MSc/PgDip/PgCert Supportive and Palliative Care
Distance learning
Subject area • Radiotherapy and oncology
Related subjects • Nursing and midwifery
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Find out more information about studying a distance learning course.
Watch videos about our supportive and palliative care courses covering topics including course focus, funding and student support.
One of our students talks about his experiences of studying a distance learning course.
View profiles of students on this course.
FInd out more about the teaching staff in this subject area.
At a glance
This course enables you to give vital treatment and support patients with life-threatening illnesses to achieve the best quality of life. It is designed to be flexible, allowing you to tailor your studies to your needs and area of practice.
Key points
• Enhance your existing knowledge with an extended period of study and research.
• Learn from a range of medical professionals who have input on course materials.
• Get the support of an academic supervisor throughout your studies.
• Consolidate previous certificated study gaining accreditation towards this qualification.
Gain an expert understanding of palliative care and its aims to achieve the best quality of life for patients facing life-threatening illness on this course. You also learn how to give vital treatment for their condition. Your studies focus on a holistic approach to symptom management management for the patient and psychological, social and spiritual support for the patient and their family.
This course is ideal for experienced practitioners providing day-to-day care to patients in their homes, hospitals, hospices and nursing homes.
We have designed this course to make it easy to fit around your work and suit your professional needs. You can tailor your studies to your needs and area of practice, through a mix of core and option modules. And you complete your studies via distance learning through our online learning environment allowing you to learn in the way most suited to your personal circumstances.
The course was developed by a multiprofessional team for a multiprofessional workforce. The learning, teaching and assessment strategies reflect the interprofessional working in supportive and palliative care helping develop more effective teamwork. Various professionals contribute to the teaching.
An academic supervisor and practice-based mentor will support your dissertation, on a topic which we work with you devise. Dissertations can benefit you and your employer through implementation of your research findings. Study at this level also develops autonomous practice in professionals, improving their leadership skills and ability to implement service developments.
Accreditation of previous certificated learning
We encourage the awarding of academic credit for previous certificated study that you may have completed in this area. This means you could be exempt from some modules, gaining your award in a shorter time.
Study individual modules
You can study individual modules from this course and gain academic credit towards a qualification. Visit our continuing professional development website for more information.
Our e-learning expertise has been recognised by winning national centre of excellence status in this area.
Find out more about MSc/PgDip/PgCert Supportive and Palliative Care
Related courses
Distance learning – typically three years
Starts September and January
Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form
2013/14 academic year
Typically £1,530 a stage for PgCert, PgDip and MSc stages
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically
• £600 per 15 credit module
• £1,200 per 30 credit module
2014/15 academic year
Typically
• £615 per 15 credit module
• £1,230 per 30 credit module
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
• assignments • seminar presentation • group work
We deliver this course by distance learning.
Distance learning study
Distance learning is a rewarding and flexible way to learn. You study at the time, place and often pace of your choosing, to fit around your personal and working life. Like all types of learning, you need skills in personal organisation, time management, self-motivation, and a commitment to academic study.
As a distance learning student, you normally learn away from the University – in your own home or place of work. Most of our distance learning courses are delivered online via a portal called Blackboard.
We prepare you for your distance learning course with an online induction package. It helps you develop and practise your skills and allows any issues, concerns or development needs to be addressed prior to commencing a course of study.
You're fully supported by our learning centre, with library database searches and information enquiries, journal article supply and other help in accessing library and information services, all without having to travel to Sheffield.
We believe that you learn best when you engage in prolonged debate. Your course provides an active learning experience, with an ongoing dialogue between you, your peers and your tutors via discussion forums, blogs and others. You carry out a series of structured tasks, which build towards a successful final assessment submission.
Our postgraduate course (0:31)
Watch subject leader Barbara Beard talk about our postgraduate course.
Funding support (1:03)
Watch subject leader Barbara Beard explain about the funding support available to our students.
Student support (1:03)
Watch subject leader Barbara Beard explain about the support available to our students.
John Sharpe (1:34)
John Sharpe, Rolls-Royce employee, and one of our MSc Total Quality Management and Organisational Excellence graduates talks about his experiences of studying a distance learning course while working.
Download the transcript of this video.
Corinne Fiorini
MSc Supportive and Palliative Care
`Sheffield Hallam offered a distance learning programme in the field that I was interested in. I had a friend studying here who recommended coming to Sheffield Hallam based on his positive experience.
`I believe that this MSc is an essential step towards my career progression. I am hoping to be able to develop policies and practices for my department. Oncology and palliative care is a fast developing field in my country, Malta. I hope to be a net contributor towards improving patient care.
`The lecturers are really helpful and approachable. They made the course very manageable and they minimised the ‘lost feeling’ that one could experience due to distance learning.
`Access to the extensive online resources made this course possible for me. I have limited access to relevant resources in my country.
`The course materials were very relevant to my line of practice and they helped me to improve my professional contribution at work. The assignment titles were flexible in that they were chosen by the students. This allowed for research which was applicable to the relevant field of practice, in my case it was physiotherapy.
`The course encouraged sharing of ideas and practices between the students. I am now more aware of practices in different countries.
` I started my course eight years after finishing my undergraduate course. I was a bit anxious about starting studying again but I found a lot of help and support. The course was very flexible and manageable. I would definitely recommend it.'
Profiles
Corinne Fiorini
MSc Supportive and Palliative Care
Staff profiles
Visit the Department of Allied Health Professions website to view profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
