Postgraduate Course
Transforming Practice PG Cert
Further your professional development and enhance your understanding and skillset in transformative practice across health and social care.
If you are an established professional working in a health and social care setting, and looking to develop and refine your professional practice, this is the course for you. You will learn from experts in the field in small postgraduate groups, alongside fellow professionals.
York campus
- Duration – 1 year part time
- Start date – October 2026
- School – School of Science, Technology and Health
Minimum entry requirements
2:2 honours degree in a related subject
Interview if your honours degree is in an unrelated subject
Tuition fees
UK 2026-27 £2,933 part time
International 2026-27 N/A part time
Course overview
As a health and social care professional, you will expand your knowledge and enhance your skills within your specialist area across the four pillars of advanced practice: clinical practice, leadership, education, and research. You will apply this learning directly to your professional role, critically evaluate current practice and theoretical concepts, and reflect on your experiences to support your ongoing development as a healthcare practitioner. From this, you will collaborate effectively with colleagues and other professionals to achieve shared goals and improve outcomes.
As part of the course, you’ll enhance your critical appraisal skills, plan and implement service innovation and transformation, develop your patient centred practice and increase the effectiveness of your interactions with patients using health coaching skills and understanding health literacy.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this course further, please email the course contact Chris Boyes c.boyes@yorksj.ac.uk
Course structure
How you will study
You can only study this postgraduate course part time. This allows you to fit your studies around other commitments.
The course will take 1 year to complete. You will study 1 compulsory module across the year. Due to the structure of the course, this module constitutes your entire postgraduate award.
Modules
Credits: 60
Compulsory module
On this module you will develop your own specific areas of expertise and advanced practice. You will consider the service and practice within which you work. You could transform:
- Your own service and its interaction with other services in patient pathways through innovation inside and across different services
- Your relationship with patients by adopting a health coaching approach
- The effectiveness of your interventions, by understanding how health literacy influences patient compliance
As a clinician, you will reflect on and develop your practice through engagement with theories, models and tools of change management, health coaching and health literacy.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
You will engage with this course as an independent, adult learner suited to your professional status.
The course consists of 1 module. You’ll attend six days of study from October 2026 to June 2027. You will learn with experts in small learning groups.
You will engage in a variety of modes of learning, including:
- Discussions on critiques and theories
- Consideration of case studies to explore authentic scenarios
- Critical appraisal of evidence
- Self-reflection
Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.
Assessment
You will be assessed across 4 pieces of written work and a presentation. Each piece is worth 25% of your overall grade for this module.
Your assessments include:
- Opportunities to critique a research paper with your peers and tutors
- An implementation plan for change and service transformation (presentation)
- Self-reflection on your experience of implementing a health coaching approach with a service user
- Critical evaluation on patient/service user communications
Across the academic year you will be able to book tutor and peer review sessions, in which you can share ideas and gather critical feedback on your progress.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Minimum entry requirements
2:2 honours degree in a related subject
Interview if your honours degree is in an unrelated subject
If your degree is in an unrelated subject, but you can provide evidence of relevant professional experience, your application may still be considered and you may be invited for interview.
In addition, you must have:
- 3 years current postgraduate experience in an appropriate clinical setting
- A letter of support from your line manager
- Proof of appropriate and up to date professional registration (for example HCPC, GMC)
International students
Unfortunately, this course is not open to international students. Discover the other courses we offer.
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)
If you do not have traditional qualifications, you may be eligible for entry on the basis of Recognition of prior learning (RPL). Check your eligibility by visiting the RPL page below. We also consider applications for entry with advanced standing.
Terms and conditions
Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.
Fees and funding
UK 2026-2027
The tuition fee for 2026 entry to this postgraduate course is £2,933 for part time study
This price applies to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.
Funding your studies
Workforce transformation funding is no longer available but you may be able to seek alternative CPD funding (best discussed with your manager and/or workforce development lead) or self-fund. Please note all courses are subject to meeting minimum cohort numbers to enable a full student experience. To receive the CPD e-newsletter please email business@yorksj.ac.uk.
Tuition fees
UK 2026-27 £2,933 part time
International 2026-27 N/A part time
International students
Unfortunately, this course is not open to international students. Discover the other courses we offer.
Alumni Scholarships
If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.
Additional costs and financial support
Course-related costs
While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.
Accommodation and living costs
View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.
Career outcomes
Where could Transforming Practice take you?
To apply for this course you must already be a qualified professional working in UK health and social care. This course will help you further develop the advanced level of your practice in your own clinical area and enhance your career options.
Alumni stories
Visit our YSJ Snapshots blog to see what our past students from across the University have done with their York St John degrees.
Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study
Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market.
Our careers service, Future You, provides support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:
- Employer events
- LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
- Workshops on application writing and interview skills
- Work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Personalised career advice
This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.
Course highlights
Develop your practice
Learn from our team of experts. Gain in-depth insight into the world of advanced practise and further your own professional skills.
Experience the profession
Gain practical skills by engaging in realistic advanced practice environments, enhancing your personal development and abilities to be an effective practitioner.
Become and innovator
Become an expert in your chosen field. Use your skills to identify areas of clinical practice that require change to give clients the best possible treatment and experience.