Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £3,650 for the course
International/EU: £3,720 per 60 credits -
How long will I study?
18 Months
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
January 2027
Course summary
- Strengthen specialist paediatric neurodisability practice through advanced clinical research skills
- Develop expertise in evidence based practice to improve child health outcomes
- Undertake a dissertation aligned to your paediatric neurodisability clinical role
- Progress from postgraduate diploma to MSc qualification
- Apply research and innovation to real world paediatric neurodisability settings
You’ll build on your existing postgraduate diploma to deepen your paediatric neurodisability knowledge and research capability. Through focused study and an independent dissertation, you’ll explore current evidence, research methods and innovation in healthcare practice. This course supports you to apply learning directly to your clinical context, enabling you to influence service development and improve outcomes for children and families.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
This fully online course is designed for experienced practitioners, combining flexible learning with research informed teaching. You’ll engage with current developments in paediatric neurodisability and apply research directly to your professional context. Supported by expert academic staff, you’ll develop as a confident practitioner researcher, capable of leading evidence based improvements in healthcare.
You’ll learn through:
- online seminars and webinars
- virtual workshops and discussion forums
- independent research and guided study
- one to one dissertation supervision
- peer collaboration in a multidisciplinary online community
Assessment focuses on coursework and a major dissertation project. You’ll be assessed through research proposals, critical evaluations and your final dissertation, demonstrating your ability to apply research in practice.
Research and innovation in healthcare practice
You’ll explore research paradigms, methodologies and ethical considerations, developing the skills to design and conduct robust clinical research.
Applied research in paediatric neurodisability
You’ll learn to evaluate evidence, conduct service evaluations and apply findings to improve clinical practice and service delivery.
Dissertation project
You’ll undertake an independent research project focused on a topic relevant to your professional role, supported by expert supervision.
Course-Level Support
You will be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled employment through a number of key areas. These include:
- access to three student support advisers to help with your personal, academic and career development
- access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
Applied learning
Live Projects
You’ll work on practice based research projects drawn from your own clinical setting or wider service challenges. This ensures your learning has immediate relevance and impact within paediatric neurodisability practice.
Networking Opportunities
You’ll engage with academic staff and peers across multidisciplinary health and social care settings, supporting knowledge exchange and professional collaboration.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
This module focuses upon independent research for students working towards a full Award at Master’s Level, in their chosen programme.
Students are allocated a designated supervisor to support them in undertaking an independent exploration of an appropriate project relevant to their professional practice. Students may conduct either primary or secondary research to explore complex and impactful themes, contributing to professional practice through dissemination and informed recommendations.
Module Content:
Relevant content will vary according to the student’s chosen research methodology; however common elements include exploration of:
Background and context of chosen theme, contextualising the Research Question
Individual Research Question design using recognised tools
Select and justify chosen methodology
Gain approval for Ethical and Research Governance for professional practice, from the University and any organisation in relation to data.
Data analysis, management, and security
Collate, synthesise and evaluate evidence
Explore the impact and create recommendations for practice and research dissemination
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
This module prepares and enables you to embed research and innovation as a core component of your practice and engage in projects that address priorities and seek to transform lives.
It explores the role of research and innovation in healthcare practice and will provide you with an in-depth insight into a range of designs and methods that are used when undertaking such projects.
The practicalities of proposing, implementing and undertaking successful projects is explored and you will be supported to create your own research and innovation plan for practice.
Indicative content:
Health innovation and research - principles and priorities
The research cycle:
Research paradigms and methodology
Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research
Service evaluation: applying research design and methods
Literature based reviews
Formulating research/evaluation questions
Ethics and governance
Public and service user and carer (social care) involvement and co-production
Funding and support
Project management
Research impact:
Dissemination and knowledge exchange (for example writing for publication)
Enhancement of career opportunities in research
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- specialist paediatric neurodisability practice
- advanced clinical practice
- clinical leadership roles
- service development and improvement
- practitioner researcher roles
Equipment and facilities
As a fully online course, you’ll access a high quality digital learning environment designed for flexible and collaborative study. You’ll engage with interactive tools and resources that support your research and professional development.
On this course you will use:
- blackboard ultra for teaching, learning materials and assessments
- live and recorded webinars and virtual classrooms
- digital library resources including research databases and e journals
- online academic skills and study support tools
- secure platforms for dissertation supervision and research development
Where will I study?
You study this course online from any location
Entry requirements
All students
Normally an undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above, in a related field.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2026/27 is £3,650 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for international/EU students starting distance learning study in 2026/27 is £3,720 for 60 credits
Scholarships and financial support
Find information on scholarships, bursaries and postgraduate student loans.
International scholarships up to £3000 ›
Alumni scholarships up to £2000 ›
Postgraduate loans for UK students ›
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 298KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
