The Programme

The programme aims to:

1. Provide a flexible programme of targeted education tailored to suit the needs of nurses who are, or intend to become, engaged in advanced nursing practice
2. Build on participants’ existing experience, knowledge and domain speciality
3. Develop each participant’s critical faculties, analytical abilities and intellectual curiosity
4. Enable students to engage critically with and contribute to research and advanced scholarship in their particular fields

Structure

Four 15 credit taught units are taken in each of the first two years (two simultaneously in each semester). All the units are compulsory and integral to the programme.

The whole of the third year is taken up by an individual research project supported by University staff and written up as a dissertation worth 60 credits.

Length of course

The course is normally conducted part-time over a three year period by online distance learning starting in September of each year. Each academic year consists of 30 study weeks and is split into two semesters lasting 15 study weeks each.

Closing date for applications

The closing date for applications is the end of July preceding commencement of the course.

Entry requirements

• Bachelors degree normally expected, although accreditation of prior learning for Masters level study is possible.
• Applicants must be qualified and registered nurses with significant experience of working in the profession.
• Access to a PC with a suitable Internet connection
• Basic computer literacy and familiarity with the Internet
• Ability to use the English language must meet the minimum levels (IELTS 6.5, or TOEFL Paper Based 575, or TOEFL Computer Based 232 or TOEFL internet-based 90). Applicants with a first degree taught in English will not generally be required to provide other evidence of English Language proficiency.

Fees

The annual fee for the academic year commencing in September 2012 has been set at £1873 (UK pounds) for home (UK) or overseas students.  Please note that the University of Sheffield does reserve the right to increase fees in your subsequent years of study. The complete masters course will therefore cost £5619 plus any increment, spread over the three years normally taken to complete it.