MSc Clinical Education

This course incorporates diverse teaching methods, blended learning, and technology-enhanced strategies, while embedding principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion to address students' varied needs. Flexibility and responsiveness to individual requirements are central to its design, ensuring that all students benefit from an inclusive and supportive learning environment. The focus of teaching and learning is the development of analytical thinking, critical reflection, and the education of the whole person. The course emphasizes creativity, problem-solving, questioning, reasoning, and fostering higher-level independent thought. Working in partnership with organizations, the course combines theoretical knowledge with practical application to prepare students to meet the learning outcomes.

Interactive and student-centered teaching acknowledges participants' prior experience in education and clinical practice. The curriculum is informed by ethical sustainability, compassionate teaching, and inclusive pedagogy. It seeks to identify and reduce barriers to learning, ensuring a supportive environment that recognizes and addresses distress and disadvantage. The learning, teaching, and assessment strategy bridges theoretical learning in taught modules with practical application, reflecting the needs of students as they grow into effective clinical educators. Students are considered partners in learning, with an emphasis on building learning communities, promoting success, and fostering equality and diversity from admission through to practice learning.

Education is presented as a ‘moral activity’ that occurs in complex, challenging environments. To prepare students for this, the course encourages self-awareness, reflective practices, and openness to diverse perspectives. Students will explore their feelings, values, and approaches to education, with a focus on self-critique and personal growth throughout the program.

Each 30-credit module comprises 300 total learning hours, which include a mix of scheduled teaching, guided learning, and independent study. The university aims to nurture students as creative, curious, and critical thinkers who can tackle complex problems and envision innovative solutions. Graduates are encouraged to be courageous in facing challenges, empowered to make a positive impact, and collaborative in engaging with others compassionately in local and global communities.

Learning and teaching methods actively engage students, fostering self-evaluation and reflection to deepen understanding and plan future learning. Modules are structured to promote both collaborative and independent learning through a blend of classroom-based, online, and work-based activities. All teaching sessions will be recorded and accessible via the virtual learning environment (VLE) to support flexible learning.

Workshops are designed to develop practical skills and hands-on experience in prescribing practice. These workshops feature two key components: a technical, theory-based element delivered through lectures or student-led activities, and an applied component that enables students to put theory into practice. Simulation exercises will also be included to enhance real-world application and experiential learning opportunities.

The learning and teaching approach for this course aligns with the CCCU Vision 2030 Learning, Teaching, and Assessment Strategy.

Independent learning does not mean that you need to work alone with no support; it rather means that you take more control of your learning and its development. In other words, independent learning means developing your skills to be resilient, motivated, organised and good at time management.

Balancing work and postgraduate study is often the biggest challenge for participants, as the course is academically demanding. However, past and current students have consistently rated the program highly, highlighting significant improvements in their teaching practices as a result of their studies.

An essential requirement of the course is that your professional role includes an educational component. This ensures you have ongoing opportunities to teach, enabling you to regularly apply the concepts from the program in practical settings. Your teaching experiences will also enrich your learning and engagement throughout the course.

Most participants begin with the Postgraduate Certificate, which is worth 60 credits, split across three modules and equates to approximately 600 hours of work. This typically includes around 70 hours of mandatory postgraduate seminar sessions, with the remaining 530 hours dedicated to self-study, group activities, reading, consolidating learning from seminar days, and preparing for and completing assessments.

The MSc Clinical Education is delivered by a diverse team of experienced educators, clinicians, and researchers who bring a wealth of expertise from a variety of healthcare and academic disciplines. 

The teaching team includes clinical educators with extensive hands-on experience in healthcare settings, academic staff specialising in education theory and pedagogy, and experts in areas such as interprofessional learning, simulation-based education, and curriculum design. 

Guest speakers and industry professionals may also contribute, providing insights into the latest advancements in clinical education and practice. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that students benefit from a rich, well-rounded learning experience that bridges theory and practice.