AdvDip(CPD) Critical Evaluation for Evidence Based Practice (HE7)
Course Overview
In the health and social care arena, high-quality service delivery based on sound evidence and decision making is always a priority. The advanced professional development course in Critical Evaluation for Evidence and Practice offered by the University of Bolton aims to provide you with an in-depth insight into the gathering and assessment of research, encouraging you to develop a critical, constructive and questioning attitude and adopt independent lines of enquiry to inform your decision making and practice.Designed to help you meet the growing demands of the health and social care sector, this course will introduce you to research theories such as positivism and social constructionism, as well as key concepts within quantitative and qualitative approaches to research. You’ll have the opportunity to explore and learn more about evidence-based practice, strategy methodologies and critical appraisal tools, as well as studying the principles of ethics and research governance.
Highlights
- Our dedicated academic team has a wealth of experience working in health and social care settings and in relevant research, bringing their expertise and passion for service excellence to their teaching.
- The course is flexible and designed to fit in with busy home and working lives.
- As you study this course, you’ll be encouraged to develop employability skills, values and behaviours, such as the 6Cs, action planning, personal impact and confidence, self-awareness, social and ethical responsibility, respect and commitment to quality.
- On successful completion of this course you will be awarded an Advanced Professional Development qualification in Critical Evaluation of Evidence and Practice that is worth 20 credits at Level HE7.
- This course is part of a professional development framework and the credits gained on completion can be used towards the University of Bolton’s PgDip Community Specialist Practice (District Nursing) or PgDip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) qualifications.
Key Features
- We’ve been offering high-quality courses specifically designed to meet the needs of the health and social care sector for more than three decades.
- We have the knowledge and experience to anticipate and respond to change. Our courses and programmes are developed with the requirements of the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) in mind, which is integral to the career and pay progression strand of Agenda for Change.
- The course curriculum is regularly reviewed to ensure that contemporary theories are adopted.
- You may be given financial support by your employer to undertake this course, or you may fund your studies yourself. Because you’ll require access to a mentor who helps the university assess your progress on the course, you’ll need your employer’s support to complete this qualification.
Entry Requirements
- You must have current professional registration as a health or social care practitioner.
- You’ll also normally need to provide evidence of post registration experience of professional practice as well as a first degree relevant to your health or social care practice.
- We may also consider applicants offering recent study at Level HE6.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.5 with normally no less than 6.0 in any band (or equivalent).
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
International Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Partner Organisation Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Teaching & Assessment
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Critical Evaluation for Evidence Based Practice
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 80% Practical exams 20% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 79% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 21% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
