Program Overview

---

Specialist Nursing Practice with Integrated Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (V300) - PgDip

Overview

This course will deliver innovative academic excellence in research, leadership, and person-centred assessment in specialist practice nursing care.

Summary

The PG Dip Specialist Nursing Practice with Integrated Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (V300) is aligned to the Nursing and Midwifery Council's Standards for prescribing programmes standards (NMC 2023b) and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Competency Framework for all Prescribers (2021). The course will have two strands:

• Community Specialist Practice Qualification (strand 1)
• Specialist Nurse (non-community) (strand 2)

This programme aims to provide students with the knowledge, critical understanding, skills, values, and resilience to manage clinical complexity and risk, be autonomous practitioners, and work across organisational boundaries.

About this course

About

Students can choose between two strands; Community and Non-Community. Within those strands, students have the following pathway options:

• Strand 1 Community pathways:
  • Community Children's
  • Community Learning Disabilities
  • Community Mental Health
  • District Nursing
  • General Practice
• Strand 2 Non-community pathways:
  • Adult
  • Diabetes
  • Emergency Care
  • Mental Health
  • Palliative Care
  • Stroke

All students will take the following modules:

• Practice Learning for specialist nurses
• Person-centred prescribing
• The assessment and planning of person-centred care
• Critical appraisal and application of research evidence to improve (community) health
• Providing and evaluating evidence-based (community) nursing specialist practice
• (Community) specialist nursing leadership and management

These modules run alongside seminars specific to the student's chosen strand/pathway. The part-time course is delivered across two years.

Practice learning

All students are required to undertake, in their intended field of practice, a minimum of 90 days clinical practice, related to achieving their clinical competencies for RPS and achieve their NMC specialist proficiencies.

Assessment

Each module will have 2 items of assessment. The pass mark for all modules is 50%, except when there is an NMC stipulated pass mark. All modules must be passed to successfully complete the programme and be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Community Nursing Specialist Practice with integrated Independent and Supplementary Prescribing. Practice Assessment Document (PAD) must be passed at the summative assessment point. The PAD is awarded a Pass or Fail.

Attendance

All students are expected to adhere to the timetable provided at Induction. Students will attend all classes associated with the programme and be punctual and regular in attendance. Attendance will be monitored both at the University and in the Practice Learning setting and Employers are informed of all absences.

Start dates

• September 2026

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Methods of teaching and learning approaches will include:

• Formal lectures (in person, synchronous or asynchronous)
• Seminars (in person)
• Practical classes
• Case studies/Problem-based learning
• Group working
• Blackboard Learn Ultra

Clinical experts and Users of Health Services and/or Independent Sector are invited to teach students about current practice, developments in the field, and personal experiences of specialist nursing services.

Seminars are designed not only to extend the lecture topics but also equip students with the skills to seek out relevant research material and to present and defend the material within a given timeframe.

Skills classes, role plays, use of table-top scenario simulation (including computerised manikin) and video play back are used where appropriate to develop skills in a range of professional interventions.

All of the above methods encourage active student participation and empower individual students to recognise that as nurses each student brings a wealth of experience that can be utilised to illustrate the points being made in classes.

Assessment is seen as crucial part of the learning process. A range of assessment methods including OSCEs, Written examinations, Reflective and Academic Essays, Case Studies and PAD assessments are used.

Modules

Year one

• Providing and Evaluating Evidence-Based Specialist Community Nursing Strand 1
• Person-Centred Prescribing Strand 1 and 2
• The Assessment and Planning of Person Centred Care Strand 1 and 2
• Providing and Evaluating Evidence-based Specialist Nursing Practice Strand 2

Year two

• Community Specialist Nursing Leadership and Management Strand 1
• Critical Appraisal and Application of Research Evidence to Improve Community Health Strand 1
• Practice learning for Specialist Nurses Strand 1 and 2
• Critical Appraisal and Application of Research Evidence to Improve Health Strand 2
• Specialist Nursing Leadership and Management Strand 2

Standard entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University's General Entrance Requirements.

Entry Requirements

Applicants to Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing Practice with Integrated Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (V300) must provide evidence of the following criteria:

• Registered nurse (level 1) on the live NMC Register
• BSc Hons/ BSc degree or successful completion of academic study at level 6
• Registered with the NMC for a minimum of one year prior to application for entry on to the programme
• In the application form the applicant must confirm that they are:
  • of Good Health and Character
  • not undergoing any live formal professional, criminal or internal investigation, disciplinary hearings or serving a live disciplinary warning or formal underperformance procedure (as at date of application)
• Have a current Access NI Enhanced Disclosure Certificate with a date of issue within the previous 2 years prior to commencing this course (as it must extend to the end of the course covering a 3-year period in total). You will not be permitted to commence your course at the University unless this is received. To apply for an Access NI Enhanced Disclosure log in to [insert details] with the details provided by your HSC Trust.
• Applicants to this programme are required to provide TWO references

Your employer must confirm they will allow attendance and completion of all elements of the programme, the necessary period of supervised prescribing following qualification as a prescriber and continuing professional development.

English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 7.0 with no element below 7.0.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Exemptions and transferability

In line with the NMC (2022) requirement to 'consider recognition of prior learning that is capable of being mapped to the RPS Competency Framework for all Prescribers for applicants' (1.7; NMC 2022, Part 3) Students who have previously completed the NMC approved independent / supplementary prescribing programme (V300), may gain exemption from the module Person-Centred Prescribing following the completion and submission of a portfolio. It is important to note that the exemption will only be granted once the student's evidence for meeting all proficiencies and competencies in the module has been accepted as meeting the required standard. There is no automatic exemption for having previously completed the Independent and Supplementary prescribing course. The applicant's portfolio should demonstrate and evidence their learning and experience to date, mapped against all the Learning outcomes for the Person-Centred Prescribing module. Exemption will not be given against the 90 days Practice Learning Experience.

Careers & opportunities

Career options

Specialist nurse students from Ulster University are all predominantly already in employment within the NHS and Social Services, independent GP practices, and other employment such as the voluntary sector (hospice) and prisons. The approach to employability in this programme is explicit insofar as the entitlement to use the qualification is directly linked to career progression.

The qualification enables students to develop their practice in a stimulating and fulfilling manner, working in an expanded way to provide a more holistic care experience to benefit both the service and the person. It allows the nurse to advance within an existing role or be eligible to apply for new roles that would not otherwise be possible. In recent years students have used the specialist nurse and NMP qualification as a platform to progress their academic studies to BSc or MSc award. Entitlement to practice as a specialist with the V300 qualification makes the student an attractive prospect for any health service provider and employer.

Work placement / study abroad

All students must complete 90 days Practice Learning in an approved setting. Dedicated blocks of practice learning will be incorporated into each Academic Year. Students must have direct interaction with patients and families during this period. Supervision and Assessment by Practice Assessors will occur during Practice Learning. A Practice Assessment Document (PAD) is required to evidence achievement of professional outcomes, specialist practice and prescribing competencies.

Professional Recognition

Accreditations reflect the excellence of our teaching, research, and knowledge exchange and ensure our programmes realise the highest expectations. By studying at Ulster University you'll gain insight and be at the forefront of current industry practices, while our many accredited degree programmes open doors to the world's top professional organisations, making you more attractive to future employers and giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of recording as Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) (District Nursing) with Integrated Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (V300)

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of recording as Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) (General Practice Nursing) with Integrated Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (V3000)

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of recording as Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) (Community Children's Nursing) with Integrated Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (V300)

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of recording as Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) (Community Learning Disability) with Integrated Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (V300)

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of recording as Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) (Community Mental Health) with Integrated Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (V300)

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Recorded by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of registration for Independent and Supplementary Nurse Prescribing (V300)

Fees and funding

10% Alumni Discount

Are you a graduate of Ulster University? Did you know you could be eligible for a 10% fees discount.

Tuition Fee Loans Available

Students domiciled in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and UK students can apply to Student Finance NI for a Tuition Fee loan of up to £6,500 (subject to eligibility).

2026/27 Fees

Postgraduate fees are subject to annual review, 2026/27 fees will be announced in due course.

See our tuition fees page for the current fees for 2025/26 entry.

Scholarships, awards and prizes

Philip Goodeve-Docker Award for District Nursing

Margaret Devlin Award for Diabetes Nursing

View Available Scholarships

See if you can access financial or other forms of support, including mentorship to excel in your studies.

Additional mandatory costs

Access NI (enhanced disclosure) is an additional cost for Self-Funded students.

It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.

Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.

There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.

See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.