MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice
€9,050
Enhance your skills and expertise in advanced clinical practice. This programme supports personal and professional development, expands knowledge on contemporary health topics, and fosters a professional network through peer learning and observation.
Masters
2 years
Hybrid - Part-time
90 ECTS
September 2026
About
The aim of the RCSI Department of Surgical Affairs Advanced Clinical Practice programme is to provide doctors of various specialties a systematic understanding of the professional skills and techniques needed to provide leadership, management, teaching and research in clinical practice. On the programme, you will gain a suite of essential skills and competencies in clinical practice in order to take on more advanced roles within your specialty, sector or setting.
Through extensive research of different non-surgical specialties, this programme is based on a number of critical modules that will help you better meet the demands of modern day clinical practice. Modules have also been selected based on you having a positive impact on patient care in their practice. The programme is NUI-accredited.
Uniquely in Year 2, you will construct a comprehensive research strategy and produce a thesis inclusive of an original piece of research relating to an area of current advanced clinical practice. The Research Methods, Protocol Development, and Design and Analysis modules in Year 1 will equip you with the tools to prepare, manage and design this substantial research project. Academic staff will also be available to support you in relation to your research dissertation.
This programme runs part-time over a two-year period on a hybrid model, with 80% online and 20% face-to-face days at RCSI’s Dublin campus. Each module will have at least one or two days of in-person attendance.
This course is a Level 9 award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications.
MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice brochure PDF | 3229.6 KB FAQs – MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice (part-time) – 2025 intake PDF | 68.4 KB
Develop critical understanding and competencies
Enhance your leadership abilities and knowledge in clinical education
Explore how to make evidence-based ethical clinical decisions
Learn about healthcare management, lean QI, and medical technology
Prepare for the professional challenges that arise within practice
Conduct a significant research project in Year 2
Suitable for
The MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice is open to all non-consultant health doctors in Ireland within non-surgical specialities such as radiology, anaesthesiology, general practice, emergency medicine, pathology, public health, occupational health, and all general medical specialties.
What you will learn
Core modules
Equip yourself with the tools to prepare, manage, and design a substantial research project
Gain a deeper understanding of ethical and legal issues in healthcare and clinical research
Complete a substantial research dissertation in your chosen specialty, suitable for peer-reviewed publication
Optional modules
Develop your role as a teacher and assessor in clinical practice
Gain hands-on experience in medical invention, focusing on identifying unmet needs and developing strategies
Get hands-on experience in medical invention, from identifying unmet needs to developing clinical and market strategies
Enhance core skills in professionalism and advanced communication principles and practices
Enhance your ability to assess and manage common musculoskeletal conditions in primary care
Build on the skills from the Primary Care - Orthopaedics I module
Learn the evolution and principles of lean healthcare and its impact on patients and patient value
Understand the global healthcare context and surgical needs in developing countries and humanitarian crises
What our students say
Testimonial
"I am enjoying my time on the programme ... it exposes us to the basic principles involved in teaching and learning and also gives a flavour of the med tech industry."
"This programme provides the opportunity to learn and test skills required for modern medical practice management be it sole trader, clinic or hospital-based. The provision of highest standard tutors ensures the candidate is provided with the contemporary standards required for current and future practice."
Introduction to MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice
Get an introduction to the MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice with Programme Director Dr Marie Morris and find out more about the aims and principles underpinning this programme.
Why study an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice?
Find out more from Dr Marie Morris about why the MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice could be right for you.
Register your interest
For more information about this course, please complete the following form, and a member of the team will be in touch with you.
Course information
This programme will provide you with the skills and knowledge to:
- Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the best evidence underpinning professional skills and techniques needed to provide leadership, management, teaching and research in clinical practice.
- Integrate knowledge from a number of sources to manage complexity and formulate evidence-based ethical clinical decisions.
- Lead-out on quality improvement and lean initiatives within your department.
- Illustrate development of a professional identity as a clinical educator.
- Illustrate an ability to self-evaluate and reflect in order to develop continuously by identifying gaps in competence and take responsibility for continuing academic and professional growth.
- Construct a comprehensive research strategy and produce a thesis inclusive of an original piece of research relating to an area of current advanced clinical practice.
- Think independently, explore and critically analyse innovations in your own area of practice.
- Distinguish between leadership styles, lead by example by demonstrating exemplary skills in ethical clinical practice, research and teaching.
- Act professionally and communicate effectively with peers, colleagues, patients, carers and society.
The programme has a diverse range of modules tailored to support your career development. We have three core modules and a choice from eight optional modules. An MSc award requires completion of 90 ECTS.
You must complete three mandatory modules totaling to 55 ECTS and then select four optional modules from a range of eight, totaling 35 ECTS. These consist of three 10-ECTS modules and one 5-ECT Module.
Core modules – 55 ECTS
| Core module name | Description |
|---|---|
| Research Methods: Protocol Development, Design and Analysis 15 ECTS |
This module will equip you with the tools to prepare, manage, and design a substantial research project. |
|
Healthcare Ethics and Law |
This module aims to provide you with an opportunity to gain a deeper and more systematic understanding of ethical and legal issues both in principle and in practical aspects of healthcare and clinical research. |
| Research Dissertation 30 ECTS |
In order to successfully achieve the qualification of a MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice, you must complete a substantial research dissertation in a specialty of your choice. The dissertation must be original scholastic work, though not necessarily lab- based, suitable for peer-reviewed publication in a journal of high impact. You will consult with supervisors at regular intervals throughout the research process and will have at least six months to complete the dissertation. |
Optional modules – syou must select four optional modules from a range of eight, totaling 35 ECTS. These consist of three 10-ECTS modules and one 5-ECTS module.
| Optional module | Description |
|---|---|
| Clinicians as Educators: Effective Teaching Skills 10 ECTS |
This module aims to support and promote the development of your role as a teacher and assessor in clinical practice.
|
| Leading and Managing your Organisation/Service 10 ECTS
|
The aims of this module is to provide you with an understanding of the nature of service and the factors that contribute to excellence in leading service in healthcare through lectures, guest speakers, seminars, readings and assignments.
|
| Medical Devices, Technology and Innovation 10 ECTS
|
The aim of this module is to provide scholars with hands-on experience in the industry of medical invention, from identifying un-met needs to developing clinical and market strategies. The module will also seek to build the participants awareness of the various roles of clinical professionals (surgeons) in the design and development of medical devices.
|
| Professionalism and Advanced Communications 10 ECTS
|
This module aims to support the development of the core skills below through exploring the concept of professionalism and the principles and practice of advanced communication.
|
| Lean QI and Healthcare 5 ECTS
|
This module aims to develop an understanding of the evolution and guiding principles of lean healthcare and the link between 'lean', your patients and patient value.
|
| Global Surgery 5 ECTS
|
The aim of this module is to introduce surgeons in training to the global healthcare context and specific issues relevant to the surgical profession. You are expected to gain awareness of surgical needs unique to developing countries and in humanitarian crises.
|
| Primary Care - Orthopaedics I 10 ECTS
|
This module aims to enhance a student's capacity to assess and manage musculoskeletal conditions that commonly present to GPs and in primary care, to conduct a clinical assessment and to perform therapeutic procedures (e.g. joint injections) with use of diagnostic imaging where appropriate and available.
|
| Primary Care - Orthopaedics 2 10 ECTS
|
This module follows on from the Primary Care - Orthopaedics I module.
|
The MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice programme is accredited by the University of the National University of Ireland (NUI).
Admissions
To be considered eligible for the programme, you must be:
- MB BAO BCh holder (or equivalent Level 8 undergraduate medical degree recognised by the World Health Organization).
- Working in a clinical post and can source a clinical supervisor for your research dissertation.
Documents to submit with application for both programmes:
1. Full CV to include the following:
- Employment information: Job title/level/location.
- Research: Have you published research? Yes/no; please provide reference.
2. Copy of passport.
3. Copy of educational transcripts.
4. Proof of sponsorship (where applicable).
5. Evidence of English language qualification (where applicable).
6. A 300 word response to the question: “How do you perceive this programme will enhance your career?” Before submitting your application please review our AI guidelines.
Please note
- The MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice part-time programme is not recognised for the purposes of applying for a student visa for Ireland. Only full-time students can apply for a student visa.
- There are no international scholarships available at present for this programme.
You must have one of the following:
1. IELTS >6.5 (or equivalent) achieved in all sections (reading, writing, and oral) or equivalent must be submitted. Read more about minimum English-language requirements here.
2. There is an exemption if you completed undergraduate or postgraduate studies full-time in the medium of the English language (three or more years, cumulatively).
Total fees: €9,050 (EU and non-EU fee)
- Year 1: €5,430
- Year 2: €3,620
NCHDs working in the HSE full-time may be able to combine Continuous Professional Development Support Scheme (CPD-SS) funding and Training Supports Scheme (TSS) funding to cover up to €5,500 over two years of the part-time MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice programme (€2,740 per year).
Prospective candidates can check if you are eligible for this funding by emailing cpdss@rcsi.com.
Payment structure
Year 1
- First payment (on acceptance of offer): €1,500 + €45 NUI
- Second payment (August): €2,500
- Third payment (January): €1,430
Year 2
- First payment (July): €3,000
- Second payment (January): €620
Please note
- The fee includes all resources, access to our award-winning online learning portal and access to extensive RCSI-only databases.
- There is a non-refundable online application fee of €100.
- The fee includes an annual NUI fee of €45.
- The fee is payable via the above schedule, where relevant.
- If you have outstanding fees you will not be entitled to receive your grades or be eligible to progress and or graduate (VLE and Library privileges will be withdrawn in these cases).
- RCSI accepts no obligation to refund any fee, or part thereof, in respect of a student who chooses to withdraw from a programme.
- If you choose to withdraw from a programme you are liable for full fees owed for the seat on that programme.
- All NUI parchments are issued in Latin; you will be required to pay an additional fee of €50 to NUI if you wish to have a parchment published in English. Further information can be found here.
- Fees are subject to review annually.
- If you are being sponsored or funded by your employer you should upload a funding confirmation letter in the document upload section on the application portal. A template is available below to download at your convenience.
Please note: Fees are subject to change.
View our Postgraduate fees policy.
How to apply
Applications are now closed for the September 2025 intake of the MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice.
If you are interested in applying for the September 2026 intake, please register your interest below.
If you have any queries, please email PostgradSA@rcsi.ie.