Clinical Leadership MSc

Why choose this course?

This course is ideal for qualified healthcare professionals who wish to learn more about leadership and management. You will be able to apply your learning to a clinical setting and to research healthcare issues within the workplace. You will be kept up to date with recent developments, legal requirements and ethical practice, sharing experiences with professionals from a variety of fields.

This innovative course is designed for qualified healthcare professionals, who are keen to learn more about leadership strategies and management techniques. It consists of taught modules, a work-based learning project and enables you to explore a leadership topic of interest in depth, with the aim to publish. You will learn how to lead and manage healthcare practice and implement research advances to enrich evidence-based practice. The course will help you to drive service improvement projects relevant to your practice, and research healthcare issues within your workplace. The course combines academic teaching with interactive learning and incorporates theories of leadership and change management. You will gain confidence to influence decision makers with your recommendations.

The structure of the course allows you to continue working while studying. The full-time option has one classroom based day per week (Wednesdays) and the part-time option is once per fortnight (Wednesdays). Many of our students have been promoted as a direct result of studying this course.

Each course module is worth 30 Level 7 credits. For the PgCert, you will need to complete two modules; for the PgDip, you will need four, and for the MSc, you will need four, plus a final research project worth 60 credits.

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Mode Duration Attendance Start date
Full time 1 year Most Wednesdays January 2023
Part time 2–3 years Alternate Wednesdays January 2023

The modules within this course can also be taken on an individual basis (postgraduate short course).

Location Kingston Hill
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Reasons to choose Kingston University

  • Our part-time route, with one study day per fortnight, is designed for working health care professionals.
  • You will develop your skills in leadership, decision-making, networking and reflective practice.
  • You will study alongside senior healthcare professionals and share good practice.

What you will study

The course consists of four taught modules and a final Capstone project which enables you to explore a leadership topic in depth. You will learn how to lead and manage innovations in healthcare practice and implement research advances to enrich evidence-based practice. Part-time students will take the following modules in each year (full time students will undertake all modules in one year).

Modules

Core modules

Healthcare Management and Evaluation

30 credits

Examine the theoretical, social, political and economic factors influencing the management, planning, delivery and evaluation of health and care in the UK. International perspectives and models of health and care will be included. Students will be exposed to the most recent health policies and initiatives which influence quality service provision reflecting the key principles of the UK health and care systems.

Leadership and Change Management

30 credits

Take a client-centred and service-based approach to improvements in the patient/client experience. A number of leadership theories/approaches are explored and evaluated. A blend of learning approaches is employed to promote and enhance your learning experience. You will be encouraged to network with key influencers and opinion leaders within the organisation to help them gain practical insights into leadership and change.

Reflexive Leadership

30 credits

This module provides you with the opportunity to place a critical lens on the production of leadership identities, going beyond the individualistic leader to enable insights into the relational processes through which leadership is performed. You will be invited to focus reflexively on the details of your interactions at work, applying a psychosocial approach to consider the subjective, the personal, and the interpersonal aspects of organisational behaviour. The module explores ideas and beliefs, about how people talk about leadership and the stories and narratives that they construct.

Research Methods and Data Analysis

30 credits

Foster an in-depth understanding of the processes, stages and management of research. This module enables you to demonstrate critical appraisal and develop research skills applicable to both quantitative and qualitative approaches.

This module introduces the theories of research and provides flexible opportunities for you to apply your newly developed knowledge. It allows you to practically follow the early stages of research by formulating a research proposal; and the late stages of research by analysing, interpreting, presenting and discussing a data set provided by the module leader(s). Emphasis will be placed on ethical principles, which students will discuss and apply in their research proposal and data analysis.

Final Capstone Project

60 credits

This module is required for students undertaking studies at master's level and is normally taken after achieving postgraduate diploma level. The module will provide you with the experience of utilising principles of research and academic writing and thus demonstrate the intellectual skills learnt on the course. You are expected to review critically research and to evaluate the evidence underpinning your own practice. The module will provide you with the opportunity to implement the knowledge and skills developed during the previous modules by conducting research focused on a topic of your choice related to your area of practice with the support of a research supervisor. The module will enhance your presentation and publication skills as the assessment will include writing an abstract, presenting a poster and writing an article suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Please note

Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.

Entry requirements

Typical offer

An undergraduate degree at 2.2 or above and at least six months' post-qualifying experience. All applicants should be working in the health and social care setting which will allow them to undertake the practical elements of the programme.

Alternative routes

Applicants with a recent diploma (HE), third class or ordinary degree will be considered if they have relevant experience and may be required to write a short academic essay.

International

All non-UK applicants must meet our English language requirement, which is Academic IELTS of 7 overall, with Writing at 7 and no other element below 6.5. Make sure you read our full guidance about English language requirements, which includes details of other qualifications we consider.

Applicants who do not meet the English language requirements could be eligible to join our pre-sessional English language course.

Applicants from a recognised majority English speaking countries (MESCs) do not need to meet these requirements.

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

Teaching and assessment

Students learn by sharing experiences, using an action learning approach combining creative teaching and learning techniques, such as use of video, role play and peer assessment. Due to the interprofessional nature of this course, you will have opportunities to discuss the wide range of challenges of leadership in the healthcare profession. You will gain practical skills, such as advanced decision making, creative problem solving and critical thinking.

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking and preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS – the online virtual learning platform.

Support for postgraduate students

As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services. 

Your workload

29% of your time is spent in timetabled learning and teaching activity.

  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 515 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 1285 hours

Contact hours may vary depending on your modules

How you will be assessed

Assessment methods include module-related assignments, essays, presentations and a 'capstone' research project.

The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows:

  • 86% coursework
  • 14% practical exam

(repeat for each year, if part time)

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Your timetable

The structure of the course allows you to continue working while studying. The full time option has one classroom based day per week (Wednesdays) and the part time option is once per fortnight (Wednesdays).

Fees for this course

2023/24 fees for this course

Home 2023/24

  • MSc full time £8,500
  • MSc part time £4,675

International 2023/24

  • MSc full time £16,200

2022/23 fees for this course

Home 2022/23

  • MSc full time: £8,282
  • MSc part time: £4,555

International 2022/23

  • MSc full time: £15,800

Tuition fee information for future course years

If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years.

If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.

Funding

Your employer may offer to sponsor you through your course, providing funding, day-release or guaranteed study leave. Please contact us with any queries.

A self-funded option is also available; however individual modules must be paid in full as a one-off payment, via our secure payment portal once your application has been accepted and prior to online enrolment.

There are opportunities to apply for funding offered by the Florence Nightingale Foundation.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks, this can cost between £50 and £250 per year.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residence. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Facilities

As a student at Kingston University there are a range of facilities available that will help you during your course, including:

  • clinical teaching facilities;
  • computing facilities, including a range of software applications, plus free email and internet access; and
  • a dedicated Graduate Centres on each Kingston University campus, providing seminar rooms, computing facilities and social spaces.
  • the libraries at each of the Kingston University campuses - offering online database subscriptions, resource materials, PC clusters and a wireless network for laptop use, as well as subject libraries.

After you graduate

This course will help you:

  • Improve your ability to manage others
  • Lead changes and improvements into practice
  • Develop credibility in your area of clinical expertise
  • Move to a more senior role e.g. Director of Nursing, Consultant, Senior Lecturers
  • Gain confidence and advanced communication skills in the workplace
  • Present at conferences
  • Write for publication

What our students say

I completed my MSc in Clinical Leadership on a part-time basis. The modules in the course solidified my learning experience and were extremely informative. I used the WBL (work-based learning) module to undertake a service improvement project in my workplace. I submitted an abstract on this work to the Euroanaesthesia conference, and was asked to present the poster at the 2015 conference in Berlin and the 2016 conference in London. Presenting at the conference was an incredible achievement, and I couldn't have done this without the knowledge I gained from the course, as well as the support given to me by my supervisors.

Completing the course as well as presenting my work at an international conference have really improved my self-confidence and helped establish myself as a growing leader. I've also been asked to present my completed work project at the British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN) conference this year, and was nominated as a finalist of the Leadership Award category in the RCNi Nurse Awards 2016.

I'm really grateful to my course supervisors at Kingston University and St George's for all their encouragement and support. I wouldn't have been able to achieve important career milestones such as these were it not for the knowledge, experience and leadership skills that I gained by completing this course.

Siby Sikhamoni, Clinical Leadership MSc

Links with industry

Many teaching staff are research active, which keeps your learning cutting-edge, and others are expert practitioners. This combination of academics and practitioners provides a uniquely dynamic environment. Read more in our Research Areas.

As well as developing your understanding of your specialist area, this course will make sure you:  

  • keep up to date with recent developments, legal requirements and ethically-sound practice
  • reflect critically on your practice
  • develop your judgement and decision-making skills
  • improve your networking skills
  • gain skills in managing others. 

You will also have the chance to meet other professionals in the same situation as yourself.

Research areas

Many of our staff are research active, often in partnership with NHS trusts. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.

Research themes and programmes include:

  • Children and families
  • Midwifery
  • Emergency and critical care
  • Healthcare education
  • Integrative and collaborative working
  • Health and social care for people with long term conditions and their family carers - research that informs policy and practice to support people with long term conditions
  • Innovation and development in the healthcare workforces and organisation - addressing a broad range of workforce questions, including how best to educate and train people for their current and future work in health and social care.

Find out about research in the Faculty.

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.