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King's College London
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Postgraduate degree

Palliative Care MSc, PG Dip, PG Cert

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This is a multi-disciplinary and multi- professional course. We welcome and encourage medical students in their 3rd or 4th year to join our intercalated MSc Palliative Care programme. Our Palliative Care programme will give you the skills to critically appraise research and evidence on palliative care, conduct high quality research, improve clinical practice and develop services across the world. You will have world-class teaching at one of the strongest centres of palliative care research in the world and the only purpose-built institute for palliative care. This course incorporates leading research and innovative and evidence-based practice. It is delivered by the Cicely Saunders Institute in partnership with St Christopher’s Hospice. Our programme is open to any professional working in palliative care or with people facing advanced illness. Palliative care is a multidisciplinary speciality involving doctors, nurses, and allied health and social care professionals. We believe our students learn best in a classroom reflecting that range of professions. Our aim is to develop your competence and confidence in caring for patients with advanced disease, while supporting people close to them. Within your practice, you need to be able to critically evaluate the evidence behind different palliative care treatments. This is why there is such a strong focus on research and evidence-based practice in our programmes.

Key benefits

  • Our course has a national and international reputation which attracts students from all over the world
  • Strongly focused on evidence and an understanding how to conduct research in palliative care and related areas
  • Course based at the Cicely Saunders Institute, a WHO Collaborating Centre for palliative care and rehabilitation that is at the heart of national and international research and academic-clinical collaborations
  • Our teaching staff are academics, practitioners, policy makers and global leaders in palliative care
  • Our MSc is delivered with St Christopher's Hospice, which provides skilled and compassionate palliative care of the highest quality.

Delivered by King’s Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care and St Christopher’s Hospice the course will give you the skills you need to evaluate research and evidence in issues of palliative care to inform your clinical practice and your service development. Our primary aim is to improve your ability, competence and confidence to care for patients with advanced disease, and for their families. This requires you to be able to critically evaluate evidence of the effectiveness, appropriateness and acceptability of existing interventions and services, both medical and psychosocial. This course is multi-disciplinary and multi- professional. You will learn alongside palliative care professionals from across the world and from all disciplines at the Cicely Saunders Institute. We have students from a wide range of disciplines and professions including doctors, chaplains, nurses, social workers and physiotherapists. You will develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the many clinical, social, psychosocial, and ethical issues which surround palliative care, and how to assess and deal with them.

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

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Teaching methods - what to expect

Blended learning
Hyflex

The MSc, Diploma and Certificate programme in Palliative Care will be Hyflex. This means that the course will be delivered both in person and online at the same time. You will have the option to come to campus and be taught in the classroom or join remotely wherever you are in the world.

You’ll be taught by academics and professionals at the cutting-edge of palliative care research and practice. We work closely with St Christopher’s Hospice to deliver the modules and we bring in experts from around the world to teach on different subjects. We want you to receive the most current thinking on all aspects of palliative care.

We have deliberately designed the course to fit around your commitments at home and at work. Each of our modules is delivered in two week blocks throughout the year, with time for self-directed learning in between.

PLEASE NOTE:

Students taking one of the Distance Learning Study Modes do not require (and are not eligible for) Student Visa sponsorship. Students taking one of the Classroom Study Modes will be required to apply for a Student Visa, and will not be able to study remotely.

International students on one of the Distance Learning Study Modes (without existing UK residence rights) who wish to visit the UK for a short period in order to undertake an optional module offered on campus will need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. 

Assessment

  • Course Work

You will be assessed by coursework across the different modules. If you are an MSc student, you will be required to write a 15,000-word research study project.

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they may change if the course modules change.

Structure

Required modules

If you are an MSc student, you will take a total of 180 credits. If you are a PG Dip student, you will take a total of 120 credits. If you are a PG Cert student, you will take a total of 60 credits. If you are an MSc student or a PG Dip student, you are required to take 4 out of the 5 modules. If you are a PG Cert student, you are required to take two of these modules. All students are required to take the Research methods and statistics in palliative care module. If you are an MSc student you are required to take: Research Study Project (60 credits)

Research Methods and Statistics in Palliative Care (30 credits)
Assessment and Management of Symptoms in Advanced Disease (30 credits)
Service Management and Policy in Palliative Care (30 credits)
Applying Psychosocial, Cultural, Ethical and Spiritual Issues to Palliative and End of Life Care (30 credits)
Applying Epidemiology in Palliative Care (30 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Many of our graduates have gone on to become leaders in their field, to make significant contributions to patient and family care and to influence palliative care policy locally, nationally and internationally. Many have used this course to progress their careers from specialist training registrars in palliative medicine to challenging and exciting consultant posts in hospital, hospice and community settings, and a growing number of clinical nurse specialists are now nurse consultants. Increasing numbers go on to conduct PhDs in palliative care related areas and the course has given to some exciting opportunities to conduct high quality research which has successfully been disseminated at scientific meetings or high quality, peer-reviewed journals.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: MSc - £11,040 per year (2022/23); PG Dip - £7,360 per year (2022/23); PG Cert - £3,680 per year (2022/23)

Part time: MSc - £5,520 per year (2022/23); PG Dip - £3,680 per year (2022/23); PG Cert - £1,840 per year (2022/23)

International:

Full time: MSc - £24,660 per year (2022/23); PG Dip - £16,440 per year (2022/23); PG Cert - £8,220 per year (2022/23)

Part time: MSc £12,330 per year (2022/23); PG Dip - £8,220 per year (2022/23); PG Cert - £4,110 per year (2022/23)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000. 

For September entry

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022
  • If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.  
  • If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer. 
  • If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August , payment is due within one week from the offer date. 
  • If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

 

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

 

Additional costs/expenses

In addition to the costs above, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Graduation costs
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Graduation costs
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

Funding

Delivered by King’s Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care and St Christopher’s Hospice the course will give you the skills you need to evaluate research and evidence in issues of palliative care to inform your clinical practice and your service development. Our primary aim is to improve your ability, competence and confidence to care for patients with advanced disease, and for their families. This requires you to be able to critically evaluate evidence of the effectiveness, appropriateness and acceptability of existing interventions and services, both medical and psychosocial. This course is multi-disciplinary and multi- professional. You will learn alongside palliative care professionals from across the world and from all disciplines at the Cicely Saunders Institute. We have students from a wide range of disciplines and professions including doctors, chaplains, nurses, social workers and physiotherapists. You will develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the many clinical, social, psychosocial, and ethical issues which surround palliative care, and how to assess and deal with them.

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Loading...

Teaching methods - what to expect

Blended learning
Hyflex

The MSc, Diploma and Certificate programme in Palliative Care will be Hyflex. This means that the course will be delivered both in person and online at the same time. You will have the option to come to campus and be taught in the classroom or join remotely wherever you are in the world.

You’ll be taught by academics and professionals at the cutting-edge of palliative care research and practice. We work closely with St Christopher’s Hospice to deliver the modules and we bring in experts from around the world to teach on different subjects. We want you to receive the most current thinking on all aspects of palliative care.

We have deliberately designed the course to fit around your commitments at home and at work. Each of our modules is delivered in two week blocks throughout the year, with time for self-directed learning in between.

PLEASE NOTE:

Students taking one of the Distance Learning Study Modes do not require (and are not eligible for) Student Visa sponsorship. Students taking one of the Classroom Study Modes will be required to apply for a Student Visa, and will not be able to study remotely.

International students on one of the Distance Learning Study Modes (without existing UK residence rights) who wish to visit the UK for a short period in order to undertake an optional module offered on campus will need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. 

Assessment

  • Course Work

You will be assessed by coursework across the different modules. If you are an MSc student, you will be required to write a 15,000-word research study project.

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they may change if the course modules change.

Structure

Required modules

If you are an MSc student, you will take a total of 180 credits. If you are a PG Dip student, you will take a total of 120 credits. If you are a PG Cert student, you will take a total of 60 credits. If you are an MSc student or a PG Dip student, you are required to take 4 out of the 5 modules. If you are a PG Cert student, you are required to take two of these modules. All students are required to take the Research methods and statistics in palliative care module. If you are an MSc student you are required to take: Research Study Project (60 credits)

Research Methods and Statistics in Palliative Care (30 credits)
Assessment and Management of Symptoms in Advanced Disease (30 credits)
Service Management and Policy in Palliative Care (30 credits)
Applying Psychosocial, Cultural, Ethical and Spiritual Issues to Palliative and End of Life Care (30 credits)
Applying Epidemiology in Palliative Care (30 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Many of our graduates have gone on to become leaders in their field, to make significant contributions to patient and family care and to influence palliative care policy locally, nationally and internationally. Many have used this course to progress their careers from specialist training registrars in palliative medicine to challenging and exciting consultant posts in hospital, hospice and community settings, and a growing number of clinical nurse specialists are now nurse consultants. Increasing numbers go on to conduct PhDs in palliative care related areas and the course has given to some exciting opportunities to conduct high quality research which has successfully been disseminated at scientific meetings or high quality, peer-reviewed journals.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: MSc - £11,040 per year (2022/23); PG Dip - £7,360 per year (2022/23); PG Cert - £3,680 per year (2022/23)

Part time: MSc - £5,520 per year (2022/23); PG Dip - £3,680 per year (2022/23); PG Cert - £1,840 per year (2022/23)

International:

Full time: MSc - £24,660 per year (2022/23); PG Dip - £16,440 per year (2022/23); PG Cert - £8,220 per year (2022/23)

Part time: MSc £12,330 per year (2022/23); PG Dip - £8,220 per year (2022/23); PG Cert - £4,110 per year (2022/23)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000. 

For September entry

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022
  • If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.  
  • If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer. 
  • If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August , payment is due within one week from the offer date. 
  • If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

 

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

 

Additional costs/expenses

In addition to the costs above, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Graduation costs
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Graduation costs
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

Funding

Application closing date guidance

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. This programme will remain open only to the final dates below if places are still available and will be closed as soon as it is full.

  • EU or overseas (international) fee status: Friday 29 July 2022 (23:59, UK time)
  • Home fee status: Friday 26 August 2022 (23:59, UK time)

Please note, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if you apply, and we are unable to process more offers because places are filled before the final application deadlines above.

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