Overview

The MSc Advanced Practice programme aims to prepare students who wish to develop a career as an advanced practitioner. The programme is informed by the Advanced Nursing Practice Framework for Northern Ireland (Department of Health, 2023) and the Advanced AHP Practice Framework (Department of Health, 2019). This programme aims to equip experienced Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals (AHP) with the advanced knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to effectively contribute to the provision of safe and effective care and support for people who use health and social care services. 

The programme will develop:

• Intellectual and practical skills necessary to safely deliver advanced clinical care and support.
• Promote and enable health and social care practice and leadership.
• Intellectual and transferable skills necessary to function in positions requiring advanced clinical practice knowledge and skills.
• Skills enabling critical review and introduce current evidence relevant to advanced clinical practice and leadership roles.

Enquiry skills through the execution of an Advanced Practice Dissertation Project.

Queen’s University and Ulster University utilise a coordinated regional approach to the provision of MSc Advanced Practice programmes in Northern Ireland.  Applicants will be initially selected by their HSC Trust and complete an Expression of Interest Form.  This will be reviewed by both institutions who will jointly decide which institution the applicant will be best suited for their study. The applicant will be notified of this outcome in May/June and then invited to formally apply to the relevant institution. 

Content

This MSc comprises a total of 180 credit points. To qualify for the Master of Science in Advanced Practice, students must successfully complete 120 credit points of taught modules (reduced where Recognition of Prior Learning applies), the Advanced Practice Portfolio (HSN7107 e‑Portfolio), and the 60‑credit dissertation project module.

The Advanced Practice Portfolio (e‑Portfolio) is completed over the two‑year duration of the programme and may require practice experience outside the student’s current clinical role.

Students undertaking the integrated Non‑Medical Prescribing (NMP) element of the programme must complete this component by the end of Year One of the Advanced Practice programme.

Successful completion of all taught modules is essential before submission of the dissertation project element of the Master’s award.

The list of modules is as follows:

• Advanced Assessment and Differential Diagnosis HSN7104 (Year 1)
• Successful leading for health and social care professionals HSN7032 (Year 1)
• Pharmacotherapeutics for Prescribing NMP7101 (Year 1)
• Prescribing in Practice NMP7102 (Year 1)
• Applied Theory for Advanced Practitioners HSN7105 (Year 2)
• Advanced Practice Dissertation Project HSN7106 (Year 2)
• Advanced Practice Portfolio (e-Portfolio) HSN7107 (Both Year 1 & 2)

Assessment

Upon successful completion of this course, students will graduate with an MSc in Advanced Practice. The programme is designed to enable NMC‑registered nurses and midwives to practise autonomously within an expanded scope, using advanced clinical assessment, diagnostic reasoning and independent decision‑making skills to deliver complex, person‑centred care. Graduates will be able to prescribe, refer and manage care safely, while leading service improvements, contributing to research and influencing policy across health and social care. They will demonstrate the core competencies of the Northern Ireland Advanced Nursing Practice Framework (DHSSPS 2016; updated 2023) across Clinical Practice, Leadership and Collaborative Practice, Education and Learning, and Research and Evidence‑Based Practice.

Entrance Requirements

Applicants must hold a degree at least a 2:2 Honours standard or equivalent or demonstrate their ability to undertake the programme through the accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning Students undertaking this programme will normally be commissioned by a Health and Social Care Trust. Students will be working in a practice area that will facilitate their achievement of the Advanced Practitioner clinical competencies and · Have live registration as a Nurse, Midwife or Allied Health Professional (AHP) with the Nursing and Midwifery Council or Health Professions Council. · Normally have three years recent post-registration clinical experience in the specific area of practice.

• Provide confirmation of an Access NI check within the last three years.
• Have agreement of their employing organisation to ensure that appropriate governance arrangements are in place to support practice learning. · Provide confirmation of the availability of an appropriately qualified clinical practice supervisor/assessor.
• Applicants with a recognised NMC Nurse and Midwife Prescribing (NMP) qualification will be required to submit a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) application at the point of application to the programme.
• Applicants with this qualification at level 6 will be required to engage with the school RPL process to facilitate these level 6 credits for recognition at level 7 that will include an evaluation to ensure student knowledge reflects level 7.

Duration

MSc Advanced Practice is a full time programme completed normally in 2 years.