Primary and Community Care (District Nursing) (SPQ) MSc – 2022 entry
Key information
Start date: September 2022
Full-time: 4 years
Part-time: 5 years
Why choose this course
- Study a hands-on, clinical curriculum to develop the knowledge and skills needed to effectively provide care to people in their homes and those with continuously complex conditions, and lead on innovation and change within modern health and social care.
- Spend half of your training in clinical placements to practise your skills in healthcare settings, under the supervision of qualified practitioners.
- Access our Clinical Simulation Centre, including our Immersive Learning Environment and Critical Care Unit, to practise real scenarios on lifelike manikins and actors.
- Learn from a multidisciplinary team of lecturers, who are all healthcare professionals with experience of working in the NHS.
- Meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) standards for specialist education and practice and record your qualification with the NMC.
What you will study
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 in 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.
Advertisements for sponsorship will be on NHS jobs. There is a joint selection process between the providers and the University.
Clinical placements
You’ll spend half of your training in clinical placements, allowing you to develop your knowledge, skills and practice within healthcare settings, under the supervision of qualified practitioners. You’ll complete 10 weeks of consolidated practice with your sponsoring organisation (please see the entry requirements section for further information about sponsorship).
Facilities
You’ll benefit from our multi-million-pound facilities, home to our Clinical Simulation Centre that includes two wards, a Critical Care Unit and a Community Flat. Our Immersive Learning Environment, lifelike manikins and actors will transport you to the centre of communities, so you can practise your skills and get a taste of scenarios you may face.
You’ll also get exclusive access to our Independent Clinical Learning Space, set up each week with the necessary equipment required to practise the techniques you’ll be learning.
Teaching staff
You’ll learn from lecturers who are qualified practitioners, which may include district nurse Neesha Oozageer Gunowa. You’ll also be taught by guest lecturers, including local doctors, nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers.
Throughout your placements, you’ll be supported by a community practice assessor and practice supervisor.
Research groups
You’ll be invited to join one of our research groups, where you’ll participate in discussions about research topics, findings and publications, and you’ll benefit from our links with renowned research institutions across the world. We also have a host of external speakers that visit us and present their work, and a collection of seminars and workshops, allowing you to network with like-minded individuals.
Assessment
We use a variety of methods to assess you, including case studies, examinations, presentations, simulated learning experiences (objective structured clinical examinations – OSCEs) and written work. When you’re out on placement, your knowledge, skills and professional behaviour will be assessed by your community practice assessor and practice supervisor.
Check individual module information to see full details at a module level.
Teaching
Study and work abroad
You’ll have the opportunity to complete an alternative clinical practice week that you can go abroad for.
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. Our graduates have lifetime access to Surrey Pathfinder, our online portal for appointment and events bookings, jobs, placements and interactive development tools.
This course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which means you’ll be eligible to record your qualification with the NMC on successful completion of your studies.
100% of our graduates from this course go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes survey 2020, HESA). Our alumni typically take on district nursing roles within the NHS.
Visit the NHS careers website for further information on district nursing.
Schools and departments
Academic year structure
This course can be taken either full-time or part-time.
Course length
Full-time
This course can take a minimum of 1 year – 2 years 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 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, 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 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.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules can be either 15, 30, 45, 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). Part-time classes are normally scheduled on two or three days per week, details of which can be obtained from the course administrators. View our Timetabling Policy (PDF).
Contact hours
Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.
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.
International entry requirements by country
Do I meet the requirements for this course?
We require you to submit a full application so that we can formally assess whether you meet the criteria published. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an outcome based on an enquiry (via email, webform enquiry, phone or live chat).
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 (admissions@surrey.ac.uk) with any queries.
Fees
Start date: September 2022
Full-time - 4 years
UK To be confirmed
Overseas To be confirmed
Part-time - 5 years
UK 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 2022-23 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.
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.
The application deadline for September 2022-entry has now passed. Strong applications from people who would not need a student visa to study in the UK may still be considered.
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 our offer terms and conditions and our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2022/2023 academic year 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 our full disclaimer.
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 2022/23.
Course location and contact details
Campus location
Kate Granger BuildingOur Graduate Entry Medicine degree, health sciences, nursing and midwifery courses are taught at the Kate Granger Building (30 Priestley Road), on the Surrey Research Park.
Placement location
You’ll be expected to attend clinical placements with your NHS employer. Please see the placements and sponsorship sections for more details.
University of Surrey Admissions
- Phone: +44 (0)1483 682222
Address
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7XH