MSc
Leadership in Health and Wellbeing
Professional training for managers in healthcare-related roles
Course Overview
Why take this course?
This course is specifically designed for managers, heads of service, commissioners and clinicians who are employed within the various organisations responsible for public health and wellbeing.
It will strengthen your commissioning capabilities and inform you of management best practice which, in turn, will deliver better health and wellbeing, better care and better value for all.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Establish strategic networks with others of a similar profession in NHS, public sector and voluntary organisations
- Participate in live web-based chat forums to discuss your work with lecturers and other students
- Tap in to our Library’s vast selection of electronic resources, which can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection
What opportunities might it lead to?
This course has been developed in partnership with the NHS, local government, the third sector and the University of Portsmouth for those seeking senior management positions in healthcare. We aim to provide networking opportunities with stakeholders, formally and informally, that will impact on partnership service improvement. You’ll also benefit from learning alongside other students engaged in the healthcare sector and associated industries, enabling you to share and expand your outlook on current issues.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- healthcare facilities
- NHS
- government agencies
- private healthcare companies
- voluntary organisations
The staff at Portsmouth were incredibly supportive; I would often pop in at the end of a working day and they would be more than happy to help.
Tom Senior, project management and leadership student
Key Facts
- Duration
- 3 years part time
- Entry
A good honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. Exceptionally, practising managers with equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will be considered. If a good first degree is not held, relevant experience will be taken into account via an interview.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in all individual components, or equivalent.- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students: £2,000 p/a*
International students: £3,500 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 8200 - Department
- Portsmouth Business School
Structure & Teaching
You will need to complete eight work-based assignments split over the three year period. These will explore and apply theoretical learning to gain a Postgraduate Diploma in either Strategic Commissioning or Health and Wellbeing, depending on the options you choose. To upgrade to the Master’s you will need to attend the Research Methods unit to update your research and analysis skills and then undertake an Investigative Project that evaluates a significant new leadership initiative.
Here are the units you will study:
Year One
- Strategy and Partnerships (core)
- Developing Leadership and Commissioning (option – PgDip Leadership in Strategic Commissioning)
- Developing Leadership and People (option – PgDip Leadership in Health and Wellbeing)
Year Two
- Managing Performance and Finance (core)
- Leading Change and Achieving Results (core)
Year Three
- Research Methods
- Investigative Project
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching on campus is undertaken by short courses with optional attendance at organised masterclasses where you can drill down into greater detail on topics relevant to you. This taught element of the course provides the basis of learning and forms a network of fellow students doing similar job roles in other agencies, with whom you can meet informally to continue learning and complete your assignments.
How are you assessed?
For assessment, you will agree on relevant assignments with your workplace mentor and University-based personal tutor. You will then focus on the application of your learning at work and reflect on what you learn from your experience.
Facilities & Features
Flexible Learning
Benefit from web, email or phone access to many of our facilities and services
Support
Tutors are available to support your studies via online tutorials, email and telephone conferencing
Academic Skills Unit (ASK)
Our workshops are designed to improve a number of essential academic skills
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information including thousands of online ejournals
Flexible Learning
Although you may not be campus based, you will still benefit from web, email or phone access to many of our facilities and services. Our student website, LookUP, will be your one-stop shop for all news, information and links to other services, and 24/7 online access to the University Library’s vast electronic book, journal and database collections will help you find the right resources for your studies.
Support
Due to the distance-learning nature of this course and the potential pressure of juggling your course alongside work life, we aim to provide you with as much support as possible. There are tutors available to support your studies via online tutorials, email and telephone conferencing. You will be specifically assigned a personal tutor to oversee your progress, as well as a workplace mentor chosen by you - someone at work who can offer advice, guidance and moral support throughout your studies.
Academic Skills Unit (ASK)
The ASK unit will help you become a successful university student. Our workshops are designed to improve a number of essential academic skills from essay writing and understanding plagiarism to revision and exam techniques. This is a great way to refresh yourself on university study ensuring you perform to your full potential.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
Our graduates are highly employable and go on to a wide range of managerial careers within the healthcare industry. You may find success as previous students have done by receiving promotion to roles such as associate director or business manager.
If you are an aspiring GP clinical leader, perhaps a future accountable officer or a GP clinical commissioner, this course will help you to reach the highest levels of management in an array of healthcare organisations.
Career planning
One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degrees students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service – Purple Door – can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree. We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.
In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.