BSc (Hons) Professional Development in End of Life Care

• Year 1

• This programme offers the awards of BSc / BSc (Hons), Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma. 

  BSc– to achieve a BSc you will need to earn 80 credits by undertaking two 20 credit core modules and up to two optional modules adding up to 40 credits.

  BSc (Hons)– to achieve a BSc (Hons) you will need to earn 120 credits by undertaking four core modules - three 20 credit modules and one 40 credit module - and one optional 20 credit module.

  Students who have previously obtained a health related degree at 2:2 or above are eligible to access the programme via the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma route – please see panel below for further details.

  The modules ‘HEAD354 – Facilitating patient centred care and choice through advanced communication skills’ and ‘HEAD361 – Independent study’ are only core modules for students who wish to achieve the BSc (Hons) Professional Development in End of Life Care.

  For further information on the modules that make up this programme please visit the BSc (Hons)/BSc Professional Development modules. 

  Examples of optional modules (not exhaustive)
  HEAD304 – Supporting people in loss, grief and bereavement – enhanced practice
  HEAB350 – Supportive and palliative care and end of life care – enhanced practice

  Optional modules

  • Facilitating Patient Centred Care and Choice through Advanced Communication Skills (HEAD354)

    This module offers practical communication skills enabling a range of practitioners to engage patients in difficult conversations, to facilitate advance care planning for those at end of life or with complex long term conditions who need to discuss future care options. It enables practitioners to ensure their practice continues to be evidenced based, promoting ongoing conversations with the patient and family/carers.

  • Independent Study (HEAD361)

    This module extends knowledge of primary and secondary research and develops critical appraisal skills. Students construct an integrative literature review of a practice focused research topic.

  • Specialist Approaches to Palliative Care and Symptom Mgmt Enhanced Prac (HEAB344DL)

  • Management of Infection Prevention (HEAC334P)

    This module aims to empower the student with comprehensive infection control knowledge, utilising critical thinking to implement evidence-based practice and manage complex and unpredictable situations relating to infection control in the healthcare environment. This will be done using a variety of teaching methods both in and out of the work place. Assessment will be through completion of a written assignment and demonstration of change management.

  • Supporting People in Loss, Grief and Bereavement - Enhanced Practice (HEAD304P)

    This module is designed to equip health and care staff, who have a role in supporting people who are facing or experiencing loss and bereavement, with additional skills and knowledge. It will be of interest to a wide range of professionals and workers who may be involved in providing ongoing bereavement support.

  • Supporting People in Loss, Grief and Bereavement - Enhanced Practice (HEAD304T)

    This module is designed to equip health and care staff, who have a role in supporting people who are facing or experiencing loss and bereavement, with additional skills and knowledge. It will be of interest to a wide range of professionals and workers who may be involved in providing ongoing bereavement support.

  • Tissue Viability: Core Knowledge for Practice (HEAD339E)

    This module will support the development of the core knowledge required for effective tissue viability practice. Using their own clinical practice as a way of contextualising their developing knowledge, learners will engage with published literature and consider the role of evidence based practice in relation to tissue viability.

  • Enhancing End of Life Care & Palliative Care Practice (HEAD344DL)

  • Facilitating Patient Centred Care and Choice through Advanced Communication Skills (HEAD354P)

    This module offers practical communication skills enabling a range of practitioners to engage patients in difficult conversations, to facilitate advance care planning for those at end of life or with complex long term conditions who need to discuss future care options. It enables practitioners to ensure their practice continues to be evidenced based, promoting ongoing conversations with the patient and family/carers.

  • Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making (HEAD360)

    The module is designed to extend students' knowledge around evidence-informed decision making. This will be achieved through students identifying and evaluating a body of research-based evidence relevant to clinical practice.

  • Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making (HEAD360C)

    The module is designed to extend students' knowledge around evidence-informed decision making. This will be achieved through students identifying and evaluating a body of research-based evidence relevant to clinical practice.

  • Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making (HEAD360P)

    The module is designed to extend students' knowledge around evidence-informed decision making. This will be achieved through students identifying and evaluating a body of research-based evidence relevant to clinical practice.

  • Clinical Decision Making in Healthcare Practice (HEAD362)

    This module draws on knowledge, skills and experiences gained through work as a registered healthcare professional and further develops clinical reasoning ability.

  • Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare Practice (HEAD363)

    This module builds on existing knowledge of legal and ethical frameworks. Students explore and debate ethical and legal concepts, issues and theories relating to health and social care.

  • Integrated Advancing Practice in Context (HEAD366)

    This module will enable the student to develop their professional understanding of Advancing Practice within their working environment and explore the complexities of their practice. They will examine the legal & ethical boundaries and accountability of practice personally, professionally and strategically.

  • The Fundamentals of Health Assessment (HEAD367)

    This module is designed to enable healthcare professionals to critically examine and develop in an area of professional clinical practice, in a range of settings. Taught workshops will guide the student, building on their pre-existing body of knowledge to further develop their skills in health assessment, clinical examination and clinical reasoning.

  • Enhancing Practice in Paediatric Palliative Care (HEAD379P)

    This inter-professional module aims to enhance the practice of all professionals delivering palliative care to children, young people and their families. The module will build upon existing knowledge and experience while enabling students to develop a critical and reflective approach to the care of a child or young person on a palliative care pathway.

  • Enhancing Practice in Paediatric Palliative Care (HEAD379Z)

  • Work Based Learning (HEAD391)

    This module enables the student to undertake an individual work based project and meet a set of agreed learning outcomes for a specified programme of study.

  • Work Based Learning (HEAD391P)

    This module enables the student to undertake an individual work based project and meet a set of agreed learning outcomes for a specified programme of study.

  • Coaching and Leadership (HEAE302)

    Coaching and Leadership is a module focused on developing your confidence and competence to lead and develop yourself and others. Students will be able to understand and explore coaching theory and practice using a variety of tools in order to underpin coaching and leadership practice.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc (Hons) Professional Development in End of Life Care programme specification_6161

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

To be eligible for the BSc or BSc (Hons) programme you will need to be either a registered health and social care professional or a health and social care worker in possession of previous study at level 5 (foundation degree /diploma of higher education). You will also need to be working in an environment in which end of life care needs are delivered.

If you wish to undertake the graduate certificate and graduate diploma award pathways you must already hold an honours degree at 2:2 or above in a health or health related subject as well as working in an environment in which end of life care needs are delivered.

If you wish to undertake any clinical skills modules as part of your programme you will need to be working in an environment where you can meet the learning outcomes.

Applicants whose first language is not English must also provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English in accordance with the University’s Admissions Code of Practice – minimum overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of 6.5 average with a minimum 5.5 in each category.

AP(E)L:
Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential are accepted and will be assessed following University regulations and faculty procedures.

When to apply
Applications for this programme can usually be made throughout the year. Please check the closing date and apply as early as possible as our programmes are popular.

Apply for this programme
To apply for this programme please complete the application form and return via email to:

Email: pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk

Tel: +44 1752 586951

What happens after I apply?
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 if you are an overseas student may be by telephone or video conference) or you will be sent a decision by letter or email.

If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by University of Plymouth, please visit our Additional support for students with an impairment, health condition or disability website.

Support is also available from our International Office if you are an overseas student applying to the University.