MSc Healthcare Leadership
Expert leadership training designed for doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, allied health professionals and non-clinical staff looking to advance into a leadership role. Go further in your career with training that combines cutting-edge theory with valuable practical experience.
About the MSc Healthcare Leadership
Learn what it takes to maintain the highest standards in healthcare and lead your teams to deliver transformative care.
With the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience you need, you’ll become a successful healthcare leader, performing at your best in highly regulated professional contexts. You’ll gain new capabilities to enhance your effectiveness as a leader and a manager, implementing and designing strategies that provide innovative solutions to healthcare challenges.
What you'll study
Develop an in-depth understanding of professional standards and changes taking place within the NHS, both nationally and locally, with specific reference to the Integrated Care Boards and how they work across Integrated Care Systems.
Gain an understanding of the wider health and social care sector within the UK.
Learn how to systematically analyse influences on leadership practice, and about the ways that research, evidence, and implementation of education strategies can lead quality improvements in healthcare settings.
Learn how to think critically, exercise professional judgement, reflect on your own practice, and manage the challenges of responsible and ethical leadership, enabling you to become a successful healthcare leader.
Entry requirements
The entry requirements to study the MSc Healthcare Leadership are as follows:
A minimum of a 2:2 class degree in a health or science related subject, equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree; or
A postgraduate degree that demonstrates your ability to successfully complete academic Level 7 study; or
Completion of a first professional qualification with a portfolio of CPD evidence, which will be considered at the discretion of the course leader
Students from the following ranges of professional occupations and roles are suitable for this MSc Healthcare Leadership programme:
Professionals with relevant degrees
Nurses, Dentists, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Radiographers, Dieticians, Podiatrists, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Health (OH) Practitioners, Social Workers, Speech Therapists, Paramedics, Chiropractors, Geneticists, Midwives, Microbiologists, Physician Associates
Non-clinical roles which would suit completion
Laboratory Technician Work/Scanning/Imaging work, the following Degrees apply: Biology Degree, Physics Degree, Chemistry Degree, Biochemistry Degree
English language requirements
To study at BPP, it is important that you can communicate and engage in English effectively in an academic setting.
If English is not your first language, you will be required to provide proof of your ability – for reading, writing, listening and speaking in English.
View details of accepted English language qualifications.
Course details
18 months (Full-time) with Professional Development Planning (PDP)
From £17,100
Master of Science Healthcare Leadership with Professional Development Planning, awarded by BPP University (18-month programme)
What can I do after the MSc Healthcare Leadership?
Course structure
Academic and Assessment Support (0 credits)
This module helps you build a strong foundation of academic skills, ensuring you feel confident when it comes to demonstrating your abilities through the quality of your work.
Developing Healthcare Leaders (30 credits)
Explore current thinking in leadership across a range of healthcare settings. You will have the opportunity to explore current leadership theories, techniques, tools and models that can be applied in diverse healthcare practice or situations, working with and through others.
Contextualising Leadership in Practice (30 credits)
Develop a critical understanding in the complexity of healthcare services and the advanced knowledge and skills you need to contextualise healthcare leadership practice within a rapidly changing field.
Critical Thinking in Healthcare Leadership (30 credits)
Effective Healthcare leaders must be able to think critically and act in the best interest of the public. Learn how to engage with the complexities of evidence, and critically consider how literature can be applied, analysed and used in combination to enable new insights and understanding, ensuring you’re able to make informed decisions.
Leading in a Healthcare Organisation (Elective 30 credits)
Effective clinicians integrate the best available research evidence, with clinical expertise and ethical frameworks, and patient preferences and circumstances. At the same time, they must recognise their professional responsibilities within highly regulated, inter-professional contexts. This module will enable you to translate query into focused questions, from which you can review and apply evidence in healthcare practice.
Evidence Based Practice for Clinical Professionals (Elective 30 credits)
This module supports clinical leaders and future clinical leaders to translate clinical enquiry into focused questions, from which you can review and apply suitable critical appraisal techniques to inform decisions in your field of healthcare practice.
Evidence Based Practice for Clinical Nurses (Elective 30 credits)
This module supports Nurse Leaders and future Nurse Leaders to translate clinical enquiry into focused questions, from which you apply suitable critical appraisal techniques to inform decisions in your specialist field.
Healthcare Leadership Dissertation (60 credits)
The dissertation module is the culmination learning across a diverse range of healthcare contextualised modules enabling you to bring together the knowledge, understanding and skills you have developed into one independent self-directed extended piece of work.
The PDP provides a structured approach to professional development, helping you gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to sustain a career in your chosen field.
You will receive additional sessions which run alongside academic terms to prepare for the six months of career practice which may include projects, voluntary works, placement or internship opportunities. *
In addition to your academic study, you can benefit from:
One-to-one coaching
Self-serve skills content for independent study
Access to LinkedIn Learning courses
Speaker events from professionals in industry
Masterclasses to enhance your employability
Employability activities on our Virtual Campus or in-centre
Intensive preparation for interview opportunities if you meet the criteria
*Please note, if you fall behind with your studies and cannot progress on your Master’s programme, you will not be eligible for the placement interview process. The Placements team works with an extensive range of employers to find work placement opportunities for our students. Placements may vary in length and may be paid or unpaid.
How you'll study
Contact hours
Full-time students will typically receive eight contact hours per week and will need to devote at least 40 hours a week to study.
Learning materials
All required learning materials are provided online, reflecting modern working practices and minimising our environmental impact. Print on demand versions are available for students with specific learning needs.
Types of assessment
The programme features a variety of assessments, including:
Examinations
Assignments
Proficiencies in practice
Examinations will be both written and electronic including assessment techniques which may include elements or multiple-choice questions and maybe unseen or part-seen, where assessment material is released in advance.
BPP University offers flexibility in how these assessments are undertaken, and the programme will utilise online tools where available to deliver assessments. On occasion, some assessments may require attendance at a physical location.
Full details on BPP University's feedback policy on examinations and assessment can be found in the Manual of Policies and Procedures here.
Learning support
Access a full range of learning support services for students with any specialist learning needs. View learning support services
Dates and locations
The full-time option of this programme lasts for 12 months. The extended 18-month option with PDP offers additional skills workshops, employability activities and opportunities for practical training.
Rolling start dates across the academic year
Rolling start dates across the academic year
Fees and funding
Fees
A deposit of £350 will need to be paid within 48 hours of accepting your offer in order to secure your place.
In addition to your fees, there may be additional charges associated with your studies if you need to resit an assessment. See full details
Funding options
We offer a number of ways to support you with funding your university studies.
Need to discuss finance?
If you have any questions or require help, contact us on 03300 603100.
Why study at BPP University?
Studying as an international student
We welcome students from around the world, offering a culturally diverse study environment, with our specialist service helping choose your study location, correct visa, finance options and even somewhere to live.
We’re also a Student Sponsor and are fully recognised and accredited as a Higher Education Institution.