Teaching and learning on the programme

All learners attend theory sessions one day per week to attend a morning lecture and then an afternoon seminar. This will be visible on your timetable. The day you are required to attend may change according to the Stage of the programme, however, this will be communicated in advance. 

It is your responsibility to negotiate your rota with your manager so that you can attend all of these sessions. In addition, you will also be required to attend some practice simulation sessions. Each module is 20 credits and each theory module is 260 guided learning hours (GLH). Each credit represents 13 hours of study time. These hours are allocated across the following teaching, learning and assessment components:

Lectures - you will be required to attend in person and a register will be taken. This will be an oral presentation given by a member of the lecturing or research staff predominantly based in Health Sciences with specialist knowledge in that area. This will usually take place in one of the large lecture theatres. There will be a large number of students (50 or above) in the lecture. 

Seminars - You are required to attend in person and a register will be taken. The seminars take place after the lecture and are small group sessions that give you the opportunity to discuss and debate the material contained both within the lecture and on the VLE as pre-reading. It is also the session in which you can focus upon the field specific content of the material with your module teaching team. In Stage 2 of the programme the seminar lead will guide you to consider how the material relates to your field of practice through case studies, Q&A sessions, debate. 

Guided study - the module team will direct you to additional reading, clips and exercises on the VLE related to that week's lecture and seminar material. You may be required to undertake some of this reading before the lecture and seminar. Guided material will become more field specific in Stage 2 of the programme. 

Independent study - this is additional reading and study time you will undertake to broaden your knowledge of the subject material. It may involve you searching for additional articles or reading text books you locate in a library, or seeking out additional skills development through the University writing centre. 

Assessment - assessment activity is part of the module guided learning hours. This may involve you coming into the University for a specific time and undertaking the assessment in the presence of teaching staff e.g. an exam, an OSCE or a presentation or it may involve more remote submission of your assessment e.g. an essay, a report or a pre-recorded presentation. Your module leader will inform you of the assessment arrangements at the beginning of each module. 

This structured approach combines key guided reading to support lectures and seminars, activities based upon problem-based learning, simulated practice, and clinical case studies. This will enhance the development of the knowledge and skills required to meet the needs of patients and client groups across the lifespan and settings and as you progress onto Stage 2 this will become more field specific. Learners are also expected to undertake independent study within each module and take a proactive approach, discover and search for material themselves and use the teaching and learning opportunities provided to develop and progress their own literacy, numeracy, and digital and technological skills development over the course of the programme.