Advanced Professional Practice

This MSc offers a taught programme of study that sets out to nurture emerging and innovative professional practitioners. It is delivered through five specialist pathways which correspond with the key areas of expertise within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

The specialist pathways are:

• MSc (Acute and Critical Care)
• MSc (Cancer Nursing: Supportive and Palliative Care)
• MSc (Leadership and Management)
• MSc (Maternal and Child Health)
• MSc (Mental Health and the Older Adult)

The programme is offered on a full-time basis and combines face-to-face teaching with online delivery. Those taking the programme on a full-time basis may be eligible to do so incorporating a Clinical Practicum by the agreement with the Programme Co-ordinator. 

Students can choose six modules from those listed, but some are specialist modules and require the student to be working in a relevant area of practice. All students must complete one of the compulsory modules and a dissertation.

• Acute and Critical Care Designed for practitioners from a wide variety of critical care environments who wish to advance their clinical practice, develop their professional career and enhance their knowledge of research and evidence-based health care in the critical setting: Health Assessment Specialist Assessment of the Cardiac Patient
• Cancer Nursing: Supportive and Palliative Care Designed to allow a flexible postgraduate programme of study for experienced oncology and palliative care practitioners, who wish to extend their academic and clinical capability to meet the needs of their patients: The Basis of Therapeutic Practice and Communication Skills Dimensions of Practice
• Leadership and Management Designed to offer an advanced educational foundation to enable health and social care professionals to lead and manage effectively: Leading and Facilitating in Clinical Practice Successful Leading for Health and Social Care Professionals
• Maternal and Child Health Practice-focused educational pathway of advanced study for practitioners who are closely involved in the provision of health and social care for women, babies, children, young people and their families. Educational innovations are used to promote learning and facilitate the delivery of excellence in the form of evidence-based quality care at the highest level: Perspectives of Family-centred Health and Social Care
• Mental Health and the Older Adult Designed to develop practitioners' critical awareness of the broader contexts and influences that impact on older people and those requiring support in the maintenance of their mental health. Practitioners with an academic interest in concepts such as successful ageing and ageing well will be enabled to critically review the current political and social influences associated with demographic change, ageing and globalisation: Fundamentals of CBT Assessment Rethinking Ageing

General Optional Modules

• Clinical Inquiry and Applied Practice-Based Research
• Law for Healthcare Professionals
• Pharmacotherapeutics for Practice
• Independent Study Module
• Compulsory Modules
• Applied Research Methods and Statistics in Nursing

OR

• Qualitative Research Methods

All students must undertake a 15,000-word dissertation, which must be based on a study that contains evidence of critical thinking along with rational and cogent arguments and debate. The study will be based on current thinking and provide evidence of research, knowledge and skills at Masters level.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must have a professional qualification in Nursing, Midwifery or allied health and social care services. They shall normally hold a relevant 2.2 Honours degree or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Applicants with a 3rd class Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) will be considered on a case by case basis, if they can demonstrate appropriate experience with in-service training, acceptable to the School. Applicants who do not meet the entry requirements should contact the Programme Co-ordinator for advice.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International students (for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their studies. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes. Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see:

go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this programme, our partner INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability to entry to this programme.

English for University Study - an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

Pre-sessional English - a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English

Applicants from the UK and other EU countries
Please note: Where it states 'UK residents' qualifying residency and citizenship/nationality criteria apply.

* Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) Postgraduate Research Studentships

Funded by the Department of Employment and Learning, these are offered in most subject areas.

UK residents: fees plus maintenance
Other EU residents: fees only

* DEL (CAST) Co-operative Awards in Science and Technology

These awards are for specific research projects in collaboration with an industrial sponsor in the following Schools/areas: Biomedical Sciences in School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences; School of Biological Sciences; School of Pharmacy; School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering; School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the School of Mathematics and Physics.

UK residents: fees plus maintenance
Other EU residents: fees only

A CAST studentship may also include a contribution from the industrial collaborating body.

Visit the School websites listed above for details concerning potential DEL CAST

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

Awards are available for both Masters and Doctoral degrees in humanities subject areas.

Applicants should apply via Queen's for funding and should not apply directly to AHRC.

UK residents: fees plus maintenance
Other EU residents: fees only

Queen's School Funding Opportunities

Some Schools have funding available for postgraduate PhD or taught Masters courses.

North-South Postgraduate Scholarships

Scholarships are available for students undertaking a recognised Masters or the first year of a PhD programme (taught or research) in the other Irish jurisdiction.

Applicants from outside the EU
If you are applying to Queen's from outside the EU, you are advised to explore fully the funding opportunities for studying in the UK available from sources in your own country. Some closing dates are as early as a year before commencing studies, so please make sure to apply in good time.

Some of the main awards are listed:

Department for International Development (DFID) Shared Scholarship Scheme

This award is for specific one-year taught postgraduate courses. The award cover tuition fees, a maintenance grant and travel costs. Only students from developing Commonwealth countries are eligible to apply.

British Chevening Awards

* The Foreign and Commonwealth Office funds a number of British Chevening scholaships for postgraduate study, mainly for one-year taught Masters degrees.
* Candidates must apply directly to the University for admission before applying for a Chevening Scholarship. Contact the British Embassy, British High Commission or British Council Office in your own country.

Applicants from USA
If you are a US citizen, you are eligible to apply for the following awards tenable at Queen's

George J Mitchell Scholarships

Fulbright Scholarships

Mary McNeill Scholarship (for US and Canadian citizens undertaking MA Irish Studies