course page main image

Advancing Practice in Peripheral Vascular Disease - Module / MSc / PgCert / PgDip

Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry. Switch to 2025/26 Entry

This newly designed course has been developed to meet the needs of interdisciplinary healthcare practitioners working in partnership with people in relation to peripheral vascular disease (PVD), which encompasses both arterial, venous and lymphatic diseases....

  • Level Postgraduate Taught
  • Study mode Distance Learning
  • Location Online Learning
  • Award Module / MSc / PgCert / PgDip
  • Start date September 2024, October 2024, January 2025, April 2025
  • Fees View course fees
  • School School of Nursing and Midwifery
  • Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences

This course is:

Open to International Students

Overview

This newly designed course has been developed to meet the needs of interdisciplinary healthcare practitioners working in partnership with people in relation to peripheral vascular disease (PVD), which encompasses both arterial, venous and lymphatic diseases. This 100% online course aims to address the very significant challenges associated with PVD, providing a global perspective, whilst drawing upon existing expert knowledge and experience of working with international partners. The course team are dedicated and committed staff who are experts in the speciality and this course is a collaboration between Birmingham City University and the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Vascular Team.

This innovative online course is designed to help students to gain a greater and advanced understanding of the complexities of diagnosing and managing peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and how best to support and enable effective individualised self-management and develop limb salvage. It is suitable for healthcare professionals including hospital-based doctors, specialist nurses and podiatrists, sonographers and specialist roles in other healthcare sectors. The primary aim of the course is to support and enable students to critically explore and analyse existing and developing theories and concepts that underpin PVD and will equip students to embrace a strategic leadership role in the development and delivery of efficient, innovative, evidence based PVD services.

Students will develop a wide range of skills, learn about new and emerging evidence, advance their knowledge and practice and gain critical understanding in the management of peripheral vascular disease. Students will acquire knowledge to develop and improve clinical practice in the care of people at risk of or living with PVD across the age span. Through taking an evidence-based holistic approach to the provision and delivery of individualised PVD care.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

This course has been designed in close collaboration with clinical colleagues and blends theoretical approaches with practicalities of service development and person-centred care approaches. The international dimension and application of culturally appropriate surgical interventions in different environments and resources underpins this course. Through different modules, students will explore their employment situation, recognise the potential for excellence in practice-led care, extend and enhance their employability and extend their career progression. Students will also identify ways in which they can improve their practice and services in order to pioneer new interdisciplinary service developments.

There will be a strong focus on relevance to practice, practice development, leadership, transformation and strategic planning. An important focus will be the development of higher levels of understanding with decision-making, critical analysis appraisal of evidence-based practice and clinical guidelines as a strong theme throughout the course.

The programme will enable practitioners working in various aspects of care, with people either at risk of or living with PVD, to develop knowledge and skills in diagnosis and management. Students will develop analytical skills through interactive online learning opportunities so that they are able to critically examine practices within the context of the legislative and professional frameworks of their own countries.

The following modules can be studied as stand alone modules:

  • Assessment and Management of Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Foot Care Complexities and Treatments in Diabetes and Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Leadership in Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Principles of Limb Salvage
  • Psychological and Psycho-social Aspects of Peripheral Vascular Disease

If you are applying for a stand alone module, please note the title of the module you want to study in the Personal Statement section of the application form.

Why Choose Us?

  • This newly designed innovative course has been developed to meet the needs of interdisciplinary healthcare practitioners working in partnership with people living with PVD.
  • This course aims to address the global increase in the number of people both at risk of developing PVD and living with PVD, and the developments in care needed to support these people.
  • The course has a global perspective and draws upon existing expert knowledge and experience of working with national and international partners.
  • This approach aligns with the vision of the University to learn from the best, with practice-based research supporting curriculum design whilst fostering an interdisciplinary approach to education in this field.
  • The Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences (HELS) has a history of provision in healthcare and diabetes education previously with optional taught modules being available for practitioners in the region. This new course extends the reach of practice through online education to all multi-disciplinary and multi professional partners.

OPEN DAY

Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.

Next Event: 24 November 2024

Book now

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

UK students

This course is suitable for experienced and employed healthcare professionals who hold current professional registration with a UK regulatory body (e.g., NMC, HCPC, GMC) provided that they have:  

A minimum of three years in their area of clinical practice and a first degree or evidence of recent professionally related study at diploma or degree level.

OR

Accredited degree level study within the last five years.

EU students

This course is suitable for experienced and employed healthcare professionals who hold current professional registration in their home country provided that you have:

A minimum of three years in their area of clinical practice with a first degree or evidence of recent professionally related study at diploma or degree level

OR

Accredited degree level study within the last five years 

Additionally,

An IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5 or equivalent.

We will accept appropriate Level 7 modules for review for application of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) subject to review by the course and RPL teams. If you wish to explore RPL please contact Hels.rpl@bcu.ac.uk early in your admissions process and prior to any course enrolment.

Download the Recognition of Prior Learning leaflet

International students

This course is suitable for experienced and employed healthcare professionals who hold current professional registration in their home country provided that they have:

A minimum of three years in their area of clinical practice and a first degree or evidence of recent professionally related study at diploma or degree level.

OR

Evidence of study at degree level including in research methods.

Additionally,

A certified IELTS score of 6.0 is required with no element below 5.5 or equivalent.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: Module

Starting: Oct 2024

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • TBC
  • Show fees
  • £820 per 20 credits

Fees for Distance Learning students

This course can be studied on a Distance Learning study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

Award: Module

Starting: Jan 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • TBC
  • £820 per 20 credit module

Award: Module

Starting: Apr 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • TBC
  • £820 per 20 credit module

Award: MSc

Starting: Sep 2024

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • 3 years (part time)
  • £820 per 20 credit module

Award: PgCert

Starting: Oct 2024

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • 1 year (part time)
  • £820 per 20 credit module

Award: PgDip

Starting: Oct 2024

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • 2 years (part time)
  • £820 per 20-credit module

Award: PgDip

Starting: Jan 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • 2 years (part time)
  • £820 per 20 credit module

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: Module

Starting: Oct 2024

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • TBC
  • Show fees

Fees for Distance Learning students

This course can be studied on a Distance Learning study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

Award: Module

Starting: Jan 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • TBC
  • £820 per 20 credit module

Award: Module

Starting: Apr 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • TBC
  • £820 per 20 credit module

Award: MSc

Starting: Sep 2024

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • 3 years (part time)
  • TBC

Award: PgCert

Starting: Oct 2024

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • 1 year (part time)
  • TBC

Award: PgDip

Starting: Oct 2024

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • 2 years (part time)
  • TBC

Award: PgDip

Starting: Jan 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Distance Learning
  • 2 years (part time)
  • TBC

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

Specialist equipment (mandatory)

You are expected to purchase a laptop or tablet that is capable of connecting to the internet and accessing course resources.

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Personal stationery and study materials (optional)

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials.

Memberships (optional)

You may wish to join a union or professional body related to this course, most of which are free to students.

Subscriptions (optional)

You may wish to purchase subscriptions to additional journals and websites, most of which are free to students.

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

The following modules can be studied as stand alone modules:

  • Assessment and Management of Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Foot Care Complexities and Treatments in Diabetes and Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Leadership in Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Principles of Limb Salvage
  • Psychological and Psycho-social Aspects of Peripheral Vascular Disease

If you are applying for a stand alone module, please note the title of the module you want to study in the Personal Statement section of the application form

Personal statement

You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.

If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.

Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.

Course in Depth

Level 7 - Core Modules

For the PG Dip, PG Cert and MSc In order to complete these courses, a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules, plus OPTIONAL modules totalling 20 or 30 credits (please see detailed requirements for each award below):

In addition, for the PG Dip and MSc, students must successfully complete the following CORE modules:

MSc students must also complete the CORE dissertation module:

Level 7 - Optional Modules

A student must successfully complete one of the CORE MSc dissertation modules.  The choice of this will be dependent on the optional modules taken (see below).

Download course specification

Download now

Course Structure

To complete a Postgraduate Diploma you will need 60 credits including core modules noted above, plus two x10 credit or one x 20 credit optional module.

To complete a Postgraduate Diploma you will need 120 credits including the core modules listed above, plus 50 credits of optional modules.

To complete the MSc you will need 180 credits, including the core modules and 50 credits of optional modules.

Teaching Approaches

During the course students will experience a range of learning and teaching approaches delivered online in both a synchronous and an asynchronous manner. They will attend online lectures, discussion forums, small group discussions, simulations and chat facilities with their peers, visiting experts and members of the teaching team. These approaches recognise that students have different learning styles with some reacting best to the voice while others prefer the written word, therefore a range is offered to suit all needs. Students can access the learning materials via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment – Moodle, Microsoft Teams and other means subject to the modules undertaken.

In addition to the scheduled teaching, students will be given directed learning activities pre and/or post classroom activities and they will be expected to undertake any reading required e.g., access to policy documents or guidelines. They will also be expected to spend time on their own independent study to give them the opportunity to explore subjects in more depth in preparation for assessment activities. It is expected that students will fully engage with all of the resources available to them to maximise their learning opportunities. The library will play a key role in the learning journey and students will receive both written and verbal guidance regarding accessing and utilising library resources.

Guidance

In addition to the course leader, students will be allocated a personal tutor who will be with them throughout their learning journey, an important resource and the person to go to if they have concerns, issues or anything that may impact on the successful completion of the course.

Each of the modules is led by a module lead and students will be encouraged to discuss any specific issues regarding the module with them as required. They will brief students on the assessment/s associated with each module to ensure they are clear of the expectations for successful completion.

Students will be exposed to a range of assessment tasks including written case histories, recorded presentations, course work, a quality improvement/service development project to name but some – each module has its own assessment and discussion will take place with the students to consider their specific modular choices, to ensure they select the most appropriate offering to balance the associated workload.

Employability

The course specifically aims to enable a range of healthcare professionals from across the world to share and reflect on their own experiences and gain a deeper insight into advanced PVD practice and leadership.

The programme will enable practitioners working in various aspects of care, with people either at risk of or living with PVD, to develop knowledge and skills in diagnosis and management. Students will develop analytical skills through interactive online learning opportunities so that they are able to critically examine practices within the context of the legislative and professional frameworks of their own countries.

The underpinning philosophy of the course will support you, as a specialist student, to blend new learning with your existing knowledge and experience in a way that is highly relevant to your own professional practice and chosen clinical area to impact positively on PVD practice and service delivery.

International

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

Facilities & Staff

Our Advancing Practice in Peripheral Vascular Disease course is delivered through the an online learning resource, with online study materials to guide you through the appropriate topics, as well as providing links to other resources. You will also need textbooks, and a full reading list is provided with each module syllabus.

Although it is taught by distance learning, you will still have regular contact with your module tutor by email or telephone. We also offer optional periodic seminar talks where you can meet the course team, along with your fellow students.

Our staff

Jayne Robbie

Course Lead and senior lecturer in diabetes and vascular disease

Jayne qualified as a podiatrist from Brighton Polytechnic in 1987 and has had a varied career in primary and secondary care working extensively as a diabetes specialist in multi-professional teams as well as having experience managing a large primary care podiatry unit.

More about Jayne

Professor Alok Tiwari

Visiting Professor of Vascular Surgery / Co-Course Lead in Advancing Diabetes Care

Professor Alok Tiwari has been a consultant vascular surgeon at University Hospitals Birmingham since 2011 and is Visiting Professor of Vascular Surgery at Birmingham City University.

More about Alok

Joanna Swan

Senior lecturer in Tissue Viability

Jo is qualified as an RGN in 1994 from the Queen Elizabeth College of Nursing in Birmingham and gained a job on a liver unit where her interest in tissue viability (TV) began. Jo became a TV link nurse, a role she carried on into her job as an intensive care nurse. BSc (Hons) in Nursing was completed at BCU, during this time Jo started a critical...

More about Joanna