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Advanced Nursing Practice

MSc or PGDip or PGCert

Key facts
Overview
How to apply
Tuition fees
Learning and assessment
Research
After you graduate

Key facts

Start dates

September 2020

Location

Headington (Marston Road site)

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.

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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.

Student nurse in simulation ward

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.

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Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home/EU part time
£1,040 per single module
Home/EU part time
£1,060 per single module

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2020 / 21
Home/EU part time
£1,040 per single module
2021 / 22
Home/EU part time
£1,060 per single module

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:
+44 (0)1865 483088
financefees@brookes.ac.uk

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.

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.

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

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.

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.

Student nurses taking notes in a lecture

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.

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

Dimensions of Advanced Nursing Practice (20 credits)

This module enables students to analyse and debate key issues in the advancement of nursing practice. You will examine developments within the nursing profession, and in relation to your own role. You will be supported in the enhancement of self-awareness and personal/professional growth through the use of strategies that include reflective practice and critical thinking. You will be facilitated in the analysis and debate of real issues from your practice, through student-centred learning approaches such as action learning, student presentation and discussion.

Advanced History Taking and Assessment (20 credits)

This practice-based module aims to enable you to develop the skills and knowledge to take a comprehensive patient history and a thorough physical and psychosocial assessment. This module will significantly enhance your assessment skills and ability to accurately take and document a patient/client's health history and examination findings using appropriate terminology, reporting deviations from normal in a succinct manner to colleagues within the multidisciplinary team.

Note: If you only wish to take this as a standalone module (rather than as part of a long award such as an MSc), then you can apply to be a postgraduate associate student. You do not apply via UKPASS for this, but instead contact the Programme Administrator on aphls@brookes.ac.uk / 01865 48 8157 for further details and an application form.

Diagnostic Reasoning in Practice (20 credits)

This module enables you to critically appraise knowledge and evidence related to the physiology underpinning diagnostic tools and interventions used within practice. The development of this knowledge will enable you to provide a theoretical base from which to make efficient and effective decisions in relation to patients'/clients' health care needs, and their management.

Applied Research Methods (10 credits)

This module is designed to develop greater understanding of research methods relevant to health care practice. It aims to develop decision-making skills related to research design by exploring the theoretical context of research methodology and the implications for research / study design. A broad and eclectic approach is taken to the module, choice of research / study methods and their use in the investigation of contemporary health care problems. Learning will take place from a range of perspectives.

Final project

Compulsory modules

Dissertation in Advanced Practice (50 credits)

This module provides you with the opportunity to engage in a piece of investigative research / service evaluation / audit / literature review, which will allow you to demonstrate the development of skills in scholarship and an ability to focus on a specific research / study question(s). In addition, it provides sufficient scope to display a wide appreciation of the context of the chosen topic within the field of health care. The research / study questions posed by students are expected to vary considerably; however, you will be required to justify the chosen methodology. The investigation undertaken will encompass a systematic collection and analysis of data and reflect awareness of the implications of the research / study for practice, theory, education, management and future research within the health care field. 

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

NURS7030 - Advanced history taking and assessment Formative assessment: Practice scenario assessment weeks 8, 9 and 10, and submission of two 'Evaluation of clinical skills practise' forms Summative assessment: submission of final 'Evaluation of clinical skills practise' form (pass / fail), and a Practice Scenario Assessment (100%)

NURS7060 Dimensions of Advanced Nursing Practice Formative assessment: 1,000 word outline of summative essay, week 7. Summative assessment: 3,500 word reflective essay (100%) NURS7031 - Diagnostic Reasoning in Practice Formative assessment: 1,000 word draft essay, week 8

Summative assessment: 3,500 word essay and self-assessment of learning (100%)
NURS7061 - Applied Research Methods Formative assessment; 1,000 word outline of summative essay week 7 Summative assessment: 2,500 word essay (100%) NURS7062 - Dissertation in Advanced Practice Formative assessment: submission of a chapter within first 6 months Summative assessment 10,000 word thesis (100%)
 

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. 


 

Female researcher

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.