Physician Associate Studies MSc

Program Overview

This top-up MSc program for Physician Associates equips students with research and quality improvement skills through a distance learning Research Methods module and a dissertation. The flexible program allows students to continue working while studying and supports progression to leadership roles in the NHS or academia. With its unique offering of "topping up" a PGDip to an MSc and strong industry connections, this program enhances students' professional development.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This is a top-up MSc program designed for students who have already graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Physician Assistant/Associate Studies from a UK or Irish university. It is a flexible program that allows students to work professionally while studying for their Masters. The program aims to equip Physician Associates with the skills necessary for research and quality improvement work, which are becoming increasingly common in the PA profession. This includes identifying areas for improvement, considering ethical implications, designing research, and offering solutions. The MSc program supports students in developing these skills through a dedicated research methods module and a dissertation.

Outline:

The program is structured in two parts:

• Research Methods Module: This distance learning module covers the techniques needed to critically appraise published research and carry out original research.
Topics include:
• The scientific method applied to human services
• Literature search techniques
• Research design
• Sampling
• Organization of a research project
• Research ethics
• Measurement techniques
• Analysis of qualitative and quantitative data
• Presentation of results
• Dissemination
• Students with significant relevant previous research experience may be exempted from completing this module.
• Dissertation: This module provides students with the opportunity to apply their professional understanding developed through practice and the PGDip Physician Associate program to a major piece of scholarly work, typically research.
Students are expected to demonstrate novel thinking in an area relevant to physician associate practice or the development of the physician associate profession. Academic supervision is provided, but the main impetus for the work and critical thinking must come from the student.

Assessment:

• The program is assessed through a 10,000-word dissertation.

Teaching:

• The Research Methods Module is taught through distance learning.

Careers:

• A Masters qualification for a PA is an important step into leadership roles in the NHS or academia.

Other:

• The program is one of only a handful of courses that allow students to "top up" their PGDip to an MSc in physician associate studies.
• The program is 100% distance learning and can be completed around clinical and other commitments.
• The Research Methods module is run by an experienced researcher who provides support to students when producing their research proposal.
• The dissertation is supported by those with strong links to the physician associate profession at a national level, with an interest in supporting students to develop their research skills and apply that knowledge in their own career.
• The program utilizes previous learning and allows students to continue working as physician associates while gaining the qualification.
• The program supports progression by providing experience in research and quality improvement, which can be used as evidence in the HEE MAPs Core Capabilities Framework.