Leadership in Health and Social Care

The MSc Leadership in Health and Social Care is suitable for a wide range of professionals and those involved in influencing the provision and delivery of a changing and expanding health and social care agenda. Increasingly, practitioners and managers are being called upon to lead change within their organisation on both clinical and strategic fronts. Study can be completed as a full-time route or in a part-time modular approach which is ideal for busy professionals.

This programme will:

• Extend and progress the knowledge and skills you already have and how you may apply them to your own individual setting
• Enable you to assess and support the impact your actions will have on practice
• Provide an opportunity to respond to emerging career pathways allowing you to tailor your learning needs in a flexible and creative way

As a programme team we are aware that the health and social care workforce is required to have a wide range of specific and transferable skills and this programme offers you the diversity and flexibility that will help you develop these skills.

* Core modules include: Research Methodologies: Application to Advanced Practice (7NU508 on-campus); Research Methods (7OT513 distance Learning), Research Methods in Integrative Health (7NU547 online) or Critical Appraisal and Research Skills (7NU575 on-campus). Only one should be completed.

** Core modules include: Leading for Quality (7NU564 on-campus) or Leadership in Health & Social Care (7NU540 online). Only one should be completed.

Please contact the programme leader for more information about optional modules.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Within the programme there is a strong interprofessional ethos to teaching and learning. Activities that facilitate this include group work, use of discussion boards, peer assessment and group presentations. Lecturers from a range of professional backgrounds support this transition and integration enabling you to take a holistic view of the subject area.

There are a large number of modules to choose from, so you can tailor the course to suit your learning needs and your professional career aspirations. You can study specific awards or take stand-alone modules as part of your professional development. Many of the modules are available online or through distance learning, so you can study at a time and place to suit you.

How you're assessed

There are a range of assessment methods used, including:

• Assignments
• Case studies
• Reports and essays
• Dissertation
• Oral assessment including viva voce and presentations
• Practical assessment of clinical skills including OSCE’s
• Written examinations

These depend on the modules chosen.

The aim of this programme is to support lifelong learning and career development beyond the completion of the course. Employability within this programme is underpinned by both the University's Learning and Teaching Strategy, of which employability is a key pillar, and the University of Derby Graduate Attribute Framework. Students on the programme have access to the University's Careers and Employability Service which offers a diverse range of services including personal advice, CV building, volunteering, and looking for and applying for jobs. Events are held throughout the programme to provide opportunities for students to engage with the careers service during their time with us.

Professionals accessing this programme will work innovatively as part of a wider health and social care team and across traditional professional boundaries due to the shared teaching and learning approaches. In additional to employability skills, students will develop emotional intelligence and resilience throughout their studies. They will become resourceful and seek solutions to their problems using their own initiative: skills which will be in high demand from future employers. They will be provided with information management and processing skills to be able to seek, understand, process and apply information to their context.

2:2 Undergraduate Degree classification or above

• Minimum of 40 level 6 academic credits plus relevant Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) (United Kingdom applications only). Recognition of prior experiential learning applications are not available for overseas students due to difficulties in validating previous experience.

Applicants who wish to apply for Advanced Standing and /or block credit will be assessed according to the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Regulatory Framework. The flexible approach to RPL ensures students may enter at all levels.

• GCSE grade C/4 or above in English language or certificated equivalences, regardless of previous educational qualifications.

For applicants for whom English is not a first language, the minimum English language qualifications acceptable are:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a minimum of 6.5 overall and no lower than 6.0 in any one element or accepted equivalent.
• If applicants are using a WAEC qualification as certified evidence this must be at a minimum of C4 for English language.

For Home and UK professionally registered applicants there are certain option modules which have additional UK regulatory body requirements which may include minimum levels of work experience or Disclosure and Barring Scheme checks. This programme does not contain clinical placements or result in a professional nursing or social work qualification. 

2024/25 (August 2024 - July 2025)

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

2025/26 (August 2025 - July 2026)

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

About postgraduate awards

Please note at postgraduate level, you’ll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the respective awards. If you have any questions please contact us.

This means you will gain 180 credits in total to complete the full MA or MSc. If you are studying part time you will normally complete your studies over two or three years, depending on the course structure.

Funding your studies

Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.

Find out about funding your studiesFind out about funding your studies

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out about the Alumni discountFind out about the Alumni discount

Additional information about your studies

January 2024 intake is not open to International students.

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Minimum numbers

Please note that this course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.