FAQs

How much of my time will the course take up?

The course is designed to be taken part time, by distance learning, over a period of three years. To gain a masters degree it is necessary to accumulate 180 credits, each of which is notionally equivalent to 10 learning hours. In total that makes 1800 learning hours, or 600 hours per year. The actual time spent will, however, vary dependant on your own level of prior learning and amount of relevant work experience.

How much will the course cost me?

Fees for the academic year 2012/13 are £1873 per annum for home (UK) or overseas students.

Please note that the University of Sheffield does reserve the right to increase fees in line with inflation in your subsequent years of study.

What happens if I start the course and then cannot continue to the end

It would be a shame to waste any effort you put into a course like this. For that reason it is possible to opt out after one year (60 credits) with a Postgraduate Certificate or after two years (120 credits) with a Postgraduate Diploma. Naturally we would prefer you to reach masters level (180 credits). If your personal circumstances force you to take a short break in studying, this can be arranged, with your credits being temporarily 'banked'. The maximum period over which the course can be completed is five years.

Do I need a first (bachelors) degree to register for this course?

Normally yes, but in exceptional circumstances accreditation for other forms of learning or relevant experience can be given. You would need to discuss your personal circumstances with the Programme Leader.

As this course will be taught over the internet, do I need a high spec computer

We realise that not everyone wanting to participate will have access to a state-of-the-art computer, but this should not be necessary as any modern computer should be able to cope with the course materials. The most important aspect will be the speed of your connection to the internet, which will need to be reasonably fast (broadband not dial-up).

English is not my first language. Will I be able to keep up?

As this is an international programme, many of the participants will have English as their second (or third) language. To ensure that everyone will be able to participate fully and gain maximum benefit we will only accept students onto the programme who can demonstrate an appropriate level of English language proficiency.

For the purposes of completing an online course at masters level the University has decided that a proficiency in English which rates at 6.5 or above on the IELTS scale is necessary. This equates to a TOEFL paper score of 575, a TOEFL computer score of 232 or a TOEFL internet-based test score of 90.

The University of Sheffield has more information on English language test scores provided by its English Language Teaching Centre

What qualification do I get at the end?

When you successfully complete the whole programme (180 credits) you will receive a masters degree from the University of Sheffield, which will carry the same authority as any other masters degree earned by students whose studies were physically based in Sheffield. The degree will be a Master of Medical Science (MMedSci) in the subject for which you registered or a Master of Midwifery (MMid) for registered midwives. If you opt out before this stage you may be eligible for the corresponding Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma.

Is there any clinical requirement?

No. This programme is not about teaching basic clinical skills: those students who are registered nurses or midwives will have these skills already. The programme is all about enhancing the knowledge and abilities of experienced practitioners. Clinical experience will be useful to call upon to illuminate discussions but is not an integral component of the course as such.

How will I be supervised?

It is important that you do not feel isolated during this course, so the University will ensure that you remain in regular contact with teaching staff as well as with your fellow students. Your programme leader will be available to monitor your progress and provide support throughout the course. In addition, each unit leader will closely supervise work done during their unit and a subject specialist will be allocated to supervise your research dissertation, once a suitable topic has been agreed.

What does the dissertation entail?

The final third of the master's course is taken up by a research project, which must be written up as a dissertation. The nature and focus of this project can be anything within the subject area, but ideally should be not only a relevant and worthwhile piece of research but also be of genuine interest to you and pertinent to your particular circumstances or aspirations. Inevitably the project will involve elements of planning, gathering or generating information, analysis and presentation but no more specific information can be given here as each project will be uniquely formulated by each student together with experienced University of Sheffield staff.