Veterinary Professional Studies - Clinical Placement

Offered as part of the Veterinary Professional Studies Postgraduate Diploma or MSc programme, Clinical Placement modules 1 and 2 are each 20-credit modules consisting of a clinical placement equivalent to four full weeks, at an institute, government department or practice relevant to the postgraduate pathway being taken.

Placements are self-arranged with guidance from programme tutors.

Completion of the placement will need to be certified by an approved clinical placement supervisor, usually a specialist, Diploma holder or an experienced Certificate holder who is able to offer training in the discipline – contact the module coordinator for approval prior to undertaking the module.

Aims of Module

On successful completion of this module students will:

1. be able to apply clinical and other skills learned from the programme of study within a professional and clinical working environment;
2. develop in-depth knowledge and advanced practice skills in a particular area or discipline of veterinary practice;
3. have a critical awareness of, and be able to reflect upon, how clinical and other skills learned can be applied in a clinical context.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. demonstrate the application of skills and knowledge acquired through M-level taught modules in the programme of study to the clinical workplace;
2. demonstrate an in-depth understanding and critical awareness of how knowledge and skills are applied in veterinary practice, not least through the negotiation of specific work-based learning objectives for this module;
3. demonstrate the ability to work and learn independently and professionally within a workplace environment;
4. demonstrate critical awareness of the ethical, economic and social issues that apply to practice within the clinical subject area;
5. demonstrate a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of the field of study and /or area of professional practice;
6. deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
7. demonstrate the ability to undertake appropriate, post-graduate-level clinical tasks (as defined through discussion between the student, placement provider and module organiser) within a clinical speciality.

Module Structure

The detailed syllabus will depend on your agreed learning outcomes, and these will be tailor-made to the particular clinical discipline and student, as outlined above.

Prior to the Module Leader giving their approval to the placement, the student, supervisor and Module Leader will have discussed the structure and overarching learning outcomes of the placement. A more detailed set of learning objectives will be developed by the student in negotiation with the supervisor.

Module Timetable

There are no set weekly timetables for these two modules.

You will be required to submit your specific work-based learning objectives for this module by the end of week 4 for approval.

You may complete your placement at any time within 3 months of the module commencing (before or after).

Your case log, reflective essay and final report are all due at the end of the module.

Fees

Clinical Placement Module 1 - £800

Clinical Placement Module 2 - £800

How to Enrol 

Applications are invited from candidates who have already completed 60 credits towards a Veterinary Professional Studies award at the University of Liverpool (i.e. as per the Certificate in Veterinary Professional Studies), and who are continuing to study towards the Diploma or MSc.

For more information on enrolment, please contact us.