Program Overview

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Postgraduate Diploma Community Specialist Practice: District Nursing (Independent and Supplementary Prescribing Route)

Overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in Community Specialist Practice: District Nursing is designed to equip students with the advanced skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to thrive in modern healthcare settings. Delivered by expert educators in the School of Health Sciences, this programme prepares students to take on an essential role in delivering high-quality care to patients in their homes and communities.

Course Content

• Develop knowledge, skills, and confidence to autonomously manage services, complex patients within the context of integrated care.
• Equip students with the knowledge to promote health and well-being and prevent ill health.
• Equip students to safely assess people’s abilities and needs using clinical and diagnostic reasoning to inform differential diagnosis.
• Enable students to lead support and manage teams at local and system level.
• Enable students to critically evaluate evidence and lead on improvements in safety and quality of care evaluation.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

What You Will Study

Full-time

• Year 1:
  • Advancing Academic Literacy (10 credits)
  • Health Promotion and Protection: An Integrated Approach for District Nursing (10 credits)
  • Enhancing Research in Healthcare Practice (20 credits)
  • Developing Autonomous Practice for District Nursing (20 credits)
  • Advancing Leadership and Innovation in Specialist Practice (20 credits)
  • Non-Medical Prescribing (40 credits)

Entry Requirements

UK Citizens and Permanent Residents

• Currently registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Nurse (level 1 with relevant professional registration).
• Normally have at least two years post-registration experience, including community experience.
• Evidence of competence, experience, and academic ability to study at the level required for the programme.
• Relevant degree, normally at 2:2 or above (a minimum of 120 credits at Level 6).

Further Information About Entry

• Prior study in English or achieve a minimum IELTS score of 7 in all skills or an equivalent rating in another Secure English Language Test.
• Not available to overseas students.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Applicants lacking requirements may apply via RPEL with a relevant DipHE (120+ Level 5 credits) and some Level 6 credits. Contact the Programme Leader before applying.

How You Will Learn

Teaching

• Spiral progressive curriculum integrates theory and practice through an incremental learning approach.
• Varied teaching strategies accommodate different learning styles, incorporating enquiry-based learning, skills development, and simulation for practical application.

Class Sizes

• 30 students max and for shared modules up to 70 students.

Independent Learning

• Outside of timetabled sessions, students will need to dedicate time to self-study to prepare for coursework, presentations, and exams.

Overall Workload

• The programme incorporates both theory and practice, including simulation.

Assessment

• The assessment strategy ensures District Nurses demonstrate required knowledge, skills, and behaviours through flexible, practice-relevant tasks.
• Assessments include workbooks, case studies, OSCEs, essays, presentations, exams, and practice-based evaluations.

Fees and Funding

Home Fees 2025/26

• £11,325

Accommodation Costs

• University accommodation is available from £126.35 per person per week (bills included), depending on location and preferences.

Scholarships and Bursaries

• The Greenwich Bursary is worth £700 for new undergraduate students with a low household income, entering Year 0 or 1 who meet the eligibility criteria.

Careers and Placements

Will I Have a Work Placement?

• Students will be offered work placement at their individual employing Trust for their practice sessions and will also have the opportunity to participate in other alternative placements to support their learning.

How Long Is My Placement?

• Placement runs throughout the course either as week placements or two days a week plus the final ten weeks of the course are spent in consolidation of learning and on placement.

What Are the Financial Arrangements?

• To undertake this course, you will be seconded or sponsored and therefore will be paid a salary by the employing Trust; this is independent of the university.

What Sort of Careers Do Graduates Pursue?

• The programme prepares Specialist Community Practitioners for employment through a dynamic learning community involving universities, employers, and students.

Support and Advice

Academic Skills and Study Support

• The Programme Leader provides overall academic direction, while module leaders and teaching teams offer topic-specific support and feedback.

Support from the Department

• The programme team prioritises a supportive learning environment to help students reach their full potential.