Anaesthetics and Recovery (Foundation)

Graduate Certificate Part-time

Course Overview

UCAS code:
Duration: 1 year
Study type: Part-Time
Napier code: 72190GC

As a registered nurse or operating department practitioner (OPD) currently working in a department of anaesthesia, you may be considering upgrading your position to anaesthetic assistant. Requiring no previous degree, this course - the only one of its kind in Scotland - has been developed in partnership with clinical experts to give you the knowledge, skills and professional approach you need to progress to this next stage of your career.

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As a registered nurse or operating department practitioner (OPD) currently working in a department of anaesthesia, you may be considering upgrading your position to anaesthetic assistant.

Requiring no previous degree, this course - the only one of its kind in Scotland - has been developed in partnership with clinical experts to give you the knowledge, skills and professional approach you need to progress to this next stage of your career.

Conducted online only, it is ideal for the busy professional who needs to able to structure their study to suit work and family commitments. You'll graduate with a qualification that meets the criteria required by the NHS Education for Scotland (NES), and a step up to a more rewarding phase of your career.

This course attracts a substantial, non-means tested, bursary.

The course has been designed to meet the NES Portfolio of Core Competencies for Anaesthetic Assistants to a Level 9 standard. As such, you'll learn all aspects of the theory and practices behind safe, holistic care in the anaesthetic and recovery phases of perioperative care. You'll also develop your skills in critically assessing and reflecting on changes in techniques and approaches, as well decision making and effective communication.

What's it like?

The only course of its kind in Scotland.

Career prospects

We are one of the top universities in Scotland for graduate employability, with over 93% of our graduates in jobs or further study six months after graduating.

Specifically designed for progression to the position of Anaesthetic Assistant, this course will allow you to apply for roles both within and outside your current workplace. The course's alignment with the NES Core competencies will lend a high degree of credibility to your application, leaving you well-placed for a successful career.

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What's involved

Modular learning

Our courses are structured by modules which gives our students a flexible learning programme. Modules covered by this course:

On offer

Campus life

World class facilities


Why I chose Napier

Requirements at a glance

Entry to the course

International students

Full-time study (per year)

The fees listed are stated per annum.

Part-time study (per year)

The fees listed are stated per annum.

Part-time study

The number of modules studied is dependent on the exit that you wish to achieve, for example:

  • A Grad Cert is 60 Credits (3 modules)
  • A Cert HE/Grad Dip/ HND is 120 credits (6 modules)
  • A Dip HE credit is 240 credits (12 modules)
  • A Degree is 360 credits (18 modules)
  • An Honours Degree is 480 credits

Please note that some part-time courses give modular exemptions for previous study and vocational experience. Advice is available during application.

Fees Table

Fees displayed are correct at the time of publication but the University Court reserves the right to make changes in fees at any time, and without notice, before or after the student's admission to the University.

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and will rise each year during your programme of study, at least in line with inflation.

Funding your study

We have a selection of funding opportunities available such as the UK postgraduate tuition fee loan (Scottish & EU) and specific scholarships aimed at student from India and across Africa. Visit our funding pages to find out what you could be eligible for.

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