MSc Medical Ultrasound Practice

All students

Academic Qualification

Normally, applicants will hold a first degree (or equivalent professional qualification) which is recognised in the UK by a professional standards regulating body such as HCPC, NMC or GMC, for example BSc(Hons) Diagnostic Radiography or Diploma of the College of Radiographers (DCR), BSc (Hons) Midwifery.

Other formally certified qualifications

Equivalent, international academic and/or professional qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants are usually required to provide at least one reference evidencing their capability for postgraduate study. This programme of learning is essentially a work based learning programme so applicants joining the programme must be employed in, or have written agreement for, an appropriately supervised clinical placement. The University is not responsible for finding clinical placements for applicants. Entry into the programme will be determined by the suitability of the clinical placement and access to appropriate workload to support student learning.

Level of English language capability

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 7.0 overall and a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent.

Relevant work or work-related experience

All applicants are advised to organise, with their clinical sponsor, some observational experience within the ultrasound department prior to the start of the programme. Prior to commencement of the programme you need to ensure you have access to the ultrasound department for the duration of the programme for a minimum of 14 hours per week undertaking ‘hands on’ supervised scanning. You and your sponsors are expected to enter into a written agreement to meet the clinical and practical demands of the programme by completing a clinical experience form. It is important that both you and sponsor commit fully to the programme. Students must also commit to one day per week during each semester for academic attendance. You are also expected to undertake private study as specified in each module.

As soon as your application has been accepted, the programme team encourage you to spend as much time as possible in the ultrasound department. The programme team do not stipulate a specific induction programme for clinical departments but do stress the importance of you having hands-on prior to the start of the programme, and recommend that you spend 1 month (minimum 14 hours per week) in the ultrasound dept. The module leaders send out introductory tasks to new students prior to their first attendance and these include specific tasks about the Ultrasound and associated departments and protocols that they can only find out by spending time in the clinical department.

Applicants will need to be motivated and prepared to study independently and autonomously. They must be prepared to embrace the challenges of Masters level study including online distance learning, have access to a reliable internet connection to support engagement and have sound basic IT skills.

The programme is intellectually challenging and applicants should be prepared to actively contribute to discussion and debate, critically reflect upon own and others’ practice and; explore and evaluate the evidence base underpinning their ultrasound practice.

Use of Prior Credit (RPL): prior certificated credit or prior experiential credit may be used within the course in the following ways:

Through the University’s recognition of prior learning (RPL) process it may be possible for applicants to be exempt from some modules of the course.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) (previously known as accreditation for prior learning or APL)

Recognition of prior learning (previously known as accreditation for prior learning or APL) is a term used to make explicit the link between assessment used as the basis for recognising learning gained outside of a formal course and that used for learning within a course; the key features of sound practice are common to both forms.

The term ‘recognition’ is used to describe accurately the process in relation to two widely recognised forms of prior learning: prior certificated learning and prior informal (or experiential) learning. The recognition of prior certificated learning involves the transfer of credit, or exemption from part of a programme, for learning that has previously been formally assessed. The essential characteristic of such learning is that the student has a certificate to evidence that the learning has been assessed. Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) determines the status of that certification (including consideration of its volume and level) as it relates to this specific course. All applicants who wish to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning must have been offered a place on the course and then are supported to complete the University online RPL process.

Through RPL procedures, applicants to SHU, or students already enrolled on SHU courses, may be able to use credit gained from formal study and assessment elsewhere, or from within the University, to count towards this award or to transfer to a different University award. The recognition of prior informal learning involves an assessment process on the part of SHU academic staff that leads to recognition, normally through the award of credit. The essential feature of this process is that it is the learning (gained through experience) which is being assessed not the experience itself.

In both cases recognition takes place within SHU’s assessment and regulatory framework, which is designed to ensure that assessment decisions are conducted transparently, fairly and consistently for all programmes or subjects. The QAA indicators of sound practice are fully adhered to, and SHU publishes comprehensive guidance on RPL which is available to read publicly on SHU space under ‘Rules and Regulations’. Students can apply for exemption from specific modules if they can provide evidence of previous certificated learning.

The process will commence with confirmation of a student being offered a place on the course. Claims under the RPL regulations will be considered by the course leader and other relevant colleagues. Students must provide evidence in the form of certification, the successful completion of the assessment activity, its academic level and credit rating. Outcomes of successful RPL claims will be ratified by the Board of Examiners and details recorded on individual student records.

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