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Programme Specification for e-Health MSc

Final award

MSc

Intermediate awards available

PGCert, PGDip

UCAS code

N/A

Details of professional body accreditation

N/A

Relevant QAA Benchmark statements

N/A

Date specification last up-dated

May 2012

Programme content

The general aim of the programme is to provide the opportunity for students to develop specialized expertise in the area of e-Health. The programme is designed to meet the demand within the health sector industry for IT specialists, which will draw upon content based on practices within the NHS.

MSc e-Health at UEL

e-Health is one of the fastest growing areas within the health sector. The scope of e-Health can be taken to be ‘the knowledge, skills and tools, which enable information to be collected, managed, used and shared to support the delivery of healthcare and to promote health’ (UK Council for Health Informatics Professions). Potential for growth in the e-health area is significant, as the health sector in general is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade, which will demand an increase in the number of qualified postgraduates who have state-of-the-art knowledge of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) within the health sector.

The programme at UEL brings together expertise from our Schools of Architecture, Computing and Engineering (ACE) and Health, Sport and Bioscience (HSB) to ensure that you receive expert tuition from both a systems designer and an end user perspective. Expert guest lecturers who are active practitioners in the field will supplement teaching on this programme.

Entry requirements

The entry requirement for this MSc programme is normally satisfied by possession of one of the following:

  • BSc(Hons) or BEng(Hons) in a Computer Science, Computing or IT related programme or an appropriate and related subject, with an award classification of no less than a lower second class honours (2:2).
  • A degree qualification of a standard equivalent to that obtained after a programme of study in a recognised university outside the UK. (Note: Sources such as the British Council Handbook and NARIC will be used as references to verify the qualifications equivalence to a UK degree)
  • Applicants with other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.0 overall (or equivalent) is required, with minimum 6.0 in writing and speaking and 5.5 in reading and listening.

International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.

Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.

Programme structure

The programme can be taken either in a part-time or in a full-time mode by either national or overseas applicants. The MSc is offered for full-time students with the possibility of being completed in one calendar year’s duration. The MSc for part-time students has half load during the semesters and, consequently, the length of these studies is doubled. Part-time students require two years to complete the MSc programme.

Enrolment on the programme is possible either in semester A (starting in September, comprising the academic period from September to January) or semester B (starting in February, comprising the academic period from February to May).

Semester C (June-September) is only available for research supervision.

The programme consists of four core 30-credit modules plus one 60-credit dissertation. The common schedules for MSc students are included below:

The maximum registration period is six years.

Students require one 30-credit module for a Postgraduate Associate Certificate, two 30-credit modules for the PGCert, four 30-credit modules for the PGDip (Intermediate awards) and four 30-credit modules plus a 60-credit Research Dissertation in the area of e-Health for the MSc.

Learning environment

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical work and external site visits.  Web based learning is also employed particularly for the research dissertation.

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used including essays, case studies, data analyses and examinations. The aggregate pass mark for a module is 50% with minimum module component mark of 40%.

Dissertation/project work

This gives you the opportunity to work independently making your own critical appraisal of a chosen subject. This may include literature survey, practicals, numerical analysis with commercial computing software, and computer programming.

Added value

The programme will provide students with employment prospects that will enable them to seek IT related jobs within the health sector. These jobs will range from developing to maintaining primary and secondary healthcare systems.

Your future career

According to NHS Careers, the expected career for the graduates that will enrol on the proposed programmes will fall into the following categories:

  • Information & Communication Technology (ICT) staff
  • Knowledge management staff
  • Information management staff
  • Clinical informatics staff

How we support you

You will be supported at all levels throughout your studies.  Programme and module leaders are available for academic advice and you will be allocated a personal tutor with whom you can discuss issues of a more personal or pastoral nature. Staff may be approached for help either in person or by e-mail. A programme handbook and individual module guides provide all relevant information on the programme and the teaching resources. Your research dissertation is carried out with the help of web-based guidance notes and a project supervisor.

The University has a wide range of student support services providing support and advice on issues such as health, disability, finance and accommodation.

Bonus Factors

The programme will provide an opportunity for cross discipline interaction and close interdisciplinary cooperation between teaching staff and students of both schools, Architecture, Computing and Engineering (ACE) and Health, Sport and Bioscience (HSB).

Programme aims and learning outcomes

What is this programme designed to achieve?

The aim of the e-Health programme is to provide students with an opportunity to develop specialised expertise in the interdisciplinary area of e-Health. This will involve students gaining skills and knowledge on how the integration and employability of ICT can enhance the delivery of healthcare. The programme is designed to meet the demands within the health sector industry for IT specialists, which will draw upon content based on practices within the NHS. The programme also emphasises relevant academic research and development.

What will you learn?

By the end of this programme you will be able to:

Knowledge

  • Understand how e-Health is having a rapid affect on the health sector.
  • Recognise, describe and critique new methodologies in e-Health.
  • Show critical knowledge of designing and implementing health information systems.
  • Critically survey and analyse relevant theories and research methods.

Thinking skills

  • Show a conceptual understanding of the principles of e-Health within the health sector.
  • Examine current practical e-Health technologies and applications.
  • Systematically analyse problems and implement effective solutions.

Subject-Based Practical skills

  • Demonstrate cognitive, intellectual skills and theories while establishing appropriate criteria for informed recommendations and conclusions.
  • Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems in practices for e-Health.
  • Critically evaluate current challenges in e-Health.

Skills for life and work (general skills)

  • Demonstrate an ability to study independently and effectively and to be able to convey technical information clearly and concisely.
  • To develop interpersonal skills and be able to contribute and work effectively in a team environment.

The programme structure

Introduction

All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.

One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).

Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:

0          equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme

1          equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme

2          equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme

3          equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme

M         equivalent in standard to a Masters degree

Credit rating

The overall credit-rating of this programme is 180 for Masters, 120 for PGDip and 60 for PGCert.

Typical duration

The duration of this programme is one year full time if the enrolment is in September, and two years part time. For February enrolment, the duration becomes 15 months full time, and 27 months part time.

How the teaching year is divided

The teaching year is divided into two semesters of roughly equal length (semester A, from September to January, and Semester B, from February to May).  A typical student registered in a full-time attendance mode will study two 30-credit modules per semester and a typical student registered in a part-time attendance mode will study one 30-credit module per semester.

What you will study when

Level

UEL Module

Code

Module Title

Credit

Status

M

HSM201

Service Management for Health Informatics and e-Health

30

Core

M

CNM003

Health Information Systems – Design and Implementation

30

Core

M

CNM004

Software Applications for

e-Health

30

Core

M

HSM202

Health Informatics in Practice

30

Core

M

CNM015

Research Dissertation

60

Core


Requirements for gaining an award

In order to gain a Postgraduate Certificate, you will need to obtain 60 credits at Level M.

In order to gain a Postgraduate Diploma, you will need to obtain 120 credits at Level M

In order to obtain a Masters, you will need to obtain 180 credits at Level M. These credits will include a 60 credit level M core module of advanced independent research.

Masters Award Classification

Where a student is eligible for an Masters award then the award classification is determined by calculating the arithmetic mean of all marks and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification

70% - 100%

Distinction

60%- 69%

Merit

50% - 59%

Pass

0% - 49%

Not passed

Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching and learning

Knowledge is developed through:

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Seminars

Thinking skills developed through:

  • Coursework
  • Mini projects
  • Research dissertation

Practical skills:

  • Practical experiments
  • Design projects
  • Planning of work required for the research dissertation

Skills for life developed through:

  • Seminars
  • Presentation of research
  • Research dissertation

Assessment

Knowledge is assessed by:

  • Coursework
  • Presentations
  • Examinations
  • Research dissertation

Thinking skills are assessed by:

  • Solutions to practical problems
  • Evaluation of literature
  • Evaluation of experimental data
  • Research dissertation

Practical skills are assessed by:

  • Use of design aids
  • Use of computer aided design packages
  • Practical experiments
  • Preparation of research dissertation

Skills for life are assessed by:

  • Seminars
  • Research dissertation
  • Oral examinations

How we assure the quality of this programme

Before this programme started

Before this programme started, the following was checked:

  • there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
  • adequate resources would be in place;
  • the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
  • the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
  • the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
  • the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning  and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.

This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.

How we monitor the quality of this programme

The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:

  • external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
  • statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
  • student feedback.

Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation.  The process is monitored by the Quality and Standards Committee.

Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists.  The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions.  The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.

The role of the programme committee

This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff).  The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality.  The programme committee plays a critical role in the quality assurance procedures.

The role of external examiners

The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner.

External examiners have two primary responsibilities:

  • To ensure the standard of the programme;
  • To ensure that justice is done to individual students.
  •  

External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:

  • Approving exam papers/assignments;
  • Attending assessment boards;
  • Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
  • Ensuring that regulations are followed;
  • Providing feedback through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.

Listening to the views of students

The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:

  • Module evaluations
  • Student representation on programme committees

Students are notified of the action taken through:

  • Circulating the minutes of the programme committee

Listening to the views of others

The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:

  • Questionnaires to former students
  • Industrial liaison committee

Where you can find further information

Further information about this programme is available from:

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