Advanced Nursing Practice
PGDip or PGCert or MSc
Key facts
Start dates
September 2020
Location
Course length
Part time: MSc: 3-5 years, PGDip: 2-4 years, PGCert: 1- 2 years
Department
Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery
This course is not available to students classed as International for fees purposes.
Overview
We will prepare, support and develop you in your clinical role as a nurse with our MSc/PGDip/PGCert Advanced Nursing Practice.
Due to continuing developments in healthcare, some professionals must take greater responsibility for, and accountability in, developing service provision. Our course develops you in areas of responsibility such as:
- practice
- leadership
- education
- research.
As a nursing professional you will challenge your beliefs and understanding about healthcare. You’ll extend your knowledge and practice skills and engage in continuing professional and postgraduate academic development.
Our teaching staff are experienced in their specialist practice areas. They maintain excellent practice links locally or across the region.
You'll have access to state-of-the-art clinical skills simulation suites and resources. And we support multi and interprofessional learning and teaching.
With our excellent track record of employability and high levels of student satisfaction, our course will help you to invest in your employment prospects.

How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
You must:
- have a first degree, or prior learning at the equivalent, appropriate level
- have a minimum of three years' post-registration experience in clinical practice
- be employed in a suitable clinical role in the UK for the achievement of clinical learning outcomes
- have evidence of current professional registration with the NMC (Nursing Midwifery Council) or HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) in the UK
- have access to an appropriate clinical supervisor within your area of practice
- have explicit written support from your line manager.
Note: The university offers a pre-master's programme which has been designed to fully prepare you for your future master's course if:
- your undergraduate qualifications do not meet the level required for postgraduate study
- you wish to take a master's in a subject that is different from your undergraduate degree
- you need to improve your study skills and use of academic English.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, you must demonstrate that your level of English is appropriate for study at postgraduate level with an IELTS overall score of 7.0 or equivalent. This is necessary to satisfy the requirements of the prescribing element in the course.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
You apply to this course directly to the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences via the online application portal. The course is HL73 Advanced Nursing Practice.
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year your fees will increase each year.
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.
Financial support and scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are offered by Oxford Brookes University. Applicants who have been offered a place on this course are eligible to apply for the following scholarship:
John Henry Brookes Scholarship
The John Henry Brookes Scholarship is awarded to home/EU and international applicants for academic excellence. Each scholarship will be paid towards the tuition fee for a taught master's degree. The awards do not include a maintenance grant.
Funding
You may be eligible for funding or sponsorship to undertake the course through your LETB, your employer or another source. Funding for the research modules may be obtained from the NHSE Research Directive. Self-funding applicants are also welcome to apply.
All applicants will be required to provide details of their funding arrangements prior to enrolment on the course.
Learning and assessment
Your final award will depend on the number of modules you successfully complete.
At any one time you can study:
- one module (20 level 7 credits) or
- two modules (40 level 7 credits).
You will work towards the completion of one of the three academic award levels offered:
- PG Cert (3 modules worth 60 level 7 credits)
- PG Dip (6 modules worth 120 level 7 credits)
- MSc (9 modules worth 180 level 7 credits).
You will also have an opportunity to undertake modules from an approved ‘acceptable modules’ list from the postgraduate health care course portfolio.

Study modules
The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip and PGCert awards your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
You will learn through the following activities:
- seminars
- group discussions
- action-learning circles
- skills practice.
Our course has a flexible modular structure. You will analyse real situations from practice as a basis for examining underlying theoretical issues.
You will combine taught sessions with online learning and resources during the course. Some modules are designed in a distance learning mode using IT resources.
During the course you will:
- experience a lively, challenging and supportive learning atmosphere
- share your learning with peers and colleagues
- consider how you can contribute to the development of others
- use self-reflection, the integration of theory and practice and interprofessional collaboration.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
You will have the opportunity to negotiate the content of your module assessments with your tutors. This will ensure that your work combines academic study with insight into the challenges in current practice.
Module assessment strategies vary throughout the course.
Research
We have a strong research profile. Our experienced researchers work in the following areas:
- cancer care
- children and families
- drugs and alcohol
- physical rehabilitation and enablement
- interprofessional education and collaborative practice.
Our researchers have won external research and consultancy contracts including grants, fellowships and studentships for NHS staff.
Our research staff collaborate with researchers from across Oxford Brookes University and from the Institute of Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, among others.

After you graduate
Career prospects
Students on the postgraduate programmes in Advanced Practice are employed in senior clinical roles in healthcare.
A number of past students have gained promotion to consultant or senior clinical management positions following their completion post graduate study in advanced practice.
Programme Changes: On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.
For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.