Program Overview

Specialist Community Public Health Nursing

The Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) program is designed for registered nurses and midwives who wish to progress into a more autonomous role in community and public health-based settings. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities necessary to influence and facilitate change in public health.

Overview

The SCPHN program is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and leads to registration on Part 3 of the NMC register. The program offers three fields of study: Health Visiting (HV), Occupational Health Nursing (OHN), and School Nursing (SN). Students can choose to study full-time over 52 weeks or part-time over 104 weeks, with the program starting in September each year.

Course Content

The program combines professional education with academic excellence, with students spending half of their time on supervised practice placements. The course content includes:

• Compulsory modules:
  • Enabling Autonomous SCPHN Practice
  • Transforming SCPHN Practice (HV, SN, and OHN)
  • Leading and Collaborating to Improve Health Outcomes
  • Advancing Mental Health: A Life Course Approach
  • Applied Research for Health and Social Care
• Professionally-specific modules during the practice-based component of the course

Careers and Future Prospects

The SCPHN program enables students to progress into leadership roles in community nursing, with career opportunities in health visiting, occupational health nursing, and school nursing. The program also provides a strong foundation for further academic or professional development.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for the program, students must:

• Have an active registration on Part 1 or Part 2 of the NMC Nursing Register
• Hold a first degree or a minimum of a Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing or a related field
• Provide two satisfactory references, including one from their current employer
• Meet the English language requirements (IELTS 7.0 or equivalent)

Fees and Funding

The program fees for the 2026/2027 academic year are:

• UK: Ł11,550 (full-time), Ł5,775 (part-time)
• International: Ł16,530 (full-time), Ł8,265 (part-time)
• An additional 60-credit module fee is charged for the dissertation for the award of MSc

Teaching and Learning

The program is taught by experts in the field, with a range of teaching and learning strategies used to promote active and independent learning. Students will have access to online resources, including professionally-developed online lecture materials, and will be expected to attend all lecture or seminar sessions on campus.

Assessment and Feedback

Students will be assessed through a range of assignments, including written papers, oral presentations, and a viva voce. Practice-based assessments will be submitted via the electronic Practice Assessment Document (ePAD).