Cancer Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation
Everything you need to know
- Start date: January 2027
- End date: April 2027
- Module leader: Joanna McNamara
- Level: 7
- Credits: 30
Introduction
This module develops advanced understanding of prehabilitation and rehabilitation across the cancer pathway. You will explore principles, interventions, and personalised, evidence-informed strategies to manage the consequences of cancer and its treatment. Emphasis is placed on multidisciplinary collaboration, holistic assessment, self-management, and behaviour change to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Who is this course/module for?
- Qualified healthcare and allied health professionals working with people affected by cancer.
- Practitioners seeking to develop specialist knowledge in prehabilitation and rehabilitation across the cancer pathway.
- Professionals aiming to design and implement personalised, evidence-informed interventions to improve recovery, self-management, and quality of life.
- Those interested in supporting patient self-management, behaviour change, and empowerment through cancer prehabilitation and rehabilitation interventions.
What you’ll learn
Critically explore the principles and evidence underpinning cancer prehabilitation and rehabilitation. Develop knowledge of holistic assessment, personalised interventions, and self-management strategies. Reflect on professional roles, multidisciplinary collaboration, and service delivery to enhance patient recovery, manage treatment consequences, and improve quality of life across the cancer care pathway.
Skills you’ll gain
- Apply evidence-based rehabilitation interventions across the cancer pathway to support recovery and manage treatment consequences.
- Assess patients’ readiness for change and design personalised interventions integrating behaviour change principles to promote self-management and empowerment.
- Analyse factors that support effective multidisciplinary collaboration and apply leadership skills in implementing or enhancing rehabilitation services.
- Critically evaluate service provision, making evidence-informed recommendations for safe and effective prehabilitation and rehabilitation programmes.
- Reflect on your professional role in delivering person-centred, collaborative cancer rehabilitation tailored to individual needs.
How you’ll learn
- Engage in flexible online study through pre-recorded lectures, case studies, and guided readings. Reflective tasks and formative activities support the application of prehabilitation and rehabilitation principles. You will critically engage with evidence, plan personalised interventions, and reflect on professional roles and multidisciplinary practice to enhance cancer prehabilitation and rehabilitation.
Fees and Funding for 2026/27
| Indicative price for stand-alone module |
Home student: £1,825 EU / International students: £1,860 - The University cannot sponsor a Student Visa for CPD modules. However, if you already have permission to study in the UK, you can apply. If you’re unsure whether your visa allows this, please contact the International Experience Team at hallamhelp@shu.ac.uk to discuss your options. |
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| How to apply |
You can apply for this module using our online admissions form. After you have registered or logged in, select the module title under "Please choose your first module". |
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Entry requirements
Applicants are normally expected to hold a science or healthcare degree or professional qualification in a relevant subject, such as Radiotherapy & Oncology, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Speech & Language Therapy, Nursing, or Exercise Medicine.
Equivalent academic or professional qualifications will also be considered, including evidence of CPD, leadership, service development, research, or publications. Applicants should usually have at least 12 months’ professional experience supporting people living with or beyond cancer.
If English is not your first language, you must have an English language proficiency (IELTS 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each skill) and access to reliable IT. Recognition of prior learning may be considered for relevant Level 7 credits.
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Attendance
Delivery Method:
Distance learning (fully online, independent study). Delivered entirely online through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), with no live sessions. Students study independently using guided materials and activities, with online academic support available to help them stay on track.
View our statement on notional study hours »
Provisional timetable
This module does not have a specific timetable of study days and times, that you are expected to attend. Your tutor will direct you through a series of learning resources and activities, including non-live discussions and live webinars. The latter will be recorded for people who cannot join the live sessions. If you would like to know the times for the live sessions in advance, you can request this from the module leader.
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Assessment
Module assessment is made up of one or more assessment tasks. The assessment task(s) for this module are:
- Coursework
Successful completion of this module will earn you 30 level 7 credits
Further details
For further information please contact the module leader Joanna McNamara - joanna.mcnamara@shu.ac.uk