Course Comparison

Course
PgDip District Nursing MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Nursing and Midwifery Professions)
Award
Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip Master of Science - MSc
Duration
2 years 3 years
Assessment breakdown
- -
Course type
Full-time Part-time
Placement
(with placements) -
Location
Plymouth Plymouth
Provider
School of Nursing and Midwifery School of Nursing and Midwifery
Entry requirements
  • Entrants must be registered nurse (Level 1) and have a minimum of one years post-registration experience.
  • Entrants must possess the competence, experience and academic ability to study at the required level of the programme.
  • Entrants should have completed study at Level 6 or higher within the last 5 years.*
  • All applicants must have GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English at Grade C or above.
  • Students will be required to be working in a community setting that will facilitate the successful completion of the programme learning outcomes and achievement of a minimum of 600 hours district nursing and community practice. 
  • Applicants where English is not the first language must also provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English in accordance with the University’s Admissions Code of Practice, that is, IELTS of 7 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each part.
*In order to commence the programme, entrants must meet the University’s entry requirements for study at postgraduate level.
Applicants will normally have a first degree, BSc (Hons) at 2.2 or above; or European first cycle equivalent plus a professional qualification in health or social care. Those individuals without a degree but with appropriate practice related experience relevant to the programme may be eligible to apply. Candidates without a first degree at 2.2 or above (or European first cycle equivalent) will normally be required to submit a short piece of writing as part of the admissions process. It is necessary to assess the potential student’s ability to study at masters level and therefore an interview will be necessary.
Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential are considered and if suitable accepted for Recognition of Prior learning, following University regulations and Faculty procedures.
Offers are subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report.
Part-time students
You will normally have a first degree (BSc (Hons) at 2:2 or above or European first cycle equivalent plus a professional qualification in health or social care). You will be assessed individually for your ability to study at this level and therefore an interview may be necessary. 
If you do not have a first degree at 2:2 or above (or the European first equivalent) but have appropriate practice-related experience relevant to the programme you may still be eligible to apply. In these cases, you would also be required to submit a short piece of writing as part of the admissions process.
Applicants whose first language is not English must also provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English in accordance with the University’s Admissions Code of Practice – IELTS of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each category.
You will also need to be working in an environment that will enable you to meet the programme learning outcomes and have a clinical mentor in practice in undertaking a clinical module. 
Full-time/international students
The entry requirements for full-time or international students who wish to enrol on this programme are generally the same as those for part-time students (please see above).
To enable you to meet the programme learning outcomes you will be supported to choose modules with non-clinical assignments.
AP(E)L:
Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential are accepted and will be assessed following University regulations and faculty procedures.
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS):
This programme is equivalent to 90 ECTS credits (second cycle) with 30 ECTS credits at postgraduate certificate, 60 credits at postgraduate diploma and 90 credits at masters degree. Each 20 credit module has the equivalent of 10 ECTS credits and assumes a notional student effort of between 200-300 hours.
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.