MSc Community Health Studies (Practice Nursing)
The MSc Community Health Studies (Practice Nursing) is a natural progression route for graduate nurses who desire to develop mastery in specialist practice, in line with the Post Registration Nursing Career Framework (WAG, 2010). The Practice Nursing course aims to develop professionals who can independently access information and use the information to critically assess, evaluate and disseminate the evidence base for community nursing care. It will develop problem-solving skills and prepare you to take a leadership role in the community context.
The degree meets the specific requirements set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for community nursing competence. The NMC states that to achieve specialist practitioner status, graduates must have achieved prescribed standards, both core and community-specific. When you successfully complete this practice nursing course, you will have a recordable specialist practice qualification in Community Health Studies Practice Nursing. The first two years of the course are funded by the Welsh Government.
Year one
- Fundamentals of community practice
- Decision making
- Specialist pPractitioner
Year Two
Core module
- Research methods
Optional modules
- Law, ethics and nurse prescribing
- Transition
- Long-term health conditions
- Diabetes care
- Minor illness for primary care nurses
After two years you will attain a recordable specialist practice qualification with the NMC and an option to exit the course with a PgDiploma.
Year Three
- Dissertation
After three years you will attain the MSc qualification.
Teaching
Teaching and learning methods include lectures, tutorials, self-directed study and workshops.
You will complete 40 academic days which run from September to June. Year one requires attendance every Tuesday.
In addition you will undertake 40 clinical days per year. Ideally you should be working in a community setting, however if you are not placements maybe negotiated. While in practice, you will be assigned a mentor who will assess your clinical competence.
If you have undertaken the Fundamentals of Community Practice module (30 credits) within the last five years, this can be transferred to the degree.
Assessment
You will be assessed by a range of methods including writing essays and case studies, formal presentations, poster presentations, examinations, dissertation, literature reviews and clinical practice assessments.
Accreditations
The University of South Wales is an NMC Approved Education Institution (AEI).
Facilities
Lecturers
Eileen Munson, course leader
We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
Applicants must have a first level registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
You must have acquired a credit rating of 120 credits at Level 6 (Degree) or studied previously at Level 7, e.g. postgraduate diploma.
An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on the Child & Adult Workforce and Child and Adult Barring Lists and subscription to the DBS Update Service. (Overseas equivalent required for non-uk applicants)
Fees: This course is fully funded by the Welsh Government.
Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.
August 2023 - July 2024 Fees
These courses are normally supported by Welsh Government commissioners in collaboration with NHS University health Boards
August 2024 - July 2025 Fees
These courses are normally supported by Welsh Government commissioners in collaboration with NHS University health Boards
Student Perks
At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.
Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.
Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
* Obligatory
| Item | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DBS Updating Service * | £13 | Subscription required for each year of the course for a yearly fee of £13.
Please note the service has to be joined within 30 days of receipt of your enhanced DBS certificate.
|
| DBS * | £55.42 | This fee includes £44 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee.
|
Funding
Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs
Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.
USW Postgraduate 20% Alumni Discount 2023/24
The University of South Wales is offering a 20% reduction in tuition fees for all University of South Wales* graduates starting a taught/online*** MA,MSc, LLM,MBA or DBA course from September 2023 (this includes students starting a course in January/February 2024). T's and Cs apply. Click here for more details and eligibility criteria: USW Postgraduate Alumni Discount 2023/24
Apply directly to the University for this course.
Undertaking the MSc Community Health Studies (Practice Nursing) ensures you will graduate with the knowledge, skills, competencies and capacity to provide safe and effective nursing care in community settings. Additionally, having employees with a specialist practitioner qualification is valued by nursing managers, commissioners and the Welsh Government.
Our Careers and Employability Service
As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.
This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.
Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.
- BSc (Hons) Community Health Studies (Specialist Practitioner - Community Children's Nursing)
- BSc (Hons) Community Health Studies (Specialist Practitioner District Nursing) with integrated V100
- BSc (Hons) Community Health Studies (Specialist Practitioner General Practice Nursing)
- MSc Community Health Studies (Specialist Practitioner District Nursing)
- MSc (Hons) Community Health Studies (Specialist Practitioner - Community Children’s Nursing)
Highlight Stories
The Pontypridd Campus is made up of two sites; Treforest and Glyntaff. Our students love the community atmosphere. It’s quieter than the cities, with green open spaces and views across the valley.
It’s the community and friendships you’ll build that make this place special. Outside your studies you can experience our amazing sport facilities and Students’ Union.
Living in Halls is a great way to meet new people and make friends. We have high quality accommodation in Treforest, Cardiff and Newport.