MSc Leadership in Health and Social Care top-up
MSc Leadership in Health and Social Care top-up
Award
MSc
Start Date
02/11/2027
Duration
9 months
Mode
Part-time
Location
University of Greater Manchester
Following completion of a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Health and Social Care, this 60-credit flexible programme of study provides you with opportunity to synthesise your academic knowledge to produce a document that demonstrates evaluative and critical discussion of an issue relevant to leadership in health and social care leading to the award of MSc Leadership in Health and Social Care.
Course Overview
The MSc Leadership in Health and Social Care (top-up) at the University of Greater Manchester is specifically designed to support tomorrow’s industry leaders. Developed in conjunction with industry stakeholders, this course aims to provide an in-depth overview of academic theory and an essential knowledge of research design necessary to help you fulfil your career ambitions.This course provides you with an opportunity to produce a piece of work in critical research or professional enquiry. You'll study topics including the research process, literature reviews and conceptual frameworks, theoretical perspectives and research paradigms, data collection and analysis, reflection and experimental learning and ethical issues. In addition, you'll be supported to present your research proposal, before working on your written project and practical skills assessment.
You’ll be encouraged to select a key focus of personal learning interest to address a contemporary business, organisational or sector issue, challenge or problem. This may involve research within an organisation, sector-based empirical research, or simulation-based research. You’ll also have the opportunity to develop key transferable skills and knowledge to support your professional development.
Highlights
- Our dedicated academic team have a wealth of experience working in NHS settings and are engaged in relevant research, bringing their expertise and passion for service excellence to their teaching.
- The programme enables collaborative working with NHS North West and other health and social care organisations.
- You’ll have the opportunity to build the necessary skills for a leadership career in acute or community care.
- On successful completion of this course, you'll be awarded a MSc Leadership in Health and Social Care (top-up).
Key Features
- We’ve been offering high-quality courses, specifically designed to meet the needs of the health and social care sector, for over 30 years.
- We offer a supportive learning environment and provide free study skills sessions.
- This flexible course, which can also be studied on a stand-alone module basis at level HE7, is suitable for students who have been out of education for some time.
- We have the knowledge and experience to anticipate and respond to change. Our courses and programmes respond directly to the requirements of the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF), which is at the heart of the career and pay progression strand of Agenda for Change.
- As you study this course, you will be encouraged to develop employability skills, values and behaviours, such as the 6C’s, action planning, personal impact and confidence, self-awareness, social and ethical responsibility, respect and commitment to quality.
Entry Requirements
- You should have successfully completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Health and Social Care (or equivalent).
- You must be working in a health and social care senior leader role.
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- Professionals/practitioners often find it difficult to attend open days. Therefore, if you wish us to visit your service/trust please contact the programme leader to discuss.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
This course is designed to support existing leaders to develop their knowledge and understanding of critical research and/or professional enquiry and to apply this to their own role and professional practice.
To succeed you’ll need to be a problem solver who can think on their feet to identify issues and find solutions. Some of the key transferable skills provided in the course content include: self-leadership, data analysis, formulating strategy, evaluating evidence, managing knowledge and communication and persuasion.
What can I do with this qualification?
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Greater Manchester’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@greatermanchester.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Greater Manchester’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@greatermanchester.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.
Important note regarding tuition fees: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
Home Undergraduate Tuition Fee Adjustment
The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The tuition fee set is based on the regulations and guidance in force at the time of offer but remains subject to adjustment in accordance with any government-approved inflationary increase. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for all years of study, including the first year, by no more than the maximum increase permitted under legislation and regulatory guidance issued by the UK Government and the Office for Students.
Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.
This approach ensures that tuition fees remain compliant with applicable legislation, proportionate to inflationary changes, and consistent with government policy linking permitted fee uplifts to the maintenance of high-quality education and outcomes. For more information, please refer to the government guidance at: gov.uk – Universities to deliver better outcomes in return for full fees.
Postgraduate and International Tuition Fee Adjustment
The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for subsequent years of study in accordance with its Course Fees Policy. Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.
How to apply
Home Applicants
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
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Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
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Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
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Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
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Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
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Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@greatermanchester.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Greater Manchester MSc Leadership in Health and Social Care - 02 November 2027
International Applicants
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Teaching & Assessment
Our MSc in Leadership in Health and Social Care (top-up) is taught through a blended style of online and direct learning. You’ll be expected to attend lectures, presentations and seminars to work through theoretical content, observe tutor simulations and take part in small group workshops to build practical skills and further explore concepts. You’ll have access to a range of online resources and learning packages via the virtual learning environment and will be expected to undertake significant independent study, such as background reading and preparing for seminars.
You’ll receive both pastoral and academic support from your tutor. This includes leadership coaching to support the development of your problem-solving abilities in relation to your learning and leadership development.
We use a range of assessment methods designed to ensure you’re on track to achieve the learning outcomes and programme aims. These assessments include essays, reports, presentations, set exercises and portfolios. Assessment methods will vary according to each module’s content and desired outcome.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Professional Project
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 70% Practical exams 30% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 90% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 10% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
Related Courses
Programme Contacts
Disclaimer: The “Greater Manchester Way” represents our preferred teaching and learning approach; however, not all courses follow a block-teaching model. While course structures and delivery patterns may vary to meet Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements, all courses benefit from the GM Way approach to curriculum design and assessment. Applicants and students should refer to individual course specifications for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
