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We aim for learners to become person-centred practitioners, managers and leaders with the expertise to advance palliative care practice through the development of knowledge.

The uniqueness of this course is in that you can craft your own pathway. There is a portfolio of modules to choose from which includes three specialist palliative care modules. You have the option to exit with a PgCert or PgDip or full MSc. The course supports practitioners to engage in transformative learning practices.Ìý

Structure and exit awards

You can exit with a PgCert (60 credits), PgDip (120 credits) or MSc (180 credits).

You can also register as an associate student to complete a single module for CPD. On completion of a single module, you may wish to complete further modules and progress your studies to a named award. Contact the Palliative Care Team for more information on single module study.

Teaching, learning and assessment

Our teaching, learning and assessment strategy is framed by our core philosophical concepts of personhood, person-centredness, human valuing, healthful relations, human potential and development, and supportive and enabling environments.

Central to this strategy is the need for learners to engage in the learning experiences, a readiness to listen and explore, preparedness to be open to experiences and a resolve to keep going. This environment will generate an ethos of engagement where you can explore and challenge theories, practices and different sources of knowledge creatively in an atmosphere of high challenge and high support.

You will be supported to challenge your thinking, values and beliefs, through the posing of complex activities and questions, and develop resilient and sustainable approaches to your learning and practice in response to these.

Critical to this process is the use of diverse knowledge, scholarly inquiry processes and evidence-informed materials to engage and enliven the processes of learning.

Our online teaching practice includes synchronous online learning and pre-recorded lectures.

Assessment strategies will encourage application to practice. This will be achieved through the use of varied strategies that draw on your own area of practice, such as practice proposals, simulation events, games, seminar presentations and self-determined contextual assignment topics. Tutor, peer and self-assessment within virtual environments (eg Canvas), will be an important component of approaches to formative and summative assessment. 

Teaching hours and attendance

the course is delivered entirely online and no attendance at QMU is required. Your time requirements will depend on the module you are studying.

Class sizes

Class sizes vary.

Teaching staff

You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.

To achieve a PgCert you will need to complete:

• A Person-Centred Approach to Working with People with Complex Pain and Symptoms (20 credits)
• Shadows and Horizons: Advancing Palliative Care Practice (20 credits)
• Building a Therapeutic Relationship with the Patient and Family in Palliative Care (20 credits)

or

• One of the palliative care modules listed above (20 credits)
• Theory and Practice of Person-centred Health and Wellbeing (20 credits) (Core module 1 for the PgDip/MSc)
• Leading Person-centred Practice for Health and Wellbeing (20 credits) (Core module 2 for the PgDip/MSc)

To achieve a PgDip you will also need to complete 60 credits from the following:

• A Person-Centred Approach to Working with People with Complex Pain and Symptoms (20 credits)
• Building a Therapeutic Relationship with the Patient and Family in Palliative Care (20 credits)
• Shadows and Horizons: Advancing Palliative Care Practice (20 credits)
• Theory and Practice of Person-centred Health and Wellbeing (20 credits) (Core module 1 for the PgDip/MSc)
• Leading Person-Centred Practice for Health and Wellbeing (20 credits) (Core module 2 for the PgDip/MSc)
• Ethical Judgments and Decision Making (20 credits)
• Assessing and Planning Care for Persons, People and Populations (20 credits)Ìý(a pre-requisite to Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Health Care Professionals)
• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Health Care Professionals (40 credits)*

To achieve an MSc you will also need to complete the Dissertation (60 credits) module.

*Please check the course content and entry requirements for the Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Health Care Professionals. It is a NMC approved qualification, requiring an up-to-date Criminal Records Check.

NB The modules listed are correct at time of posting (October 2024) but are subject to change pending revalidation. In the event that modules change, QMU will seek to use reasonable endeavours to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on students. Please check back here for updates.

Graduates have taken up advanced specialist practice and leadership roles within their specialist field of practice.

Entry requirements

Candidates will normally hold a degree and will be health and social care professionals working with people with palliative care needs.

International students:  As this course takes place online, International students cannot be sponsored for a Student visa, however may be able to study the course online depending on modules selected.

Interview: No interview required

Disability/health conditions

If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or learning disability, it should not stand in the way of your studying at QMU. However, if you are not sure whether your disability might be a barrier in your studies or in relation to the professional standards, please contact the disability service who will be able to have a conversation with you about reasonable adjustments and supports available to you.

Applying for this course

For more information on applying, or to apply for this course, please follow the links in the 'Start your application' box at the top right of this page.

Application deadline

August 2025 for a September 2025 start.

December 2025 for a January 2026 start.

Please note that these dates are subject to change.

Terms and Conditions

The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2025/26 Entry - Terms and Conditions (Postgraduate).

For more information contact the Palliative Care team

You can also contact Admissions

More information on our forthcoming open events