2020/21 Part-time Postgraduate course
Award:
Postgraduate Certificate/Postgraduate Diploma/Master of Science
Faculty:
Faculty of Life and Health Sciences
School:
School of Nursing
Campus:
Jordanstown campus
Start date:
September 2020
The MSc Nursing is a challenging course suitable for qualified nurses who wish to develop higher levels of criticality in research and leadership.
In this section
The Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing is a challenging post graduate qualification for nurses, midwives or health visitors from all fields of practice. This course will assist qualified staff to develop personally and professionally in a wide range of topics and issues including communication, health promotion, leadership, person-centred practice and research.
In the full-time mode, the MSc Nursing (general pathway) it is typically completed over one calendar year. In part time mode, the course can be completed in two or three years. There are also options to complete a PGCert (one year) and a PGDip (two years).
The MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice is normally completed in 2 years.
Sign up to register an interest in the course.
In this section
This part time MSc Nursing offers students two options.
MSc Nursing (general pathway): This will allow students to build upon their existing knowledge, skills and values. This course will challenge students about their practice and offer different opportunities to enhance their knowledge, understanding and critical thinking through classroom and personal study. Nurses undertaking this option often self fund.
MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice: This offers experienced nurses the opportunity to study a course that allows them to meet the requirements of the ANP Framework for NI as set out by the Department of Health in 2014. To be eligible for this course, applicants must be supported by their manager and will be commissioned onto a full time HSCT training post, or alternatively may apply for a commissioned GP Federation place (in primary care). There are 4 options within this course: Adult Medicine and Older People Care, Children's Nursing, Emergency Care and Primary Care. Options will vary each year as these are commissioned by the Department of Health in accordance with their annual commissioning plan.
All staff contributing to the programme hold or are working towards a teaching qualification.
Attendance will be at the Jordanstown or Magee campuses (dependent on availability).
MSc Nursing (general pathway): attendance on this part time option is normally one day per week, however this can vary depending on optional modules chosen.
MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice: attendance at university normally averages one day per week.
The final component of all MSc Nursing pathways is a research project (dissertation). This module is by supervision and and as such there are no face to face taught classes. Occasionally additional workshops may be offered. Regular supervisory meetings will take place where students will be supported by an experienced member of academic staff. These meetings will be arranged between supervisor and supervisee over the duration of the research project (normally an academic year in part time mode).
Teaching, learning and assessment take a variety of forms across the suite of modules in this course. The strategies used are based on principles of adult learning such as self-direction and a capacity to draw upon experience. The course assumes that students have recent experience in practice or are currently working in practice.
Teaching strategies are selected by the nature of the intended learning outcomes. The learning experience is designed to encourage students to become active and motivated learners, who can seek information, question and analyse its validity and draw appropriate and logical conclusions. Students are encouraged to make connections between theoretical content and professional experiences and this facilitates their ability to move from understanding practice and applying skills taught, to questioning and critiquing practice, and ultimately to proposing and carrying out possible research or innovation that would contribute to service/practice developments or enhancements.
Teaching methods on the course include:
Assessment throughout the course has been constructively aligned to the learning outcomes of each of the modules and all contain a combination of formative and summative components. Ongoing formative assessment that has a significant diagnostic function occurs throughout the course and students are encouraged to discuss their progress and actively plan to address identified learning needs. Summative assessment of student performance and progression in modules on the MSc Nursing (general pathway) is carried out through coursework. Assessments include essays, presentations, literature reviews and reflective analyses. These are designed to test knowledge and understanding, to allow students to integrate and apply information, and encourage the development of critical thinking skills.
In addition to this, students on the MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice pathway will also undertake written examinations, OSCEs and will submit a portfolio of evidence outlining how they have met the competencies within the ANP Framework for NI.
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10- or 20-credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate course typically 15- or 30-credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
Assessment
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessment. The precise assessment will depend on the module and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification and the assessment timetable. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised.
Calculation of the Final Award
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study. In Master’s degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 59% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (25%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (18%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic staff (81%) are accredited fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures correct for academic year 2019-2020.
The largest of Ulster's campuses.
Jordanstown is our biggest campus in an idyllic setting surrounded by lush lawns and trees. It's just a few hundred metres from Loughshore Park and promenade, and just seven miles from Belfast city centre.
At our Jordanstown Campus we have world class facilities that are open all year round to our students and members of the public.
At Student Support we provide many services to help students through their time at Ulster University.
Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.
Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.
In this section
Year: 1
Status: C
This module focuses on person-centred nursing as a form of practice that holds central the personhood of everyone involved in health and social care - staff, service users and care partners. This module focuses on how person-centred concepts and theories are applied in nursing, public health and palliative care contexts. The module will be underpinned by the Person-centred nursing Framework of McCormack & McCance (2010), a theoretical framework that will enhance understanding of person-centredness and its translation into practice.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module will develop the capacity to critically engage with theories of leadership and to apply this knowledge to leadership in healthcare practice. It will encourage the development of effective leadership strategies, based on best evidence to meet the challenges faced by healthcare professionals and promote the development of cultures of compassionate leadership. Assessment is by presentation, discourse and coursework
Year: 1
Status: C
Recent reports and evaluations in healthcare suggest that standards of communication are slipping and there is growing disquiet in relation to the patient and family experience. This module provides an opportunity to enhance practice in relation to communication and interprofessional and interagency working. A flipped classroom approach combined with authentic simulation and role play facilitates students gain a fresh perspective on self-awareness and self-agency to innovate and advance nursing. Assessment is by coursework.
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This level 7 module provides an opportunity for students to develop an in-depth understanding of the role of the advanced nurse practitioner in primary care. Students will develop an enhanced knowledge of applied pathophysiology and use this as a basis for the assessment, planning, management and evaluation of whole care episodes for people in primary care. During this module, students will concurrently undertake clinical practice under the guidance of a clinical practice supervisor. Assessment is by coursework and examination. This module is only available to students who are undertaking the commissioned programme for MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice.
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This level 7 module provides students with an opportunity to explore and develop their role as a nurse in advanced practice within the field of adult medicine and older people care. Students will develop advanced knowledge of relevant pathophysiology and will extend their skills of caring for people living with a range of disorders, including people who are frail and vulnerable. Students will undertake practice learning alongside this module, under the supervision of a clinical practice supervisor. Assessment is by coursework and examination. This module is only available to students who are undertaking the commissioned programme for MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice.
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This module develops students' understanding of the major components and complexities of professional decision making and accountability and the central role this plays in the design, delivery and evaluation of ethically safe and effective compassionate care for people within services in hospital and community settings. Within the module. students will critically analyse the relationships between professional decision-making, accountability, governance and patient safety within an interdisciplinary context. Assessment is by coursework.
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This module will develop the capacity to critically engage with theories of communication and to apply this knowledge to the development of advanced communication skills within health and social care practice. It will encourage the development of evidence-based communication strategies to promote compassionate person-centred care. Assessment is by 100% coursework.
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This postgraduate module enables students within a specialist area to build on the more general specialist modules already completed and to develop their knowledge within a more focused area of professional practice. Students work independently with the guidance of an academic tutor and prepare written work for discussion at each meeting with their tutor. Assessment by coursework.
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
The term 'children' includes all children aged birth to 18 years of age
This module recognises that Children's Advanced Nurse Practitioners (Children's ANPs) need in-depth knowledge and understanding of physiological principles if they are to provide safe, effective contemporary care at an advanced level commensurate with the domains and Competencies of Advanced Nurse Practitioner practice. The module will therefore use an integrated concept-based approach to enable students to learn about physiological principles such as maintenance of homeostasis, and the 'normal' human response to internal and external variables. This is a core module for the Children's ANP programme and is only available to students who are undertaking the commissioned programme for MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice.
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This is the first clinical specialist module for the Advanced Nursing Practice in Emergency Care student, and the focus is on the assessment, clinical examination, diagnostic investigations and management of patients presenting with selected key respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and trauma clinical presentations across the age and acuity spectrum. Assessment is by coursework, examination, and Objective Structured Clinical Examination. This module is only available to students who are undertaking the commissioned programme for MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice.
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This module provides students with the policy background to quality improvement and encourages critical analysis of quality within healthcare. It provides students with an opportunity to explore issues relating to their workplace and to utilise skills of problem solving considering aspects like the patient experience and stakeholder involvement. The module also encourages practitioners to critically reflect on quality improvement to improve nursing practice and person centred care. Assessment is by coursework.
This module is a compulsory module for students on the MSc Nursing - Leading Practice pathway.
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
This level 7 module examines a broad range of issues, emphasising selection of relevant topics to maintain a quality approach to ethical deliberation. The knowledge base will enable students to direct and apply subject matter to their own area of expertise through the contribution of teaching and professional expertise, and through reflection and integration of theoretical perspectives with practice experiences. Assessment is by coursework.
Status: O
Year: 1
This module is optional
The spectrum of health challenges currently facing the global care community seems to be growing exponentially with many of the determinants of individual, community and global health stagnating or reversing. Infectious diseases, global poverty, inactivity and obesity levels to mention only some, all show signs of rising and the current world recession has on occasion blunted governmental actions and investment directed towards positive health promotion. Such a situation presents challenges that healthcare professionals need to be aware of. Additionally, it requires them to acquire and develop the knowledge and skills to lead developments in practice they can play locally to help positively address healthcare provision globally.
The aim of this module is enable you to enhance your knowledge of the issues emerging in global healthcare that have a direct bearing on the way in which practice is governed. This is with a view to enabling you to lead developments in practice.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module addresses in an in-depth, critical manner, the determinants of health and how these can be addressed by the disciplines of health promotion and public health. Key theoretical and professional perspectives are explored. Outcomes of these disciplines are critically analysed through an examination of key health psychology theory.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
Health promotion and public health specialists have a key role to play in reducing health inequalities. This module covers a spectrum of key skills and qualities to enable students to identify and address health inequalities and to effectively assess the impact of policies on health and inequalities. Assessment is by coursework.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module will develop the capacity and capability of professionals to use demographic statistics and epidemiological data and analysis to improve public health. Through the assessment framework students are enabled to apply their learning to specific chronic diseases within population groups.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
In this Level 7 module students will further enhance their knowledge and skills to facilitate autonomous advanced nursing practice in primary care. The module will follow a systems based approach underpinned by the principles of person-centred practice. Students will develop the knowledge and skills to manage clinical complexity in order to provide safe and effective care. During this module, students will concurrently undertake clinical practice under the guidance of a clinical practice supervisor. Assessment is by OSCE and examination. This module is only available to students who are undertaking the commissioned programme for MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
The purpose of this module is to enable you to develop your understanding and skills around learning and teaching in practice. The module will provide you with opportunity to construct professional knowledge about the fundamental principles of learning, teaching and assessing and directly impact upon how you use these skills to develop learning activities in your practice.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This is the second pathway module which introduces students to the practice of advanced health assessment. The module aims to broaden and deepen students' knowledge of life sciences, in the application of anatomy, physiology, pathology and pharmacology. The core content is integrated with, and explicitly linked to, clinical practice. Clinical scenarios will reflect the reality of a child's presentation. An integral part of this module is facilitated advanced clinical decision-making skills. On successful completion of this module the practitioner will have the ability to undertake an advanced assessment of an infant, child or young person, discriminating the normal from the abnormal.
*The term 'children' includes all children aged birth to 18 years of age
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This 30-credit module is compulsory for the student to achieve their MSc award. This module builds upon previous study of research methods and enables students to develop and apply theoretical and scientific knowledge and problem-solving skills, extending their understanding of the philosophical and practical aspects of research, service evaluation and project development initiative. Students are required to write an identified research question relevant to research, service evaluation or a project development initiative. This module is assessed by 100% coursework.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
Scientific theories and research methods have a series of interconnecting ideas that underpin them. It is important to have knowledge of this in order to make coherent choices about research designs. This module serves as an introduction to the subjects that make up these frameworks. Along with this there is a long tradition of considering the role theory plays in the development of knowledge in the professions and the subsequent impact this has on decision making. This module will help students uncover the theoretical base of their profession's knowledge.
Assessment is by presentation, discourse and coursework.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This is the second clinical specialist module for the Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Emergency Care student, and the focus is on the history taking, assessment, diagnostics and management of a range of less common clinical presentations associated with set body systems across the age and acuity spectrum. Assessment is by coursework, examination, and presentation. This module is only available to students who are undertaking the commissioned programme for MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
The Advanced Nursing Practice programme at Ulster University requires students to complete a 258 day period of practice learning where they work under the supervision of a Clinical Practice Supervisor from the clinical area and a Pathway Leader who is a member of staff at the university. This practice learning component of the programme runs alongside the theoretical component allowing students to develop, practise and consolidate their clinical skills. During this module, students will demonstrate an advanced level of practice, knowledge and decision-making that is commensurate with the advanced nursing practice role and reflects the requirements of the Advanced Nursing Practice Framework as set out by the DHSSPSNI (2014). Course regulations state that the academic award of MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice is wholly dependent on the completion of this ANP portfolio. This module is only available to students who are undertaking the commissioned programme for MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice.
DHSSPSNI (2014) Advanced Nursing Practice Framework: Supporting Advanced Nursing Practice in Health and Social Care Trusts. Belfast: NIPEC.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This level 7 module will encourage students to further develop their role as an advanced nurse practitioner. Students will continue to develop their knowledge and ability to care for people experiencing a range of conditions and will enhance their understanding of complexity within care. Alongside this module, students will engage in practice learning experiences under the guidance of a clinical practice supervisor. Assessment is by assignment and OSCE. This module is only available to students who are undertaking the commissioned programme for MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module encourages students to lead small step change contributing to quality improvement initiatives leading to transformation of services through person centred practice. It focuses on the development of strategic leadership skills in nurses in order to meet the global challenges facing todays healthcare systems.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module provides the opportunity for practitioners who undertake an educational role, facilitating others' learning in the practice setting, to develop their understanding of effective learning and teaching. It enables participants to develop and enhance their skills in practice-based learning, teaching and assessment. It provides the opportunity for participants to reflect critically on their own experience as a learner, a practitioner and an educator, and to identify aspects of their own practice that could be developed and/or improved.
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This 60-credit module is compulsory for the student to achieve their MSc award. Students are allocated an MSc supervisor. The student completes either a traditional research project or a service evaluation or a project development initiative. Students must write a project proposal, apply for ethics, collect data, analysis the data and the write the final report. This module is assessed by 100% coursework.
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
Applicants for the MSc Nursing will be a qualified nurse, midwife or health visitor (in any field of practice) with registration or licensure in their country of practice and have a first degree or equivalent.
Applicants for the MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice will be commissioned into a training post by their employer (a HSCT or a GP Federation). To apply for the Advanced Nursing Practice course, applicants must have completed a first degree or equivalent, have live registration as a nurse on the current NMC register, and have completed and recorded the V300 course. These applicants must also meet any interview requirements that may be set out as part of the commissioning process.
English language requirements for international applicants
For those who do not have English as a first language, the minimum requirement for this course is an academic IELTS of 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5.
Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
Accreditation of Prior Learning may be considered through the School of Nursing APL process. Students are encouraged to discuss this with the Course Director. There are no exemptions from the MSc Research Project.
Postgraduate
Typically we require applicant for taught programmes to hold the equivalent of a UK first degree (usually in a relevant subject area). Please refer to the specific entry requirements for your chosen course of study as outlined in the online prospectus. We consider students who have good grades in the following:
Qualification |
---|
Bachelor degree |
English Language
In addition to the scholarships and bursaries open to all international students, US students may apply for Federal and Private US loans
Qualification |
---|
Level 12 English Lang in HSD |
View more information for students from United States of America
In this section
The MSc Nursing encourages qualified nurses, midwives and heath visitors from all fields of practice to develop high levels of reflection, decision-making and criticality in nursing theory and research. This is particularly useful for nurses who wish to develop their careers and strive for promotion, particularly those aspiring to higher roles in research, leadership and education.
Students who successfully complete all components of the MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice pathway will be able to apply for the post of Advanced Nurse Practitioner upon completion of this course.
MSc Nursing (general pathway): students undertaking this course on a part time basis are generally in employment. No work placement or study abroad is required for this option.
MSc Nursing - Advanced Nursing Practice: students who are commissioned by their HSCT or by a GP Federation (primary care option) will be required to take up a full time post as an ANP trainee. Trainees will work in practice 3 days a week under the guidance of a clinical practice supervisor, and will have 2 study days per week. This study time includes attendance at university.
In this section
There are several awards available to students during this course. Students with outstanding performance in the leadership module may be considered for the Professor Robert Bowman Award. Outstanding students in MSc research project module may be eligible to apply for the Mona Grey Award.
Tuition fees and costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges), and normal living are a part of university life.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses we make every effort to highlight them. These may include residential visits, field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering) inoculations, security checks, computer equipment, uniforms, professional memberships etc.
We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free wifi is also available on each of the campuses.
There will be some additional costs to being a student which cannot be itemised and these will be different for each student. You may choose to purchase your own textbooks and course materials or prefer your own computer and software. Printing and binding may also be required. There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines. Additional costs vary from course to course.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs as well as tuition fees.
Please contact the course team for more information.
For information about the admissions process, please contact:
Karen McCarroll
For information relating to the content, please contact Course Director:
Dr Helen McGarvey