MSc Patient Safety
Learn from international experts and become a leader in patient safety in challenging circumstances
Overview
Are you seeking to develop leadership skills in the field of patient safety, exploring and applying innovation to address the challenges faced in delivering high-quality care?
This MSc is a newly-launched online course, aligned with the updated World Health Organisation Patient Safety Curriculum. The course employs engaging online learning, comprising innovative group-working exercises combined with live teaching sessions with world-leading academics.
This course is well suited for healthcare professionals, managers, policymakers and industry representatives. Our aim is to equip you with the skills to improve patient safety, considering the implications of interdisciplinary working in low-resource settings, responding to global crises and delivering innovation in challenging circumstances, such as international pandemics.
Watch a recording of our Virtual Open Day event for Patient Safety.
During this course, you will gain insights into the global context of healthcare, drawing upon a broad range of expert perspectives from academia, healthcare and industry. Throughout this programme, you will explore themes including societal impact, equality and diversity, global health innovation, interprofessional practice, safety and sustainability.
You will learn about the interconnections between health systems, policy, innovation and leadership, exploring how this knowledge can be translated and applied through a research study you’ll complete to address a patient safety challenge. You’ll benefit from access to an international network of leading healthcare professionals, whose expertise you can draw on to develop your ideas further and implement into your practice.
Throughout the programme, you will be encouraged to consider your own practice, recognising that even in well-developed health systems, affecting change is demanding.
Dr David Nabarro discusses the importance of MSc Patient Safety at Imperial.
Structure
This page reflects the latest version of the curriculum for this year of entry. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.
Page last reviewed on 22 October 2021.
Structure
Year 1
You take all of the core modules below.
- Improvement in Practice
- Health Systems and Policy
- Social Impact of Patient Safety
- Safer Systems
Year 2
You take all of the core modules below.
- Innovation
- Decision Making
- Human Factors in Organisations
- Leadership
- Dissertation
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
The programme is delivered through a series of online activities. These will include:
- Readings
- Facilitated asynchronous discussions
- Podcasts
- Webinars
Key concepts are elucidated with short explanatory videos and podcasts featuring leading academics, experienced healthcare practitioners and influential industry leaders.
Reading lists consisting of essential and additional reading are provided to explore key concepts relating to patient safety.
Assessment
- Essays
- Presentations
- Reflective improvement journal
- Dissertation
A reflective improvement journal is used in each module to explore how you are applying your learning from the programme to develop your practice in the workplace.
Presentations are used throughout the programme to enable you to demonstrate your understanding and illustrate the application of key concepts.
Essays and reports relevant to the content areas are used in some modules.
To obtain the MSc, you will be required to submit a dissertation.
Part-time study
Teaching is delivered on a part-time basis, with each module running over an 8-10 week period in Year 1 and part of Year 2. The dissertation module is undertaken over the course of Year 2.
Events, tasters and talks
Find out more about studying at Imperial by meeting us at a virtual event. From webinars and study fairs to drop-ins and open days. Join us throughout the year for a range of events.
Explore all of our upcoming events.
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Admissions
Minimum requirements
Our minimum requirement is a 2.1 degree in a healthcare related subject, or a policy/management related subject, or medical degree or equivalent (or a comparable qualification recognised by the College)
Non-academic requirements
Three years relevant work experience in a healthcare, policy, or safety environment.
Admissions Test/Interview
Applicants who do not meet the academic requirements above but who have substantial relevant industry experience may be admitted following completion of a ‘Special Qualifying Exam’ (SQE).
International qualifications
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.
For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed are the minimum for entry to the College, and not specifically this Department.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the higher College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
How to apply
Making an application
Apply online
All applicants must apply online.
Visit our Admissions website for details on the application process.
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can usually choose up to two courses.
Application fee
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for taught Master's applications (excluding MBAs)
- £135 for MBA applications
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
ATAS certificate
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Further questions?
Find answers to your questions about admissions. Answers cover COVID-19, English language requirements, visas and more.
Tuition fees and funding
The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation.
Find out more about fees and funding opportunities.
Tuition fees
Home rate of tuition
2022 entry
£13,000
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
EU/EEA students
Students from the EU, other EEA country and/or Switzerland starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home rate of tuition, and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, this does not apply to Irish students or students with Citizens Rights benefitting from Citizens’ Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement respectively.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Overseas rate of tuition
2022 entry
£21,450
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
EU/EEA students
Students from the EU, other EEA country and/or Switzerland starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home rate of tuition, and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, this does not apply to Irish students or students with Citizens Rights benefitting from Citizens’ Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement respectively.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Postgraduate Master's loan
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students to support you through your studies.
See what opportunities you may be eligible for:
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.
A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.
Further information
Got a question?
Enquiries
E: patient.safetymsc@imperial.ac.uk
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