University of Hull

What you'll study

This programme teaches the clinical, ethical and organisational aspects of high-quality palliative and end-of-life care, with a strong emphasis on translating evidence into routine practice. The curriculum is modular and available at certificate, diploma and master’s levels; students can progress from PGCert to PGDip to MSc by accumulating credits.

• Core topics typically include Foundations of Palliative Care; Symptom Assessment and Management (pain, breathlessness, nausea, delirium); Communication and Advance Care Planning; Ethical and Legal Issues in End-of-Life Care; and Principles of Bereavement Support.
• Service improvement and leadership modules focus on implementing best practice, quality improvement methods, service design, interprofessional team working and clinical governance in palliative settings.
• Research and evidence-based practice includes research methods, critical appraisal, and an applied research or service evaluation project leading to a dissertation at MSc level.
• Optional and specialist modules may cover paediatric palliative care, psychosocial and spiritual care, palliative care in long-term conditions, teaching and mentorship, or community and hospice models of care.
• The programme combines taught sessions, case-based learning, work-based learning and assessed practice; the MSc requires completion of a substantive project that demonstrates implementation of best practice in a real-world setting.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a UK degree (normally a 2:2 or above) in a health- or social-care-related subject, or an equivalent professional qualification. More experienced practitioners without a degree may be considered on the basis of relevant professional qualifications and substantial practice experience in palliative or end-of-life care.

• Registration with a relevant professional body (for example, nursing or medical registers) is usually required for clinical applicants.
• Applicants should normally be working in a role that allows practice-based learning and access to patients or services for assessments and projects.
• International applicants whose first language is not English will need to meet the university’s English language requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates typically progress to advanced clinical and leadership roles within hospices, hospital palliative care teams, community services and care homes. Common career paths include specialist palliative care nurse or clinician, clinical nurse specialist, consultant roles in palliative medicine (for medically qualified applicants), hospice or service manager, clinical educator, commissioning or policy roles related to end-of-life care, and research or audit positions.

The programme’s focus on service improvement and implementation equips graduates to lead quality improvement projects, develop new models of care and contribute to education and training within their organisations.

Why study at University of Hull

The University of Hull offers multidisciplinary teaching informed by research and close partnerships with local hospices, NHS palliative teams and social-care providers, providing opportunities for applied learning and practice-based projects. The programme is designed to be accessible to working professionals, with flexible delivery that supports part-time study alongside employment.

Students benefit from experienced faculty with clinical and research expertise in palliative care, access to research supervision for applied projects, and opportunities to learn in interprofessional cohorts that reflect the collaborative nature of end-of-life care.