Palliative Care MSc, PGDip, PGCert
Our course is part-time, online and expert-led. It explores evidence-based and cost-effective palliative care services.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2025
Overview
Our Palliative Care MSc, PGDip, PGCert is for professionals working in healthcare and related fields. These fields include public health and cancer research. You'll explore the impact of advanced and incurable disease on:
- patients
- caregivers
- society
- the wider healthcare context
You'll collaborate online with peers from all over the world. You'll challenge the perpetuation of suffering at the end of life.
You’ll learn the basics of healthcare research. You'll have an opportunity to further develop your research skills in the dissertation.
We are world leaders in online oncology education. We offer diverse and inclusive teaching and bring together clinicians, researchers and industry. The courses are modular to enable career development to wrap around work commitments. You'll have access to Newcastle University’s academic and pastoral support services. They offer an excellent learner experience to all.
Palliative Care offers 3 qualifications:
- the postgraduate certificate requires 60 credits of study
- the postgraduate diploma requires 120 credits
- the MSc requires 180 credits. It includes a dissertation, which bears 60 credits
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Important information
We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
MSc, PGDip, PGCert
An MSc is a taught Master’s degree. It usually involves the study of a science-related subject. It typically includes:
- subject-specific taught modules
- a dissertation or research project of approximately 15,000 – 18,000 words
You'll usually study an MSc full-time over 12 months.
A Master of Science is typically awarded for the successful completion of 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation or research project.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.
A PGDip is awarded if you successfully complete all of the taught modules (120 credits).
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
A PGCert is awarded if you successfully complete half of the taught modules (60 credits).
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.
What you'll learn
Our palliative care postgraduate courses offer:
- holistic and patient-centred care
- interprofessional working
- service provision
You'll apply theory and research to the management of symptoms in advanced disease and bereavement. You'll explore assessment strategies, outcome measures and treatment regimens. You’ll explore:
- safe and effective clinical management plans
- palliative care services and their evaluation
- creating support networks for yourself and colleagues involved in caring for people at the end of their lives
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Only Chemotherapy Nurses are eligible to study Chemotherapy Nurse Training (E-learning). Students wishing to study this module must first consult the Degree Programme Director.
Only Chemotherapy Nurses are eligible to study Chemotherapy Nurse Training (E-learning). Students wishing to study this module must first consult the Degree Programme Director.
Only Chemotherapy Nurses are eligible to study Chemotherapy Nurse Training (E-learning). Students wishing to study this module must first consult the Degree Programme Director.
How you'll learn
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Case study
- Computer assessment
- Design or creative project
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Oral examination
- Oral presentation
- PC examination
- Poster
- Portfolio
- Report
- Reflective log
- Research proposal
- Written examination
- Written exercise
You'll be assessed in a variety of ways including:
- multiple choice question exams
- essays
- presentations
- case studies
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
You'll benefit from the extensive palliative care expertise of Newcastle and the North East of England. Our teaching staff are healthcare professionals and involved in research. This knowledge base provides a comprehensive and useful educational experience.
Our course leaders include:
- Dr Victoria Hewitt, Curriculum Director and Specialist Palliative Care Physician
- Dr Charles Kelly, Oncology strand Lead and Consultant Oncologist
- David McLoughlin, Palliative Care Strand lead and Specialist Palliative Care Occupational Therapist
Your development
Professional skills
You will develop professional skills relevant to your role such as:
- assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients
- identify effective corrective actions in patient care
- collaborate with other professionals in health care, research and industry
- practice ethical and evidence-based decision-making
- critical thinking to translate and integrate research into practice
- future-focused and horizon scanning skills
- design effective solutions to improve patient care and service-level issues
Personal skills
You will also develop personal skills, including:
- digital capability
- global and cultural awareness
- reflection and self-awareness
- resilience
- confidence in your abilities, qualities and judgement
Your future
Our graduates have gone on to various roles, including:
- speciality training in oncology and palliative care
- promotion to specialist roles in nursing, allied health professions and senior medical practice
- career progression in the pharmaceutical industry
- research (PhD)
- publication in peer-reviewed journals
- presentation at conferences of work undertaken as part of the programme
- leadership and management roles in healthcare and industry
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
You'll have access to services and activities to enhance personal development and employability. These include:
- professional support services for health and wellbeing
- careers service
- excellent library and IT resources
- participation in academic and programme development
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Find out more about:
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
How to apply
Using the application portal
The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.
You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.
If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.
Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.
Apply Online
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Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
Faculty of Medical Sciences
Oncology and Palliative Care Team
+44 (0) 191 208 7032
Email: oncpall@ncl.ac.uk
Online
For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.
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