Leadership and Management for Healthcare Practice
Full-time
Part-time
One year
Three year
September 2025
In a nutshell
International applicants: please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.
Effective leadership and management do not happen by chance. This practice-related course will help you develop the knowledge, skills, and qualities to be an effective healthcare leader. This leadership and management course is designed to give you the confidence to try new and creative approaches in the workplace, deal with complex leadership situations, and provide effective patient and service outcomes.
The course is aimed at all healthcare professionals, including nurses, midwives, doctors, physiotherapists, radiographers, and healthcare scientists who want to develop the knowledge, skills, and qualities to be an effective healthcare leader.
Please note that you may not hear about the outcome of your application until after the closing date for applications. If you submit your application after the closing date, we may not be able to consider your application.
The full course runs full-time or part-time over one year, giving you the chance to exit with the following awards:
Full-time:
- Postgraduate Diploma: four modules over eight months
- Masters: four modules plus a dissertation over one year
Part-time:
- Postgraduate Diploma: four modules over two years
- Masters: four modules plus a dissertation over three years
You will:
- Gain the confidence to try new and creative approaches.
- Learn how to deal with complex leadership situations and provide effective patient and service outcomes.
- Transform patient and service outcomes at a local level.
- Understand your organisation and become an effective leader.
- Explore the challenges and opportunities to influence policy which impacts patient and service outcomes.
students accepted
All about the course
If you want to implement quality improvements that are locally led, patient-centred, and clinically driven, this master's course will help you:
- Transform patient and service outcomes at a local level.
- Understand your organisation and become an effective leader.
- Explore the challenges and opportunities to influence policy that impacts patient and service outcomes.
- Understand yourself as a leader and enhance your knowledge, skills, and qualities.
- Develop the skills to manage change in complex and changing healthcare settings.
- Develop project management skills.
- Implement a change management project.
Leading & Managing in Complex Organisations (30 credits)
You will be able to explore your organisation and the context within which you work. Areas covered include "what is leadership?" and understanding your health care organisation as well as theories of leadership and management including governance, strategic management and stakeholder engagement.
Leading Change for Patient/Service Improvement (30 credits)
To understand contemporary leadership frameworks in the context of leading change and developing services. This module will include action learning which will allow the opportunity to reflect on the process of learning and the impact it will have on your leadership.
Education Principles and Practice
Critically apply the theoretical underpinning to leading classroom-based or academic learning. Lead and facilitate learning within a professional and inter-professional learning and working environment.
The 'Me' in Leadership for Health Care Practice (30 credits)
Understand yourself as a leader and improve your personal leadership knowledge, skills and qualities. The module covers areas such as leadership and management approaches, narrative analysis, emotional intelligence and effective leadership.
Dissertation (60 credits)
This gives you the opportunity to implement a project in your own workplace.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
The School of Health and Society
The School of Health and Society is a forward-thinking, dynamic school with a commitment to lifelong learning and real-world impact.
Our courses are informed by the latest research, and we work closely with organisations from both the public and private sector to ensure our teaching is at the forefront of practice. The University has received approval for a new health building on the Frederick Road campus which will create brand new teaching spaces, including new Podiatry spaces. Construction will begin in late 2024, with completion expected by Autumn 2026. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a health and wellbeing hub, supporting popular healthcare courses and community services. It will feature sustainable design elements and provide modern clinical facilities to enhance student learning and community engagement. Find out more about our new Health Building.
In time community healthcare clinics will also take place there as partnerships are developed to explore research opportunities and to provide a range of therapeutic sessions.
What you need to know
APPLICANT PROFILE
This practice-related master's course is aimed at all healthcare professionals, including nurses, midwives, doctors, physiotherapists, radiographers, and healthcare scientists who want to develop the knowledge, skills, and qualities to be effective healthcare leaders.
Typically, an applicant is a qualified healthcare professional currently working in middle management or wanting to move up to middle/senior management within or outside of their current organisation. Some applicants are already managers and want the formal qualification to support the role they are already doing.
Undergraduate degree
A Bachelor’s degree with honours from a UK university or an equivalent academic or professional qualification (if applicable) from the UK or elsewhere, i.e., incorporating study at least comparable to 120 credits at honours level as deemed by the Board of College, or a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate from a UK university.
The University requires that applicants must have satisfactory references related to the intended vocational course regarding their ability to complete the course and their appropriate position within their organisation.
International Students (full-time only)
If you are an international applicant, you must demonstrate access to a healthcare organisation in order to undertake and apply the required work-based learning (contextualise theory and practice).
If this is not possible, you must demonstrate recent (contemporary) knowledge of a healthcare organisation in order to undertake and apply the required work-based learning activities and contextualise theory. It is preferred that you are sponsored by the organisation/government so that you have continuing links with your country's healthcare organisation.
You will be made aware of the philosophy of a work-based learning programme (contextualise theory and practice) approach from the outset.
We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
English language requirements
If you are an international student and not from a majority English-speaking country, you will need IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5. We also accept a range of other English language qualifications.
If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take the Pre-Sessional English course to gain entry onto this degree.
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we have received your application we will assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.
There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.
To be considered for the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme you must have already achieved or be working towards GCSE Maths and English Grade C/4 (or equivalent).
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,100 per year |
| Full-time international | 2025/26 | £17,000 per year |
| Part-time | 2025/26 | Part-time costs will be calculated on a pro rata basis. |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for international students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. See the full range of our International Scholarships.
All set? Let's apply
Still have some questions? Register for one of our Open Days or contact us:
By email: enquiries@salford.ac.uk
By phone: +44 (0)161 295 4545