Advancing Practice in Peripheral Vascular Disease - Module / MSc / PgCert / PgDip
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This newly designed course has been developed to meet the needs of interdisciplinary healthcare practitioners working in partnership with people in relation to peripheral vascular disease (PVD), which encompasses both arterial, venous and lymphatic diseases....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Distance Learning
- Award Module / MSc / PgCert / PgDip
- Start date September 2025, October 2025, January 2026, April 2026
- Fees View course fees
- Subjects
- Location Online Learning
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
This newly designed course has been developed to meet the needs of interdisciplinary healthcare practitioners working in partnership with people in relation to peripheral vascular disease (PVD), which encompasses both arterial, venous and lymphatic diseases. This 100% online course aims to address the very significant challenges associated with PVD, providing a global perspective, whilst drawing upon existing expert knowledge and experience of working with international partners. The course team are dedicated and committed staff who are experts in the speciality and this course is a collaboration between Birmingham City University and the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Vascular Team.
This innovative online course is designed to help students to gain a greater and advanced understanding of the complexities of diagnosing and managing peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and how best to support and enable effective individualised self-management and develop limb salvage. It is suitable for healthcare professionals including hospital-based doctors, specialist nurses and podiatrists, sonographers and specialist roles in other healthcare sectors. The primary aim of the course is to support and enable students to critically explore and analyse existing and developing theories and concepts that underpin PVD and will equip students to embrace a strategic leadership role in the development and delivery of efficient, innovative, evidence based PVD services.
Students will develop a wide range of skills, learn about new and emerging evidence, advance their knowledge and practice and gain critical understanding in the management of peripheral vascular disease. Students will acquire knowledge to develop and improve clinical practice in the care of people at risk of or living with PVD across the age span. Through taking an evidence-based holistic approach to the provision and delivery of individualised PVD care.
What's covered in this course?
This course has been designed in close collaboration with clinical colleagues and blends theoretical approaches with practicalities of service development and person-centred care approaches. The international dimension and application of culturally appropriate surgical interventions in different environments and resources underpins this course. Through different modules, students will explore their employment situation, recognise the potential for excellence in practice-led care, extend and enhance their employability and extend their career progression. Students will also identify ways in which they can improve their practice and services in order to pioneer new interdisciplinary service developments.
There will be a strong focus on relevance to practice, practice development, leadership, transformation and strategic planning. An important focus will be the development of higher levels of understanding with decision-making, critical analysis appraisal of evidence-based practice and clinical guidelines as a strong theme throughout the course.
The programme will enable practitioners working in various aspects of care, with people either at risk of or living with PVD, to develop knowledge and skills in diagnosis and management. Students will develop analytical skills through interactive online learning opportunities so that they are able to critically examine practices within the context of the legislative and professional frameworks of their own countries.
The following modules can be studied as stand alone modules:
- Assessment and Management of Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Foot Care Complexities and Treatments in Diabetes and Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Leadership in Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Principles of Limb Salvage
- Psychological and Psycho-social Aspects of Peripheral Vascular Disease
If you are applying for a stand alone module, please note the title of the module you want to study in the Personal Statement section of the application form.
Why Choose Us?
- This newly designed innovative course has been developed to meet the needs of interdisciplinary healthcare practitioners working in partnership with people living with PVD.
- This course aims to address the global increase in the number of people both at risk of developing PVD and living with PVD, and the developments in care needed to support these people.
- The course has a global perspective and draws upon existing expert knowledge and experience of working with national and international partners.
- This approach aligns with the vision of the University to learn from the best, with practice-based research supporting curriculum design whilst fostering an interdisciplinary approach to education in this field.
- The Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences (HELS) has a history of provision in healthcare and diabetes education previously with optional taught modules being available for practitioners in the region. This new course extends the reach of practice through online education to all multi-disciplinary and multi professional partners.
OPEN DAY
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Event: 24 November 2024
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
UK students
This course is suitable for experienced and employed healthcare professionals who hold current professional registration with a UK regulatory body (e.g., NMC, HCPC, GMC) provided that they have: |
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A minimum of three years in their area of clinical practice and a first degree or evidence of recent professionally related study at diploma or degree level. OR |
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Accredited degree level study within the last five years. |
EU students
This course is suitable for experienced and employed healthcare professionals who hold current professional registration in their home country provided that you have: |
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A minimum of three years in their area of clinical practice with a first degree or evidence of recent professionally related study at diploma or degree level OR |
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Accredited degree level study within the last five years |
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Additionally, An IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5 or equivalent. |
We will accept appropriate Level 7 modules for review for application of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) subject to review by the course and RPL teams. If you wish to explore RPL please contact Hels.rpl@bcu.ac.uk early in your admissions process and prior to any course enrolment.
Download the Recognition of Prior Learning leaflet
International students
This course is suitable for experienced and employed healthcare professionals who hold current professional registration in their home country provided that they have: |
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A minimum of three years in their area of clinical practice and a first degree or evidence of recent professionally related study at diploma or degree level. OR |
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Evidence of study at degree level including in research methods. |
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Additionally, A certified IELTS score of 6.0 is required with no element below 5.5 or equivalent. |
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: Module
Starting: Oct 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- TBC
- £860 per 20 credit module
Award: Module
Starting: Jan 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- TBC
- £860 per 20 credit module
Award: Module
Starting: Apr 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- TBC
- £860 per 20 credit module
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 3 years (part time)
- £860 per 20 credit module
Award: PgCert
Starting: Oct 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 1 year (part time)
- £860 per 20 credit module
Award: PgDip
Starting: Oct 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 2 years (part time)
- £860 per 20 credit module
Award: PgDip
Starting: Jan 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 2 years (part time)
- £860 per 20 credit module
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: Module
Starting: Oct 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- TBC
- £860 per 20 credit module
Award: Module
Starting: Jan 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- TBC
- £860 per 20 credit module
Award: Module
Starting: Apr 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- TBC
- £860 per 20 credit module
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 3 years (part time)
-
TBC
Award: PgCert
Starting: Oct 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 1 year (part time)
-
TBC
Award: PgDip
Starting: Oct 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 2 years (part time)
-
TBC
Award: PgDip
Starting: Jan 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 2 years (part time)
-
TBC
The following modules can be studied as stand alone modules:
- Assessment and Management of Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Foot Care Complexities and Treatments in Diabetes and Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Leadership in Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Principles of Limb Salvage
- Psychological and Psycho-social Aspects of Peripheral Vascular Disease
If you are applying for a stand alone module, please note the title of the module you want to study in the Personal Statement section of the application form
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
Level 7 - Core Modules
For the PG Dip, PG Cert and MSc In order to complete these courses, a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules, plus OPTIONAL modules totalling 20 or 30 credits (please see detailed requirements for each award below):
The module is designed for clinicians with experience in the assessment and management of the patient with lower limb peripheral vascular disease, which encompasses both arterial, venous and lymphatic diseases. Students will critically explore and analyse existing and developing theories and concepts that underpin the assessment and management of peripheral vascular disease including arterial and venous pathology, thus facilitating both professional and personal growth and enhancing patient care.
This module can also be studied as a standalone module. To choose this option, select the ‘Module’ option in the Fees and How to Apply tab.
This module will include all aspects of lower limb surgical practice in peripheral vascular surgery, which encompasses both arterial, venous and lymphatic diseases, and is designed to enhance knowledge and practical skills in this specialist surgical field and to enable students to achieve enhanced clinical competencies.
This module can also be studied as a standalone module. To choose this option, select the ‘Module’ option in the Fees and How to Apply tab.
In addition, for the PG Dip and MSc, students must successfully complete the following CORE modules:
This module is designed to equip students with the ability to identify how evidence can be applied to underpin and guide diabetes care decisions and how evidence informs standards, policy and guidelines. This module will include aspects of contemporary evidence and its application to diabetes care which is designed to enhance knowledge and skills in this specialist field. The module will require students to appraise and synthesis evidence and its application in diabetes care. Students will be encouraged to review their practices and then investigate what evidence they currently use to underpin their clinical decision making. The module has been designed in collaboration with clinical colleagues and blends theoretical approaches with opportunities of emerging evidence into clinical application and innovation.
This module can also be studied as a standalone module. To choose this option, select the ‘Module’ option in the Fees and How to Apply tab.
Our leadership in peripheral vascular disease module acknowledges that health professionals play a pivotal role in the experience of people peripheral vascular disease (PVD), which encompasses both arterial, venous and lymphatic diseases. Interdisciplinary team working in partnership with people experiencing PVD embraces the skills to deliver effective, efficient and efficacious PVD care. Contemporary evidence emphasises the partnership working potential of interdisciplinary working of effective teams, but also highlights where collaborative practices of teams or team members can place restrictions on services and lack growth of psychological or service development opportunities in PVD.
This module can also be studied as a standalone module. To choose this option, select the ‘Module’ option in the Fees and How to Apply tab.
MSc students must also complete the CORE dissertation module:
Dissertation - 40 credits
This double module provides the student with the opportunity to complete a piece of work around a chosen topic in order to demonstrate competence in the planning, execution, analysis and evaluation of a Research Project, a Systematic Review or Project Management. It involves 400 hours of study. The focus is on facilitating the student's independent, critical study in their academic discipline or area of professional practice. It will also serve those who wish to embark on Doctoral studies in the future.
Dissertation - 60 credits
This triple module forms the final bridge between the award of a Postgraduate Diploma and a Health MSc related to a named award. It provides the student with the opportunity to complete a piece of work around a chosen topic in order to demonstrate competence in the planning, execution, analysis and evaluation of a Research Project, a Systematic Review or Project Management. It involves 600 hours of study. The focus is on facilitating the student's independent, critical study in their academic discipline or area of professional practice.
Level 7 - Optional Modules
A student must successfully complete one of the CORE MSc dissertation modules. The choice of this will be dependent on the optional modules taken (see below).
The aims of this module are to equip you with an in-depth knowledge, understanding and critical awareness of wound healing and tissue repair and to challenge your thinking and analysis of practice, contributing towards your personal and professional development and fostering independent study. There will be a strong focus on relevance to practice, practice development, leadership, transformation and strategic planning.
All methods of debridement, including autolytic, bio surgical, enzymatic and conservative sharp debridement can pose potential risks to the patient, but removal of devitalised tissue from a wound can reduce infection risk and facilitate improved healing outcomes. With the cost of wounds to the NHS estimated to be £8.3 billion annually, understanding and using advanced skills in wound management could contribute to reducing long term wound care costs and improving wound healing rates. Advanced knowledge and skills in wound management need to become part of the wound management practitioner’s tool kit. This module will enable the predominately graduate healthcare practitioner to explore advanced wound management techniques and consider the support and requirements needed to adopt them into practice.
Wounds to the lower leg are a significant cause of pain, anguish and distress to patients. The management of these long-term conditions are often poorly managed in practice. Unwarranted variations in lower leg and foot care not only have devastating consequences on quality of life but also have a major impact on the healthcare economy. This module aims to provide you with opportunities to further develop your understanding of these conditions and their management. You will have the opportunity to critically reflect on the current evidence-based principles underpinning the various assessment strategies and management options that may be utilised in the care of these wounds.
Wounds are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality as well as significant risk to global health care economies. The module aims to further develop your understanding of the key concepts of the wound healing process and how numerous factors can negatively affect the normal sequence of events. You will have the opportunity to critically reflect on the evidence-based principles underpinning wound management and explore the literature that currently guides practice. Interdisciplinary principles and practices of wound care management will be explored. By fully engaging in this module, you will have the opportunity to develop your critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis skills and the skills necessary to foster lifelong learning within this challenging field.
Pressure ulcers are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality across all age groups. Treating pressure ulcers are estimated to cost between £1.2 billion and £2.4 billion per year in the UK, therefore preventing pressure ulcers is high on the agenda for the NHS and for other healthcare institutions globally. This module will address the considerations needed to implement clinically an effective pressure ulcers prevention and treatment strategy.
This module is aimed at post graduate senior healthcare practitioners who wish to enhance their skills and knowledge required to deliver evidence-based clinical management for a patient with sepsis in a range of settings, including pre-hospital, primary care, ward settings and specialist areas. The module will allow practitioners to explore the pathophysiological processes of sepsis, understand the complexities of sepsis in a range of settings and evaluate the reliability and validity of current evidence to justify the management of interventions. Throughout the module case studies will be used to help practitioners translate theory to practice, which will include the recognition of sepsis causing critical illness and impacting on an illness trajectory, initial treatment, stabilisation, ongoing treatment, the impact of anti-microbial resistance, post-sepsis syndrome, change management and human factors.
This on line module is part of the MSc Transforming and Leading Health Care and aims to facilitate advancing of your self-learning and self-understanding. It will give you insight into your personal and professional strengths, your limitations, your leadership, communication skills and work styles, and how these affect your behaviours including how you learn and your personal resilience. It incorporates psychometric tools and instruments and potentially elements from the Intelligent Behaviour AnalyticsTM programme, or similar.
The module aims to explore Quality Improvement methodologies and their application to wound healing and tissue repair to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of patient care and service delivery. It will support the development of your knowledge, understanding and skills in the application of Quality Improvement strategies into practice to support the delivery of high-quality care, ensuring improved patient services and outcomes. There will be a strong focus on measurement for improvement, understanding systems, variation, testing change ideas, leadership and strategic planning.
This module offers an opportunity to critically consider and investigate the intricacies and complexities of living with all aspects of lower limb peripheral vascular disease (PVD), this encompasses both arterial, venous and lymphatic diseases, as well as associated tissue viability complexities and multi-morbidity. People with PVD and associated multi-morbidities can experience high rates of mental ill health including increased incidences of depression, anxiety, and distress.
This module can also be studied as a standalone module. To choose this option, select the ‘Module’ option in the Fees and How to Apply tab.
This module will provide students with advancing strategies in foot care complexities and treatments in both diabetes and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) that can affect the lower limb, this encompasses both arterial, venous and lymphatic diseases. There will be a strong focus on relevance to practice, clinical management, practice planning and person-centred care approaches. It will blend theoretical advances with the challenges of up-to-date assessment, diagnosis and treatment approaches. Applying a strong focus on education, national guidelines and treatment challenges throughout the module.
This module can also be studied as a standalone module. To choose this option, select the ‘Module’ option in the Fees and How to Apply tab.
This module offers qualified health practitioners working with people living with diabetes the opportunity to extend the breadth, depth and complexity of their individual erudition and practice. Critically examining the knowledge, evidence and competencies to work at a higher level of practice to respond to prevention of complication of diabetes, and / or active evidence based management to prolong independence and promote quality of life
This module feeds into the MSc in Safeguarding programme philosophy aim of addressing key contemporary safeguarding issues. This module aims to facilitate your advanced learning and critical appraisal of contemporary safeguarding issues, and analyse how statutory and non-statutory agencies and services can work together to safeguard adults, children and vulnerable young people. It considers current safeguarding topics which have attracted high media attention and examines different agency interventions, good practice and failings, and how this knowledge can be applied to learning lessons for the future and to current best safeguarding practice.
This module aligns with the Professional Practice Programme philosophy and is designed to be flexible, and practice led. You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving, as well as being encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feedforward support, as well as individual and group tutorial support aimed at developing your academic skills; and have the opportunities to discuss your progress with the module team.
The module aims to provide you with a critical awareness of leadership, change management and innovation concepts and theories, which can be applied in practice and contribute to personal and professional development of health and social care professionals. You will also learn the importance of collaborative team working to improve patient outcomes and foster high standards of patient care and service delivery, through the application of core leadership principles and structured change management processes. This will enable you to specifically enhance your ability to be proactive, by providing effective leadership, which is considered particularly important for all practitioners at all levels within the health and social care sector.
Hours of Study: Each module comprises of 200 hours allocated time.
Only a small proportion of the module study hours will be apportioned to ‘taught’ activity. The rest of the time will be spent in directed and self-directed study and work-based learning activities.
This module aligns with the Professional Practice Programme philosophy and is designed to be flexible, and practice led. You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving. A blended learning approach is taken in line with the University’s learning and teaching strategy. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feedforward aimed at developing your academic skills and have the opportunity to discuss your progress with the module team.
Coaching and supervising and the themes surrounding the roles are vital for all personnel within the healthcare arena. This is underpinned by an integrated approach that adheres to frameworks and policy, set out by organisations and regulatory bodies within healthcare. The diverse nature of healthcare environments requires individuals to have a broad-based knowledge, skills and attitudes to manage healthcare services successfully.
In this module you will explore coaching and supervising and the relevant theories surrounding it. This will equip you with the skills and knowledge to effectively act as a coach and/or supervisor in a healthcare setting.
You should be working in a role that requires you to undertake coaching and supervising in a healthcare setting as you will be required to reflect on your practice. You will be required to demonstrate your development within your profession as a result of undertaking this module.
This module is suited to healthcare professionals or others with an interest in obesity, prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. It gives an insight into the complex link between obesity and health, specifically in relation to type 2 diabetes and co-morbidities. This underpins a specialist and holistic approach.
Obesity in the UK and internationally is a contemporary health concern, with recognition that it is one of the leading preventable causes of death currently. Rising rates of childhood obesity have been recognised as a UK national emergency.
The module provides insight into screening and detection methods for obesity and type 2 diabetes and will consider the evidence base to both prevent and manage these conditions at both an individual and a population level. The genetics, epidemiology, evolution, aetiology and pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes is critically examined. Effective management of obesity and diabetes requires many complex interrelated issues including psychological and quality of life concerns. Evidence based treatment opportunities are critically appraised as to efficacious and effectiveness nationally and internationally. Obesity related diabetes is recognised as a long-term condition and its care requires specialist, inter-disciplinary and person-centred teamwork.
This module is designed to be a clinically orientated and practical course. It will lead to an understanding of the rationale behind current approaches to care of people with obesity.
This module is delivered as a standalone, or as part of the MSc in Advancing Diabetes Care pathway. This module aligns with the post-graduate philosophy and is designed to be flexible and practice-led. You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving. An online learning approach is taken. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences within an online discussion forum with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feed forward aimed at developing your academic skills, and have the opportunity to discuss your progress with the module team.
This module offers qualified health practitioners working with people living with diabetes the opportunity to extend the breadth, depth and complexity of their individual erudition and practice in relation to the promotion and inclusion of suitable physical activity advice and engagement that is person centred and culturally appropriate. Utilising an interdisciplinary approach this will support individuals and communities to understand more about the role of physical activity in their health and diabetes prevention or care.
Type 1 diabetes is a challenging condition to manage for various physiological and behavioural reasons. Regular exercise is important, but management of different forms of physical activity can be particularly difficult for both the individual with type 1 diabetes and the practitioner. Regular exercise can improve health and wellbeing, and can help individuals to achieve their target lipid profile, body composition, fitness and glycaemic goals. However, several additional barriers to exercise can exist for a person with type 1 diabetes, including fear of hypoglycaemia, loss of glycaemic control, and inadequate knowledge around exercise management.
Physical activity, along with nutritional advice are central factors in the prevention and control of type 2 diabetes, since their effects influence blood pressure, glycaemia and lipidaemia. Evidence has shown the efficiency of exercise programmes in the control of diabetes as being suggested as one of the best types of non-pharmacological treatments. Aerobic, resistance or combined exercise programmes can help in the control of type 2 diabetes and weight management.
This module is delivered as a standalone, or as part of the MSc in Advancing Diabetes Care pathway. This module aligns with the post-graduate philosophy and is designed to be flexible and practice-led. You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving. An online learning approach is taken. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences within an online discussion forum with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feed forward aimed at developing your academic skills, and have the opportunity to discuss your progress with the module team.
This module will develop your knowledge and skills to enable you to bring together theory and practice in the field of palliative and end of life care.
Module content will provide you with the knowledge required to support and care for patients requiring palliative and end of life care. This incorporates holistic assessment, symptom management, supportive communication, bereavement needs, advance care planning, spiritual and psychological needs.
The course has been designed to enable you to develop specialist knowledge and skills to enable you to provide safe and effective palliative and end of life care to individuals whilst also supporting the patient’s family/ carers/ significant individuals. The module is aimed predominantly at graduate health care practitioners caring for those with a palliative illness who wish to develop and progress their education to a post graduate level of study.
This module aligns with the Professional Practice Programme and is designed to be flexible, and practice led. You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving. Delivery of this module will be online and will include live and pre-recorded learning opportunities to enable flexibility of learning.
You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feed forward aimed at developing your academic skills and have the opportunity to discuss your progress with the module team.
This module aligns with the Professional Practice Programme philosophy and is designed to be flexible and practice-led. You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving. A blended learning approach is taken in line with the University’s learning and teaching strategy. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feedforward aimed at developing your academic skills and have the opportunity to discuss your progress with the module team.
This is one of two modules you can choose to study at level seven which focus on enhancing care of adults who experience acute health deterioration. This module offers the opportunity to strengthen your ability to recognise, assess and interpret physiological indicators of acute deterioration. It aims to help you confidently recognise early signs of physiological deterioration and articulate your concern effectively, to others.
The early recognition of deterioration is a core skill required of many healthcare professionals. It can be a challenging skill to develop and maintain. The number of people living with one, two or more long term conditions is rapidly increasing in the UK (Kingston et al 2018). The population is also ageing (Office National Statistics 2020). With the polypharmacy that often also accompanies this, interpretation of assessment data has become more complex. This module is focussed on responding to these challenges.
The RAPID module aims to facilitate earlier recognition of the most common causes of acute health deterioration such as sepsis, acute exacerbation of COPD, acute kidney injury, acute coronary syndrome, acute heart failure, dehydration, and hypovolaemia. You will learn about the pathophysiology of these conditions and the homeostatic mechanisms that help you understand how acutely unwell the patient is, and how well they are likely to compensate.
The knowledge and skills gained in this module will be useful to registered healthcare professionals working in a clinical environment where patients experience acute health deterioration. It is commonly studied by registered nurses, paramedics and ODP’s and on occasions by other health care professionals. You will need to be working in a relevant clinical area to select a case study that showcases your learning at assessment.
Through the lens of contemporary case studies, you will gain enhanced confidence in your interpretation of clinical assessment related data, in adults with complex health histories. Learning is achieved through a blended approach involving interactive scheduled study days and a wide variety of engaging online learning activities. During a study day you can expect to collaborate with your peers and be supported in your learning by experts in the field. You can also expect to be well supported with the preparation of your assessment.
This module aligns with the Professional Practice Programme philosophy and is designed to be flexible, and practice led. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning. In return you will receive regular feedback and feed forward and be able to discuss your progress with the module team.
This module seeks to support people new to academic publishing in developing an article for publication. Writing for Academic Publication is a cross between a module and a bootcamp, providing the space, time, support and guidance to develop ideas and data into a draft article ready for submission. Taking a hands on and nurturing approach, the module will demystify the academic publication process, develop your confidence and hone your skills in writing for publication. The module is well-suited to those taking their first steps in academic publishing, whether academic staff, doctoral researchers, Master’s students or CPD students.
This module takes you step by manageable step through the process of writing an academic journal article, from choosing a target publication, writing a draft, editing and revising, to submission and responding to peer review and editorial comments. Participants are supported on this journey through a combination of group workshops and individual mentoring. The emphasis is on “doing” and applying the concepts and techniques introduced. Each week, you will engage with a range of practical techniques as well as conceptual principles, enabling you to make the transition to become a professional academic writer. By the end of the module, you will have gained a deeper understanding of writing for academic audiences, will have developed your own authorial voice as an academic researcher, and will have made substantive progress towards submitting your first journal article.
Assessment in the module is via written portfolio of 3,000 words which will include evidence of writing for publication and an analytical commentary. Prior to the start of the course, participants should prepare their research, materials or ideas ready to begin drafting a journal article. They may use material from previous study such as dissertations or research projects for this purpose.
This module aligns with the Professional Practice Programme philosophy and is designed to be flexible and practice-led. You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving. A blended learning approach is taken (incorporating both classroom and online activities via Moodle) in line with the university’s learning and teaching strategy. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities. You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feedforward aimed at developing your academic skills, and have the opportunity to discuss your progress with the module team.
Download course specification
Download nowCourse Structure
To complete a Postgraduate Diploma you will need 60 credits including core modules noted above, plus two x10 credit or one x 20 credit optional module.
To complete a Postgraduate Diploma you will need 120 credits including the core modules listed above, plus 50 credits of optional modules.
To complete the MSc you will need 180 credits, including the core modules and 50 credits of optional modules.
Teaching Approaches
During the course students will experience a range of learning and teaching approaches delivered online in both a synchronous and an asynchronous manner. They will attend online lectures, discussion forums, small group discussions, simulations and chat facilities with their peers, visiting experts and members of the teaching team. These approaches recognise that students have different learning styles with some reacting best to the voice while others prefer the written word, therefore a range is offered to suit all needs. Students can access the learning materials via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment – Moodle, Microsoft Teams and other means subject to the modules undertaken.
In addition to the scheduled teaching, students will be given directed learning activities pre and/or post classroom activities and they will be expected to undertake any reading required e.g., access to policy documents or guidelines. They will also be expected to spend time on their own independent study to give them the opportunity to explore subjects in more depth in preparation for assessment activities. It is expected that students will fully engage with all of the resources available to them to maximise their learning opportunities. The library will play a key role in the learning journey and students will receive both written and verbal guidance regarding accessing and utilising library resources.
Guidance
In addition to the course leader, students will be allocated a personal tutor who will be with them throughout their learning journey, an important resource and the person to go to if they have concerns, issues or anything that may impact on the successful completion of the course.
Each of the modules is led by a module lead and students will be encouraged to discuss any specific issues regarding the module with them as required. They will brief students on the assessment/s associated with each module to ensure they are clear of the expectations for successful completion.
Students will be exposed to a range of assessment tasks including written case histories, recorded presentations, course work, a quality improvement/service development project to name but some – each module has its own assessment and discussion will take place with the students to consider their specific modular choices, to ensure they select the most appropriate offering to balance the associated workload.
Employability
The course specifically aims to enable a range of healthcare professionals from across the world to share and reflect on their own experiences and gain a deeper insight into advanced PVD practice and leadership.
The programme will enable practitioners working in various aspects of care, with people either at risk of or living with PVD, to develop knowledge and skills in diagnosis and management. Students will develop analytical skills through interactive online learning opportunities so that they are able to critically examine practices within the context of the legislative and professional frameworks of their own countries.
The underpinning philosophy of the course will support you, as a specialist student, to blend new learning with your existing knowledge and experience in a way that is highly relevant to your own professional practice and chosen clinical area to impact positively on PVD practice and service delivery.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
Our Advancing Practice in Peripheral Vascular Disease course is delivered through the an online learning resource, with online study materials to guide you through the appropriate topics, as well as providing links to other resources. You will also need textbooks, and a full reading list is provided with each module syllabus.
Although it is taught by distance learning, you will still have regular contact with your module tutor by email or telephone. We also offer optional periodic seminar talks where you can meet the course team, along with your fellow students.
Our staff
Jayne Robbie
Course Lead and senior lecturer in diabetes and vascular disease
Jayne qualified as a podiatrist from Brighton Polytechnic in 1987 and has had a varied career in primary and secondary care working extensively as a diabetes specialist in multi-professional teams as well as having experience managing a large primary care podiatry unit.
More about JayneProfessor Alok Tiwari
Visiting Professor of Vascular Surgery / Co-Course Lead in Advancing Diabetes Care
Professor Alok Tiwari has been a consultant vascular surgeon at University Hospitals Birmingham since 2011 and is Visiting Professor of Vascular Surgery at Birmingham City University.
More about AlokProfessor Anne Phillips
Professor in Diabetes Care
Anne Phillips is a Queens Nurse and a National Teaching Fellow with the Higher Education Academy. After a career in specialist and community diabetes nursing in London and Yorkshire, Anne previously worked with colleagues at the University of York and established a countrywide and international collaborative curriculum for Health Professionals in...
More about AnneJoanna Swan
Senior lecturer in Tissue Viability
Jo is qualified as an RGN in 1994 from the Queen Elizabeth College of Nursing in Birmingham and gained a job on a liver unit where her interest in tissue viability (TV) began. Jo became a TV link nurse, a role she carried on into her job as an intensive care nurse. BSc (Hons) in Nursing was completed at BCU, during this time Jo started a critical...
More about Joanna