Program Overview

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Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner) (MSc)

About this course

Prepare for an advanced role in neonatal practice with a master’s in neonatal nursing at the University of Southampton. Our MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner) degree develops your existing neonatal clinical experience and skills, helping you take on greater responsibility and make more complex clinical decisions.

This pathway is accredited by Health Education England's Centre for Advancing Practice. Completion of HEE accredited programmes/pathways is set to become one of the benchmark routes to recognition for Advanced Clinical Practitioners, and accreditation is also designed to ensure a consistent level of programme quality across England.

You’ll study within the School of Health Sciences: ranked 2nd in the UK and 6th in the World for Nursing (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).

Entry requirements

You’ll need a 2:2 degree in a subject from a clinical or science background, and:

• a current professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council
• a current job contract in a clinical or clinically related area (including the support of your unit manager and a medical mentor to assess your practice competency and help with your learning)
• at least 2 years post-registration clinical experience
• at least 1 satisfactory reference, normally from your employer, confirming the availability of appropriate clinical practice experience and mentor support

English language requirements

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

• overall score: 6.5
• reading: 6.0
• writing: 6.0
• speaking: 6.0
• listening: 6.0

Course structure

This MSc runs for 2 to 5 years part-time, allowing you the flexibility to continue working alongside your degree.

You’ll choose 6 taught modules to give you a firm grounding in advanced neonatal practice and develop your skills. You’ll also take a dissertation module to plan, undertake and report on an original project.

Modules

The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Learning and assessment

We promote a student-centred approach to guide your learning and encourage you to master your planning skills. Your personal academic tutor, module leaders and mentor in practice will support you throughout the programme.

The learning activities for this course include the following:

• lectures and seminar groups (some may be online)
• action learning groups
• workplace-based training
• practical clinical skills sessions
• supervised and self-directed study

We’ll assess your work according to the assessment guidelines within the module profile. Our assessment methods are designed to maximise your critical thinking and analysis skills, and develop your understanding of advanced clinical practice.

We’ll assess you through a combination of:

• written and oral exams
• practical assessments
• case studies
• a portfolio
• presentations
• viva voce
• your final dissertation

Careers and employability

The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.

Fees, costs and funding

On this course you pay for each module as you study it. There is no overall fee.

Read the latest module fees and dates on our CPD course page.

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students pay £13,704.
• This course is not available to EU and international students.

How to apply

1. Use the blue 'apply for this course' button on this page to take you to our postgraduate admissions system.
2. Create an account which gives you access to your own application portal.
3. Search for the course you want to apply for.
4. Complete the application form and upload any supporting documents.
5. Pay the £50 application assessment fee, (there are some exemptions, check terms and conditions).
6. Submit your application.

For further details of our admission process, read our step by step guide to postgraduate taught applications.

Application deadlines

There are different application deadlines for this course. Applications are expected to close:

• International students: Tuesday 29 July 2025, midday UK time
• UK students: Tuesday 9 September 2025, midday UK time

We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.

Related courses

Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner) (MSc) is a course in the Nursing, midwifery and healthcare subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:

• MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Allied Health Practitioner)
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Critical Care Practitioner)
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Nurse Practitioner)
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• MSc Neonatology
• MSc Nursing Studies
• MSc Nursing: Adult
• MSc Nursing: Child
• MSc Nursing: Mental Health
• MSc Professional Practice in Health Sciences
• PGCert Public Health
• PGDip Public Health