1. Candidates must satisfy the Regulations for Admission to Degree Courses as specified in Section IV of the General Regulations. In addition, the normal requirement for entry to the courses is a good first degree in nursing, midwifery, health visiting or a health related subject, or equivalent qualification, of an approved university and registration with the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting.

2. Candidates without a good first degree or without UKCC registration may be admitted to these programmes but will be expected to provide evidence of a relevant professional qualification at a suitable level, plus several years post qualifying professional experience at least some of which must be at a responsible level, and to satisfy the Course Coordinator that they are competent to pursue the proposed programme.

3. Candidates satisfying the entry requirements may be admitted to the programmes provided they are accepted by the relevant head of School and the Faculty of Medicine Health and Biological Sciences. The right to refuse admission to the courses shall be reserved to the relevant Head of School.

4. Candidates will register for either
   • MSc in Nursing or
   • MSc in Midwifery or
   • MSc in Health Visiting or
   • Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing or
   • Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery or
   • Postgraduate Diploma in Health Visiting or
   • A named Certificate

Approved courses of study

The MSc degree programmes require gaining 120 M Level credits which shall normally be taken over either two semesters and a summer period of full-time study, or an equivalent period of part-time study pursued in not less than 24 months and not more than 60 months. The Postgraduate Diploma programmes consists of 72 level M credits which shall be taken over either two semesters of full-time study or an equivalent period of part-time study. Certificate programmes shall each consist of 24 level M credits and each module will normally be completed within one semester.
1. The Certificate programmes each consist of two taught modules. The Postgraduate Diploma programmes will consist of three Certificates, comprising six taught modules in total. Candidates for the degree of MSc will undertake three Certificates and shall be required to undertake a research Dissertation:

   Certificate 1:	Credits
   Research in Health (Foundations)
   Module 1: Using sources and understanding research methods
   Module 2: Carrying out research in practice	24
   Plus
   Certificate 2:
   Leading Change in Nursing and the NHS
   Module 1: Developments in the organisation and delivery of care
   Module 2: Managing uncertainty and managing change	24
   Plus
   Certificate 3:
   A choice of one of the following optional certificates:	24
   In-depth Study in Nursing/Midwifery/Health Visiting
   or
   Quantitative Methods in Research and Health
   Module 1: Design and data collection
   Module 2: Statistical analysis and quantitative research in practice
   or
   Qualitative Methods in Research and Getting Research into Practice
   Module 1: Design, data collection and analysis of qualitative methods
   Module 2: Research into practice: dissemination and implementation
   or
   An approved optional Certificate or two modules
   award Postgraduate Diploma	72
   plus
   Dissertation	48
   award Master of Science	120

2. The programmes may include lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, course work, contract learning and projects as specified for individual modules. Candidates shall select their modules in consultation with and with the approval of the Course Coordinator.

3. Candidates for the MSc will be required to undertake a research Dissertation that will normally be between 15,000-20,000 words in length.

4. Academic staff within the Faculty will supervise candidates for the MSc, Postgraduate Diploma and Certificate programmes. The Course Coordinator will manage the appointment of supervisors.

Progression

10. Candidates registered for a named Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma may apply to transfer to the Postgraduate Diploma or Masters Degree Programme, respectively, providing they have satisfied the relevant requirements of attendance and assessment rules and have accumulated the requisite number of credits at level M.

Assessment

11. Each module will be assessed according to the module description. Assessments may include written assignments, examinations and a dissertation (for MSc candidates only). In addition, candidates may be required to attend a viva voce examination.

12. The module pass mark and overall average course pass marks for the degree of MSc, the Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate is 50%

Compensation

13. Candidates for the degree of MSc or Postgraduate Diploma who fail to achieve at least 50% in each module, may be awarded the degree or diploma provided that their overall average is at least 50% and they have no more than two failed modules with marks less than 40%. The MSc Dissertation may not be compensated.
14. Candidates for Certificates who fail to achieve at least 50% in both modules may nonetheless be awarded the qualification provided that their overall course average is at least 50% and they have no mark less than 40%.

Award of Qualifications

15. Candidates who have attended an approved programme satisfactorily, have satisfied the examiners of their programme, and who have accumulated the requisite number of level M credits will be awarded the qualification for which they are registered.

16. Candidates who qualify for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing, Midwifery or Health Visiting will be required to relinquish any previous award of named Certificates. Candidates who qualify for the award of the degree of MSc will be required to relinquish any previous award of Postgraduate Diploma.

17. Candidates for the degree of MSc who fail (even after any permitted reassessment) to achieve a mark of at least 50% in the Dissertation may be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma provided that they have achieved an overall course average of at least 50%

18. Subject to the Examiners' judgement, candidates for the degree of MSc or the Postgraduate Diploma who satisfy the relevant attendance and assessment criteria and who achieve an overall programme average of at least 70% may be awarded the qualification with Distinction.

19. Candidates who fail in any taught module shall normally have the right to one further opportunity to satisfy the Examiners at the next normal examination opportunity. Candidates for the degree of MSc who fail the dissertation shall normally have the right to submit a revised Dissertation. Full-time candidates for the degree of MSc must normally submit their revised dissertation by 1 February following the first failed submission.

20. Any further opportunity to satisfy the examiners in any module, including the Dissertation, after the second attempt shall be at the discretion of the Faculty of Medicine Health and Biological Sciences and shall only be accorded in exceptional circumstances.