Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £10,620 for the course
International/EU: £10,620 for the course -
How long will I study?
3 Years
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2025
January 2026
Course summary
- Increase your knowledge and clinical practice skills.
- Develop as a generalist or specialist practitioner in your clinical setting.
- Understanding the key factors impacting end-of-life decision making.
- Become an autonomous practitioner – improving your research, leadership skills and ability to implement service developments.
On this course you'll study flexibly around your existing commitments in practice – applying the knowledge you gain to your role. You'll work collaboratively in researching management strategies for end-of-life care, while studying independently towards a deeper understanding of care.
Graduate view
'The course increased my understanding of key topics surrounding supportive and palliative care. I learned how to apply this knowledge in order to improve my clinical practice. I now feel more confident in my role as a health care professional.'
Alexia Azzopardi, MSc Supportive, Palliative and End of Life Care, 2018 graduate
How you learn
This course offers the adaptability to study and work effectively. With the support of supervisors, academics and staff, you'll work towards a deeper understanding of your field.
You'll consider how to better treat, support and care for patients and their families – as well as how to evaluate practice from a philosophical/ethical perspective, and how to support decision making at end of life. Topics include collaborative working, symptom management, loss, grief and bereavement, and research methods for practice.
You learn through
- distance learning through our online learning environment
- collaborative and peer learning
- independent research
- final dissertation/research project
Course leaders and tutors
Heather Drury-Smith
Senior LecturerI am a Senior Lecturer in the Radiotherapy and Oncology department
Applied learning
Live projects
The learning, teaching and assessment strategies on the course reflect current practice in interprofessional working in supportive and palliative care – promoting a collaborative approach. Various professionals contribute to the teaching on the course, from a range of backgrounds and clinical settings.
Work placements
You'll apply your learning to your clinical workplace, gaining an expert understanding of palliative and end-of-life care and its aims. Your day-to-day practice experience will help you adopt a holistic approach to symptom management – allowing you to focus on psychological, spiritual and social support for the patient and their family.
Future careers
We support your potential to progress your career – either in your current organisation or with a new employer. With our advice, you can pursue areas of specialist interest and take modules to help you develop your future career.
Graduates from this course gain the skills and knowledge to work in senior nursing, allied health and other specialist supportive, palliative and end-of-life care roles, including
- information and support radiography
- hospice nurse management
- lead nurse or nurse consultancy
- clinical specialist practice, such as therapy radiography, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, or speech and language therapy – working in supportive and palliative care
Where will I study?
You study this course online from any location
Equipment and facilities
On this course you work with our Blackboard e-learning system.
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want – with support as a distance learning student via the specialist library services, including access to a wide range of journals and research databases. You’re also welcome to use on-site 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
Entry requirements
All students
Academic Qualifications
Normally, applicants will hold a first degree or professional qualification which is recognised in the UK in a related health care subject. Examples of a first degree in a relevant subject include Nursing, Therapeutic Radiography or Physiotherapy etc.
Other formally certified qualifications
Equivalent, international academic and/or professional qualifications will be accepted. Applicants will be considered on other relevant evidence which may include for example documented evidence of recent CPD activity, innovative practice, practice leadership, service development, research projects and/or publications. Such evidence must be clearly described in any application. Applicants are usually required to provide at least one reference evidencing their capability for postgraduate study.
Level of English language capability
If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6 in each skill area.
Relevant work or work-related experience
Applicants must usually have 12 months full time (or equivalent part time) experience and normally be working in a professional role in a related field of health and wellbeing and must have contact with palliative care patients.
Applicants will need access to a reliable internet connection to support engagement and have sound IT skills.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Collaborative Working In Symptom Management
End Of Life Decision Making
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Loss, Grief And Bereavement
Researching For Practice (Distance Learning)
Elective modules
Advanced Communication In Supportive Care
Evaluating Service Improvement
Evidencing Your Cpd
Evidencing Your Cpd
Image Guided Radiotherapy
Information Giving And Informed Consent
Learning And Teaching For Practice (Distance Learning)
Non-Medical Prescribing
Personalised Care And Supported Self-Management For Those Affected By Cancer
Planning Service Improvement
Psychology Of Cancer Care
Final year
Compulsory modules
Dissertation 60 Credits
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2025/26 is £10,620 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time. Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2025/26 is £3,540 per year.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting part-time study in 2025/26 is £10,620 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £12,471 is available in 2024/25 for home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 165.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
