School of Nursing and Midwifery

MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Nursing and Midwifery Professions)

Are you a registered health or social care professional looking to develop your advanced practitioner knowledge and skills? The MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Nursing and Midwifery Professions) has been developed to meet the needs of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals working across all healthcare sectors. You will develop your practice by building on your current experience and knowledge, leading to improved ways of working and a positive impact on patient care.

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First choice for health

Delivered by professional experts, our programmes are tailored to you and your career. Together, we address today's most challenging healthcare issues, through research-informed teaching and active, real-world learning.

#firstchoiceforhealth

Key features

  • This programme may be studied full time over one year or part time over up to five years, offering flexible delivery and exit points to support a learner centred approach.
  • A contemporary and dynamic programme responsive to the changing health and social care environment.
  • Build a qualification around your personal professional needs by picking and choosing optional modules with relevance to your area of practice and benefit from a student-centred approach providing flexibility in your choice of award.
  • Embed independent and supplementary prescribing into your masters degree (subject to profession).
  • Opportunities to study in an inter-professional setting with inter-professional core and optional modules delivered by an academic team with extensive experience as well as a close relationship with clinicians contributing to teaching.
  • Research informed teaching is embedded throughout the curriculum and you will be given the chance to design and undertake your own research to enhance and develop patient care and/or service provision.
  • Gain a deeper understanding of the advanced clinical practice role and how this is used to enhance the patient journey whilst ensuring the right care is delivered by the right clinician at the right time.
  • Be equipped to take on lead roles in management, clinical practice and/or education.

Please note that when you enrol on this programme, you always enrol to study the master degree but we offer three exit awards: PgCert, PgDip and MSc.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • Award postgraduate certificate – to achieve a postgraduate certificate, you will need to earn 60 credits. This must include the core modules: ‘Advancing Practice in Context’ (20 credits) and ‘Research Methodology and Application’ (20 credits), with the remaining 20 credits coming from an optional module of your choice. Please refer to the below programme specification for further information on modules to be studied.

    Award postgraduate diploma – to achieve a postgraduate diploma, you will have first completed the PgCert and need to earn an additional 60 credits (to give 120 credits in total). Please refer to the below programme specification for further information on modules to be studied.

    Award master of science – for a full master degree, you will have first completed the PgDip and need to earn an additional 60 credits (to give 180 credits in total). Please refer to the below programme specification for further information on modules to be studied.

    For further information on all optional modules for this programme please visit MSc Advanced Professional Practice modules for the School of Nursing and Midwifery page.

    Induction takes place 4 September 2019. 

    APP718 Ethical and legal issues

    APP721 Perinatal mental health

    APP733 Global health in context

    APP734 Sociology of health and illness

    APP735 Contemporary approaches to public health

    APP736 Leadership and innovation

    APP747 Communication and behaviour change

    APP742 Diabetes mellitus (though module record requires minor adjustment to reflect the fact that student might not be in practice)

    APP739 Enhancing practice in paediatric palliative care (though experience of field is necessary)

    APP727 The child and young person with mental health needs

    Work based learning

    Core modules

    APP701 Advancing practice in context

    APP745 Research methodology and application

    SPP702 Substantive professional project

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Entry requirements

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.

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. 

Fees, costs and funding

EU applicants should refer to our dedicated Brexit webpage for details of the implications of the UK’s plans to leave the European Union.

New Student 2018 2019
Home/EU £7,400 To be confirmed
International £14,000 To be confirmed
Part time (Home/EU) To be confirmed To be confirmed
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances.

Alumnus loyalty reward for postgraduate study

From September 2018, the University applies a discretionary alumni reward where alumnus meet certain criteria on particular postgraduate taught courses.

  • a 20 per cent discount on home/EU tuition fees
  • or a £2,000 discount on international tuition fees.

PGCE programmes, Master of Architecture, MChem, MEng, MGeol, MPsych, MSci, ResM and postgraduate research degrees are not included in this reward.

For further details, and contact information, please review our alumni discount policy.

2018-19

Home/EU (full time) International (full time)
£7,380* £14,000
Home/EU (part time) International (part time)
£820 per 20 credits N/A

*This fee is based on undertaking 180 credits at £820 per 20 credits. Please note that some of the optional modules for this programme are specialist or Health and Social Care Partnerships modules and therefore may have different fees . Module fees can be found on the individual module webpages.

Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per a number of credits. Fees are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.

Information about loans and funding for postgraduate study.

Please be aware that there may be additional costs to undertaking your studies relating to printing of course materials, and requirement for an initial outlay for travel and accommodation in respect of practice placement. If you have any questions regarding these costs please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

International
If you are studying on a programme where placements are integral to your study there are costs associated with travel and accommodation. Please speak with the programme admissions tutor to find out more.

How to apply

When to apply

Applications for this programme can usually be made throughout the year. Please check the closing date and apply as early as possible as our programmes are popular.

Apply for this programme

Applications should be made by using the relevant PDF or Word application form.

Postgraduate application form DOC – A DOC application form for postgraduate students to print, fill in and mail to the University

Postgraduate application form PDF – A PDF application form for postgraduate students to print, fill in and mail to the University

Printed application forms are also available and can be obtained from the Professional Development Unit. Please send your completed application form to the address or email listed below:

Professional Development Unit
4th floor, Rolle Building
Plymouth University
Drake Circus
Plymouth PL4 8AA

Email: pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk

Tel: +44 1752 586951

What happens after I apply?

You will normally receive a decision on your application within four weeks of us receiving your application. You may be asked to provide additional information, to take part in an interview (which in the case if you are an overseas student may be by telephone or video conference) or you will be sent a decision by letter or email.

If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by Plymouth University, please visit our Disability Services website.

Support is also available from our International Office, if you are an overseas student applying to the University.


Please note that when you enrol on this programme, you always enrol to study the master degree but we offer three exit awards: PgCert, PgDip and MSc.

Module choices within the School of Nursing and Midwifery

Choose from an extensive range of optional modules and three different exit awards to suit your professional development needs.
Find out more about our modules

MSc Advanced Professional Practice pathways

Both the School of Health Professions and the School of Nursing and Midwifery offer the MSc Advanced Professional Practice programme; together we offer a wide range of specialist and generic pathways to meet the educational needs of all health and socia
Discover more about the pathways we offer

Career opportunities

You’ll be able to apply for Band 7 and Band 8 roles and undertaken a wide range of advanced roles within your own field of scope.

You can also become a non-medical consultant or clinical specialist, and can move into managerial, academic or research posts.

Find out how this programme can help you achieve your goals

Alumnus loyalty reward for postgraduate study

From September 2018, the University applies a discretionary alumnus reward where alumni meet certain criteria on particular postgraduate taught courses.

  • a 20 per cent discount on home/EU tuition fees
  • or a £2,000 discount on international tuition fees.

PGCE programmes, Master of Architecture, MChem, MEng, MGeol, MPsych, MSci, ResM and postgraduate research degrees are not included in this reward. Please note that students must have applied directly to be eligible. 

For further details, and contact information, please see our alumnus discount policy.

The Faye Doris Bursary

Offering £750 and £1,500 for qualified midwives employed in Somerset, Devon or Cornwall wishing to undertake further study at Plymouth University.

The bursary is to help midwives wishing to undertake further study that can contribute to the maternity services through clinical practice, research, education, leadership, management or any other area. The study which it supports does not necessarily have to be midwifery specific.

Find out more about the bursary

Modules for full time and international students

If you are studying the MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Nursing and Midwifery Professions) programme full-time or are an international student you will be supported to choose optional modules with non-clinical assignments, such as:

APP718 – Ethical and legal issues in healthcare practice

APP721 – Perinatal mental health

APP733 – Global health in context

APP734 – Sociology of health and illness

APP735 – Contemporary approaches to public health

APP736 – Leadership and innovation

APP747 - Communication and health behaviour change

Support for international students

With students studying at Plymouth from over 100 countries, Plymouth University has a range of services and support for our international students.

We have an English Language Centre (ELC) that offers a range of courses to help you develop your academic English language skills. Continued support is available throughout your studies through workshops, drop-in sessions and our Writing Café.

We also have our International Student Advice team who will help you get the most from your studies and your time in the UK. There is an International Student Orientation programme and we can advise on immigration and visas through to living and studying in the UK.

For more details of support on offer, please visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/international.

Scholarship for international applicants

A £3000 fee waiver will be awarded to international applicants, who exceed the entry requirements for this programme, for the first year of their studies. You need to have a BSc (Hons) degree at 2:1 (or equivalent) OR an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of at least 7.0 (6.5 minimum in each element).

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