Advanced Practice

Programme Routes

The four routes within this programme prepare 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.

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.

The four routes are:

• Community Children's Nursing
• District Nursing
• Health Visiting
• School Nursing

Community Children’s Nursing 

This route is for nurses to gain the contemporary theoretical expertise required when delivering holistic care for children and young people within community children's services. Practitioners will develop critical perspectives and specialist knowledge essential to delivering high quality, safe effective care for specialist community children’s nursing.

District Nursing 

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. 

Health Visiting

This route is for nurses and midwives to build on their experience and develop as culturally competent autonomous advanced practitioners. Health Visitors work in partnership with people to address inequalities, protect health and promote wellbeing to support pre-school aged children in having the best start in life. 

School Nursing

This route is for nurses and midwives to build on their experience and develop as culturally competent autonomous advanced practitioners. School Nurses uphold the rights of school-aged children and young people through working in partnership to address inequalities, protect health and promote wellbeing. 

Graduate Stories

Learning Methods

This online programme is driven by a student-centred philosophy.

Students are supported to learn within our virtual environment, Moodle,  and will apply theoretical learning to contemporary healthcare environments through practice learning experiences within their chosen area of Advanced Practice. 

Prospective students require 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 course?

All routes of the course can be successfully completed in 13 months studying full time or 36 months studying part time.

Activity Summary

Indicative figures are based on full time study:

Community Children's Nursing Route

• Lectures - 10 students per group, 4 hours per week
• Seminars - 10 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Webinar - 10 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Tutorials - 10 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Project Supervision - 10 students per group, 1 hour per week
• Independent Study - 12 hours per week
• Placement/Work based learning - 35 hours per week

District Nursing Route

• Lectures - 12 students per group, 4 hours per week
• Seminars - 12 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Webinar - 12 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Tutorials - 12 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Project Supervision - 12 students per group, 1 hour per week
• Independent Study - 12 hours per week
• Placement/Work based learning - 35 hours per week

Health Visiting and School Nursing Routes

• Lectures - 15 students per group, 4 hours per week
• Seminars - 15 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Webinar - 15 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Tutorials - 15 students per group, 2 hours per week
• Project Supervision - 15 students per group, 1 hour per week
• Independent Study - 12 hours per week
• Placement/Work based learning - 35 hours per week

Independent Study

Students are encouraged to be independent and lifelong learners whilst engaging as part of a connected learning community. A commitment to independent study is required for success on the course. 

Assessment

There are a range of assessment methods across the courses including assessment of theoretical knowledge and NMC proficiencies assess within practice learning experiences. 

Theoretical assessments include written exams, OSCEs, Portfolio-based assessment and written assignments.  

Students can elect to undertake an Advancing Practice Dissertation Project to achieve the MSc element of the course.  

Typically students are assessed via:

All full time routes

Year 1

• 3 written assignments, including essay
• 1 report to be written as part of PLE
• 1 portfolio, approximately 6,000 words
• Practice learning experience assessment documentation to demonstrate proficiency in accordance with the NMC

Year 2

• 1 dissertation of 7,000 words

Part time - Community Children's Nursing and District Nursing Routes

Year 1

• 1 written assignments, including essay
• Practice learning experience assessment documentation to demonstrate proficiency in accordance with the NMC
• OCSE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination)

Year 2

• 2 exams - typically 1 exam 30 minutes and 1 exam 2 hours in length
• 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

Part time - Health Visiting and School Nursing Routes

Year 1

• 2 written assignments, including essay
• 1 report to be written as part of PLE
• Practice learning experience assessment documentation to demonstrate proficiency in accordance with the NMC

Year 2

• 1 written assignment, including essay
• 1 portfolio, approximately 6,000 words
• 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

The majority of the lecturers who teach on this course are qualified Healthcare Professionals, many with an NMC recordable teaching qualification, with a wide range of experience from varied and specialist healthcare settings. They also have educational and research experience. Delivery of the course is supported by associate lecturers who are embedded in clinical practice and guest speakers. 

Academic Support

The Inclusion Centre advises and supports students who disclose a sensory or mobility impairment, chronic medical condition, mental health issue, dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-entry visit to discuss any concerns and to view the facilities.

Online Learning & Support

All undergraduate and postgraduate students, whether you are learning on campus or by online learning, benefit from using our collaborative virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle. You will be provided with 24/7 online access to your learning material and resources, along with the ability to interact with your class members and tutors for discussion and support.

Study Skills Support

The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in:

• Academic writing
• Study skills (note taking, exam techniques, time management, presentation)
• Maths and statistics
• English language
• Information technology support

Library Support

The Library offers support for your course, including the books, eBooks, and journals you will need. We also offer online reading lists for many modules, workshops and drop-ins on searching skills and referencing, and much more.

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
• Community Children’s Nurse - one 10 week (360 hours WTE) PLEs
• Health Visiting and School Nursing - one seven week (252 hours WTE) and one 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 or Community Children’s Nurse or recorded as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) registered as Health Visitor or School 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. 

Entry Requirements

What is needed to study MSc Advanced Practice?

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.  

Acceptance is based on receiving an acceptable references from one source and satisfactory clearance from Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme.

Alternative Qualifications

Community Children's Nursing and District Nursing Routes

To enter these routes, applicants must be an NMC registered nurse (level 1) with relevant professional registration capable of safe and effective practice at the level of proficiency appropriate to the NMC-approved Community Nursing Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ).

Acceptance is based on having acceptable references from two sources and a satisfactory Protection of Vulnerable Groups. When an organisation sponsors a student 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 district nursing with the relevant support of a Practice Supervisor(s) and a Practice Assessor (NMC 2018a).

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.

Students who are undertaking a prescribing qualification must have been registered with the NMC and working as a nurse prior to admission to this programme.

Any self-funded applicant will be given the advice to contact a relevant practice learning partner to seek practice learning experience and contract. The applicant will be supported to meet the conditions required for undertaking practice learning experiences. 

Health Visiting and School Nursing Routes

To enter these routes, applicants 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 health visiting or 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. The applicant 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 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