If you are a registered nurse looking to develop a higher level of knowledge and skills required to become a District Nurse and address the healthcare needs of individuals, families, carers within remote, rural and urban communities, then this course is for you.
The PgDip/MSc Advanced Practice course will equip you with contemporary knowledge to take forward the rapidly changing healthcare agenda and make a positive difference.
This route is for nurses to gain contemporary knowledge to take forward the rapidly changing primary care agenda. Practitioners will develop critical, innovative and reflective approaches to addressing the healthcare needs of individuals, families, carers, groups and communities.
If you are considering a postgraduate study option starting in September 2025 or January 2026, then please be aware application deadlines are in place which may affect your first choice of start date or course selection.
Year 1
As part of their study within year one students will engage in learning around the principles and Advanced Concepts for Leading in Community Nursing and Clinical Assessment and Examination for Advancing Practice. Students may undertake a 10-week Practice Learning Experience which will support them to demonstrate their learning and achievement of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Specialist Practice Qualification proficiencies or theory on Pathophysiology for Advancing Practice.
Year 2
In year two, students explore Research and Evidence for Advancing Healthcare Practice theories and key principles. They will also undertake learning to achieve the Prescribing for Healthcare Practitioners qualification. In addition, a 10-week Practice Learning Experience will support students to demonstrate their learning and achievement of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Specialist Practice Qualification proficiencies. This Practice Learning Experience will support consolidation of the learning from the course.
Year 3
Students will complete an Advancing Practice Dissertation Project. This opportunity will enable them to undertake a study of an area of practice using a robust and systematic process which will inform future practice or further study.
PgDip/MSc Advanced Practice Programme
The PgDip/MSc Advanced Practice course will equip you with contemporary knowledge to take forward the rapidly changing healthcare agenda and make a positive difference.
The programme includes four different specialism routes which prepare you for a range of people and situations to deliver safe, effective and person-centred care at a higher level of practice. You will explore professional and clinical implications of working as an autonomous practitioner and develop the leadership skills to advance and lead innovative healthcare services. The four routes are:
- Community Children's Nursing
- District Nursing
- Health Visiting
- School Nursing
Applicants to all routes should be sponsored/supported by an NHS Board or appropriate employer to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements for practice assessment.
Find out more:
Graduate Stories
Modules
Modules and delivery order may change for operational purposes. The University regularly reviews its courses. Course content and structure may change over time. See our course and module disclaimer for more information.
Detailed module informationLearning Methods
This is an online course taught within our virtual environment, Moodle, supported with both synchronous and asynchronous learning activities.
Students will be directed to learning resources – reading, videos, online lectures, and tutorials to access at a time most convenient to them, which also support accessible learning. Students will be supported with an academic assessor throughout as per Nursing and Midwifery Council regulations.
When on Practice Learning Experience, students will be supported by Practice Supervisor, Practice Assessor and Academic Assessor as they complete a Practice Assessment Document.
Students need to have a reliable broadband connection and further develop their digital literacy to be able to participate in online learning.
How long is an Advanced Practice - District Nursing course?
The District Nursing course can be successfully completed in 36 months studying online part time.
Activity Summary
- Lectures - 20 students per group, 4 hours per week
- Seminars - 20 students per group, 2 hours per week
- Webinar - 20 students per group, 2 hours per week
- Tutorials - 20 students per group, 2 hours per week
- Project Supervision - 20 students per group, 1 hour per week
- Independent study - 12 hours per week
- Placement/work based learning - 36 hours week for 10 weeks in year 1 and/or year 2
Independent Study
Each module will provide students with learning materials that will support their development and enhance their understanding of the contemporary healthcare needs of the diverse populations that they provide care for in the community.
Assessment
Typically students are assessed via:
Year 1
- 1 written exam, typically for 2 hours and 30 minutes
- 1 written assignment, including essay
- Practice learning experience assessment documentation to demonstrate proficiency in accordance with the NMC
- Virtual OSCE (vOSCE)
- Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Year 2
- 2 written exams, one taking 30 minutes, one taking 2 hours
- 2 written assignments, including essay
- Practice learning experience assessment documentation to demonstrate proficiency in accordance with the NMC
Year 3
- 1 dissertation of 7,000 words
Feedback
We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.
Staff Delivering on this Course
Staff on this course will be experienced community nurses, many of whom are advanced practitioners that also hold the Specialist Practice Qualification in District Nursing themselves. Staff will support students in both an academic and pastoral element as personal tutors and as the academic assessor role.
Placements
Students will undertake practice learning experiences as part of this course.
Practice Learning Experience (PLE) requirements:
- District Nursing - one or two 10 week (360 hours WTE) PLEs
If you select to undertake a course which includes the Prescribing for Healthcare Practitioners module you will require supervision by a Prescribing Practice Assessor and supervisor during a 90-hour practice learning experience.
Job Prospects
The programme prepares students to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements of being annotated as a Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) District Nurse.
This programme will prepare you for an advanced role in a range of healthcare settings. You will develop the decision-making, research and leadership skills required to deal with complex situations. The programme is designed to allow you to continue and develop your knowledge and skills within your own areas of practice, enabling you to accelerate your career progression.

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Entry Requirements
What is needed to study PgDip/MSc Advanced Practice - District Nursing?
The minimum entry requirement for this programme will normally be an honours degree or its equivalent.
In addition, because of the practice-based nature of the programme, all students must be working in clinical practice or sponsored by a Health Board/appropriate employer and have access to a practice assessor/practice supervisor.
Additional Requirements
To enter this route, the student must be an NMC registered nurse (level 1) or NMC registered midwife capable of safe and effective practice at the level of proficiency appropriate to the NMC-approved Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN).
Acceptance is based on having acceptable references from two sources and a satisfactory Protection of Vulnerable Groups. When a student is sponsored by an organisation this will be considered as the equivalent of one reference.
All students will require the guarantee of being able to obtain the relevant practice experience in School Nursing with the relevant support of a Practice Supervisor(s) and a Practice Assessor.
A self-declaration of good health and character will be undertaken as part of the admission process and will be repeated on practice learning experiences.
Any self-funded applicant will be given the advice to contact a relevant practice learning partner to seek practice learning experience and contract. Applicants will be supported to meet the conditions required for undertaking practice learning experiences.
English Language Requirements
All routes must meet the NMC English standard requirement
We accept a variety of in-country and secure English language tests, find out more:
Please note, some courses may require a higher standard of English than stated in this page. Contact admissions@rgu.ac.uk for further information.
Academic Year 2025/2026
UK Students
Full Time
- £8,550 for entire course
- £6,420 for PgDip (Stages 1 and 2)
- £2,130 for MSc (Stage 3 only)
Part Time
- £3,210 for Stage 1
- £3,210 for Stage 2
- £2,130 for Stage 3
This course is not open to EU or international Students.
Academic Year 2024/2025
UK Students
Full Time
- £8,110 for entire course
- £6,080 for PgDip (Stages 1 and 2)
- £2,030 for MSc (Stage 3 only)
Part Time
- £3,040 for Stage 1
- £3,040 for Stage 2
- £2,030 for Stage 3
This course is not open to EU or international Students.
Additional Costs
- £59 for Protecting Vulnerable Group (PVG) check
Some other costs are not included in the course fees:
- The cost of books that you may wish to purchase.
- Costs associated with any placement / study abroad
- Accommodation and Living Costs
- Printing
Alumni Discount
Robert Gordon University is delighted to offer a 20% discount on course fees for all alumni who have graduated from RGU.
Student Funding
Postgraduate students will normally make their own arrangements for payment of fees. However, there are a limited number of SAAS funded places on certain postgraduate courses.
Scholarships and Financial Awards
You may qualify for a scholarship or financial award:
Disclaimer
For new intakes, course fees are reviewed and published annually for each mode of delivery. Tuition fees are fixed for the duration of a course at the rate confirmed in the offer letter. For further information:
Any questions?
Get in touch with our Student Admissions Service and we'll do our best to help.