MSc Nursing
including the MSc Nursing (top-up)
Full-time, Part-time
Location • Collegiate Campus
Subject area • Nursing and midwifery
By adding to My Courses you can compare courses and create a personalised prospectus.
Find out more information about studying a distance learning course.
One of our students talks about his experiences of studying a distance learning course.
This course has been designed to enable nurses to obtain a higher degree in nursing. It is suitable for all professional nurses whether you have only just qualified or have many years of experience. You don't need to be in current employment to study the course.
The course incorporates fundamental aspects of the nursing role including leadership, behaviour change and global health issues. You are equipped to apply independent, higher level thinking to modern policy and practice initiatives.
You develop your skills in delivering high quality, complex care to individuals and groups. You also develop your abilities to master your understanding of professional and policy drivers, enabling you to analyse, adapt and proactively respond to current and future challenges.
You can apply all your learning and assessments to an area of nursing practice that is relevant to you ,and where you work or want to work.
The course covers
• educational principles, practices and behaviour change
• public and global health challenges – their management and implications for local care delivery
• health policy development and implementation
• leadership and change management
• critical thinking and reflection for practice and research
• research methods and final research dissertation
You are taught by our nurse education team, which is made up of registered and experienced nurses, and health professionals from other specialties. Our staff have a wealth of international experience, with expertise in all aspects of nursing practice development including research, education, leadership, management and service evaluation.
Our students come from various cultural backgrounds and professional settings. Sharing different experiences face-to-face or as an online community is an important aspect of the course.
This course does not lead to eligibility for Nursing and Midwifery Council registration or include clinical placements.
MSc Nursing (top-up)
The top-up is for qualified nurses holding a PgDip in Nursing. You normally progress directly to the 60 credit dissertation, but we will advise you if you need to take a research methods module prior to starting the dissertation. The course is undertaken on a part-time basis and can be normally be completed in one to three years.
Your dissertation is based on a topic of your choice and is supported by one-to-one academic supervision. Optional dissertation workshops and electronic resources are also available through our learning centres.
Our staff have a wealth of international experience, with expertise in research, autonomous clinical practice, management, leadership and distance learning education.
MSc Nursing
Full-time – 18 months
Starts September
MSc Nursing (top-up)
Part-time – one to three years
Starts anytime
Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form
2013/14 academic year
Typically £4,590 for the course
Typically £1,530 for the top-up route (60 credit dissertation)
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically £10,980 for the course
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,250 for the course
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
Assessment methods include presentations • reflective essays • policy development • final research project. You always receive detailed feedback on your work.
Gaining a masters degree in nursing will allow you to apply higher level thinking to your practice and boost confidence and professional judgement.
Distance learning study
Distance learning is a rewarding and flexible way to learn. You study at the time, place and often pace of your choosing, to fit around your personal and working life. Like all types of learning, you need skills in personal organisation, time management, self-motivation, and a commitment to academic study.
As a distance learning student, you normally learn away from the University – in your own home or place of work. Most of our distance learning courses are delivered online via a portal called Blackboard.
We prepare you for your distance learning course with an online induction package. It helps you develop and practise your skills and allows any issues, concerns or development needs to be addressed prior to commencing a course of study.
You're fully supported by our learning centre, with library database searches and information enquiries, journal article supply and other help in accessing library and information services, all without having to travel to Sheffield.
We believe that you learn best when you engage in prolonged debate. Your course provides an active learning experience, with an ongoing dialogue between you, your peers and your tutors via discussion forums, blogs and others. You carry out a series of structured tasks, which build towards a successful final assessment submission.
John Sharpe (1:34)
John Sharpe, Rolls-Royce employee, and one of our MSc Total Quality Management and Organisational Excellence graduates talks about his experiences of studying a distance learning course while working.
Download the transcript of this video.
