Choose a degree which can supply you with the tools to make a real difference to the lives of others.
- Our nursing programmes are approved to the NMC’s new Future nurse: Standards of Proficiency for registered nurses
- The MSc course leads to registration with the NMC at the end of the two year course, as long as you meet the requirements
- You will learn from a highly experienced and enthusiastic teaching team who are dedicated to providing you with the support you need to help you achieve your ambitions
- You will be supported to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes required to deliver high quality, innovative, effective care and our use of clinical supervision throughout the course will enable you to develop resilience and reflective practice
- As part of the programme you will gain practice experience by undertaking clinical placements in a wide range of learning disability settings, including: Community, inpatient, forensic, respite and child services
You will study modules such as:
Stage one
- The Developing Nurse
- Nursing in Practice Learning Disabilities
Stage two
- Promoting Health and Preventing Ill Health
- Application of Evidence within Nursing Practice
Stage three
- Complexities in Learning Disability Nursing
- Leading Innovation and Improvement for the Transition to Registration Learning Disabilities
- Independent Scholarship
Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.
So that you are fully prepared for your career in nursing, we ensure that your skills and knowledge match current working practices in health and social care. The practical abilities you develop on placement* will be underpinned and extended by the knowledge you gain through lectures, tutorials, workshops and activities in the University’s own high-quality training facilities.
*Placement hours are subject to change.
This course is underpinned by the desire to deliver kind, compassionate nursing care. It is a two-year, full-time degree and supports those with a prior degree (2:2 or above) to become a registered nurse at an accelerated pace. You will also need prior work experience in a service user context, allowing you to demonstrate the skills that underpin professional nursing registration. Your prior experiences will contribute to the learning opportunities within the course and together these will provide eligibility to register as a nurse with the NMC, as long as you meet the NMC’s requirements.
We are proud to support the workforce needs of the local region – our course is delivered in the context of the local health care environment and we aim to support our students to practice as qualified nurses locally. By studying this course you can be confident that you will meet the standards and competencies contained within the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Future Nurse (NMC 2018).
MSc Nursing is an intensive course and you will need commitment, motivation and a desire to succeed. The programme holds high expectations that you are engaged and ready to be an independent learner and that you are able to meet the theory and practise hours required by the NMC that reflect a full-time programme of study.
How you are assessed
The assessments you will complete will have support underpinned into each task. You will be encouraged to exchange dialogue which enables students to make the most of the feedback providing action plans. Some of the types of assessments that you may be asked to complete include: Exams, OSCE's, practical assessment of professional competence, problem-solving tasks and varied writing tasks and oral assessments.
Who you’ll meet
Joanne Skellern is the programme leader for the MSc Nursing (learning disability) with NMC registration programme.
Learning, teaching and assessment activities are also provided by visiting professors and specialist clinical practitioners who are experts in the field of learning disability nursing and the service-user involvement group to enhance your experience during the programme.
Students applying for this programme will need to meet the University of Derby general entry requirements for Post Graduate Education.
Essential
- Level 2 English qualification (GCSE Grade 4-9, GCSE Grade A-C, Level 2 Functional Skills English, Key Skills Level 2 Communication or equivalent)
- Level 2 Maths qualification (GCSE Grade 4-9, GCSE Grade A-C, Level 2 Functional Skills Maths, Key Skills Level 2 Application of Number (Numeracy) or equivalent)
- Honours Degree 2:2 or above
- Recognition of prior experiential learning
Desirable
- Science qualification (GCSE Grade 4-9, GCSE Grade A-C,or equivalent)
- Educational study within the last 5 years
In addition
- The applicant will be expected to complete two electronic portfolios to evidence how the applicant's past experiences are relevant to a career in nursing. One practice portfolio needs to evidence 450 hours of work experience and one theory portfolio that needs to evidence how the applicants’ prior educational experience is relevant to nursing
- The applicant must be working within a contractual relationship, this can be educational, employment or voluntary
- The applicant must demonstrate they are working within a setting where they have personally supported the health and or wellbeing needs of service users
- Applicants must complete an occupational health assessment and Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of the selection process and any offer made will be subject to satisfactory outcome of these
- If English is not your first language you must have achieved an IELTS score of at least level 6.5
Interview information
2023/24 (August 2023 - July 2024)
| Type | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|
| UK | £9,250 per year | N/A |
| International | £14,900 per year | N/A |
Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.
* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable
Additional fee information
Funding for Nursing and Allied Health courses
By studying on this programme, you are eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,250. The loan will support your studies and enable you to start a rewarding career in healthcare.
From September 2020 all new and continuing nursing and allied health students on pre-registration courses will also receive a grant of at least £5,000 per year that is not means-tested and will not have to be repaid.
An additional payment of up to £3,000 per academic year will be available to eligible students. Eligibility will include the following:
- £1,000 towards childcare costs
- £1,000 if studying in a region that is struggling to recruit
- £1,000 if studying a shortage specialism
Among others, the shortage specialisms have been confirmed to include:
- Mental health nursing
- Learning disability nursing
- Diagnostic radiography
In addition to this non-repayable grant, you are also able to access a maintenance loan of up to £9,488 per year to support your studies, giving you access to over £17,000 per year of funding.
Read the full press release on the Government website
About postgraduate awards
Please note at postgraduate level, you’ll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the respective awards. If you have any questions please contact us.
| Award |
Credits |
| Postgraduate Certificate |
60 Credits |
| Postgraduate Diploma |
120 Credits |
| MSc |
180 Credits |
Additional costs and optional extras
Funding your studies
Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.
Find out about funding your studiesFind out about funding your studies
Alumni discount for Derby graduates
We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.
Find out about the Alumni discountFind out about the Alumni discount
Important information for applicants
To be considered for an offer to study, the following must be 'evidenced' as part of your initial application submission:
- GSCE English language and maths at grade C/4 or above or the equivalent
- International applicants can demonstrate their English language from any of the accepted qualifications or by taking the Derby English Language Test. Any testing with evidence of attainment needs to be completed prior to the submission of an initial application. If applicants are using a WAEC qualification as certified evidence this must be at a minimum of C4 for English and C6 for Maths
After application submission and providing all entry requirements and initial evidence is satisfactory, suitable candidates will then be required to submit an online portfolio of evidence as part of the professional Recognition of Prior Learning requirements of this Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK) approved programme. Applicants who are invited to submit a portfolio will have 3 weeks to do so and will receive guidance information related to the completion of this portfolio. You will not receive access to this online portfolio until authorised by the programme team. The portfolio element of your application must be submitted and passed in order for you to be shortlisted for interview.
Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a satisfactory virtual interview in order to gain a place on the programme. Non-attendance will result in your application being withdrawn.
On successful completion of this degree, you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and go into practice as a nurse.
Our students have an outstanding employability track record locally, nationally and internationally: in 2015 100% of our graduates were employed or in further study within six months of completing the course.
We offer full support to help you achieve your career goals, including guidance on applications, CVs and interview techniques. Health care organisations large and small attend our annual employer fairs as part of their recruitment drives. Some of our students are fortunate enough to have several job offers by the time they complete their course.
Graduates from this programme will go on to work within hospitals and in community-based teams, you can also go into the forensics community, acute sector, prisons, child and adolescent mental health and behavioural support services.
We offer full support to help you achieve your career goals, including guidance on applications, CVs and interview techniques. Health care organisations large and small attend our annual employer fairs as part of their recruitment drives. Some of our students are fortunate enough to have several job offers by the time they complete their course.
Graduates from this programme will go on to work within hospitals and in community-based teams. They may also go into community care homes, forensic services or the voluntary sector. There may also be opportunities for you to work overseas.
If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.
Contact us Contact us Students can complete the MSc qualification in two years.
Teaching hours
Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.
Additional costs and optional extras
We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.
The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.
Included in your fees
- Uniforms
- Markers
- Name badges and ID holders
- DBS check
- Occupational health check
- Mandatory vaccinations training
Mandatory costs not included in your fees
- Suitable shoes that comply with uniform policy approx £40
- Travel expenses to placements
Optional costs not included in your fees
- Travel to elective placement in year three if the student chooses to go out of usual placement locations
- Textbooks to supplement anything available through the library - various prices depending on the content
- Printing costs of course materials if a hard copy is desired approximately 5p per sheet
- Students may opt to engage in international trips and activities that are not fully funded, though bursaries may be available
- Optional outings and trips will also require self-funding
- Professional NMC membership required to practice
Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.
Minimum numbers
Please note that this course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.
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