Program Overview

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Urology MSc

Overview

The Urology MSc is a taught Masters degree that provides a comprehensive overview of caring for patients with urological conditions in a range of different working environments. The course is delivered as part of a partnership between Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and Edge Hill University.

What you'll study

• Module options
• Teaching and assessment

You will initially focus on all seven major sub-specialities of contemporary urology care, gaining expertise in prostate assessment, haematuria, uro-oncology, andrology, urological emergencies, continence, and renal stone disease. The programme will feature practical demonstrations and the exploration of common urological investigations, as well as the opportunity for work-based learning.

You will examine palliative care, service development, ethics, resilience, and autonomous practice, developing specialist skills and gaining service users’ perspectives. Assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and evaluation will be embedded throughout your learning.

As you progress through the course, you will be able to tailor the course to your current role and future career aspirations. A variety of different optional modules are available, covering specialist clinical urology skills and a broader portfolio of options in health and social care, including leadership, safeguarding, ethics, and palliative care.

Compulsory modules:

• Foundations for Urology Care
• Work Based Learning

Optional modules:

• Advanced Practice Project
• Clinical Urology Skills: Flexible Cystoscopy
• Clinical Urology Skills: Local Anaesthetic Transperineal Prostate Biopsy
• Developing a Business Case for Change and Innovation
• Developing Clinical Skills and Capabilities in Advanced Practice (Adult)
• Non-Medical Prescribing
• Promoting Professionalism and Ethics in Multidisciplinary Practice
• Safe from Harm
• Strategic Clinical Leadership
• Transforming Integrated Palliative and End of Life Care

How you'll study

Compulsory modules are taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, work-based learning, and independent study, as well as practical demonstrations, debates, seminars and student presentations. The remainder of the course is bespoke to each student and dependent on optional module selection.

The programme adopts a blended approach which typically requires you to commit to one study day per week. Study days will typically be held at either the Education, Training & Conference Centre in Nightingale House at Whiston Hospital or Edge Hill University.

How you'll be assessed

The compulsory modules on the course are assessed through an essay and case study presentation, which also includes a question-and-answer session, and a written report.

Specific types of assessment for the remainder of the course will vary according to your module choices. Overall, a wide variety of assessment methods will be used, including case study presentations, written reports, written assignments, practical competencies, practical assessments, examinations, and an optional dissertation.

Who will be teaching you

The course is delivered by a variety of well-established clinical experts. The majority are senior NHS staff including consultants, specialist registrars, specialist nurses and senior lecturers. Many of these professionals are not only involved in clinical practice but also actively participate in research.

Entry criteria

The normal minimum entry requirement is a degree equivalent to UK first-class or upper second-class honours (2:1 or above) in a nursing or a health-related subject. Applicants with a lower degree classification, or those who don’t have an undergraduate degree, may still be considered for the course, subject to having relevant experience within urology and being able to demonstrate readiness to study.

You must be registered with a professional body. You must be currently employed as an adult nurse or physician associate and have direct experience of caring for patients with urological conditions.

This programme is open to students from the UK and Republic of Ireland, it is not open to other international students.

Written confirmation will need to be provided by your line manager or training lead confirming their support for your application.

Registered nurses joining the course should have a minimum of 12 months post-registration clinical experience, inclusive of a minimum of six months caring for patients with urological conditions, within the past five years.

Physician associates would be considered on completion of their initial training, subject to practicing within a urological setting.

An interview forms part of the selection process.

Facilities

The course is delivered at Edge Hill University and the Education Centre at Nightingale House at Whiston Hospital.

The Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine offers outstanding facilities for the education and training of health and social care professionals. The contemporary teaching and learning resources include leading edge clinical skills facilities, an 860-seat lecture theatre, and a variety of teaching rooms and social learning spaces.

Whiston Hospital is part of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals which provides services to those within the local community and further afield. The Trust was awarded Outstanding status by the Care Quality Commission in 2019 and Trust of the Year 2019 by the Health Service Journal.

The Education, Training & Conference Centre in Nightingale House comprises a lecture theatre, seminar rooms and classrooms, skills rooms, and an NHS library with IT facilities.

Finance

Tuition fees

• 2025/26: £9,250 for the course

The University may administer a small inflationary rise in tuition fees, in line with Government policy, in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

Your future career

The extensive and varied curriculum of this taught Masters degree will enhance your skillset and employability through a combination of increased urology expertise and enhanced leadership and management capabilities.

The flexibility of the course will enable you to tailor your learning to meet both your individual aspirations and the needs of local urology services.

The programme will support you in developing advanced skills and enhanced specialisation in your current role or a general seeing, ensuring you have the expertise to improve the care of patients with urological conditions.

You will also be well placed to apply for specialist nursing positions in urological care, such as a urology-oncology clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner or advanced nurse practitioner in urology, urology nurse clinician, or stone specialist nurse.

Depending on your chosen areas of specialism and clinical competence, as assessed by expert consultants, you may be able to deliver non-medical urology clinics and services on completion of this MSc.