 to 12:00 on Whiteknights campus:15 January, 29 January, 12 February, 26 February and 12 March.
  • Self-directed study days: 22 January, 5 February, 19 February and 5 March.
  • Coursework submission: 12 March and 16 April
  • Module cost: £1000

Please note dates for 2025/2026 will be released in the spring/summer term/semester.

Careers

Our programmes are based on developing your professional competence and confidence. Network with other healthcare professionals from a range of employers and sectors to identify future career options. The level 7 academic credits from these modules can also be used towards our MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice programme.

We can offer advice to help you meet your professional regulator revalidation requirements and/or leadership body credentialing processes and support you in building a personal learning plan to enhance your career prospects.

How to apply

This module is run as part of the overarching CPD programme in Advancing Healthcare Practice programme; this does not mean you need the study the full MSc as all modules can be studied as standalone academic credits. For information on the entry requirements and instructions on how to apply, see the Entry Requirements section of our course catalogue.

Unless advised otherwise by the admission tutor you will need to prepare the following documents available from the Entry Requirements section of our course catalogue.

1. A statement of purpose (guidance is provided on the website at the above link)

2. The CPD checklist using the template from the above link

3. The workplace-based learning declaration (template available at the above link) or equivalent document from your workplace (e.g. study leave approval document/letter or email statement of support/inclusion of approval in a reference)

4. Information on how you will fund your studies (guidance is provided at the above link)

5. Any University certificates and transcripts

6. Two references (optional template available at the above link)

 If you want to discuss the module before applying, please contact the admissions tutor via cippet@reading.ac.uk . If you want to apply for an award (PGCert, PGDip or MSc), or you want to be exempted from academic credits via RPL or RPEL, you will need to contact the admissions tutor via cippet@reading.ac.uk  to discuss your application in advance.

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