Information before you apply

Please view the Admissions Policy before applying.

Before beginning an application for any of our Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) modules or pathways, you must:

• Read the ACP Pre-Application Information and Guidance pack.
• Complete the ACP Pre-Application Form here.

If you have funding in place and would like to proceed with your application:

• Complete a School on-line Application below using the ‘Apply Now’ button. 

Practice Assessors / Supervisors
You will need to identify a separate practice assessor, and a practice supervisor to support you during your studies.

As detailed in the information pack, there are set requirements as to who can take this role on and they will also need to complete a declaration form prior to you starting the module.

Please advise your prospective assessors / supervisor to via the ACP assessor hub for more details and to complete the declaration form (Advanced Practice Assessor and Supervisor Hub)
 

Key topics

• Diagnostic and therapeutic skills
• Application of evidence-based practice
• Anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology
• Development of management plans which include follow up and referral 
• Prioritisation of clinical care
• Generation of differentials
• Collaborative working, including multi-professional and multi-disciplinary teams
• Legal and ethical issues 
• Risk Management and dealing with uncertainty
• Managing clinical complexity 

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module you should be able to demonstrate achievement of the following learning outcomes:

• Demonstrate and apply relevant skills and knowledge required by an advanced clinical practitioner to obtain a comprehensive clinical history and physical examination of undifferentiated patients to diagnose and manage the consequences of cancer and its treatment
• Demonstrate ability to apply relevant critical thinking to underpin clinical decisions and prioritise investigations, actions and referrals as required by the patient’s clinical condition
• Demonstrate and be able to critically reflect on the use of your clinical skills and reasoning but have an awareness of your scope of practice and role within the wider multi-professional team
• Critically discuss and synthesise relevant legal and ethical principles underpinning clinical decision making and advanced clinical assessment
• Demonstrate relevant communication skills, both verbal and written, in order to work effectively within a multi-professional team and facilitate patient engagement, education, health promotion, advanced care planning and co-operation.

Dates

On-line Iive interactive sessions on: 1, 29 April, 13 May and 3 June 2025
Face to Face at at King's College on: 15 April 2025 TBC 
Face to face at The Royal Marsden School, Chelsea on: 17 June 2025
Assessments: Exam 1 July and Portfolio 15 July 2025
Resubmission: Exam 8 October and Portfolio 29 October 2025

Entry requirements

Professional requirements  
Current professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) or Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) or The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)  
Experience  
A minimum of three years post-registration experience (or equivalent part-time experience) on entry to the course  
At least one year’s experience in the clinical specialty that you propose to work in as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner 
Academic qualifications  
A relevant degree 
Competency in written and spoken English (IELTS 7.0 or equivalent)  
Previous study at level 7 or the ability to study at level 7
Clinical practice requirements  
Be employed at a minimum of Band 6 or equivalent  
Ideally be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week in one relevant clinical environment, with access to appropriate clinical support and supervision.   
The willingness of an employer to release the student to enable them to dedicate the equivalent of 3 hours minimum per week throughout the module as protected learning time to enable the student to work in a 'supernumerary capacity' to focus on their clinical/professional development. 
Students must be able to undertake at least 30 hours of direct supervision and 150 hours of indirect supervised clinical practice.    
Students should ideally be employed in a trainee / advanced practice or specialist role. 
A student’s job description should include advanced practice skills as essential criteria to perform your role. 
A student’s current role should require you to undertake a comprehensive physical examination and formulate diagnoses and treatment plans. 
Provision of day-to-day supervision and support by an experienced clinical team to enable the development of the knowledge, skills, behaviors, competence, and confidence commensurate with this level of practice. 

Assessment

Exam (50%)
Portfolio (50%)

Student support

Tutorials with the module leader or personal tutor are available if students require additional help with the planning and writing of their assignments. Email and telephone support are also available from the module leader/personal tutor. 

The Royal Marsden School uses an online environment called Moodle which students must access during their studies to support and enhance our courses. The site provides resources and communication tools. All students will be provided with a username and password to access module specific sections as well as general learning support such as study skills and library resources. Students also have access to the David Adams Library and Electronic Resource Centre. 

To get the best from the live video-conferencing sessions and enable you to participate fully you should have access to a computer or laptop with a camera and microphone. If you have any concerns or need help, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Related pathways

This stand-alone module also forms part of the following pathway:

• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Cancer Care