This flexible, inclusive, engaging distance learning postgraduate level programme responds to the desire of current graduates working within the area of health and social care as they seek to develop their practice and in order to better equip them to meet the demands of advanced practice roles and responsibilities. Changing health and social care requirements demand highly knowledgeable and skilled graduates from the health and social care professions. The programme particularly extends the knowledge base necessary for practitioners to function at an advanced level, to develop into expert or advanced practitioners, advisers, managers or educators within their particular area of expertise offering sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative, in complex and unpredictable professional environments. There is emphasis upon the application of knowledge to practice, thus enhancing the leadership capacity. This part time programme leads to the academic awards of PGCert/PGDip/MSc in Applied Health Studies and was revalidated in July 2020. The Postgraduate Certificate can be completed over one year and is awarded after successfully completing 60 credits at level 7. Students have the choice of five pathway options each consisting of 2, thirty-credit modules. The pathways are: Continence Care, Developing Practice, Neuroscience Care, Stoma Care and Urology Care. The Postgraduate Diploma requires the successful completion of a further 2 thirty-credit compulsory modules at level 7, Advanced Methods in Research and Development in health and Social Care and Global Perspectives in Transforming Health. The MSc involves the completion of a 60 credit level 7 evidence based dissertation project. 91% of staff in the School hold a recognised teaching qualification and More than 80% of staff are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy, 5 are Senior Fellows and 2 are Principal Fellows. Six hold Fellowships of the Centre for Higher Education Research and Practice (CHERP). One member of staff has received the University’s Distinguished Teaching Award Fellowship while another 2 have received the University’s Distinguished Research Fellow and Distinguished Research Fellowship Award. The School has a track record of academic promotions up to, and including, professorial level for Learning and Teaching related activities Results of the 2014 Research Excellence Framework show that 96% of Nursing and Health Science research was judged to be of international excellence or world leading. The Institute of Nursing & Health Research takes the lead in delivering research and evidence based practice education to ensure that students are exposed to research active staff and are given the opportunity to reflect upon the impact research and evidence have on practice. The School has an active Educational and Professional Issues Research Group which links with CHERP and several members of the Subject Team have been awarded CHEP (Ulster) Development Funding, Teaching Development Grants from the Higher Education Academy which has supported innovations in the areas of small group teaching and online assessment. In addition, a number of the Subject team are both current and previous presidents of their specialty's relevant European associations, EANN and EAUN.