MSc Hand Therapy (incorporating PG Cert/PG Dip)

Start date: September, January or April.

Course length: part time: 2-6 years. You can also study individual modules as part of your continued professional development.

Campus: Distance Learning

This course is for qualified occupational therapists and physiotherapists working in the field of hand therapy. You don't need to be working in hand therapy full time but a proportion of your work needs to be within hand therapy.

Building on the skills you will have gained in your own professional practice, this course enables you to continue learning, evaluating, maintaining and developing services for hand therapy both now and in the future. The course is divided into the Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Masters stage but you can choose to study as little as one module which would contribute to your continued professional development.

You'll find that the course is flexible to suit you and fit around your other commitments, but what you learn will still be challenging and interesting.

During the course you'll be able to:

• Develop your ability to critically evaluate and reflect on your own practice in hand therapy.
• Critically review the theory which underpins hand therapy.
• Contribute to the body of knowledge about hand therapy.
• Develop your understanding of research methods and research skills.
• Develop yourself personally and professionally.
• Make improvements in clinical practice and research into hand therapy.

Our teaching team will also give you the full support and help you'll need with your studies. You can get tutorial support by email, telephone or face-to-face depending on what suits you best. As a distance learning student you will have access to our libraries with an extensive range of journals and online resources which will help you with your self directed learning.

What you’ll study

This course is made up of three stages – Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc.

Postgraduate Certificate

You’ll study these modules:

• Introduction to Masters Level Study (20 credits)
• Assessment of the Hand and Upper Limb (20 credits)
• Treatment Modalities (20 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma

You’ll study this module:

• Research Methods (20 credits)
• Hand Injuries and Conditions: Mechanisms and Interventions (available as 20 or 40 credits)
• Hand Therapy in Practice (20 credits)

If you complete the Postgraduate Certificate, Hand Therapy in Practice and Hand Injuries and Conditions: Mechanisms and Interventions, you can apply to the British Association of Hand Therapists for accreditation as a hand therapist.

You’ll also choose one other module. It can be another hand therapy specific module from the list above or one of these modules:

• Management of Change (20 credits)
• Physical Characteristics and Ergonomics (20 credits)
• Negotiated Module (20 credits)
• Evaluating Practice Outcomes (20 credits)
• Professional and Informed Reasoning (20 credits)
• Radiographic Image Analysis of the Appendicular Skeleton (20 credits)
• Supervision (20 credits)

MSc

You’ll study this module:

Independent Scholarship (60 credits)

UK/EU students

• £495 per module (you usually take 9 of these modules in total)

How you'll learn

You will study this course through distance learning which will include e-learning, email tutorials, phone tutorials and some face to face tutorials which are optional.
 
You can attend an optional study day each term which look at different aspects of masters level study and we highly recommend them to help with your studies at this level.

One of our modules, 'Hand Therapy in Practice' includes a practical week on campus in Derby so you will be required to come into the university. This module will give you the opportunity to meet other professionals on your course and share knowledge and best practice.

How you're assessed

In most of the modules you will be assessed by a 3,500 word assignment. 'Hand Therapy in Practice' is assessed by a 1,500 word assignment and an oral exam. You will need to pass both elements.

The 'Independent Study' module gives you the opportunity to undertake some in depth hand therapy research in an area relevant to your practice. Your assignment will be 15,000 words, or alternatively you can carry out a systematic review of literature again in an area of hand therapy relevant to your practice, of 20,000 words. You also have the option to carry out an action-based study or a project.

To remain registered with the Health Professions Council, it's now essential that all health professionals can show they're committed to life-long learning and continued professional development. Taking this course is a great way of showing this. To get a post in the NHS as a Clinical Specialist, Extended Scope Practitioner or Consultant Therapist, you'll usually need to have, or be working towards, a Masters degree. So this course should help you develop your career.

After completing the PG Diploma or Masters stage of the course you could apply for a place on the Doctor of Health and Social Care Practice which will enable you to develop as a clinical and professional leader in your workplace.

Sue Kennedy, one of our graduates comments about the course saying:
"I found the MSc Hand Therapy course enabled me to learn more about my chosen speciality and the need to submit assignments ensured that I was disciplined in my learning. The workload was hard work and required dedication and commitment. However, as the course progressed I found that my writing and critical thinking skills improved and that I actually enjoyed the challenge of investigating and debating the literature. I found the staff and study days very helpful and the course has taught me a lot resulting in many positive changes within my workplace and within my own practice."

"I found the MSc Hand Therapy course enabled me to learn more about my chosen specialty and the need to submit assignments ensured that I was disciplined in my learning. The workload was hard work and required dedication and commitment. However, as the course progressed I found that my writing and critical thinking skills improved and that I actually enjoyed the challenge of investigating and debating the literature. I found the staff and study days very helpful and the course has taught me alot resulting in many positive changes within my workplace and within my own practice."

Rose Watkinson, one of our current students.

"The practical module has provided the opportunity to enhance practical skills and clinical reasoning. It also provided valuable opportunities to gain peer support for overall learning and experiences of the course."

Jessica Harris, one of our current students.

"The practice module is a contribution to own practice in hand therapy. The exchange of knowledge and experiences with fellow students is meaningful as well as a lot of fun. The module helps you to make improvement in clinical practice and in research skills."

Melanie Eissens, one of our current students.

"This modules has enabled me to really reflect on my practice and debate the pros and cons of of assessment and treatment techniques with other hand therapists."

Helen Bateman, one of our current students.

"I have developed and learnt critical appraisal skills and I can now confidently evaluate every aspect of my practice intervention. I found the lecturers very helpful and I was able to communicate with the team whenever I needed support with my learning."

Mohamud Amin, one of current students.