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The PgDip / MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing is an academic and professional programme designed to prepare Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registered nurses and/or midwives to become Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN).
The award has three distinct pathways that enable you to apply for registration on the SCPHN part of the NMC professional register in a specific field of SCPHN practice:
*NB Occupational Health Nursing is offered part-time only and is delivery fully online.
Work-based learning (WBL) is an integrated element of your learning in the PgDip.
These WBL experiences will be undertaken within field specific environments (Health Visiting / School Nursing / Occupational Health Nursing) with opportunities to develop broader insight into the context of practice by learning from practitioners from a range of services and disciplines outwith the typical scope of practice.
All WBL supports the achievement of the Standards of Proficiency for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (NMC, 2022). Within your WBL experience, you'll be supported by a supervisory and assessment team, including a Practice Supervisor, Practice Assessor and Academic Assessor (NMC (2023) Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment).
As a full or part time student, you will, typically, spend approximately 50% of your total learning time undertaking WBL. However, to offer a unique learning journey, the specific theory/WBL split can be negotiated within the context of an individual learning plan with the supervisory and assessment team.
of UWS graduates are in employment or further study
of UWS research is recognised as world-leading, internationally excellent, or recognised internationally (REF 2021)
You must:
You'll be employed (or have confirmation of an employment offer) within a practice learning environment that offers sufficient learning opportunities to enable the achievement of the standards of proficiency for your intended field of SCPHN practice (NMC 2023).
You will also need to submit a statement of support from the line manager within this practice learning environment, confirming that practice placement requirements are met (NMC 2023).
We welcome Scottish (all fields) and UK-based students (Occupational
Health Nursing field only).
You'll typically possess a degree or equivalent. In the absence of a degree, applicants will be considered on an individual basis and will evidence academic capability through previous achievement at Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 11 (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area.
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.
General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see section below for more details).
SOCIAL WORK DEGREES
For our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to, or require professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.
For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:
* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).
For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:
* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*
*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
The employing organisation will have responsibility to confirm occupational health record clearance and ensure successful applicants are registered on the PVG scheme, managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland (or equivalent).
Our course leads to both an academic award and professional qualification. It consists of equally distributed theoretical learning and practice based experience within the six core modules for each field of practice. The health care needs of individuals, communities, and populations, related to each field of practice, are considered throughout this programme.
This programme adopts a values-based model that is driven by concepts of social justice and Human Rights/Children’s Rights. Students experience an enabling and collaborative learning environment where they are supported to co-design a learning journey that meets the programme learning outcomes and aligns with their unique learning needs and goals. Authentic learning methods, and embedded work-based learning, support theory/practice integration. Modern social learning spaces within the physical campus, and state-of-the-art digital environments, support social interaction and active learning. ‘Safe spaces’ are cultivated to enable students to critically examine their values and beliefs, developing their capability towards ethically sound and socially responsible practice. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with health and social care colleagues, and lead and manage public health initiatives.
Students will be eligible to exit with a PgDip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) Award, and will be eligible for NMC registration, on successful achievement of 120 credits from the following core modules, and achievement of the NMC standards of proficiency for public health nurses (NMC, 2022):
Students will be eligible to exit with a PgDip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (School Nursing) Award, and will be eligible for NMC registration, on successful achievement of 120 credits from the following core modules, and achievement of the NMC standards of proficiency for public health nurses (NMC, 2022):
Students will be eligible to exit with a PgDip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Occupational Health Nursing) Award, and will be eligible for NMC registration, on successful achievement of 120 credits from the following core modules, and achievement of the NMC standards of proficiency for public health nurses (NMC, 2022):
Students will be eligible to exit with a MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) Award, and will be eligible for NMC registration, on successful completion of all Pg Diploma core modules, plus the MSc Dissertation HLS (60 credits) module, and achievement of the NMC standards of proficiency for public health nurses (NMC, 2022).
Students will be eligible to exit with a MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (School Nursing) Award, and will be eligible for NMC registration, on successful completion of all Pg Diploma core modules, plus the MSc Dissertation HLS (60 credits) module, and achievement of the NMC standards of proficiency for public health nurses (NMC, 2022).
Students will be eligible to exit with a MSc Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Occupational Health Nursing) Award, and will be eligible for NMC registration, on successful completion of all Pg Diploma core modules, plus the MSc Dissertation HLS (60 credits) module, and achievement of the NMC standards of proficiency for public health nurses (NMC, 2022).
Both hybrid and online delivery methods offer a flexible range of learning and teaching approaches. You will learn through online pre-recorded lectures, face-to-face interactive learning, small group seminars, group work and group discussions, scenario-based problem-solving, workshops, simulation, case studies, and guided and self-directed reading. Learning will also be supported by resources on the virtual learning environment and contributions from practice experts. Work-based learning, for all three fields of practice, is incorporated throughout the PgDip level of the programme.
Occupational Health Nursing students can undertake the modules from the programme via online learning and teaching strategies, using contemporary digital learning technology.
Authentic assessment strategies support theory/practice integration. Assessments include case study, presentation, report, essay, service development proposal with viva voce, and assessment of work-based learning via portfolio completion.
Graduates will be eligible to apply for a professional role as either Health Visitor or School Nurse or Occupational Health Nurse.
With advanced knowledge and skills in leadership and quality improvement, graduates will be well-positioned to progress to advanced roles in leadership, management, research and education.
Students who successfully complete 120 credits (PgDip) / 180 credits (MSc) with achievement of the NMC standards of proficiency for specialist community public health nurses (NMC, 2022), will be eligible for registration with the NMC on the SCPHN part of the professional register.
£6,420 Total cost of tuition
£10,080 Total cost of tuition
£10,080 Total cost of tuition
£7,500 Total cost of tuition
£11,750 Total cost of tuition
£11,750 Total cost of tuition
The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.
In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs like study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of financial support available to help students meet the cost of their study. This ranges from:
The sections below provide details of additional costs that your course may involve along with any financial support that may be available.
You can also find additional information in our Postgraduate Money, Fees & Funding section.
Students on certain degrees will incur some additional costs not covered by their tuition fees. These could be for things like specialist equipment, study materials, work placements, graduation, membership of relevant organisations or costs related to carrying out fieldwork.
For students on course with an element of fieldwork, there may also be extra costs for travel and accommodation.
Please contact the course leader for details of the additional costs associated with this course.
Post-qualification: You will already be registered on the NMC register, and therefore following successful completion of the PgDip, you will need to pay an application fee to the NMC for the subsequent qualification to be recognised.
Tuition fees are calculated based on where you are from and what you are studying. Some courses also involve additional costs, such as mandatory field trips, equipment or studying abroad.
Find out how much it will cost you to study at UWS as a postgraduate student.
Scottish students studying at postgraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
English, Welsh and Northern Irish students studying at postgraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
EU students studying at postgraduate level of UWS may be eligible for SAAS funding, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
There are several scholarship and incentive schemes available to international students studying at postgraduate level at UWS, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
UWS administer a range of discretionary and childcare funds. These are designed to support students who are experiencing financial difficulty or struggling to meet the costs of childcare.
Becoming a student can have an impact on your entitlement to certain benefits. It may mean you are no longer eligible to claim a benefit you have been receiving, or your new income from student funding may affect the amount you are able to receive.
If there isn’t a statutory source of funding for you or your course, or you are in need of additional financial support, you may wish to consider more alternative sources of funding such as trust funds and scholarships.
Choosing to become a student can have a big impact on your budget and you may need to reassess your spending to account for a reduced income. We’ve put together some guidance to help you manage your money and make the right financial choices for you and your family.
All students should apply directly to the University through our online application system. Before you apply, you should check that you meet our entry requirements and you should have all your supporting documents ready.
The first stage of the process is to complete the initial application form. You will then receive a follow-up email with further instructions relating to your application including documents that you will need to forward to support your application, e.g. degree transcripts and certificates etc.
Most courses don't have a formal closing date, but they will close when they are full; apply early to avoid disappointment. There may also be funding deadlines that apply to you.
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) applies to all international students and researchers (apart from exempt nationalities) who are subject to UK immigration control and are intending to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects.
Students and researchers who are nationals of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the United States of America do not need an ATAS certificate.
An ATAS certificate may be required for certain taught postgraduate master's degrees for international students at UWS.
For the latest information on ATAS and details of eligibility and how to apply for a certificate check the UK Government's dedicated ATAS web pages.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
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