• Postgraduate

Improvement Science MSc

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Overview

Overview

Do you work in the health sector? Is there an aspect of your workplace that you would like to improve but need extra support and training to manage this? Would you like to ensure the changes and improvements are sustained in the longer term?

Our MSc in Improvement Science is a work-based learning course designed for experienced healthcare staff, both in the UK and internationally.

It will help you develop your knowledge of the latest methodologies in healthcare and provide training and support so you can make a positive impact within your place of work.

The course is delivered by the Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Northwest London.

A female students making notes by a monitor in a Nursing suite

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Improvement Science with us?

Why study Improvement Science with us?

A collage of students

What our students say…

I love the debates in class, making new friends and meeting new people. I also love the real-world experience offered by the course.

Jamal Dabsheh
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Top modern university London for nursing Times and Sunday Times 2023
In partnership with the Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) Northwest London.
Meet the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) and Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) agendas within your organisation.
Lifelong careers support from the UWL Careers Service.
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

This course is designed to develop practical research skills and knowledge that you can use in your professional employment role and workplace setting.

You will study improvement science methodology and theory as you work so that you can directly put into practice what you learn, as you learn. 

The course focuses on:

  • understanding care from the perspective of patients and carers, through engaging patients and communities with the design and development of care
  • using rapid-cycle research, improvement methodologies and careful evaluation of clinical and cost-effectiveness to bring research more rapidly into practice 
  • adopting an industrial standard of quality in the NHS through applying evidence-based research to support evidence-based practice
  • increasing staff capacity to bring about change and improvements across professional and organisational boundaries

This is a part-time course and you will generally study three modules a year. These will be spread over the academic year, as we recognise that you will be working full-time alongside studying for this qualification.

How does this course meet your employer’s needs?

We work with partner organisations to ensure that the course meets the needs of employers. 

Staff and resources

This course is run by the College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare to provide you with both the high-quality teaching and the personal attention you need to make the most of your University education. You will learn from highly skilled staff, many of whom conduct new research in their specialist areas, ensuring that your studies are both challenging and rewarding.

You will take all compulsory modules as well as 40 credits of optional modules. You can choose the optional modules below or from this list of available modules (list subject to change).

Compulsory modules

  • Leading and Sustaining Improvement

  • Engaging Patients and Relationship Management

    This course focuses upon the political and practical importance of involving patients, staff and other important stakeholders, in improvement project work. It encourages experienced staff working in healthcare environments, to recognise the essential value that meaningful engagement with patients and stakeholders can bring to their change efforts.

    The course will enable you to:

    • build knowledge about the major theories of patient involvement
    • increase awareness and recognition of the importance of engaging stakeholders
    • practically apply theories and techniques of involvement in a health care setting
    • understand what involvement is, and how meaningful engagement can positively impact an improvement project
    • effectively recognise resistance to involving others
    • creatively problem solve barriers to meaningful engagement.

  • Evidence-based Implementation of Improvement Methods

  • The Policy Context of Improvement

    The NHS exists within a political context and its staff and patients are facing the consequences of political decisions daily. This course will enable experienced staff working in healthcare environments to:

    • build knowledge about the current political context
    • build capacity to anticipate and respond to future political and economic pressures
    • increase awareness and recognition of the major changes currently underway in healthcare
    • develop an understanding of what policy is, and how policy changes can impact an improvement project
    • develop creative problem solving using improvement methods, in response to economic and political pressures
    • there will also be a chance to discuss the international policy context, to appraise policy and practice both locally and nationally.

  • Improvement Project

Optional modules

  • Demonstrating Improvement

    This module is a framework for clinicians and managers working in specialist or strategic roles who wish to gain academic credits for their current work-based learning. This provides guidance for planning your own learning within a work environment to meet your organisation's needs. You will produce a personal reflection or evaluation on the process and outcomes in order to identify and demonstrate learning.

  • The Building Blocks of Transforming Your Professional Role

    This module aims to establish baseline critical appraisal skills. You will develop expertise and competence to use new skills to improve your contribution to service delivery.

    During this module there will also be a focus on developing your academic writing style and skills.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

To apply for this course you need:

  •  to be based in a healthcare setting
  •  to hold a degree in a relevant subject*
  •  to be recognised as a as competent and capable carer by the organisation you work for.

You should also have an idea of how to improve your healthcare service/setting.

If you are unsure whether you meet the entry requirements please contact the course leader who will be able to assist you.

We look for students who show enthusiasm and a passion for the subject through previous study or professional experience.

If you have any questions about the relevance of your qualifications or experience please contact the course leader shown in the teaching staff.

Fees & funding

Fees & funding

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Students may be funded by their employer or fund themselves.

For more information on fees and funding please contact Claire Anderson.

 

Funding your studies

Grants for home students

Home students studying this course may be eligible to receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each year. Further information is available on the NHS Learning Support Fund Website.

Postgraduate loan

You may be eligible to apply for a postgraduate loan to cover your course and living costs. Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as disabled students or those with dependants.

Awards for nursing, midwifery and healthcare students are also on offer.

For more information regarding funding, including conditions and eligibility, please see the link below.

Help with funding
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Students may be funded by their employer or fund themselves.

For more information on fees and funding please contact Claire Anderson.

 

International students - funding your studies

We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships. 

Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

 

Financial support for international students
Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Associate Professor Rowan Myron

Professor Rowan Myron

I am an experienced researcher, writer, presenter and manager with expertise in psychology, improvement science and knowledge mobilisation in healthcare. I use innovative techniques to build team dynamics with staff, researchers and patients. I also lead the University's doctoral research programmes, and have a strong interest in using new technologies to engage frontline staff in learning opportunities.

I am an experienced researcher, writer, presenter and manager with expertise in psychology, improvement science and knowledge mobilisation in healthcare. I use innovative techniques to build team dynamics with staff, researchers and patients. I also lead the University's doctoral research programmes, and have a strong interest in using new technologies to engage frontline staff in learning opportunities.

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A female doctor making notes in a laboratory

Once you have completed your MSc, you can put your expertise and knowledge into practice. You will have the right skillset to deliver improvements in complex healthcare contexts, including in areas under financial constraints.

Having completed a work-based learning project during your degree you will have first-hand knowledge of how to improve patient care, in line with organisational priorities, and you will have the skills to implement positive change within your own role and encourage colleagues and peers to do likewise.

Professionals with an independent, proactive and problem-solving attitude who have a broad knowledge base are highly sought-after in the workplace and valued by employers.

How to apply

How to apply

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Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2023 and 2024 - Average of answers to all questions by registered student population. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.