Program Overview

PGDip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (DoH)

Overview

This course is for qualified nurses and midwives who wish to work as specialist community public health nurses (health visiting or school nursing). The Specialist Community Public Health Nurse course (SCPHN) is designed for nurses and midwives who wish to pursue a career in health visiting or school nursing. The course leads to a UK wide recognised qualification and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (health visitor or school nurse).

Course Content

The course aims to integrate the study of health, policy, research, and evidence-based practice within the context of SCPHN practice. You will have the opportunity to review and critically analyse many of the issues that impact on service delivery and outcome from a theoretical and practice perspective.

Entry Requirements

• Be a qualified nurse or midwife.
• Hold current NMC registration.
• Applicants must hold a Level 1 nursing or midwifery qualification, normally at 2:2 or above (a minimum of 120 credits at Level 6).
• Recruitment will be in partnership with local healthcare organisations (NHS trusts), which will employ successful applicants for the length of the course. As an employee of the healthcare organisation, you will be required to have an occupational health assessment and undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service police disclosure.

Fees and Funding

• Home fees 2025/26: TBC
• University is a great investment in your future. English-domiciled graduate annual salaries were £10,500 more than non-graduates in 2023 - and the UK Government projects that 88% of new jobs by 2035 will be at graduate level.

Careers and Placements

• The course is 50% practise and 50% theory, you will be with the same Trust for the duration of the course.
• Qualified Health visitors and School Nurses will be leading on the healthy child programme and managing their own caseload. Previous students have been successful in obtaining Specialist roles within the community and have progressed to team leaders and management roles. Some students have also been successful in securing lecture roles at universities.

Accommodation

• Our Avery Hill halls of residence are a home away from home to over 1,200 students. For those studying in Greenwich, our free shuttle bus service takes you to Greenwich campus in only 25 minutes. Excellent transport links also mean you can be in central London in under 30 minutes, and you're a short walk away from the historic Eltham Palace.
• With our seven different halls, you have a variety of options depending on your preferences and budget. Rooms start at £133.98/wk and include Wi-Fi, utility bills, access to our on-site gym, 24/7 security and 24-hour residential support.

Support and Advice

• We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.

How You Will Learn

• Learning takes place through a combination of timetabled learning and independent study.
• Seminars and workshops enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. You will also be able to meet your personal tutor one to one.

Assessment

• On this course, you will be assessed by essays, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), presentations, exams, and a practice assessment document.

Dates and Timetables

• The course is a January start course.

School

• Health Sciences

Location

• Avery Hill Campus

Duration

• 1 years full-time

Start Month

• January

Accreditation

• Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council

What You Should Know About This Course

• Upon successful completion, you'll be able to work to influence & improve individual and community health across a range of HNS & Local Authority commissioned community services.
• If you successfully complete, you'll be eligible to register on the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing part of the NMC register as either a health visitor or school nurse.
• Nursing and Midwifery - joint 2nd in London for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide League Tables 2025).
• General Nursing - 2nd in London for satisfied with teaching (Guardian League Tables 2025).