Simulation Based Education MSc

Duration

3 Years

Location

Centre for Health Innovation Stafford

This course has been designed for professionals who are currently utilizing or considering the pedagogy of simulation for teaching, learning, assessment, modelling of concepts, or devising new ways and changing systems of working and to those working in safety and quality.

It is structured to aid and support educators at a range of levels to implement or enhance their use of simulation-based learning. You might be a technologist, technician, teacher, lecturer, or similar and want to innovate in your teaching methods to better prepare learners to utilise their skills in the real world.

There are a wide range of professions that could utilise simulation including practitioners, academics, educators, and professionals from health, social care, emergency services, technology, schools, further education colleges, aviation, defence, security, sciences, business, and law.

You will explore the different techniques and technologies available to help you take your simulation in your context to the next step. You will be learning alongside those from a range of backgrounds and as a group, explore simulation for teaching, learning, assessment, change management, research, and more. This will enable you to both network and gain different perspectives from others.

This MSc has been developed with you in mind and is delivered via online learning using a variety of modalities. There will also be optional face-to-face sessions of the course of your studies to support you further with the potential for you to make use of the facilities here at Staffordshire University.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MSc Simulation Based Education

Part-time study

All course material will be available online through Staffordshire University’s virtual learning environment. This offers you choice and flexibility about when you access learning content, and you are able to study at a pace that suits you.

Distance learning

This course is delivered via distance learning with synchronous and asynchronous sessions, open to all irrespective of location and studying at your own time based on your workload with excellent tutor support.

Distance learners benefit from a range of services including access to e-books, postal loans of physical books, online support from subject librarians. Library services to off-campus students are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Course content

20 credit modules: 35 hours with academic team, weekly synchronous sessions, each learner has two opportunities for one-to-one tutorials and 165 hours self-directed study.

40 credit modules: 70 hours with academic team, weekly synchronous sessions, each learner has three opportunities for one-to-one tutorials and 330 hours self-directed study.

60 credit modules: Self-directed study 600 hours, with up to 15 hours with supervisor for dissertations or projects.

Academic year

Begins each September until end of July .

Holidays are scheduled during each semester 

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Contemporary Issues In Simulation (Dl) 20 credits
Simulation For Teaching, Learning And Assessment (Dl) 40 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Research In Simulation (Dl) 20 credits
Simulation For Change And Innovation (Dl) 40 credits
Year 3 compulsory modules
There are no compulsory modules for this year.
Show 2 optional modules

Entry requirements

Honours degree from a UK university at 2:2 or international equivalent from a recognised institution. We also welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and professional experience with evidence of your ability to successfully undertake the course and benefit from it.

Honours degree from a UK university at 2:2 or international equivalent from a recognised institution.  We also welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and professional experience with evidence of your ability to successfully undertake the course and benefit from it.

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

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Careers

This course will assist learners in their career progression by offering valuable evidence of professional development relating to teaching, learning, assessing, and implementing change using simulation – based education.

The course develops lifelong learning skills that can enhance your professional practice and career prospects. The course will also be very valuable for practitioners who are seeking to extend the educational aspect of their role or pursue a formal position in an educational setting or within a simulation facility for example becoming the lead for education, technology, or research.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Distance learners benefit from a range of services including access to e-books, postal loans of physical books, online support from subject librarians. Library services to off-campus students are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Assessment

Innovative assessment strategy using a combination of poster and oral presentations, blogs , diaries , simulation design and essays that can be tailored to your work and areas of interest or expertise. The Simulation for Innovation and Change module has adopted a patchwork assessment approach. All other modules have a formative and summative approach with all module materials scaffolded to help you achieve your potential .

All the assessment methods used are commensurate with university regulations for master’s level work and are designed to verify that learning outcomes have been achieved.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

  • Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
  • Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
  • Academic writing (including how to reference)
  • Research skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Inclusion Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

20 credit modules: 35 hours with academic team, weekly synchronous sessions, each learner has two opportunities for one-to-one tutorials and 165 hours self-directed study.  

40 credit modules: 70 hours with academic team, weekly synchronous sessions, each learner has three opportunities for one-to-one tutorials and 330 hours self-directed study.

60 credit modules: Self-directed study 600 hours, with up to 15 hours with supervisor for dissertations or projects.

Independent learning

To help you schedule your time for learning, there will be a suggested module schedule with dates for the synchronous sessions and assessments and a monthly release of new topic materials. The initial introduction to these materials occurs at a set time each month but once live, these materials remain available to you for the duration of your course.

Timetables

Year One , live or synchronous sessions on a Wednesday evening ( UK time) and on a Tuesday lunch time ( UK Time)

Year Two , live or synchronous sessions on a Monday Evening and on a Wednesday lunch time (UK time).

Year Three , individual tutorials with your allocated supervisor

Each module will have a dedicated area on Blackboard Ultra and at the start of each module all formative and summative assessment dates will be published. Throughout the modules, students will be notified when events such as tutorial bookings open.

This course is delivered via distance learning with synchronous and asynchronous sessions, open to all irrespective of location and studying at your own time based on your workload with excellent tutor support

 

Staff

Our team are experienced simulation-based practice educators and are available to support you during your studies

Amanda Wilford

Associate Professor

Amanda is a Registered Nurse, simulation facilitator and an active researcher. Her research focus centres on simulation facilitation from the lens of the learner and the educator.

Amanda's profile

Joseph Natalello

Lecturer

Dr Jessica Runacres

Senior Lecturer

Senior Lecturer in Research Practice in the school of Health, Science, and Wellbeing. Mixed methods researcher, PGR Lead, and PhD Course Lead.

Jessica's profile

Dr Edward Tolhurst

Associate Professor

I am a Senior Lecturer and qualitative researcher in the field of dementia, ageing and care. I am based in the Postgraduate team and course leader for the MSc in Medical Education. I am also a member of the University Research Ethics Committee.

Edward's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 22 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Study option
Part-time

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Alumni discount

If you have previously completed an undergraduate degree with us, you may be entitled to an alumni discount off your course fee for any subsequent postgraduate taught course. For further information please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.

Included in the fees:

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Alumni discount

If you have previously completed an undergraduate degree with us, you may be entitled to an alumni discount off your course fee for any subsequent postgraduate taught course. For further information please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.
Not included in the fees:

Students will need to provide their own computer and require internet to access the programme.

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,570 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning. 

For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date
Centre for Health Innovation Stafford MSc Part-time, distance learning 22 September 2025 Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations. 

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