Undergraduate professional development
Offering an innovative undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional development (CPD) portfolio, the faculty provides flexible and responsive provision for professionals seeking to enhance health and social care delivery whilst progressing in their careers.
Our experienced team of lecturers offers a range of CPD training to the whole health and social care workforce. Our teaching, support and resources are student-focused and attract individuals from a wide range of backgrounds including those with non-traditional qualifications or experience and those who have not studied for a number of years.
We recognise that our professional development students are in full or part-time employment and have many personal commitments and we therefore strive to provide a learning experience which is flexible whilst designed to meet professional needs and learning requirements.
Studying with us
Edge Hill University recognises that training in the area of the caring professions can be demanding and is committed to ensuring students can access support throughout their course. All students have access to the advice and support available through Student Services, such as Careers, advice on childcare support and student finance.
- Providing extensive learning resources at our Ormskirk and Aintree campuses and access to library facilities at NHS study centres in Merseyside, Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
- Offering free, one-to-one counselling sessions.
Further support is delivered by:
- Pathway Co-ordinators – offering advice on pathway routes and negotiating specific pathways, monitoring student progression and achievement.
- Student Liaison Officers – supporting students in practice in particular pathways.
- Academic leads – managing student issues relating to deadline extensions and mitigating circumstances.
- Faculty staff – supporting mentors in practice and offering advice on student support.
Working while you Study
Effective time management is often the key to success at university and although finding the time to study between other aspects of everyday life can be challenging, most CPD students succeed in striking the balance between their studies and work and personal commitments. It is likely that you already have the skills to effectively prioritise tasks and manage your time successfully – you probably do this everyday at work. Speak to your employer before commencing your course to see how they can support you.
Try to plan ahead time to study especially when approaching an assignment deadline. You might be able to identify regular times every week that can be set aside for study. It is also a good idea to set up a quiet place to study away from work and home distractions, such as the phone or television.
Individual programme leaders will be able to advise how many hours you will need to spend in lectures and seminars for a specific course and whether any placements are required.
Placements
For some health professional development programmes it may be a requirement of the course that you are working in a relevant area to meet the learning outcomes. For students on the Return to Practise programme, we will provide placements as part of the programme. We have excellent relationships with NHS Hospital and Community Trusts meaning we can offer work-based learning opportunities across a variety of care contexts, with placements at over 600 locations in Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire.
Undergraduate (Bachelor) Degrees
Our undergraduate CPD programmes are usually for health and social care practitioners with no previous higher education qualifications or practitioners who wish to increase their knowledge of a specific subject to progress in their career.
A bachelor degree is a course of academic study leading to a level 6 qualification such as a bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BSc). You normally need to earn 120 credits at level 4, 120 credits at level 5 and 120 credits at level 6 to achieve a bachelor degree. However, we recognise that CPD students will have existing professional qualifications and previous experience and therefore our BSc courses only require 120 credits at level 6. To be accepted on to our BSc courses, applicants would normally be required to already hold a Dip HE. Bachelor degrees are normally studied full-time over three years or part-time over six years. Designed to give you a thorough understanding of a subject, they can prepare you for a particular career or lead to further study such as a master’s degree.
Length of Study
The timeframes given above are for guidance only. Our CPD programmes are flexible and tailored towards health professionals studying whilst in employment and therefore they can be completed in a timeframe that suits you up to a maximum of six years. Individual course leaders can advise applicants of an appropriate timeframe for your circumstances.
Individual modules of study
Programmes are made up of individual modules and our wide range of CPD modules can be studied individually. Many modules start in September and February meaning that if you miss the September intake you do not always need to wait a year to begin studying. Following completion, you can continue your studies with other modules and work towards an award. View our range of stand alone CPD modules.
NHS Health Education North West-funded modules
NHS Health Education North West funds Post-Qualification Learning for professional health and social care staff under their remit. Post-Qualification Learning follows a modular structure and a limited choice of modules can be studied on a stand alone basis or towards a post-qualification award.
Staff should contact their Line Manager and Trust Lead to discuss availability and how to apply.
The CPD Apply NW Application tool is available to NWAS (North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust) staff only. If you are employed by NWAS you may be able to secure funding for your module(s). Please see CPD-Apply (nwas.nhs.uk) for further details.
Short courses
In addition to our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine also offers several shorter professional development courses. Some start in both September and February meaning that if you miss the September intake you do not always need to wait a year to begin studying. Additionally, our wide range of CPD modules can be also studied individually on a stand alone basis.
The Non-Medical Prescribing programme provides an exciting and challenging opportunity for nurses, midwives and relevant allied health professionals to expand their roles to meet the needs of their patients and service users to improve access to appropriate medication. It is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to prescribe safely and appropriately within your area of practice and current non-medical prescribing legislation. This is available as either undergraduate (Level 6) and postgraduate (Level 7).
The Return to Professional Practice programme is for nurses and healthcare professionals who wish to reactivate registration with their professional body, or who wish to refresh their knowledge and skills before applying for jobs in healthcare. Practitioners who originally obtained their registration from countries outside Europe and wish to practice in the UK are also be able to access this programme but must initiate their application with the relevant professional body.
Surgical First Assistance in Operative Procedures is for qualified practitioners working as scrub practitioners or who are employed in an assisting role. You will gain the knowledge and experience that will enable you to safely and competently assist surgical procedures with the skills listed by the Perioperative Care Collaborative (2012) Position Statement as being within the role of a Surgical First Assistant. You will also acquire an understanding of the professional boundaries and legalities of the role.
Fees and finance
Fees and any funding arrangements vary between courses. The information below applies only to Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine professional development courses.
The cost of modules on these programmes is determined by the credits awarded and the programme that you are studying. Module fees are indicated on individual module pages.
Invoices are generated on enrolment. Students who are self-funded are able to cancel their place on the module up to 14 days from the start date without incurring any costs.
Fees can be paid in instalments by prior arrangement. Unpaid fees will be subject to the University Credit Control procedures.
Finance advice
Our Finance Advisers can give you advice and information about grants, loans and bursaries and offer you a confidential financial health check.
Money matters
For comprehensive information about the financial support which may be available to UK and eligible EU students joining courses at Edge Hill University.
Find out more about money mattersNHS Health Education North West-Funded Modules
NHS Health Education North West funds Post-Qualification Learning for professional health and social care staff under their remit. Post-Qualification Learning follows a modular structure and a limited choice of modules can be studied on a stand alone basis or towards a post-qualification award.
Staff should contact their Line Manager and Trust Lead to discuss availability and how to apply.
The CPD Apply NW Application tool is available to NWAS (North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust) staff only. If you are employed by NWAS you may be able to secure funding for your module(s). Please see CPD-Apply (nwas.nhs.uk) for further details.
FAQs
Apply
Apply for Health, Social Care and Medicine CPD standalone modules on an employer or self funded basis
Our wide range of CPD modules can be studied individually. Following completion, you can continue your studies with other modules and work towards an award. Many modules start in September and February meaning that if you miss the September intake you do not always need to wait a year to begin studying.
To apply for CPD modules running from April 2024 to July 2025, please access the online module application form.
Online module application formNHS Health Education North West-Funded Modules
NHS Health Education North West funds Post-Qualification Learning for professional health and social care staff under their remit. Post-Qualification Learning follows a modular structure and a limited choice of modules can be studied on a stand alone basis or towards a post-qualification award.
Staff should contact their Line Manager and Trust Lead to discuss availability and how to apply.
The CPD Apply NW Application tool is available to NWAS (North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust) staff only. If you are employed by NWAS you may be able to secure funding for your module(s). Please see CPD-Apply (nwas.nhs.uk) for further details.
Apply for Health and Social Care CPD BSc and MSc Programmes
Entry requirements and application details for our CPD degree and master’s pathway programmes are given on the individual course pages, which are listed here:
To apply for any programme please access the online application form on the individual programme webpage.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Edge Hill University recognises that learning may take place in any context and operates accreditation procedures to formally recognise learning gained elsewhere both for admission to a programme and, where appropriate, for the award of credit which can be counted towards a qualification award requirement. Prior learning may be certified (from another institution/awarding body) or experiential (drawn from life/work experience). For more information and an application form please contact your School RPL Administrator:
- Medical School – [email protected]
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions – [email protected]
Some RPL claims may require students to provide further information to support their claim,
For example:
Students who have undertaken our Medical Leadership module HEA4117 may be able to use this in place of CPD7004 when using towards the PG Cert Workplace-based Postgraduate Medical Education, or MA Clinical Education. Candidates should demonstrate how they meet CPD7004 Learning Outcomes.
Enrolment instructions for CPD modules and programmes
Please note that this information is for Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine Continuing Professional Development (CPD) students only.
All the information you need about enrolment can now be found on our CPD enrolment page.