Peninsula Medical School

PgCert Healthcare Management, Leadership and Innovation

Enhance your skills in the areas of management, leadership and innovation - required by a wide range of healthcare professionals and health service managers. MSc Healthcare Management, Leadership and Innovation is designed to be a highly flexible entry into management within the health and care service, whether your interests lie in leadership, quality improvement, innovation methodology, organisation development, patient safety, or education.

Applications for 2024 entry

The programme is now accepting applications for 2024 delivery. 
Deadline for international applications is the end of May 2024. 
Please contact pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk for further information.

Key features
  • Benefit from flexible learning - there are a number of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities relating to this programme where a single module or specific days within a module may be taken independently. Please email pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk  to find out more.
  • Improve your leadership and management skills – this programme is designed to develop your knowledge and abilities as a leader, manager and innovative thinker, and is appropriate if you are a doctor, dentist, manager or a healthcare professional working in a care environment.
  • Be supported by a blended learning approach with face-to-face sessions, access to interactive materials, electronic learning environment and tutorial support.
  • Select APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) as an option for this programme. For example, if you have completed the Plymouth/Bristol Professional and Generic Skills programme, you may use this in place of the Leadership in healthcare: theory into practice module.
  • A 20 credit module equates to 200 hours of study (including guided and independent study and assessments). The time commitment for each 20 credit module is expected to be around 8 to 12 hours per week. This is an indicative figure and may vary.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • Core modules

    • Leadership in Healthcare: Theory and Practice (HML713DL)

      Learners with be provided with a broad-based introduction to the field of health service leadership. Key leadership theories and trends will be explored along with how they relate to the real world. Concepts around quality, leadership to drive improvement and innovation will also be discussed. Finally, the importance of understanding and equipping ourselves in the context of leadership will be examined.

    • Management in Healthcare: Theory and Practice (HML714DL)

      Learners will acquire an increased understanding and knowledge of theories, tools and strategies for management in healthcare environments alongside an appreciation of their role within teams and complex systems. Learners will analyse, critique and reflect on real world scenarios to develop a confident and competent management approach to achieve personal and effectiveness in practice.

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Entry requirements
You will normally have a first degree BA/BSc (Hons) at 2:2 or above in a relevant subject e.g. (clinical or non-clinical) leadership, management, innovation or related topics.
Entrants who have acquired experience through work or other means that enables staff responsible for admissions to be confident of the candidate’s ability to succeed in the programme may also be considered, in line with QAA guidance. 
If your first language is not English you will be required to provide evidence of competence in English language:
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or above with no less than 6.0 in each category (speaking, listening, reading, & writing) will be required. Students with a first degree from the UK may still be required to take IELTS. 
  • Please visit our entry requirements for international students page for more information.
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary. 

Fees, costs and funding
Student 2023-24 2024-25
Part time (Home) NA per 20 credit module £1,220 per 20 credit module
Find out about funding your postgraduate studies with this helpful list of sources.
 

How to apply
Make sure you meet the entry requirements for this programme.
Before you apply
Make sure you have all your supporting documents. Documents required usually include:
  • Evidence of qualifications (degree certificates or transcripts), with translations if not in English, to show that you meet, or expect to meet the entry requirements
  • Evidence of English language proficiency, if English is not your first language
  • Personal statement of approximately 250-400 words about the reasons for your interest in this course and outlining what you expect to achieve by completing this programme.
  • Two academic/professional references, confirming your suitability for the course 
  • Two passport photographs
  • Curriculum Vitae or résumé, including details of relevant professional/voluntary experience, professional registration/s and visa status for overseas workers
  • Proof of sponsorship, if applicable
When to apply
Applications for postgraduate programmes of study can usually be made throughout the year. When applying for a taught postgraduate programme, please check for any submission deadlines with the Medicine and Dentistry Admissions team (contact details below). For full-time programmes, you may be invited for interview.
Check the closing date and apply as early as possible as our programmes are popular.
Submitting an application
Once you are happy that you have all of the information required you can apply using our online postgraduate application form (the blue 'Apply now' icon on this page).
Once you have registered and logged in, please enter the ‘course code’ which can be found above into the search bar to begin your application.
Additional guidance information can also be downloaded on how to fill in the postgraduate application form.
Admissions policy
More information and advice for applicants can be referenced in our online admissions policy for taught programmes. Prospective students are advised to read the policy before making an application to the University.
What happens after I apply?
For more information contact the Medicine and Dentistry Admissions team.
If you would like to speak to one of our course information advisors, please contact us:
University of Plymouth
Faculty of Health
The John Bull Building
Research Way
Plymouth Science Park
Plymouth
PL6 8BU
Tel: +44 (0)1752 584024
meddent-pgtadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk
You will normally receive a decision on your application within four weeks of us receiving your application. You may be asked to provide additional information, to take part in an interview (which in the case of overseas students may be by telephone or video conference) or you will be sent a decision by letter or email.
The University aims to make the application procedure as simple and efficient as possible. Our Admissions and Course Information team is on hand to offer help and can put you in touch with the appropriate faculty if you wish to discuss any programme in detail. The Doctoral College is also available to answer any queries on our postgraduate research degrees.
If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by the University of Plymouth, please visit our Additional support for students with an impairment, health condition or disability website.
Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office. 
"The Healthcare Management, Leadership and Innovation programme is aimed at healthcare professionals working in complex systems. With a focus on real-world problems, through critical thinking and peer discussions, you will be able to develop and enhance leadership skills that can ultimately lead to improvement of the quality of care that patients and their families receive."
Dr Julia Baptista
Programme Lead

Alumni case study: Dr Elizabeth Reilly

Reilly
Dr Reilly returned to Plymouth to study a PGCert in Healthcare Management, Leadership and Innovation after our beautiful coastline lured her back to the region.

“Studying this course has given me greater confidence to take on more managerial roles as part of my Consultant Rheumatologist post in the future. 

It will allow me to manage the team more effectively, and with greater knowledge of the wider hospital management teams and systems supporting our clinical practice. Plymouth prepared me for the challenges that I face.” 
Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine