Master of Science - Leadership in Health and Social Care

The MSc Leadership in Health and Social Care is designed for a wide range of professionals involved in influencing the provision and delivery of a changing and expanding health and social care agenda. The programme recognises that practitioners and managers are increasingly required to lead change within their organisations on both clinical and strategic fronts. Study can be undertaken either full-time or through a part-time modular approach, which accommodates the needs of busy professionals.

The programme aims to extend and develop existing knowledge and skills, enabling students to apply them within their individual professional settings. It provides opportunities to assess and support the impact of actions on practice, and to respond to emerging career pathways, allowing learning to be tailored in a flexible and creative manner. Recognising the need for a wide range of specific and transferable skills within the health and social care workforce, the programme offers diversity and flexibility to support professional development. Core modules include options such as Research Methodologies, Critical Appraisal and Research Skills, Leading for Quality, and Leadership in Health and Social Care, which can be completed through on-campus, online, or distance learning formats.

The programme has a strong interprofessional ethos, with teaching and learning activities designed to promote collaboration, including group work, discussion boards, peer assessment, and group presentations. Lecturers from various professional backgrounds facilitate a holistic approach to learning and support integration across disciplines. A wide selection of modules allows students to tailor the course to their learning needs and career aspirations, with opportunities to study specific awards or take stand-alone modules for professional development.

Assessment methods are varied and include assignments, case studies, reports and essays, dissertations, oral assessments such as viva voce and presentations, practical assessments of clinical skills including OSCEs, and written examinations, depending on the modules chosen.

The programme emphasises the importance of real-world experience, supported through partnerships with leading organisations across the health and social care sectors. These collaborations bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice, preparing graduates to thrive in competitive environments. Students have access to the University’s Careers and Employability Service, which provides personal advice, CV building, volunteering opportunities, and guidance on job applications, alongside events designed to enhance engagement with career development services.

Graduates of the programme are equipped to work innovatively as part of multidisciplinary health and social care teams and across traditional professional boundaries. In addition to employability skills, students develop emotional intelligence, resilience, resourcefulness, and problem-solving abilities, utilising initiative to address challenges. The programme also provides training in information management and processing skills, enabling students to seek, understand, process, and apply information effectively within their professional contexts.