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| School |
School of Health Sciences |
| Final Award |
Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing |
| Programme(s) |
Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing with Professional Registration on Part 1 of the Register of the Nursing and Midwifery Council |
| Last modified |
August 2008 |
Reference should be made to the University's General Regulations found in Sections IV and V (Higher Degree Regulations) of the University Calendar.
Except where the School has been granted an opt-out by the University, the following academic regulations apply in addition to the General Regulations.
| 1. |
Admissions |
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Candidates for admission must satisfy the Regulations for Admission to Degree Programmes in Section IV of the General Regulations and must be graduates with an appropriate academic and personal profile which must include English Language at GCSE grade C or equivalent. A diverse range of Honours degrees (Class of 2:2 and above) will be considered.
The degree (or evidence of equivalent study) should have been completed within the 5 years preceding admission. Preference will be given to students who are able to offer 'insights into care' such as care employment, voluntary work or community care work, ideally in the field of practice in which they intend to study.
Admission to, and continuation on, the programme is subject to specific health requirements (consistent with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act [1995]). Prospective students are required to inform the School of any health problems relevant to their future employment as a health professional. All students will be subject to an occupational health check.
Admission to, and continuation on, the programme is subject to consideration of any criminal convictions. The programme is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act [1986]. Prospective students are required to inform the School of all criminal convictions. All students will be subject to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.
Equality Statement
The School wishes to make places available to a wide range of people who will make a useful contribution to the study and practice of nursing. The University and the School are committed to a comprehensive policy of equal opportunities in which students are recruited on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and are given equal opportunities within the University. The aim of the policy is to ensure that no prospective or current students should receive less favourable treatment on any grounds that are not relevant to academic ability and attainment and state registration as a professional nurse.
The University's Disability Equality Scheme includes an Action Plan which identifies the steps that the University is taking to improve the opportunities available to disabled students. Applications from candidates with disabilities are always considered and assessment of their abilities and needs is undertaken sensitively.
Decisions are based on whether or not the applicant meets the admission criteria, whether the programme can be delivered to the applicant in a way that meets their requirements making reasonable adjustments if necessary and whether, at the end of the programme, the graduate would meet the competencies set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). |
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| 2. |
Structure of Programme(s) |
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The programme leading to the award of Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing shall normally be of two years' duration. The maximum period of registration shall normally be five years. This period of registration will incorporate periods of suspension or interruption of studies. In line with NMC regulations, the award must be completed within five years of the commencement date.
In Year 1 students will study 60 credits comprising of 20 credits at H level and 40 credits are M level (Postgraduate Certificate in Care Studies)
In Year 2 students will study 60 credits at M level.
The outline of the content of each module shall be specified in the Module Profiles and made available to students in the programme handbooks or in the 'Blackboard' environment.
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| 3. |
Progression |
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In order to progress from one year of the award to the next, students must have successfully completed the appropriate examinations, assessments, coursework requirements and practice experience in the particular level of study and this is subject to progression regulations.
Progression from Year 1 to Year 2 of the Programme
Students will normally successfully achieve in all assessed elements in Stage 1 in order to progress to the next level of their registered programme. The point of review for this progression will be no later than week 52 of the programme.
Conditional Progression for students carrying referral
Students who have successfully completed all clinical placements may be permitted conditional progression to Stage 2 of the programme provide they are not carrying academic referral in more than one module. |
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| 4. |
Assessment |
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Students must meet the pass criteria in both academic and practice assessment to pass overall. Where non-assessed work is a course requirement, this must also be achieved. Students will gain credit for each unit successfully completed subject to meeting the above requirements.
Condonement of failure is not permitted under these regulations. The treatment of mitigation/special circumstances is outlined in the 'Assessment Rules and Regulations', 'General Rules and Regulations' and 'Introduction to Assessment' in the student handbook and are are also available on Blackboard.
The pass mark will be 40% for the H level module and 50% for the remaining M level modules.
Assignments should meet the specific word limit indicated in the assessment guidelines plus or minus 10%. A word count should be undertaken, noted and signed as accurate by the student on the declaration form which must accompany every assignment.
If an assignment is below the word limit it will be marked and feedback given. However, work which is limited in length may be compromised in terms of demonstrating the depth and breadth required to secure a pass mark.
When students submit an assignment which exceeds the word limit the assignment will be marked in its entirety, feedback given and a penalty of 10% of the awardable marks imposed. Thus if an assignment was marked out of 100, 10 marks will be deducted.
Assessments will be graded as follows:
- First attempt = Pass/Refer/Defer
- Second attempt = Pass or Fail
Non-submission of an assessment by the publsihed due date will normally result in Refer or Fail. In exceptional circumstances, students may negotiate up to a two-week extension with the Module Leader. Late requests for extenstions (within 48 hours of published submission date) will not be considered. Such requests will be taken under Special Considerations.
Referral at the first attempt
In the event of a referral at the first attempt in an assessment, students will normally be expected to attempt the assessment at the next identified opportunity. Any student who elects not to make a second attempt will forfeit any further attemt in that assessment and therefore jeopardize their programme registration standing. The Registry must be informed in writing, by the student, of the intention not to re-submit/resit.
Second attempts
The maximum score which can be recorded for a second attempt is 40% for H Level modules and 50% for M Level modules. Failure at second attempt(s) will result in failure which normally leads to discontinuation from the programme.
Assessed Coursework
Extensions and Penalty for Late Submission
In cases of mitigation, students may apply for an extension of a submission deadline of up to two weeks. Students must apply direct to their Module Leader for an extension having completed the extension request proforma. Extensions to published submission dates which exceed the two-week regulation will not normally be permitted.
Clinical Placement
The assessment of the clinical placement element of the programme, 66% overall, is to ascertain the student's progress towards, and achievement of, the NMC Competencies and the Academic and Practitioner Benchmarking Standards (QAA 2001). Students will normally undertake a minimum of 2300 hours of assessed practice in institutional and non-institutional settings.
The student's attainment of practice learning outcomes is judged against the Practice Assessment Criteria which specify the performance required in each Part of the programme. Students will normally pass all summative clinical placement assessments within the programme before progressing to the next Part of the programme.
In the event of referral at the first attempt students may undertake a second attempt. The student will be expected to pass the unachieved learning outcomes at the same level specified in the original practice assessment criteria. The second attempt must take place in a comparable practice setting. Failure at second attempt will result in failure which will normally lead to discontinuation from the programme.
A student whose registration would normally be terminated will receive formal notification of this by letter from the School. This will provide details of the University's Reviews and Appeals procedure should the student wish to request a review of this decision. In relation to 'Reviews and Appeals', the term 'degree' includes any Degree, Advanced Diploma, Diploma or Postgraduate Diploma awarded by the School. |
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| 5. |
Award of Qualification(s) |
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In order to qualify for the award of Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing, candidates must have met all the statutory requirements for Professional Registration by successfully meeting all the requirements as specified in these regulations including all assessed and required academic and practice elements of Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the programme.
Any student who has achieved all assessed and required academic and practice elements of Stage 1, plus one other part of the programme including 20 credits at H level and 30 credits at M level, can qualify for the award of Postgraduate Certificate in Care Studies. This award carries no professional qualification for practice.
Any student who experiences grave or terminal illness/injury which prevents them from continuing on their programme of study and achieving qualification may be eligible for a posthumous or aegrotat qualification named Postgraduate Certificate in Health Studies. |
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| 6. |
Placements/Study Abroad/Exchange/Fieldwork |
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| Practice experience forms an integral part of the programme and students are required to pass in order to be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing. |
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| 7. |
Other |
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| These regulations may be revised during the student's period of registration in accordance with the procedures approved by Senate. |
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