Overview
Are you a physiotherapist, midwife, nurse specialist or doctor working within pelvic health? If so, this advanced clinical practice pathway in pelvic health, is designed to provide you with the advancing skills in assessment, diagnosis and patient management to progress as an advanced clinician to provide conservative management of pelvic floor dysfunction.
You’ll explore links between research, theory, policy and practice, and how to apply them to optimise practice and service delivery. You'll become an effective leader and practitioner in the field of pelvic health.
At Brunel, we understand the challenges of fitting study around work and family life. For this reason, we have designed this course to be flexible, so that it can fit around your current commitments. The full master's course can be studied 3 years part-time starting in September.
If you don’t want to commit to part-time study of the entire master's, you can develop your educational portfolio over a longer period of time by undertaking staged study that leads to the award of Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) after one year of study, Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) after two years of study and full Masters (MSc) after three years of study.
Please note that it is important you apply for the stage you will be studying in that year, i.e. to study for the PgDip you must have already completed the PgCert and you only apply for the staged MSc once you have completed the PgDip.
Each stage can be studied 1 year part-time starting in September. You could even just take one or more CPPD modules for your professional development and return to complete your course at a later date.
Induction 18th and 19th September 2024 online.
Course content
You’ll benefit from a course designed to incorporate a multidisciplinary perspective, that’s mapped against the Advanced Clinical Practice framework and credentials for pelvic health as set out by NHS England.
You’ll study key modules in clinical leadership, teaching and learning and research. Alongside this, your specialist modules will cover assessment and diagnosis; conservative management of pelvic floor dysfunction and advanced practice with postpartum care, and pain.
You’ll learn practical skills to assess and manage urinary and faecal incontinence, emptying disorders of the bladder and bowel, sexual dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse and pain and postpartum acute and long term recovery.
You will learn how to critically evaluate research and will apply this to your own practice and use reflective learning to advance your skills in your clinical practice skills in line with national guidelines.
Compulsory
- PH5604 - Qualitative Research in Health and Social Care
This module aims to critically explore, reflect upon and develop qualitative research skills and knowledge in health, and to explore qualitative approaches in research in the context of their philosophical, societal, and cultural underpinnings and use in clinical settings.
In additional to theoretical perspectives, through online lectures and interactive workshops you will be introduced to and practice different methods of collecting data and data analysis.
You will learn how to evaluate the quality of qualitative research and consider aspects such as ethics, power, reflexivity and the role of co-construction. This is made relevant to research projects but also service evaluations, quality improvement projects and practice.
- Study mode: Part-time.
- 0900-1200 face-to-face. 1300-1600 online
- Wednesdays (2024) - 25th September, 9th October, 23rd October, 6th November and 20th November.
- MCQ Jan 2025
- PH5612 - Advanced Clinical Leadership
This module aims to develop advanced knowledge, skills, qualities and behaviours of leadership for clinical healthcare professionals working in a range of roles in healthcare settings in the NHS. This knowledge and skills literacy will nurture and enhance existing team-working skills and clinical leadership requirements in order to evidence advanced level skills.
Indicative content includes principles of clinical leadership, leadership theories and change management. Effective team working, partnership working and communication will be explored alongside service development tools including service co-design.
Click here to watch the video about this module
Process analysis will support your understanding of how to audit and measure systems and identify and track change.
Weds 0900-1200 face to face, 1300 - 1600 online
2025 Jan 29th, Feb 4th, Feb 26th, March 5th
Optional
- PH5642 Assessment and diagnosis of pelvic health
This module will provide the students with knowledge of common pelvic health pathologies focusing on enhancing assessment and diagnostic skills within pelvic floor dysfunction. An emphasis is placed on the critical appraisal of the current literature within pelvic floor dysfunction and supporting the student to work towards and individual view of clinical best practice.
Click here to watch the video about this module
Indicative content:
- Obstetric, gynaecology, urology and colorectal anatomy and physiology.
- Common pelvic health pathology including, urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic girdle pain and chronic pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction.
- Research evidence underpinning varying assessments for the pelvic health patient. Including pelvic floor muscle assessment, speculum examination, urinalysis, and urology investigations and colorectal investigations
- Evaluation of other specialist tests for pelvic health patients.
Mondays. Various delivery as below
Sept 30th 0900-1600 online, Oct 14th 0900-1600 face to face, Nov11th 0900-1600 online, Nov 25th 0900-1800 face to face
- PH5643 - Management of the Pelvic Health Patient
This module will develop the practical skills for the treatment and management of the pelvic health patient. This module is ideal to follow PH5642 Assessment and diagnosis of pelvic health. Students will learn practical skills such as catheterisation, vaginal pessary application, exercise, manual therapy, biofeedback and electrotherapy skills.
Rehabilitation will be the core of this module and the focus will be on conservative patient management of pelvic floor dysfunction. Critique of the literature will be completed with in-depth evaluation on clinical effectiveness.
Fridays and various as below. 0900 - 1600
2025 - Jan 25th online, Feb 6th/7th face to face, March 7th online
Compulsory
- PH5615 - Learning and Teaching in Advanced Clinical Practice
Click here to watch the video about this module
This module aims to provide practitioners with advanced knowledge and skills for the planning, organisation, delivering, teaching and evaluation of effective programmes for clinical training in specialist practice.
Current research and theory underpinning the educational process which support a challenging and supportive teaching and learning environment for clinical practice will be explored aiming to enhance practitioners’ individual ability to critically appraise and augment their skills, knowledge and actively contribute to the education awareness for members of their healthcare team, patients, service users and carers.
Note: Students must currently be in practice and have formally identified and entered an agreement with a mentor and/or supervisor for the learning-in-practice elements of this module, prior to commencing the module.
Mondays 0900-1200 face to face, 1300-1600 online
2025. Jan 20th, Feb 3rd, Feb 17th, March 3rd, March 17th
- PH5603 - Quantitative Methods and Design for Health Science Research
In this module we aim to develop your critical understanding of quantitative clinical research methodology and the principles of how to use clinical evidence to constructively inform your practice. This means developing skills and knowledge of quantitative research methods and design, understanding data and how to analyse and interpret it and learning how to critically appraise published research.
Indicative content includes consideration of research ethics, governance and integrity alongside theoretical underpinnings of scientific method. Different research designs will be examined alongside common sampling and approaches to statistics.
- Study mode: Part-time.
- 0900-1200 online. 1300-1600 face-to-face
- Wednesdays (2024) - 9th October, 23rd October, 6th and 20th November and 4th December.
- Assessment MCQ Jan 2025
- Credits: 15
Fees 2024/25
UK: £960
International: £1,965
Optional
- PH5624 - Pain: Contemporary Science and Practice
In this module, students will engage with contemporary pain science and up-to-date principles of management for the person in pain. The module is designed for clinicians working with people with pain in any clinical setting.
It aims to improve students understanding of pain science and management and help to better embed this knowledge into everyday practice. Students will look at the issue of pain from multiple perspectives, including knowledge from neurobiology, psychology and epidemiology and other disciplines.
Throughout, there will be a focus on developing clinical skills that can be embedded into practice.
Thursdays 0900 - 1600 online
2025 - January 30th, February 13th and 27th, March 13th
Assessment essay April 2025
- PH5652 Working as a Perinatal Practitioner in Pelvic Health
The aim of this module is to give students an overview into the change of clinical practice when moving into an advanced practice position within perinatal care. Content will include identification of high risk patients post birth, management of pelvic floor dysfunction, wound management and abdominal recovery post birth as well as bladder care following dysfunction.
There will also be a focus on legal aspects of practice as well as complex decision making. This module is suitable for healthcare workers who support patients within the perinatal journey , such as midwives, physiotherapists, health visitors and nurses.
Pre-requisites: An identified mentor and / or supervisor within postnatal care for the learning-in-practice elements of a programme, prior to commencing the programme.
Various as indicated below
Oct 4th 0900 - 1600 online, Oct 15th 0900 - 1600 face to face, Nov 15th 0900 - 1600 online, Nov 26th 0900-1800 face to face
Assessment OSCE Nov 2024, portfolio Jan 2025
Compulsory
- PH5611 - Dissertation
Term 1
Fridays 0900-1200 online
2024 - Sept 27th, Oct 18th, Nov 8th, Nov 29th
Term 2
Monday 0900-1200 dual delivery
2025 - Jan 27th, Feb 3rd, Feb 24th, March 3rd
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
The advanced clinical practice and understanding of pelvic health learnt on this course will help you to improve the quality of care you deliver to your patients.
The course is ideal for physiotherapists, nurses, midwives specialising in postnatal care, and health practitioners who treat pelvic floor dysfunction in urogynaecology, colorectal and urology.
UK entry requirements
All applicants must have a pre-registration degree in relevant allied health profession and the following of relevant experience as a minimum:
1. Students currently working in the UK - At least 1 year of post qualification clinical work experience in the specialism they have applied for. Typically this should be work experience from a ‘Band 6’ level role.
2. Students currently working outside of the UK – At least 2 years post qualification clinical work experience, ideally including at least 1 year in the specialism you have applied for.
You must have met the minimum work experience requirement at the point you apply for the programme. For example, if you submit your application in February 2023, you must have 2 years experience by February 2023 (depending on whether you are working in or outside the UK). This is to make sure that you will definitely have enough experience when you join the course. This does not include internships as they are supervised and therefore technically still part of your training. You should aim to provide documented evidence of your clinical work experience. All applicants should include a detailed CV as part of their application. Applicants who are working outside of the UK should could include letters of recommendations and/or confirmation of employment (we appreciate that what you can provide will vary from one person to another and be dependent on your specific background and employer, so please aim to provide as much documentary evidence when you apply).
EU and International entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS: 7 (min 6.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 64 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 68% (63% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 98 (min 23 in all areas)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2024/25 entry
UK
£11,550 full-time
£5,775 part-time
International
£23,615 full-time
£12,000 part-time
UK Staged Master £3,850 per stage.
International Staged Master £7,870 per stage.
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
The course will be delivered using a variety of methods that have been chosen to optimise your learning of clinical theories and skills. They have been designed to maximise the level of interaction and engagement with your tutors and fellow students.
The following modules will be delivered through in-person on-campus teaching that requires mandatory attendance:
- PH5641 Working as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner in Musculoskeletal Medicine: Advanced Assessment and Management Skills
- PH5642 Fundamentals of Pelvic Health
- PH5643 Management of the Pelvic Health Patient
- PH5652 Working as an Advanced Postnatal Practitioner (APP) in Pelvic Health
For all other modules you may choose whether to study through live, online interactive teaching that doesn't require attendance on campus, or you may choose to study through in-person campus-based teaching that'll require your attendance on campus.
Support
You'll have a personal tutor throughout your time at university. They'll be a source of support and will help you to make the most of your studies and time at University. You'll have scheduled tutor meetings and be able to access your tutor, as required, either online or via face-to-face meetings on campus.
Assessments
Coursework, such as portfolios and critical essays, will be submitted online via WISEflow and exams will be a mix of on-campus in-person OSCE exams and online open-book style assessments.
The schedule of teaching and assessment has been developed to make the programme as accessible and flexible as possible. Through the provision of both campus-based and online teaching, we'll provide an engaging and stimulating programme that helps you to maximise your learning and professional development in preparation for advanced clinical practice.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
You’ll benefit from the expertise of academics across our well-established health sciences department, giving you a truly interdisciplinary perspective on important topics. Many of our academics currently work in hospitals and other clinical settings so they'll be teaching you up-to-date scientific knowledge and patient-assessment skills. Our academic team combines years of experience working in hospitals such as the Royal Free, Imperial College, Guy's and St Thomas', and Chelsea and Westminster. Additionally, there'll be an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning as you’ll be working alongside other clinicians and benefit from their knowledge across the profession.
Our lecturers are active in research and often contribute to the development of professional guidelines, so you know you’re being taught by practicing healthcare professionals with a high profile in the sector. You’ll also be able to benefit from studying alongside other healthcare professionals in similar fields, giving you the opportunity to network and share ideas.
Our teaching approach is diverse and you’ll benefit from lectures, tutorials, seminars, and workshops.
Assessment and feedback
The course uses a range of flexible and engaging approaches to assessment. You'll be assessed through exams, critical essays, portfolios, oral presentations and your dissertation.
The choice of the specific type of assessment will be appropriate to the intended learning outcomes of the taught modules. The assessment strategies will balance the need to demonstrate knowledge and competencies with more in-depth and critical approaches to learning. Such assessment approaches will include examinations, presentations of relevant clinical case scenarios, and coursework, which will take the form of critical assessment of literature and research, critical essays, and the development of the selected portfolio of learning.
Finally, the dissertation provides demonstration of an ability to synthesise and critically evaluate current research underpinning clinical practice, and to develop and undertake relevant research as well as its dissemination.
