Program Overview

Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) Postgraduate Diploma

The Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) Postgraduate Diploma is a 1-year full-time program that meets the standards of proficiency for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN) as defined by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This program is designed for registered nurses or midwives who want to work in the field of Health Visiting.

Course Overview

The program combines critical thinking with expert learning, enabling students to develop specialist skills for public health and community working. Students will learn to adapt and tailor their response to the health and wellbeing needs of children, families, and communities within diverse and changing contexts.

Modules

The program consists of the following modules:

• Assessment, Surveillance, and Intervention for Specialist Public Health Practice (Full Time) (40 Credits): This module focuses on conducting assessments, surveillance, and interventions utilizing validated tools in specialist practice.
• Transforming Community Specialist Practice through Research, Policy, Evidence and Evaluation (30 Credits): This module develops the ability to interpret and apply critical knowledge and appreciation of epidemiological research, informatics, and contemporary public health policy.
• Public Health Practice Across the Life Course (20 Credits): This module develops critical knowledge and appreciation of the changing patterns of populations, communities, and people through adopting a life course approach to meet the public health agenda.
• Advancing Public Health Services Through Leadership (30 Credits): This module focuses on leadership and service improvement, enabling students to explore an area of contemporary specialist practice and develop skills to critically assess service requirements.
• Academic Language Skills(ALS) for PG Nursing and Midwifery students (Core – for International and EU students only, 0 Credits): This module supports international and EU students in developing their academic language skills.

Fees and Funding

The fees for the program are as follows:

• Full UK Fee: £6,466 (2025/26), £6,633 (2026/27)
• Full International Fee: £12,900 (2025/26), £12,332 (2026/27)

Additional Costs

Students may incur additional costs, including:

• Travel costs for placement (approximately £800 per year)
• Parking charges (approximately £200 per year)
• Registration fee with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (approximately £120)

Career Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be recognized as Specialist Community Public Health Nurses on the third part of the Nursing and Midwifery Council register and will receive a Postgraduate Diploma from Northumbria University. This qualification will enable students to work in a variety of settings, including the NHS, local authorities, and voluntary organizations.

Research

The program has a strong research focus, with students undertaking a dissertation that allows them to explore a topic of their choice in significant depth. The university's research areas include Ageing, Later Life & Long-term Conditions (ALL), Healthcare Organisation, Practice Improvement & Economics (HOPE), and Healthcare Education and Learning for Practice and Patient Safety (HELPPS).

Facilities

The program is based at the Coach Lane Campus, which has state-of-the-art teaching and practice facilities, including a Clinical Skills Centre with virtual reality equipment and high-fidelity simulated mannequins.

Support

Students will be supported throughout their time at Northumbria by a team of highly experienced academics and practitioners, including a Practice Assessor, Practice Supervisor, and Academic Assessor. The university also offers a range of support services, including academic language skills support for international students.