Professional Development in Health and Social Care
MSc or PGDip or PGCert
Start dates: January 2026 / September 2026 / January 2027
Full time: MSc: 12 months, Distance learning: 12 months, PGDip: 12 months, PGCert: 6 to 12 months
Part time: Depends on the award sought and any credit already attained; maximum of 3 years (Distance Learning 24 months)
Location: Headington, Distance learning
School(s): School of Psychology, Social Work and Public Health
Overview
The MSc/PGDip/PGCert in Professional Development in Health and Social Care is a highly flexible postgraduate programme designed for professionals seeking a qualification that reflects their individual career goals and areas of practice. Designed with flexibility at its core, the programme enables you to work in partnership with us to create a personalised programme of study.
The programme offers you the unique opportunity to translate existing professional practice and prior learning into academic credit, enabling you to accelerate your progression. With flexible study options available on a full-time or part-time basis, this 'Open Award' is designed to support you as working professionals in achieving your academic and career aspirations at a pace that suits your individual circumstances.
You will study alongside a diverse community of practitioners and leaders, including clinicians, managers, educators, and researchers from across the fields of health, social care and social wellbeing.
This is a mirror provision for pathways in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Why Oxford Brookes University?
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Curate your learning
Design a personalised programme of study that aligns with your academic interests and professional goals, and propose your own degree title.
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Multi-discipline learning
Your learning will be informed by our international and multi-disciplinary teaching team with backgrounds in nursing, leadership, public health, psychology and research.
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Recognise prior learning
Your existing qualifications, Master’s level credit and relevant experience may be recognised and count towards your studies, helping you progress more quickly.
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Flexible learning
You can fit the course around your life and work commitments with the option for distance learning, block teaching, full-time and part-time study.
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Career support
Many modules include the direct application of skills, and a focus on professional progression, leadership development, reflective practice and work-based learning.
Course details
Course structure
Develop your professional needs and interests by choosing between two pathways:
Unstructured Pathway: a bespoke programme, studying from a range of health and life sciences modules aligned to your professional interests and career objectives. You may propose a personalised award title, subject to academic approval.
Structured Pathway: a guided and structured study route with a defined combination of modules. These pathways are:
- MSc/PGDip/PGCert in Professional Development in Health and Social Care
- MSc Organisational Psychology, Leadership and Wellbeing*
- MSc Psychotherapy, Counselling and Mental Health Interventions**
- MSc/PGDip Nursing Studies (Leadership in Clinical Practice)***
- * and ** are offered through our partnership with The School of Positive Psychology, Singapore
- *** is offered through our partnership with Alliance of International Education (HK), Hong Kong.
Research
The course content is underpinned by the research and scholarship activities of the staff in the fields of consultancy, educational development, management education, leadership development, project management, and related clinical fields, including health promotion, drugs and alcohol, social welfare, and clinical trials.
Over the past few years, these researchers have won external research and consultancy contracts, including grants, fellowships, and studentships. Our research staff collaborate with researchers from across Oxford Brookes University, with researchers from the Institute of Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, and with research teams from many other UK and international centres.
Careers
- Strengthen your expertise for leadership or management positions
- Equip yourself for advanced or specialist clinical or practice roles
- Develop skills for education, training, or practice development
- Broaden your capabilities in digital health and wellbeing, quality improvement, or service redesign
- Build a qualification that aligns with long-term progression goals.
By graduation, you’ll be ready to take your next step - whatever that looks like for you. This could mean advancing into a senior nursing role such as matron, or applying enhanced leadership and management expertise to lead change within a social welfare setting, or even starting up in private practice!
Wherever you choose to make your impact, you'll be equipped to tackle real-world challenges and help shape the future of health, social welfare and wellbeing.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Entry normally requires a UK/EU first degree or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution. Subject to approval by Oxford Brookes University, equivalent professional or other qualifications applicable to health and social care can be considered under some circumstances, particularly if you are registered as a health or social care professional.
Evidence of recent study (within the last 5 years) at degree or equivalent level is highly desirable. Students who do not hold a first UK/EU degree or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution (taken within the last 5 years) OR students who have not studied at degree or equivalent level within the last 5 years will be required to write and submit an assignment which will be taken into account as part of their application.
Six months' experience as a student, employee or volunteer within the health / social care sector (European or International; public, private or voluntary) will normally be required.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
Please see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
International applications
Credit transfer
Terms and conditions of enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
International qualifications and equivalences
How to apply
Application process
Application for MSc Professional Development in Health and Social Care is via our portal.
Along with your application, you will be required to submit:
- two references (professional/academic)
- copies of certificates of previous qualifications
- English language qualifications, if your first language is not English
- confirmation of funding.
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.