MSc, Postgraduate Diploma & Postgraduate Certificate in Palliative Care Enquiry booklet 2022 King’s College London
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Contents Welcome to the MSc, Postgraduate Diploma & Postgraduate Certificate programme in Palliative Care ...................................................................................................................... 4 Learning outcomes of the MSc, Diploma and Certificate ................................................... 5 Delivery of the MSc, Diploma and Certificate programme ................................................. 5 How will live teaching be delivered? ................................................................................ 5 Study Routes for the MSc, Diploma and Certificate in Palliative Care .............................. 6 Qualifications options: ...................................................................................................... 6 Required modules: ........................................................................................................... 7 Module options .................................................................................................................... 8 Research Methods & Statistics in Palliative Care ............................................................ 8 Assessment and Management of Symptoms in Advanced Diseases ................................ 8 Applying Psychosocial, Cultural, Ethical and Spiritual Issues to Palliative and End of Life Care .......................................................................................................................... 8 Service Development and Policy ..................................................................................... 9 Applying Epidemiology in Palliative Care ....................................................................... 9 Research Study Project .................................................................................................... 9 Support during your studies ............................................................................................... 10 Additional support -English support and study skills ..................................................... 10 Chaplaincy ..................................................................................................................... 10 KCLSU Advice ............................................................................................................. 10 Application process ............................................................................................................ 11 How to apply .................................................................................................................. 11 Deadline for applications ................................................................................................ 11 Entry requirement .......................................................................................................... 11 Admissions ..................................................................................................................... 11 UK STUDENT VISA .................................................................................................. 11 English requirements ...................................................................................................... 11 Fees ................................................................................................................................ 12 How to apply for a standalone module ? ........................................................................ 12 Module calendar and assessment information for 2022 ...................................................... 13 Alumni profiles ................................................................................................................... 14 Emily Adam ................................................................................................................... 14 Huei Chung .................................................................................................................... 15 Eve Namisango .............................................................................................................. 16 2
Andrew Goodhead ......................................................................................................... 16 Lucy Coombes ............................................................................................................... 17 Frequently asked questions: ............................................................................................... 18 Contact details ................................................................................................................... 20 Events ................................................................................................................................ 20
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Welcome to the MSc, Postgraduate Diploma & Postgraduate Certificate programme in Palliative Care The King’s College London MSc, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate in Palliative Care is one of the world’s most acclaimed programmes in palliative care. This multi-professional course, jointly developed by King's College London and St Christopher's Hospice has supported the career development of hundreds of healthcare professionals across the globe. The underpinning philosophy of our MSc, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate is to enable students to develop essential skills to appraise palliative care evidence, conduct high quality palliative care research, improve clinical practice, and develop palliative care services across the world. Students will gain an enhanced understanding of physical, psychosocial, spiritual and ethical issues in palliative and end of life care, and their assessment and effective management. The international and multi-professional programme provides a rich learning environment, where students from all multiple professions and cultures are enabled and facilitated to share their experiences and support each other’s learning through groupwork, seminars, online forums and classroom discussions. The MSc Palliative Care will support students’ career development, positioning them to be the future global leaders in palliative care, and advancing the speciality.
Dr Clare Ellis-Smith MSc Course Director & Lecturer in Palliative Care
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Learning outcomes of the MSc, Diploma and Certificate Our primary aim is to improve your ability, competence and confidence to care for patients with advanced disease, and for their families. This requires you to be able to critically evaluate evidence of the effectiveness, appropriateness and acceptability of existing interventions and services, both medical and psychosocial. • •
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A detailed knowledge and understanding of research methods and statistics applied to palliative care. The skills necessary to appraise existing research and develop and execute methodologically robust projects in your own work setting or country (often in collaboration with others) An advanced knowledge and understanding of the principles and practice of palliative care, the contribution of different disciplines and biological, ethical, and cultural issues. Enhanced skills in evidenced-based clinical practice, teaching and service development in palliative care. The attitudes and knowledge to take palliative care forward.
Delivery of the MSc, Diploma and Certificate programme Each module runs in two-week blocks, with 30 - 35 hours of teaching (around 3 hours of teaching per day). Modules include a mix of educational materials such as narrated PowerPoints, forum discussions, quizzes, reading, and analysis of policies or published academic papers. Module content will be available to you at least one month prior to the module commencing. You will therefore have the flexibility to engage with these materials before and during the module. This should give you flexibility on when and how you engage and pace your learning. Module attendance will involve live teaching in the Institute or virtual attendance via Microsoft Teams. In these sessions, you will have the opportunity for discussions and interactions with lecturers and fellow students. This will help you consolidate and apply your learning.
How will live teaching be delivered? The MSc, Diploma and Certificate programme in Palliative Care will use a HyFlex model to deliver live teaching. HyFlex is derived from the terms 'hybrid' and 'flexible' and is a model of educational delivery, centered around accessibility and flexibility for students. This model delivers seminars in such a way that the student can join the event on campus or online. This 5
means that you will have the option of classroom teaching, or accessing our teaching remotely to ensure that you can fully engage in your studies, no matter what the circumstances or where you are in the world. If you wish to attend the teaching sessions at the Cicely Saunders Institute, they will take place on the ground floor of the Institute, in a large seminar room with a number of breakout rooms for group work. The Institute is located next to the Weston Education Centre and King’s College Hospital on the Denmark Hill Campus, King’s College London. You’ll be taught by academics and professionals at the cutting-edge of palliative care research and practice. We work closely with St Christopher’s Hospice to deliver the modules and we bring in experts from around the world to teach on different subjects. This is so that you receive the most current evidence in palliative care.
Study Routes for the MSc, Diploma and Certificate in Palliative Care We offer a range of qualifications in our palliative care programme, from standalone modules to an MSc. There are various modules available to suit your interests or learning needs. Research and evidence are central to every module on this course. The Cicely Saunders Institute has an extensive programme of research, and you can get involved with these larger projects. We also support you to publish the findings of your research and contribute to the evidence base. The course is flexible so you can register to study full time (1 year) or part time (2 years). That means you can study at your own pace whilst continuing to work. We also offer the option to change your registration (for example from PG Diploma to MSc) as you progress through your studies and your learning needs evolve.
Qualifications options: • • • •
MSc – modules totalling 180 credits G Diploma – modules totalling 120 credits PG Cert – modules totalling 60 credits Standalone modules
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Required modules: MSc and PG Diploma students are required to take 4 modules, and PG Certificate students are required to take 2 modules from the following: • • • • •
Research Methods and Statistics in Palliative Care: (30 credits) (Compulsory for MSc and Diploma students) Assessment and Management of Symptoms in Advanced Diseases (30 credits) Service Management and Policy (30 credits) Applying Psychosocial, Cultural, Ethical and Spiritual Issues to Palliative and End of Life Care (30 credits) Applying Epidemiology in Palliative Care (30 credits)
MSc student are also required to take: • Research Study Project (60 credits)
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Module options Research Methods & Statistics in Palliative Care This module aims to describe and illustrate the methods available for research in palliative care, leaving students able to understand, appraise and develop research studies. Common research methods in palliative care are reviewed, including systematic literature reviews, clinical trials, epidemiological methods, survey research design (including questionnaire design), qualitative research methods, economic analysis, and integration of methods In palliative care research. Statistical and measurement issues in palliative care are also covered including analysis of data, statistical interpretation, validity, reliability, appropriateness and responsiveness of measures. Other issues involved in designing and executing successful studies are also covered; these include hypotheses generation, protocol development, ethical issues, presentation of results, writing reports and papers, dissemination and implementation of results.
Assessment and Management of Symptoms in Advanced Diseases This module reviews the epidemiology and pathophysiology of progressive incurable illnesses, which are relevant to specialists in palliative care. It then reviews the aetiology, mechanisms and management of common symptoms in palliative care leaving participants with the skills to assess and manage symptoms and appraise new therapies appropriate to their professional group. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are also considered.
Applying Psychosocial, Cultural, Ethical and Spiritual Issues to Palliative and End of Life Care This module focuses on the psychosocial, cultural, ethical and spiritual issues concerning patients and families/carers in palliative and end of life care. Students will become confident in relation to each element of the module and be able to communicate these skills to colleagues and practically employ them for the benefit of patients, family members and internal/external stakeholders. Students will develop confidence in communication skills, enabling complex/difficult conversations to beheld with patients and family members and communicate these to colleagues and others clearly and effectively. Recognition of cultural issues at the end of life, which draws upon issues of ethics, spirituality, communication and psychosocial needs will be integrated across the module to develop the learning for students around culture as an important driver and consideration for patient decision-making at the end of life. 8
Service Development and Policy This module considers the development and management of palliative care services, drawing on international evidence underlying palliative care practice and policy. It reviews the evidence underpinning service development, the adaptation of such evidence to local needs, working within existing communities and cultures and detailed aspects of management including strategy, clinical governance and business planning. It will provide you with an overview of ways that services have developed and how this is influenced by culture, population needs, resources and national and international policies.
Applying Epidemiology in Palliative Care The module considers the application of epidemiological principles in the investigation of palliative care problems. The epidemiology of cancers and other progressive diseases will be reviewed along with the use of epidemiological approaches to study patients and family needs and to evaluate services.
Research Study Project The research study project is required for MSc students only. As a student, you will be expected to design and complete a substantial piece of work that provides an original contribution in the field of palliative care. You will be overseen by a Research Project Supervisor during this process. This is an important opportunity to develop your particular area of interest and have time to investigate it. The department offers a wide range of topics to choose from, which contributes to larger projects led by senior researchers. Our students have a strong track record of publishing their findings from their research study projects, in peer-reviewed scientific journals. These have included for example Lancet Infectious Diseases, British Medical Journal, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Palliative Medicine, Journal of Palliative Care, BMC Public Health and Social Science and Medicine.
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Support during your studies Every MSc, PG Diploma and PG Certificate in Palliative Care student will be allocated a personal tutor at the beginning of the course. The primary role of your tutor is to provide pastoral support and guidance throughout the course. MSc students will also be allocated a Research Project Supervisor who will guide your planning and advise you as you complete your project. Alongside your personal tutor and supervisor, the course coordinator will also be on hand to assist, and support you through your studies.
Additional support -English support and study skills King’s Foundations offers support to native English speakers or those with near-native proficiency who want more academic skills training, such as in using sources effectively, presentation skills and writing critically. kcl.ac.uk/foundations
Chaplaincy The Dean’s Office and Chaplaincy are part of the pastoral provision and are available to students of all beliefs and backgrounds. King’s has chapels and quiet rooms that are open to everyone for private prayer and reflection. Male and female Muslim prayer rooms are available on all campuses. A full-time Anglican Chaplain heads the Chaplaincy, which also includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Free Church Chaplains, and two part-time Muslim Chaplain. The Rabbi to Jewish students in London works as an associate of the Chaplaincy. kcl.ac.uk/chaplaincy
KCLSU Advice Is independent from the university and therefore offers impartial, confidential advice relating to your rights and responsibilities as a student. kclsu.org/advice
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Application process How to apply If you would like to apply for the MSc, PG Diploma or PG Certificate please apply online at: apply.kcl.ac.uk
Deadline for applications • •
25th October for International students 22nd November for Home & EU students
Entry requirement A degree in medicine, nursing or dentistry or a 2:1 degree or equivalent in life sciences or social sciences from a UK or overseas university. A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a Masters degree with Merit or above. You should also be able to demonstrate experience of working in palliative care or palliative medicine - clinical or social care, or from a research point of view, and evidence of being able to study to the standard required.
Admissions To apply, you'll need to first of all register on our online application system "King's Apply" where you can submit your application online. Please ensure that you send in all relevant documentation with your online application. Typically this includes: transcripts of your previous qualifications (with official English translations if not originally in English) two academic references any English language qualifications that you have (if your first language is not English).
UK STUDENT VISA If you require a UK student visa and are applying to one of our academic preparation courses please note that we can only accept UKVI-approved IELTS tests.
English requirements To study at King’s, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies. The exception is if the university is satisfied that your 11
previous academic record shows that you can study and be examined in the English language. Click this link to direct you to the English requirements for postgraduate courses. The level of English language you are required to demonstrate is dependent upon the programme for which you have applied. Please check carefully. If your first language is not English you must be able to provide recent evidence that your spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the programmes for which you have applied. Please do not assume that you do not need to take IELTS if you have worked or lived in an English speaking country for a number of years. Various factors are considered when Admissions review your application to see if you are exempt. Please organise your IELTS exam in a timely manner especially if you are an international student. Finding availability to take the exam may take between 1-2 months depending on your location. The process of results can vary depending on which test you are taking, which you will need to upload to your admissions profile. Without this, we are unable to accept you on the course, and for Admissions to make arrangements for your visa.
Fees Please find the link below which will direct you to the fees for the course: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-courses/palliative-care-msc-pg-dip-pgcert
How to apply for a standalone module ? If you would like to apply for a standalone module, please apply through: https://apply.kcl.ac.uk/ Tuition fees may increase annually to take into account changes to the form and content of the course and the cost of inflation.
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Module calendar and assessment information for 2022 Date
Deadline for assessment
Assessment type
Research Methods and Statistics in Palliative Care
17th – 28th January 2022
30th September 2022
3,000 word assignment
Assessment and Management of Symptoms in Advanced Diseases
28th February – 11th March 2022
6th May 2022
3,000 word assignment
Applying Psychosocial, Cultural, Ethical and Spiritual Issues to Palliative and End of Life Care
9th – 20th May 2022
15th July 2022
3,000 word assignment
Service Management and Policy in Palliative Care
20th June – 1st July 2022
26th August 2022
3,000 word assignment
Applying Epidemiology in Palliative Care
5th – 16th September 2022
11th November 2022
3,000 word assignment
Research Study project
N/A
6th January 2023
10,000 dissertation
Module
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Alumni profiles More than 600 students have graduated from the course since 1998. Read below about the experience of some of our students and what they enjoyed most about the course and what they have achieved since leaving. You can also check out our website for more stories. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/cicelysaunders/study/postgraduatetaught/msc-alumni-testimonials
Emily Adam Specialist trainee registrar in Palliative Medicine After completing my first year as a specialist trainee registrar in Palliative Medicine in the UK, I took time out of training to complete the MSc full time from January 2019 to January 2020. I met students from a wide range of disciplines, including pharmacists, nurses, spiritual carers, physiotherapists occupational therapists, general practitioners and intensive care doctors. Between us we represented 13 countries! It was fascinating meeting students from across the globe and learning about their experiences of palliative care in different healthcare settings. While many were full time like myself, there were also several undertaking the course on a part time basis over two years. The time we spent together in lectures and the shared learning experience was incredibly bonding, and I was lucky enough to make friends for life! The course was well run and organised, with resources easily available and always well in advance. Learning was supported by our personal online platforms, where all lecture materials were uploaded. The facilities at the Cicely Saunders Institute and St. Christopher’s Hospice were excellent, creating an optimal learning environment. The teaching was of a high quality, with the lecturers representing a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. The course leaders in particular were enthusiastic and inspiring, and as students we felt they were passionate about our learning. My final research project was a systematic review investigating the palliative care needs of adults with intellectual disabilities and their access to palliative care services. The skills gained in the research module equipped me well, and my supervisors were supportive and accessible throughout. My review highlighted the specific problems in providing equitable palliative care for adults with intellectual disabilities. This population face multiple barriers to accessing palliative care, and there is a paucity of high quality research in this field. From a total of 2970 participants across 52 studies, 1% were people with intellectual disabilities, 1.3% family members, and 97% healthcare professionals. This bias towards healthcare professionals highlighted that people with intellectual disabilities themselves, and their families, are not represented through the currently available evidence.
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Addressing the inequalities in accessing palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities should be an urgent priority. The barriers and facilitators identified in my paper are likely to be encountered by other socially disadvantaged groups. Thus policy makers and service developers have much to learn from acknowledging these. Many examples of good practice and promising initiatives were identified in my review, but tended to be small scale exceptions rather than standard practice. Future research should focus on developing measurable outcomes specifically related to people with intellectual disabilities to allow for large scale interventional studies that demonstrate these initiatives are effective. Crucially, methods that include people with intellectual disabilities and their families as participants should be adopted. With support from my supervisors, my project was published in Palliative Medicine in June 2020. This felt like a fantastic achievement and would not have been possible without the skills and encouragement I gained from completing the MSc.
Huei Chung Pharmacist, Taiwan I’m a pharmacist by trade in Taiwan. After completing my MSc in clinical pharmacy, I started to work as a clinical pharmacist in a public community hospital. In 2017, our hospital hosted a symposium on palliative care, and two speakers from the Cicely Saunders Institute were invited to share their experiences. This event taught me a lot about this field of research. To my knowledge, in the training process of being a competent pharmacist, I have always been taught how to use medication to treat and cure patients. However, there are not many opportunities to learn and talk about how to deal with situations when recovery is no longer possible. The concept of palliative care really blew my mind, and this curiosity led me to be a MSc student again in 2019. The MSc programme in palliative care at Cicely Saunders Institute is well-organised and comprehensive. This course created a wonderful learning environment for everyone to share their experiences and exchange ideas. The arrangement of all modules I joined guided me to establish an overall concept of research methods, disease management, policy, epidemiology and medical ethics in palliative care, which was helpful in building my ability to conduct my own research project. The accessibility of the learning materials wasalso very convenient via the on-line platform of King's E-learning system. All faculty members were friendly and supportive, and the programme provided opportunities to meet a variety of health professionals from a diverse set of backgrounds and cultures. The topic of my research project was a systematic review appraising evidence for palliative care needs, models of care, interventions, and outcomes in the Greater China region. This review identified 66 studies from China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Since palliative care provision and planning must build on existing evidence, the findings of this review can 15
be used to inform the development of person-centered, culturally appropriate palliative care, national policy change or to conduct future research. My research project was completed smoothly in January 2020 and published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management in September 2020. This was a huge confidence boost for me which would not have been possible without the support of my supervisors. I am grateful to have had this opportunity to study at Cicely Saunders Institute, and this learning experience was beyond my expectation.
Eve Namisango Research Manager, Uganda It was a great privilege to pursue the MSc in Palliative Care at the Cicely Saunders Institute King’s College London. This international course gave me the opportunity to learn from world experts in palliative care. The modular approach enabled me to continue in my work in Uganda, and put best practice into action . This was the perfect blend! The well-designed course structure and content which promotes communication, impact and career development equipped me with research knowledge and skills, and the ability to engage with key stakeholder to deliver and disseminate impactful research in resource limited settings. I am now well positioned to compete favorably for research funding and career opportunities so that I can continue to deliver novel and cutting-edge research and best practice. In 2019, I won the competitive HIV Research Trust Training award to develop a knowledge translation piece for the Children’s Palliative Care Outcome Scale. This year I won the National Institutes of Health short term fellowship to support the validation of the NIH HEALS in Uganda. Since the completion of my MSc, I have also had the opportunity to train and mentor ten upcoming researchers in Africa. Currently, I head the research and programmes in the department at the African Palliative Care Association and hold an honorary post as a Health Scientist at the College of Medicine, Makerere University.
Andrew Goodhead Chaplain, UK I was fortunate to join the MSc in Palliative Care in 2012. As a jobbing Hospice Chaplain there was a certain amount of personal uncertainty around how I would thrive on a course which seemed to me to be focused on clinical topics. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The MSc was genuinely eye opening. I came to understand in depth the challenges and opportunities to every profession engaging in caring for people at the end of life and those who care for them. Some areas were more challenging than others – symptom control was a whole new area of learning – but at the end of the module I knew I had a knowledge not only of how physical symptoms are controlled, but how symptom management is more than medicine and involves the entire multidisciplinary team. 16
The development and research process of my dissertation sat alongside the MSc modules and I was able to reflect on taught learning as I worked at the research project. This enabled the dissertation to be broader than it ever could be as a ‘standalone’ piece of work. So, what has happened since? Well, I am currently on a secondment into our Patient and Family Services department working with teams to develop their services to reach more people – patients, carers and those men and women who are bereaved. I am also fortunate to be one of the coordinators for the Psychosocial, Ethical and Spiritual modules on the MSc. Learning is a life-long experience and the MSc was part of that experience. I can recommend joining this course. It is genuinely multi-professional and every participant is a learner on a journey.
Lucy Coombes Clinical Nurse Specialist, UK
I was working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in a paediatric palliative care team and wanted to undertake further study to develop my clinical and research skills as well as improve my career prospects. I chose the MSc in palliative care at King’s, due to it being multi-professional and multi-cultural, with a good balance of clinical, research and service development modules. I had also studied at King’s before and found it a supportive and enjoyable place to learn. I enjoyed the focus on research methods and the emphasis on evidence-based practice. One of the strengths of the MSc is its multi-professional nature which allowed holistic discussions around all aspects of palliative care. The MSc was also a valuable opportunity to network with others working in palliative care. Studying on the MSc allowed me to develop my research and leadership skills helping me to gain a promotion within the NHS and equipping me with the necessary skills to undertake a PhD. Since leaving the MSc I have been able to establish a research programme within the my hospital palliative care team, and was part of the committee that wrote the first ever NICE guidelines for end of life care in children and young people. I have since been promoted to a managerial position in my clinical team and have recently returned to the Institute to undertake a PhD. The MSc has given me so many opportunities to do things both professionally and academically that I would never have considered beforehand. 17
Frequently asked questions: Does the multi-professional approach make a difference to the learning experience on the MSc, Diploma and Certificate? It's been increasingly argued that sound palliative care requires a multi-professional team approach, recognising that all health and social care professionals and, importantly, volunteers have vital roles to play in the care of patients and their families. It is only through a team approach that it becomes possible to fully assess patients’ and their families’ needs, supervise the application of treatment decisions, and anticipate and support the dying and grieving process. We strongly believe that learning alongside other health and social care professionals allows students to explore similarities and differences in roles, skills, knowledge and ideologies and to recognise the complementary skills and resources of different provisions. Students are also placed in a position whereby they can learn to acknowledge parity of esteem of their respective contributions to the care of patients and their carers. Lastly, we feel the multiprofessional approach provides greater scope for open communication between all members of the group. This alleviates future hesitancy of single disciplines sharing knowledge with other professionals and non-professionals.
I want to attend on a part-time basis over two years. What is the best way of organising my time? If you wish to attend the MSc or Diploma on a part-time basis, we suggest you complete two modules in your first year . With two modules to complete in your second year you will have much more time to devote to your research project. There are a number of different combinations for choosing modules and we suggest you discuss this with the Course Coordinator.
I am very interested in the MSc, Diploma and Certificate but may need financial assistance. Can you recommend any sources of funding for this programme? Here is a list of different avenues you could explore: • • • •
KCL scholarships website We recommend overseas students seeking financial support contact their nearest British Council office, which has local details of available grants. The Chevening programme for international students. Employer 18
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Nightingale foundation for nurses Postgraduate Master’s Loan (UK students)
Can I change from Diploma to MSc whilst on the course? We like to provide our students flexibility when on the course. If you are taking the Certificate or Diploma and wish to upgrade to the MSc whilst on the course, you can. Sometimes, students will leave with a Diploma, and return to the course several years later to complete their research project to gain their MSc. Will the programme run in 2022? And what will happen if COVID-19 prevents travel? We are committed to delivering the MSc, Diploma and Certificate programme in Palliative Care for January 2022. We are actively planning to provide campus-based teaching where possible, depending on COVID-19 regulations, as well as online teaching and digital services to ensure that you will receive the highest quality education, no matter what the circumstances or where you are in the world. This means that you will have the option of classroom teaching, distance learning or blended learning to ensure that you can fully engage in your studies whether you are a new or current student.
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Contact details Please do not hesitate to contact the MSc Administrator of the course if you have any queries. Please email at: mscpallcare@kcl.ac.uk If you have queries about the Admissions process, please contact: +44 (0)20 7848 7000
Events We will also be holding events throughout 2022. This will be an opportunity to meet our department and ask questions about the course. If you are interested, please sign up and email us at mscpallcare@kcl.ac.uk.
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