Course details
- Entry requirements: A medical, healthcare or allied professional degree, at minimum 2:1
- Full-time: 12 months
- Part-time: 36 months
Return to top
This programme has been developed to enable healthcare and allied professionals, and intercalating medical students, to engage with both theoretical and practice elements in the study of Palliative and End of Life Care at master's Level.
This course will encourage you to consider how good practice can be achieved across a number of different practice settings and apply learning to your own practice area. This programme is rooted in the core elements of good practice, engaging clinical, academic, organisational, political and international perspectives on the current and future challenges for Palliative and End of Life Care.
You will be prepared and provided with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop into, and engage in senior clinical and/or leadership roles within regional, national and international contexts.
Your learning experiences will promote improvements in the care delivered to patients and families, enhance support provided to colleagues, enable effective team working within and across professions and sectors, and highlight the pressures of organisation structures and resources on service delivery.
Work-based learning placements within specialist palliative care settings will provide you with the opportunity to contextualise learning within the programme. You will also undertake advanced communication skills training, delivered by internationally renowned experts, and is designed to develop and enhance skills to address challenges frequently encountered in practice.
The programme is led by an academic lead and a clinical lead from the School, supported by input from specialist clinicians, senior academics and an international faculty.
The course is designed for all healthcare and allied professionals who support patients with life limiting illness (gerontology, respiratory, oncology, cardiology), including doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists, you will develop critical understanding of the evidence that underpins the practice and development of Palliative and End of Life Care services.
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
International students may be able to study this course on a part-time basis but this is dependent on visa regulations. Please visit the Government website for more information about student visas.
If you're able to study part-time, you'll study the same modules as the full-time master's degree over a longer period, usually 36 months. You can make studying work for you by arranging your personal schedule around lectures and seminars which take place during the day. After you complete all the taught modules, you will complete your final dissertation or project and will celebrate your achievements at graduation the following term.
Studying part-time means you can study alongside work or any other life commitments. You will study the same modules as the full-time master's degree over a longer period, usually 36 months. You can make studying work for you by arranging your personal schedule around lectures and seminars which take place during the day. After you complete all the taught modules, you will complete your final dissertation or project and will celebrate your achievements at graduation the following term.
You will learn the core competencies for managing end of life care that are identified following the Shape of Training recommendations and subsequent guidance for Core Medical Trainees and Specialist Trainees in General Practice/Paediatrics/Elderly Medicine/General Internal Medicine.
You will be given the opportunity to critically examine the evidence base and develop and enhance your knowledge for practice in the care of patients, and their families, at the end of life.
This module is designed for all healthcare and allied professionals that support patients with life limiting illness, including: doctors, nurses, health care managers, medical students, medical and pharmaceutical researchers, radiographers, health care educators, chaplains, medical volunteers, hospice personnel and social workers.
Palliative Care is a global issue and is a core skill for all health care professionals. Due to changes in disease and demographic profiles, all areas of healthcare and all health carers will necessarily engage with patients with palliative care needs. The Lancet Commission Report of 2017 "Alleviating the access abyss in palliative care and pain relief" identifies that almost half of the global deaths each year require palliative care input. The limited and inequitable spread of palliative care results in excess of six billion hours of serious health related suffering. As recognised by the World Health Organisation health care professionals should be competent and confident in applying the principles of Palliative Care “… training and continuing education on Palliative Care should be integrated as a routine element of, all undergraduate medical and nursing professional education, and as part of in-service training of caregivers at the primary care level.”(WHO, 2014)
The module provides opportunities for health and allied care professionals to engage, understand and develop the skills required to provide effective, evidenced based approaches to managing the needs of patients, and their families, with life limiting illness. The module does this by providing a range of educational modalities to ensure a comprehensive overview and practicable engagement with the learning materials. In addition, the module also meets nationally defined Competencies in Practice for the doctors training in general internal Medicine, Care of the Elderly and for most medical specialities.
In addition to traditional teaching approaches led by national and international academic and clinical experts, this module engages experiential learning to explore the challenges of clinical communication within this field. The integrated two-day Advanced Communication Skills Workshop is a core activity and learning is further supported by electronic self-directed learning opportunities. Students are encouraged to bring their own clinical experience into the discussion forums that examine clinical cases on pain and symptom management, ethical issues in decision making, psychosocial care and the effects of policy upon practice.
A week’s structured observational clinical placement is offered to national/international students within a specialist palliative care unit. The placement is structured to both challenge and consolidate learning within the module.
Teaching will be led from the Academic Palliative and End of Life Care Centre, Liverpool, and from the International Collaborative for Best Care for the Dying Person: the Centre is the lead site for the Collaborative, which brings together multidisciplinary practitioners in palliative and end of life care from 24 countries, who wish to build the evidence base for best care for dying patients through collaborative knowledge transfer, clinical excellence, research, service innovation and quality improvement.
Liverpool’s School of Medicine is ideally located for access to some of the UK’s leading specialist clinical units. Students will also benefit from the expertise within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences research institutes teaching and research links with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and surrounding medical institutions.
On successful completion of this module you will achieve 30 academic credits at M Level (7).
This module will provide students with the opportunity to explore and understand ethical problems and theories, to enhance their ethical reasoning skills and to develop a series of research skills and professional behaviours in the fields of clinical ethics and in ethical decision-making processes.
This module is designed to help students to comprehend different perspectives: the ethical decisions for healthcare staff; patients’ perspectives on ‘ethical care’ and patients’ moral commitments to their immediate environments (families, other chains of care); institutional levels of care and the ethics of resource allocation; duty of care towards the research subjects; as well as ethical suggestions and contributions towards improving present health care practices.
There are two linked assessments: a 15 min. presentation 30%. (about a relevant regulation/policy/law and the underpinning ethical principles) and a case study report (a case from a national or international healthcare practice, critically reviewed from an ethical perspective) (3000 words).
Liverpool’s School of Medicine is ideally located for access to some of the UK’s leading specialist clinical units. Students will have the advantage of being taught by ethicists together with clinical experts in hospitals such as Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, The Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, and The Walton Centre, the UK’s only specialist hospital trust dedicated to neurological services. Students also benefit from the expertise within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences research institutes teaching and research links with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and surrounding medical institutions.
This module is designed primarily for healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, health care managers, medical students, medical and pharmaceutical researchers, radiographers, health care educators, chaplains, medical volunteers, hospice personnel and social workers) but it is also accessible for students with interest in medical ethics.
In Semester two you will be able to develop your research skills, enabling you to develop a critical awareness of the processes required for successful planning and delivery of research.
This module provides the opportunity to develop critical understanding of contemporary end-of-life care provision. This module is designed for all health and social care professionals who support patients, and their families, at the end of life, including: doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, health care managers, medical students, medical and pharmaceutical researchers, health care educators, chaplains, volunteers and hospice personnel.
Palliative Care is a global issue. Caring for patients and their families at the end of life is increasingly recognised as a core skill for all health and social care professionals, including those associated with the organisation and delivery of services. The challenges in providing and accessing appropriate End of Life Care are well documented. The World Health Organisation Atlas https://www.who.int/nmh/Global_Atlas_of_Palliative_Care.pdf estimate that 20.4 million people with chronic illness require meaningful End of Life Care, and the Lancet Commission Report https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/palliative-care estimate that in the recorded deaths of 2015, 45% of patients experienced significant health related suffering.
Within the UK, the General Medical Council (www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-guidance-for-doctors/treatment-and-care-towards-the-end-of-life) and the Royal College of Nursing (www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/end-of-life-care) outline the challenges, core skills and importance of considered, evidence based care at the end of life, forming the basis for the focus within this module. In addition, a key aim within this module is to consider the role of policy, examine key issues relating to societal engagement and explore the impact of national strategies on end-of-life care provision.
The module uses a blended approach to learning engaging a mix of online and classroom-based activities, encouraging both critical reflection and examination of clinical management and organisational practise. National and international academic and clinical experts lead teaching, with participation from the Academic Palliative and End of Life Care Centre, Liverpool, and from the International Collaborative for Best Care for the Dying Person. The Centre is the lead site for the Collaborative, which brings together multidisciplinary practitioners in palliative and end of life care from 24 countries, who wish to build the evidence base for best care for dying patients through collaborative knowledge transfer, clinical excellence, research, service innovation and quality improvement.
Liverpool’s School of Medicine is ideally located for access to some of the UK’s leading specialist clinical units. Students will also benefit from the expertise within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences research institutes teaching and research links with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and surrounding medical institutions.
On successful completion of this module you will achieve 30 academic credits at M Level (7).
This module will enable students to develop and then apply their understanding of the research process. Students will develop the ability to assess and appraise the design, development, data collection and analysis of research within health and social science, and critically apply this knowledge in the to design of high quality research proposals appropriate for Masters / Level 7 study.
This 30-credit module is aimed at those who have little experience of research and are looking to prepare for a Masters level research project. Students will engage critically with the ‘the research journey’; from conception of an idea and formation of a Research Question, the theoretical underpinning of approaches to research, study design and approvals, data collection and analysis, and study reporting. The module will then examine the role of Clinical Trial Centres and Research Design Support services in the development of advanced study design (e.g. clinical trials, complex interventions), and subsequently examine in greater depth theory and application of advanced levels of qualitative and quantitative study design and data analysis.
This module will have a flexible delivery to allow for maximum student engagement across programmes. It will be delivered online, on-campus, or a combination of the two across the semester. Students will need to opt into one of the delivery patterns prior to starting the module. It is supported by interactive lectures/audio-visual presentations, quizzes and case-based tutorials and interactive discussion boards.
The module content will be taught by a range of experts from across the Health and Life Science Faculty presenting students with experts within their field of interest and across specialities thereby giving students a breadth of exposure to research at The University of Liverpool.
There are four summative assessments within this module, structured to cumulatively build the students critical skills:
1. Critique of a Research Article (2,000 words)
2. Data Analysis Activity: Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis Exercise (1,000 words)
3. Presentation – Study Protocol Critique: Students will present and critique an outline study protocol. (15 Minute Presentation).
4. Study Protocol: Students will develop a robust project protocol amenable for a Masters level project. (2,000 words).
The assessments can be tailored to focus on the students area of interest and area of speciality.
The assessments can be tailored to focus on the students area of interest.
In Semester three you will undertake and submit a research project.
This module is designed for the research project element of Master’s level programmes of study within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. It is designed for students undertaking clinical projects and those that are appropriate to scientists and healthcare professionals within the subject area of their Master’s programme. These might include new graduates in the fields of health and science, doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, health care managers, medical students, medical and pharmaceutical researchers, and other related non-medical personnel.
Students have the opportunity to explore a wide range of scientific and applied medical topics previously covered during the core modules and to plan and execute a research project and then to learn how to communicate it to a scientific audience in the form of a scientific poster and a journal article. This module will allow students to understand the process of dissemination of research findings, which will be supported by a supervisor.
In order to accommodate different professional and personal needs, the module has a flexible, online or on-campus structure dependent on the research project. This will be an independent piece of work carried out by the student with support from a named supervisor. Support will also be provided by peer support sessions and assessment support sessions prior to submission, and group lectures and seminars will form the basis of the taught element at the beginning of the module.
Students will further develop their digital skills in the virtual learning environment to explore their research area.
Students will produce a piece of written work that is based on the research project or a systematically structured literature review. The assessment of this module is i) a project plan before starting the project: 1000 words: 10%, to be submitted prior to the project commencing, ii) a written journal paper, 5000 words (60%), iii) an Individual poster, equivalent to 2500 words, 20%, and iv) an individual oral presentation, c. 15 mins, 10%.
Contributions to teaching and supervision will be from key clinical and research areas and where appropriate cross-Faculty to ensure research informed teaching. Students will benefit from the wide range of research expertise within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences research institutes, teaching and research links with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and other institutions. The University is ideally located for access to some of the UK’s leading specialist clinical units with clinical experts in hospitals such as Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, The Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, and The Walton Centre, the UK’s only specialist hospital trust dedicated to neurological services.
This course uses a blended approach to learning, involving a combination of classroom, practice and online-based activities. The range of educational strategies are used to facilitate learning, including structured reading, experiential learning, formal presentation, clinical observation, reflective practice, student presentation, group discussion and structured critical review.
You will be assessed through a combination of presentations, coursework and the final research project.
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
This course is delivered by the School of Medicine, you’ll be taught by enthusiastic, approachable staff who are all active researchers and/or practising clinicians. As part of the School of Medicine you will benefit from close links with other schools and research institutes within both the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and wider University to create exciting interdisciplinary opportunities for research and learning.
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
The faculty is amazing and encouraging, the subject is outstanding, there are several chances for research, and we get to see how what we learn in class is applied in the real world.
Want to find out more about student life?
Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
This course will prepare you with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop into, and engage in senior clinical and leadership roles, promoting improvements in the care delivered to patients and families, supporting colleagues and ensuring effective team working within and across professions and sectors, whilst understanding the pressures of organisation structures and resources on service delivery.
For clinicians who complete the course, the programme maps directly onto relevant postgraduate training curricula and will directly enhance the career and employment prospects of clinicians in training. The programme will also support the current and future careers of clinicians in other related areas of medicine and allied health professionals.
For intercalating medical students, successful completion of the master’s degree will support competitive applications in the UK Foundation Programme through the additional tariff gained by a level 7 qualification. Career development (through a competitive advantage in Academic Foundation posts) will also be supported by completion of the programme.
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland) | |
---|---|
Full-time place, per year | £10,800 |
Part-time place, per year | £5,400 |
International fees | |
---|---|
Full-time place, per year | £26,400 |
Part-time place, per year | £13,200 |
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.
If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan worth up to £12,167 to help with course fees and living costs. Learn more about paying for your studies..
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries to provide tuition fee discounts and help with living expenses while at university.
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
My qualifications are from: United Kingdom.
Your qualification | Requirements |
---|---|
Postgraduate entry requirements |
|
International qualifications |
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet our entry requirements, a Pre-Master’s can help you gain a place. This specialist preparation course for postgraduate study is offered on campus at the University of Liverpool International College, in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways. Although there’s no direct Pre-Master’s route to this MSc, completing a Pre-Master’s pathway can guarantee you a place on many other postgraduate courses at The University of Liverpool. |
You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language. International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
English language qualification | Requirements |
---|---|
IELTS |
C View our IELTS academic requirements key. |
INDIA Standard XII | National Curriculum (CBSE/ISC) - 75% and above in English. Accepted State Boards - 80% and above in English. |
Discover more about the city and University.
Liverpool bursts with diversity and creativity which makes it ideal for you to undertake your postgraduate studies and access various opportunities for you and your family.
To fully immerse yourself in the university experience living in halls will keep you close to campus where you can always meet new people. Find your home away from home.
Discover what expenses are covered by the cost of your tuition fees and other finance-related information you may need regarding your studies at Liverpool.
Have you got a question about this course? Email the admissions team.
Last updated 17 October 2023 / / Programme terms and conditions