The teaching syllabus is arranged in modules consisting of 10 days tuition. Each day comprises formal lectures, seminars, practical sessions and group discussions.  In addition we allocate a personal tutor to each student.
 
Teaching staff

 

Core modules

 

• Research Methods and Statistics in Palliative Care 
• Biology and Management of Symptoms in Advanced Disease
• Service Organisation and Policy in Palliative Care  
• Psychosocial, Cultural, Ethical and Spiritual Issues

 

Optional modules

 

• Advanced Pain and Symptom Control   
• Service Development and Management
• Advanced Psychosocial and Spiritual Care
• Applying Epidemiology in Palliative Care

 

Research project (MSc only)

Your research project can be:

1. a new project involving data collection    
2. an extensive systematic literature review, or  
3. analysis of existing data, already collected as part of a large study.

 

We encourage participants to undertake the projects in their own countries and work setting if they wish to.
 
To date, research projects have included a wide range of exciting and challenging topics, for example: the meaning of dignity in palliative care patients; palliative care educational needs of junior doctors; a local needs assessment of COPD and the meaning of sexuality at the end of life.
Course requirements

• MSc - six modules, as for the Diploma, with the addition of a research study project. This can be taken over one year or two years.
• PG Diploma- six modules in total, consisting of all four core modules and two optional modules. These can be taken over one or two years.
• PG Certificate - three modules in total, consisting of two core modules plus one optional module.

Formal entry requirements

• a first degree in medicine, dentistry or nursing or an upper second class honours degree in life sciences, social sciences or other approved subject awarded by a United Kingdom university, or recognised overseas university
• experience of working in palliative care or palliative medicine - in clinical or social care, or from a research point of view
• evidence of being able to study to the standard required for an MSc

 
After receiving your completed application form and supporting references we will invite you to the department for interview to discuss your experience and the course in more detail.

Course assessment

The courses use a combination of methods on which to base the final assessment of your work. They consist of:
 
Two unseen 3-hour written examination papers for the core modules:

• Research Methods and Statistics in Palliative Care (exam in September)
• Service Organisation and Policy (exam in September)

       

Two written assignments of 3,000 words 6 weeks after completion of core modules:

• Biology and Management of Symptoms in Advanced Disease
• Psychosocial and Cultural, Ethical, and Spiritual

       

Two written assignments of 5,000 words 8 weeks after completion of optional modules:

• Advanced Pain and Symptom Control 
• Service Development and Management
• Advanced Psychosocial and Spiritual Care 
• Applying Epidemiology to Palliative Care

       

MSc only:

 

• One research study project of 15,000 words to be submitted in December at the end of the course.

       

When does the course run?

The course commences in January each year. Teaching is held at the Cicely Saunders Institute, on the Denmark Hill site of King's College London, and at St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham, London and may involve some field trips.

Attending a stand-alone module
Not all students want to study for a full or part-time MSc but wish to attend single modules on a stand-alone basis in order to gain an in-depth knowledge of a range of palliative care issues, for example, Research Methods and Statistics in Palliative Care.
 
If you wish to attend on this basis please contact us to discuss your learning needs or book a place.
 
Email: mscpallcare@kcl.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7848 5584