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Primary and Community Care (District Nursing) (SPQ) MSc – 2021 entry
Key information
Start date: January 2021
Full-time: 4 years
Part-time: 5 years
Start date: September 2021
Full-time: 4 years
Part-time: 5 years
Why choose this course
On our MSc Primary and Community Care (District Nursing) course, you’ll develop the knowledge and clinical skills needed to effectively provide care to people in their homes and those with continuously complex conditions. You’ll transform into a critical and discerning practitioner, capable of driving innovation and change in health and social care.
This course is taught by clinicians and researchers with experience in working in the NHS, ensuring everything you’ll learn is up-to-date and meets the needs of the progressive healthcare sector.
This course meets the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) standards for specialist education and practice. On successful completion of the first year (full-time) or two years (part-time) of this course, you’ll be eligible to record your specialist practice qualification with the NMC.
What you will study
Throughout your hands-on clinical training, you’ll develop values that employers and the public need from modern healthcare professionals such as, compassion, good communication skills, teamwork and treating patients with dignity and respect.
You’ll learn high-level clinical skills and develop an in-depth knowledge of primary and community care nursing. You’ll study topics, including community nurse practitioner prescribing (V100), decision making, health assessment, leadership, management of long-term conditions, mental health, and primary and community care policy.
You'll have the opportunity to complete a research dissertation on an area of personal interest, which we’ll match with the expertise of our academic staff, ensuring you get the best support.
Sponsorship
To study on this course, you’ll need to be sponsored by a healthcare provider organisation. Your sponsor will provide you with your clinical placement and a community practice assessor and supervisor. They’ll simultaneously support and evaluate your practice abilities throughout the course. You’ll need to negotiate with your sponsoring organisation whether your clinical placements can be full-time or part-time.
Clinical placements
This course is 50 per cent theory and 50 per cent practice. For your theory elements, you’ll be in lectures, practical sessions and studying independently. You’ll spend half of your training in clinical placements, allowing you to practise the skills you’ll learn in the classroom out in the real-world, under the supervision of qualified practitioners, from a range of specialisms.
Teaching staff
We have a clinical-led focus to our teaching, ensuring everything you learn is up-to-date and relevant to the healthcare sector. You’ll be taught by lecturers who are qualified practitioners.
Professional recognition
MSc - Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as an approved programme for the recordable qualification of District Nurse.
Careers and graduate prospects
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
We’ll prepare you to meet the demands of modern healthcare, by equipping you with advanced knowledge and skills. Our graduates typically take on district nursing roles within the NHS.
Schools and departments
Academic year structure
This course can be taken either full-time or part-time. If you choose part-time, your teaching will take place across two academic years.
Course length
Full-time
This course can take a minimum of 1 year – 2 years and 4 months to complete, depending on what qualification you wish to attain.
After 1 year, you’ll have gained a PGDip Primary and Community Care (District Nursing) (SPQ) qualification and you’ll be eligible to record this with the NMC.
If you wish to progress to a full MSc qualification, you must complete an additional 1 year and 4 months of part-time study, during which you’ll write a dissertation. You must submit this within five years of starting the course.
Part-time
This course can take a minimum of 2 years – 3 years and 4 months, depending on what qualification you wish to attain.
After 2 years, you’ll have gained a PGDip Primary and Community Care (District Nursing) (SPQ) qualification and you’ll be eligible to record this with the NMC.
If you wish to progress to a full MSc qualification, you must complete an additional 1 year and 4 months of part-time study, during which you’ll write a dissertation. You must submit this within five years of starting the course.
Modules
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.
Important: In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the University has had to change the delivery (and in some cases the content) of its programmes, together with certain University services and facilities for the 2020/21 academic year. These changes include the implementation of a hybrid teaching approach. View detailed information on the changes.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules can be either 15, 30, 45 or 60, 75 and 120 credits, and additionally for some masters dissertations, 90 credits.
The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:
Optional modules for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7
Students must complete all core modules and take Specialist Practice Portfolio OR Specialist Practice Portfolio with V100.
Students must choose one optional module. Information on CPD modules can be found at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/healthsciences/professional-development/cpd-modules.htm
Optional modules for Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7
Students must complete all core modules and take Specialist Practice Portfolio OR Specialist Practice Portfolio with V100.
Students must choose one optional module. Information on CPD modules can be found at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/healthsciences/professional-development/cpd-modules.htm
Optional modules for Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7
Students must complete all core modules and take Specialist Practice Portfolio OR Specialist Practice Portfolio with V100.
Students must choose one optional module. Information on CPD modules can be found at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/healthsciences/professional-development/cpd-modules.htm
Timetable
Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday–Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week, details of which can be obtained from the Academic Hive. View our Timetabling Policy (PDF).
Entry requirements
A minimum of a 2:2 in a relevant UK honours degree. You must be currently registered as a healthcare professional to apply.
View entry requirements by country
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each element.
View the other English language qualifications that we accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Selection process
Application link is provided to apply post internal trust interview with University of Surrey representative. Applicants should apply through NHS jobs initially.
Credit transfer
The University of Surrey recognises that many students enter their higher education course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of professional, vocational and community contexts. If this applies to you, a process called recognition of prior learning (RPL) may allow you to enter your course at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience, or to join the start of a course without the formal entry requirements. This means that you may be exempt from certain elements of study in the course for which you have applied and be awarded credit based on your previous qualifications/experience. There are restrictions on RPL for some courses and fees may be payable for certain claims.
Please see the code of practice for recognition of prior learning and prior credit: taught programmes (PDF) for further information. Please email Admissions with any queries.
Fees
Start date: January 2021
Full-time - 4 years
UK/EU To be confirmed
Overseas To be confirmed
Part-time - 5 years
UK/EU To be confirmed
Overseas To be confirmed
Start date: September 2021
Full-time - 4 years
UK/EU To be confirmed
Overseas To be confirmed
Part-time - 5 years
UK/EU To be confirmed
Overseas To be confirmed
Students will pay fees on a module-by-module basis, please see our modules for further information.
Please note:
- These fees apply to students commencing study in the academic year 2020-21 only. Fees for new starters are reviewed annually.
- If you are on a two-year full-time Euromasters or MFA programme, or a two-year or three-year part-time masters programme (excluding modular/self-paced/distance learning), the annual fee is payable in Year 1 and Year 2 of the programme.
Scholarships and bursaries
We're committed to making sure that we offer support for students who might need it.
How to apply
Applications should initially be made via NHS jobs. Eligible applicants will be given further information on how to submit an application to the University following a successful interview with the Trust. If you have any questions please email admissions@surrey.ac.uk.
Admission information
Our postgraduate admissions policy* provides the basis for admissions practice across the University and gives a framework for how we encourage, consider applications and admit students. You can also read our postgraduate applicant guidance.
Terms and conditions
When you accept an offer of a place at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to comply with our policies and regulations, and our terms and conditions. These terms and conditions are provided in two stages: first when we make an offer and second when students who have accepted their offers register to study at the University. View an example of our offer terms and conditions and our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) as a guide as to what to expect.
Please note: our offer terms and conditions will generally be available in the September of the calendar year prior to the year in which you begin your studies. Our registration terms and conditions will vary to take into account specifics of your course and changes for the specific academic year.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been prepared and published in advance of the academic year to which it applies. The University of Surrey has used its reasonable efforts to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content or additional costs) may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read more.
Further, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University has had to change the delivery (and in some cases the content) of its programmes, together with certain University services and facilities for the academic year 2020/21. These changes include the implementation of a hybrid teaching approach during 2020/21. Detailed information on all changes is available at our dedicated course changes webpage. This webpage sets out information relating to general University changes, and will also direct you to consider additional information relating to specific programmes.
Course location and contact details
Campus location
Kate Granger BuildingOur health sciences, nursing and midwifery courses are taught at the Kate Granger Building (30 Priestley Road), on the Surrey Research Park.
- Phone: +44 (0)1483 682222
- Email: admissions@surrey.ac.uk
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7XH