Course description

Harm resulting from unsafe healthcare is one of the ten leading causes of death and disability in the world today. While it seems inherently obvious that patient safety should be at the heart of everything we do in healthcare, the mechanisms for doing so are not always simple. Learning about quality and patient safety will equip you to lead change in healthcare that can make a real impact on the experiences and outcomes of patients. A sound theoretical knowledge of quality improvement and patient safety will help you to identify and design interventions for change that have the greatest chance of decreasing patient harm, improving patient experience and generating a sustainable positive working environment.

On our MSc, you will learn the practice and theories of healthcare quality and patient safety from our academics, who are leading world-class research in this area, and from experts in quality and safety at our NHS partners. Among the topics you will study are quality improvement methods, the influences on patient safety, methods and knowledge in the discipline of ergonomics and human factors, and the use of data for quality improvement and patient safety. You will also be supported to develop key transferable skills in critical appraisal, academic writing, project management and communication.

You can study full-time or part-time, giving you the flexibility to fit study around your existing work commitments, meaning you can enhance your career prospects without having to leave employment. It is, therefore, ideal for healthcare professionals who wish to increase their skills and knowledge of patient safety and healthcare quality.

Alternatively, you can gain a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) if you complete the two modules ‘Quality and Quality Improvement in Healthcare’ and ‘Patient Safety and Applied Human Factors’.

This postgraduate qualification can also be taken by students studying for an undergraduate medical degree as an intercalated MSc (iMSc).

Modules on this degree are also available as stand-alone CPD courses:

• Quality and safety in healthcare modules
• Research methods in healthcare modules

Entry requirements

Related courses

“I pursued this degree after working in the healthcare field for a few years and realizing I wanted to dive further into the world of healthcare improvement. I cannot speak more highly about a graduate course as it exposes you to diverse perspectives regarding the current state of healthcare, while also challenging you to consider what high quality and safe care truly means. After graduation, I applied and was selected as the new Quality and Safety Coordinator at Yale University's Smilow Cancer Hospital. I am now three years into my new job and I still regularly use the knowledge gained from my MSc to investigate safety events, analyze and trend key metrics, and lead process improvement efforts. I am beyond grateful for this program which gave me the knowledge and tools that I needed to drive positive change in our healthcare system.” 
Chloe Shevlin, Quality and Safety Coordinator, Yale University’s Smilow Cancer Hospital, USA

“I completed my MSc in Quality and Safety in Healthcare in 2019 as I had always had a passion for improving and working with front line staff to deliver the highest quality care possible. I loved every second of being able to learn and explore the theory and evidence base behind QI and patient safety and discuss and debate with peers. The skills I learnt have been invaluable on the ground and have enabled me to progress to the role I have today! If you have an innate curiosity on how you can make a difference, this is definitely the course for you.”
Heather Darlow, Trust Lead for QI and Quality Governance at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

"After a few years working as a medical doctor in Nigeria, I decided to pursue the MSc in Quality and Safety in Healthcare in 2021. I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of how to lead meaningful changes in healthcare—ones that truly impact patient experiences, improve the quality of care, and drive better outcomes. The program equipped me with the skills to identify, design, and implement effective interventions, and I particularly enjoyed the courses on Quality Improvement and my dissertation work. The experience was incredibly rewarding, and the knowledge I gained was invaluable in my role as a Patient Insight and Research Officer with the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland Integrated Care Board. Now, as a PhD student and Public Health Instructor at Saint Louis University in the United States, I continue to apply what I learned to make a lasting impact in healthcare."
Ifeoma Obionu, PhD candidate, St Louis University, USA
Ifeoma wrote her dissertation into a peer reviewed paper entitled: UK maternity care experiences of ethnic minority and migrant women