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Continuing Professional Development

Ready for a new challenge, eager to update your skillset, or interested in research? Our Professional Development courses are packed with insights and learning that help you fulfil your potential and boost your career prospects. 

We’ve designed courses that offer the flexibility you need to study around your commitments and slot learning into your current lifestyle. From stand-alone modules to PhDs, we offer a range of training geared towards developing expertise and improving patient care. Whatever path you pick, you’ll develop the leadership skills you need to take your career to the next level. Our work-based learning option gives you the chance to achieve an academic qualification, without putting your career on hold. You’ll learn from your experiences in the field and sharpen skills vital to your role.

Join our community

Re-starting education can feel daunting, but you’ll join a diverse community of like-minded healthcare professionals and clinical educators. At King’s, you’ll be taught by leaders in the field. Everything you learn will be up to speed with the latest changes in practice and help you effectively approach the spectrum of challenges you face every day.

You’ll discuss current debates in the field, share experiences and find ways to make a real difference.

 

Our courses

Find a short course

Find a short course

Our courses will help you develop your expertise, boost your career prospectus and improve patient…

Postgraduate Research

Postgraduate Research

Undertake postgraduate research in the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care at King's…

Clinical academic training programmes

Clinical academics

Undertake clinical academic study with the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care at King's…

 

Applying for our courses

Postgraduate courses

Please see the individual MSc, PGDip, PGCert, MPhil and PhD course pages for entry requirements and how to apply. Our postgraduate courses.


Short courses

Free standing modules

Our free standing modules are published in our Short Courses catalogue. Details of application deadlines, teaching dates and contact details are available on the invidivual course pages.

Applications are made through the King's Apply online application portal.


 

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows successful applicants to selected degree or diploma courses to claim 'credit' for previous learning from elsewhere, either at another institution or in practice. The previous learning must be relevant to the course applicants are applying for and if their application is successful, the credit will count towards their chosen course of study.

RPL incorporates

  • Recognition of prior certificated learning (RPCL), where learning has occurred through formal study at another higher education institution, within the last five years.
  • Recognition of prior experiential learning (RPEL), where learning is gained from personal and professional experience.
  • RPEL also includes certificated learning that occurred through formal study, either at King's or at another higher education institution, over five years ago.

Which courses is RPL for?

Successful applicants to any post-qualification MSc, PGDip or BSc course offered by the Faculty can claim credit for previous learning that meets the RPL criteria.

There is a separate RPL process for successful applicants on our pre-registration MSc courses. Please contact the Admissions Team through the King’s Apply portal for further information.

Who can apply for RPL?

Qualified Allied Healthcare Professionals who are offered a place on course eligible for RPL and can evidence one or more of the following relevant to the course:

  • Certificated learning through formal study at another higher education institution, within the last five years.
  • Learning gained from personal and professional experience.
  • Certificated learning that occurred through formal study, either at King's or at another higher education institution, over five years ago.

When to apply for RPL?

You can apply for RPL once your place on your chosen course is confirmed, but not before. Please follow the ‘how to apply’ process on this page and submit your claim form by the next available deadline. 

How does the RPL process work at King's?

Decisions about the level and amount of credit to be awarded for prior learning are made by an accreditation panel, based on the evidence that applicants are able to provide about their relevant learning experience. The accreditation panel meets once per term to review recommendations of the accreditation assessors and award credit accordingly.

Students who do not hold the requisite entry requirements may apply for advanced standing to allow entry to the programme by demonstrating that they have knowledge and skills either via RPCL / RPEL or a combination of both that is the equivalent of 120 credits. This will for example allow an applicant who does hold a DipHE or equivalent to join a BSc programme. Students intending to put in a claim for advanced standing should meet with a panel member to discuss the content of their application as these claims can be substantial.

Students applying for RPL must discuss the potential for this with the course lead before starting their course and can only submit an RPL application once they are enrolled on their course. Please follow the RPL application process.

Please note there is a charge for making RPL claims. Full details of the procedure are in the key documents listed on this page.

To access and submit the Recognition of Prior Learning claim form please click here. Guidance on completing the form can be found here


Work-based learning

Work-based learning is a process through which health practitioners and clinical educators can gain academic credit for learning undertaken in the workplace. It is used increasingly in the health services to allow qualified staff to progress academically either at BSc or MSc levels while learning in their field of practice.

We offer work-based learning modules with 15 and 30 credits attached at both level 6 (BSc) and level 7 (MSc). The modules can form part of the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice or the BSc Clinical Practice or be taken as free standing modules. Up to two Work-Based Learning modules can be taken at each level.

Educational opportunities arising in the work place have immediate clinical relevance to practice, employers and to the professional development of individual practitioners.

Assessment and support 

Our modules aim to develop critical reflection and improve people's learning skills. Students are assessed on a portfolio of activities demonstrating the learning from a work-based activity and their own development as an independent learner. The portfolio can contribute to evidence of professional development.

The academic support provided for this module is negotiated with the organisation providing the work-based learning opportunities or with individual students undertaking their own projects in practice.

Students will have an introduction to the module and the opportunity for follow up tutorials delivered by a member of the Faculty teaching staff either in a group or individually. Students will have access to online learning resources through the university's online learning platform, KEATS.

All students will have a named person in their organisation who is responsible for approving the work based learning activity and their learning plan.

Discover more

Research & Impact

Research and impact

Our research seeks to improve the healthcare experience and outcomes for patients and those…

Our connections

Connections

We have close connections with local and international healthcare organisations, education…