Master of Science in Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management
University of Malta
Information last verified July 2026
Program Overview
The Institute of Medicine defines patient safety as the prevention of harm to patients implying a broad focus on a system of care delivery aiming at: preventing errors; learning from existing errors; and building on a culture of safety that involves health care professionals at various levels, organizations and patients. The effective implementation of patient safety and clinical risk management policies require you to be committed to education and training to practice harm prevention safely. The course focuses on: Basic principles of patient safety and clinical risk management Systems analysis and quality improvement scientific techniques Leadership, teamwork, human factors and communication Systematic approaches to evidence-based patient safety and clinical risk management The Institute of Medicine defines patient safety as the prevention of harm to patients implying a broad focus on a system of care delivery aiming at: building on a culture of safety that involves health care professionals at various levels, organizations and patients. The effective implementation of patient safety and clinical risk management policies require you to be committed to education and training to practice harm prevention safely. Systematic approaches to evidence-based patient safety and clinical risk management Application of tools and practices to enhance patient safety and to manage clinical risk in context. Research methods course Integrated safety across the healthcare ecosystem Patient safety in older adults Corporate social responsibility in healthcare Application of tools and practices to enhance patient safety and to manage clinical risk in context.
Career Opportunities
Training in patient safety and clinical risk management is highly valued in health systems and services. These skills demonstrate a commitment to reducing adverse events, medical errors, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing overall healthcare quality. Possessing expertise in these areas can significantly enhance your employability and career advancement opportunities. Employers often seek candidates who are proficient in these domains and as a result, postgraduate education and training qualifications in patient safety and clinical risk management are considered favourably for recruitment or promotion within the health and social care sectors.
Program Curriculum
Year 1 Semester 1 Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) HSM5115 Basic Principles of Patient Safety 5 ECTS HSM5116 Basic Principles of Clinical Risk Management 5 ECTS HSM5117 Systems Analysis and Quality Improvement Scientific Techniques 5 ECTS Semester 2 Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) HSM5118 Leadership, Teamwork, Human Factors and Communication 5 ECTS HSM5119 Systematic Approaches to Evidence-based Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management 5 ECTS HSM5120 Application of Tools and Practices to Enhance Patient Safety and to Manage Clinical Risk in Context 5 ECTS Year 2 Semester 1 HSL5003 Patient Safety in Older Patients 5 ECTS HSL5100 * Dissertation 30 ECTS Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) HSM5107 Research Methods, Epidemiology and Statistics in Health Studies 10 ECTS * Work on the dissertation is expected to start in Semester 1 of academic year 2028/29 and continue up to the end of Semester 2 of academic year 2029/30. Semester 2 Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) HSL5001 Corporate Social Responsibility in Healthcare 5 ECTS HSL5004 Implementation of Integrated Safety Across the Levels of the Healthcare Ecosystem 10 ECTS This programme of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of Master of Science - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the Faculty Health Sciences.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must be in possession of: Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) obtained with at least Second Class (Honours) from the Faculty of Health Sciences in an area of study which should be directly related to the area in which the research is to be carried out, or a Bachelor’s degree obtained with at least a Second Class (Honours) in a discipline deemed by the Board as being closely related to the area of study in which the research is to be carried out, or a qualification deemed by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, to be equivalent to the qualifications listed in (a) and (b) above, provided that applicants in possession of a first degree obtained with at least Second Class (Honours) in a discipline deemed by the Board as being related to the area of study in which the research is to be carried out shall be considered as eligible. Notes and any other requirements During the first year of the Course, students may be required to undergo an occupational health assessment so as to ascertain that they are fit for work which may bring them in contact with the clinical environment. Students who do not fulfil this requirement may be barred from progressing with their studies. Failure to disclose information about a physical or mental health problem that could affect patient safety is considered to be a serious breach of the University Suitability to Practise Regulations. You are viewing the entry requirements for International applicants. Switch to Local qualifications. You can submit your application online . The deadlines for submission of applications vary according to the intake and courses. We encourage all international applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible. This is especially important if you require a visa to travel and eventually stay in Malta. You can compare your national qualifications to the local requirements by visiting our qualifications comparability webpage . Acc
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
€13,400 (Non-EU)
About University of Malta
University of Malta
Msida, Malta
TheUniversity of Malta(Maltese:L-Università ta' Malta;UM; formerlyUOM) is apublic research universityin the towns ofMsidaandValletta, Malta. It serves as theflagshipandnational universityof...
University Profile- Start Date October
- Language English
- Duration 3 years
- Credits 90
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