Applications for this course close on the 17th January for UK applicants and on the 8th January for International Applicants (Due to processing times).
This is a pre-registration nursing course designed for graduates who would like to become qualified nurses.
This course is not open to applicants already in possession of a nursing qualification. If you are already a qualified nurse (irrespective of country) please access our Post-Registration Programmes.
Nurses translate evidence-based knowledge to improve healthcare delivery while maintaining and emphasising the ethics of person-centred care.
The modules on this course have been designed with this in mind and aim to stimulate innovation, improve quality, manage risk, and identify areas for productive change.
Did you know that an NHS Bursary is available for this course? Tap here to learn more
MSc Adult Nursing
The MSc Adult Nursing course prepares you for a fulfilling and rewarding career caring for adults of all ages who have had injuries, suffered accidents, acquired disease or have a range of healthcare needs.
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MSc Mental Health Nursing
The MSc Mental Health Nursing prepares you to recognise individual needs and the appropriate interventions for them - helping people make positive changes to their lives and supporting them on their journey of recovery.
Why Choose to study MSc Nursing at the University of Cumbria
- Over 97% of Adult and Mental Health Nursing Students are in work or further study within 6 months (DLHE 2016/17)
- Eligible to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Register to practice as a qualified Adult or Mental Health nurse upon successful completion of all aspects of the course.
- Options to undertake your placements in the Carlisle or Lancaster area.
- Our contacts with NHS Trusts and care providers give you great employment prospects.
- Accommodation options.
- Tutors carry out national and international research, are members of national advisory bodies and publish papers in their areas of expertise - which will enhance your learning.
- Build on your undergraduate experience and become a fully-qualified nurse in two years.
- Obtain sought-after postgraduate credentials
- Gain vital real-world experience by spending 50% of your course on placement.
- Former students have won prestigious national awards for their work in nursing.
Our primary goal is to see you become an excellent qualified nurse, who has a sound and current knowledge of issues and conditions affecting patients and clients across a wide range of clinical practice settings.
You’ll be supported closely throughout your postgraduate degree so that you step into a role as an qualified nurse who can confidently make a difference to other peoples’ lives when it matters.
Graduate destinations
Eligible to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register to practice as a qualified Adult or Mental Health nurse upon successful completion of all aspects of the course. Our contacts with NHS Trusts and care providers give you great employment prospects.
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Download HereCourse outline
Course summary
The MSc Nursing (Pre-registration - Adult/Mental Health) course aims to prepare graduates for the complex, demanding, and rewarding area of adult or mental health nursing. The course provides graduates from a range of backgrounds with the opportunity to transfer their skills to become either a registered nurse (Adult) or a registered nurse (Mental Health). Build on your undergraduate experience and become a fully-qualified nurse in two years. Become eligible for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a qualified adult or mental health nurse. To gain vital real-world experience; 50% of your course is spent on placement.
Obtain sought-after postgraduate credentials, with a NHS Band 5 prospective starting salary.
Modules
Year 1
- Concepts, Theories and Practice in Professional Nursing (all students)
- Pathophysiology and Nursing Assessment Across the Lifespan (all students)
- Public Health and Nursing in Communities (all students)
- Year 1 Practice Assessment Module (900 hours in practice settings)
- The Evidence Base for Adult Nursing Practice (Adult Students Only)
- Advancing Mental Health Across the Healthcare Spectrum (Mental Health Students Only)
Year 2
- Pharmacology for Contemporary Nursing Practice (all students)
- Managing Complexity in Adult Nursing Practice (Adult Students Only)
- Contemporary Approaches to Mental Health Care (Mental Health Students Only)
- Year 2 Practice Assessment Module (900 hours in practice settings)
- Transforming Care in Nursing (Dissertation) (all students)
Programme Specification
Assessment, Feedback, and Teaching and Learning methods
Full details are available in the programme specification.
Timetables
The teaching timetable should be available from the end of February 2021. The teaching day is 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; please keep your other commitments open until confirmation of your teaching timetable, and bear in mind that nursing courses offer placements which involve shift work (all shifts), weekends and Bank Holidays.
Entry requirements
Have a question about our entry requirements?
Entry Requirements
Applicants need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, achieved in one sitting which must include English Language and Mathematics.
Selection criteria
Applicants must have a minimum 2:2 in a health, social care or social sciences degree. Applicants must have a minimum of 500 hours care experience ( in a statutory, voluntary/independent or charitable health, care or social care setting) Applicants who interview successfully must complete a Portfolio of Evidence prior to commencing the course. International applicants require an IELTS certificate that confirms a minimum score of 6.5 in writing alongside a minimum of 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking, so long as the minimum overall score of 7.0. Alternatively, an OET examination certificate that confirms the achievement of at least a B grade in the writing, reading, listening and speaking sections.
All places are offered subject to successful interview as well as Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (DBS formerly CRB), medical fitness to practice and proof of qualifications.
International Applicants
International applicants require an IELTS certificate that confirms a minimum score of 6.5 in writing alongside a minimum of 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking, so long as the minimum overall score of 7.0. Alternatively, an OET examination certificate that confirms the achievement of at least a B grade in the writing, reading, listening and speaking sections.
International Applicants (EEA and Non-EEA) coming to study in the UK, who do not have “settled” status or “leave to remain” will need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study.
Information about how to apply for a visa can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
Additionally, all applicants must meet Fitness to Practice and Health requirements as well as a Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
Fitness to practice and health requirements
All offers of a place are subject to satisfactory health screening. Further information will be provided following the offer of a place.
Please note that Professional Bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) have certain requirements regarding health and character status of applicants and their ability to meet the required core professional competencies and to practice safely without direct supervision. Please read the NMC and HCPC information to find out more. Please ask us for advice and/or support as early as possible in the application process if you have any questions about this requirement.
For more information about core competencies and medical fitness to train please click here. There are fitness standards provided here for most programmes of study: health professions, social work and teaching.
In some instances, an applicant may be invited to attend a professional practice panel to discuss any recommended reasonable adjustments, and whether or not core professional competencies are achievable.
In order to be admitted and continue on the course, students must be deemed as medically fit for both practice and theory by the Occupational Health Department. If you have any concerns about a health condition/issue and its impact on your ability to undertake the course please contact the Occupational Health Department as early as possible in the application process.
- Industrial Diagnostics Company (IDC)
- Phone: 01530 239 190
- Email: occupationalhealth@industrial-diagnostics.com
Disclosure and Barring Service check
If you are offered a place we require you to comply with an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background clearance check. Details on the policy can be found here.
Values-Based Recruitment
* Since 1 April 2015, all Higher Education Institutions delivering NHS training programmes are required to assess students for their values using the core requirements set out in the Values-Based Recruitment (VBR) framework. This assessment will take place as part of our recruitment process.
Application information
See Programme Specification
Tuition fees for UK students
Postgraduate tuition fees vary based on the intensity and length of the course. The links below provide details of the tuition fees the University charges for each programme.
If the programme you are interested in is not listed or you have further questions, please contact our Course Enquiry Centre.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Taught Degrees
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2019-20
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2020-21
Please note that fees for modules and programmes will increase due to inflation.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Research Degrees (PhD)
Download the 2019-20 fees list (PDF)
Download the 2020-21 fees list (PDF)
Please note that fees will increase due to inflation.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Alumni Discount
If you are interested in continuing your studies past graduation, then we’re here to help you get started. We offer a discount on postgraduate fees to eligible graduates of the University of Cumbria.
For your first postgraduate award, you could receive as much as a 20% discount on taught courses, or 10% on research degrees. This is for awards of up to a maximum of 180 credits, and does not apply to PGCE students. International students will be entitled to the same absolute discount (not percentage) as home and EU students.
To receive this discount, you must have previously studied at the University of Cumbria as an undergraduate in the last 5 years and achieved an award of 120 credits minimum, as well as meet the relevant entry requirements for postgraduate study. Accreditation of Prior Learning charges are not included in this discount.
We want to reward our students who choose to continue with academia, so for more information on this discount or anything about postgraduate study, please contact the Enquiry Centre.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
Student Loans
Postgraduate master's loan
If you’re starting a master’s degree, you could get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan to help with course fees and living costs. For Postgraduate Healthcare courses, there is a different package of support available. Please see the NHS Postgraduate Healthcare section below.
What you’ll get
| Academic year | Maximum Loan (£) |
|---|---|
| 2019/20 | £10,906 |
| 2020/21 | £11,222 |
Funding for postgraduate loans is different if you normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Moving somewhere to study does not count as normally living there.
NHS Postgraduate Healthcare courses
England domiciled students commencing study on designated pre-registration postgraduate healthcare courses will be entitled to apply for the standard package of support available to UG students, including tuition fee support, maintenance, long course loans and supplementary grants.
A tuition fee loan of up to £9,250 is available from the Student Loans Company. This can be used as part payment (e.g. MSc Physiotherapy) or full payment (e.g. MSc Occupational Therapy) of tuition fees.
Your student finance application is likely to take around 2 months to finalise so it is important to complete your application as soon as possible. We recommend completing your application by the end of May (new students) or June (continuing students) to avoid any delays in receiving your funding. Please note, you need to apply for the undergraduate student support package.
Maintenance loan
You can apply for a maintenance loan to assist with meeting living costs such as food, accommodation and travel expenses. These are normally paid in three instalments throughout the university year directly to your bank account.
Depending on household income, students may be able to apply for the following amounts:
| Living arrangements | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
| Living at Home | Up to £7,529 |
Up to £7,747 |
| Living away from home (outside of London) | Up to £8,944 |
Up to £9,203 |
You can work out how much of a loan you are entitled to apply for using the Student Finance Calculator.
NHS Learning Support Fund
Students starting and continuing their course from September 2020 can apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund (NHS LSF) if they’re on one of the eligible pre-registration undergraduate or postgraduate courses. The list of eligible course can be found here.
The Learning Support Fund offer support for:
- a Training Grant for all eligible students of £5,000 per academic year
- Parental Support of £2,000 for students with at least one dependent child under 15 years, or under 17 years if registered with special educational needs (this used to be called Child Dependants Allowance)
- reimbursement of excess costs incurred on practice placement for travel and temporary accommodation costs (Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses)
- students experiencing financial hardship (Exceptional Support Fund)
For further details and to apply, visit the NHSBSA web page here.
Note: there are differences in the way students from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are funded for postgraduate courses. If you don’t live in England, information can be accessed here.
Postgraduate doctoral loan
If you’re studying a doctoral degree, you could get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan to help with course fees and living costs.
| Start year | Maximum Loan (£) |
|---|---|
| 2019/20 | £25,700 |
| 2020/21 | £26,445 |
Repaying your loan
The earliest you start repaying your Postgraduate Master’s or Doctoral Loan is when your annual income is over £21,000 and it’s either:
- the first April after you leave your course
- April 4 years after the course started
Contact Student Finance England if your circumstances change or you leave your course early. You’ll have to pay back any overpayment straight away even if your income is less than £21,000.
How much you’ll repay
You’ll pay back 6% of your income over the minimum amount (‘threshold’). This is £21,000 a year, £1,750 a month or £404 a week.
Example
You earn £2,500 a month before tax. This is £750 over the monthly threshold. You’ll repay £45 (6% of this amount) each month.
If you already have a Postgraduate Master’s Loan then you’ll make a combined repayment of 6% covering both postgraduate loans. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment until your loan is repaid in full or cancelled.
You must repay any undergraduate student loans you have at the same time.
Repayment terms are different if you normally live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Scholarships and bursaries
Social Work bursary
MA Social Work students may be eligible for a grant up to £3,362.50 and a means tested maintenance grant up to £2,721. Full details are available on the NHSBSA website.
The number of people who can get a bursary is limited (or capped). This means that there is no guarantee that if you take up an offer of a place on the MA Social Work course, you will receive a bursary. The university will provide a shortlist of students to the NHSBSA who will then assess bursary applications.
Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries
Postgrad Solutions Ltd is offering 13 bursaries across a number of subject areas. The bursaries are worth £500 each and are open to students from anywhere in the world.
To apply for a Postgrad Solutions bursary, visit their website.
Alternative funding
For other courses not covered by either the Masters Loan or specialist funding, we advise you to do some research as early as possible into what funding is available to you.
Click on the links below for information on potentially available funding.
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) - If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces and wish to enhance your education, then you can receive help covering your funding through the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme.
- Medical Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries - bursaries of £500 towards fees in various subjects.
- Family Action's Educational Grants Fund - £200 - £500 grants for families and individuals on low incomes.
- The Wellcome Trust - funding for biomedical research and medical humanities
- The Leverhulme Trust - scholarships for research and education
- Rotary Foundation Scholarships
- Fulbright Commission - US exchange programme
- IEFA - a searchable database of scholarship and bursary information
- Association of Commonwealth Universities - provides scholarships, grants, loans and assistantships open to commonwealth graduates who wish to undertake further study at a commonwealth university outside their own country
- American Association of University Women Educational Foundation - the largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women
- Scholarship search
Check out the websites below for more information about applying for postgraduate funding.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
Tuition fees for EU students
Postgraduate tuition fees vary based on the intensity and length of the course. The links below provide details of the tuition fees the University charges for each programme.
If the programme you are interested in is not listed or you have further questions, please contact our Course Enquiry Centre.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Taught Degrees
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2019-20
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2020-21
Please note that fees for modules and programmes will increase due to inflation.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Research Degrees (PhD)
Fees for 2018-19 academic year (PDF)
Download the 2019-20 fees list (PDF)
Download the 2020-21 fees list (PDF)
Please note that fees will increase due to inflation.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Alumni discount
If you are interested in continuing your studies past graduation, then we’re here to help you get started. We offer a discount on postgraduate fees to eligible graduates of the University of Cumbria, or any of its legacy institutions.
For your first postgraduate award, you could receive as much as a 20% discount on taught courses, or 10% on research degrees. This is for awards of up to a maximum of 180 credits, and does not apply to PGCE students.
To receive this discount, you must have previously studied at the University of Cumbria as an undergraduate and achieved an award of 120 credits minimum, as well as meet the relevant entry requirements for postgraduate study. For research degrees, this will apply to any alumni that have graduated in the last 5 years. Accreditation of Prior Learning charges are not included in this discount.
We want to reward our students who choose to continue with academia, so for more information on this discount or anything about postgraduate study, please contact the Enquiry Centre.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
Student Loans
Postgraduate master's loan
If you’re starting a master’s degree, you could get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan to help with course fees and living costs.
| Start date | Maximum Loan (£) |
|---|---|
| 2019/20 | £10,906 |
| 2020/21 | £11,222 |
Funding for postgraduate loans is different if you normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Moving somewhere to study does not count as normally living there.
Postgraduate doctoral loan
If you’re starting a doctoral degree on or after 1 August 2018, you could get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan to help with course fees and living costs.
| Start year | Maximum Loan (£) |
|---|---|
| 2019/20 | £25,700 |
| 2020/21 | £26,445 |
Some courses, for example Social Work and some Health Professions Masters degrees do attract some funding. Contact us for more information.
Repaying your loan
The earliest you start repaying your Postgraduate Master’s or Doctoral Loan is when your annual income is over £21,000 and it’s either:
- the first April after you leave your course
- April 4 years after the course started
Contact Student Finance England if your circumstances change or you leave your course early. You’ll have to pay back any overpayment straight away even if your income is less than £21,000.
How much you’ll repay
You’ll pay back 6% of your income over the minimum amount (‘threshold’). This is £21,000 a year, £1,750 a month or £404 a week.
Example
You earn £2,500 a month before tax. This is £750 over the monthly threshold. You’ll repay £45 (6% of this amount) each month.
If you already have a Postgraduate Master’s Loan then you’ll make a combined repayment of 6% covering both postgraduate loans. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment until your loan is repaid in full or cancelled.
You must repay any undergraduate student loans you have at the same time.
Repayment terms are different if you normally live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Bursaries
Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries
Postgrad Solutions Ltd is offering 13 bursaries across a number of subject areas. The bursaries are worth £500 each and are open to students from anywhere in the world.
To apply for a Postgrad Solutions bursary, visit their website.
Alternative funding
For other courses not covered by either the Masters Loan or specialist funding, we advise you to do some research as early as possible into what funding is available to you.
Click on the links below for information on potentially available funding.
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) - If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces and wish to enhance your education, then you can receive help covering your funding through the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme.
- Medical Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Professional and career development loans
- Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries - bursaries of £500 towards fees in various subjects.
- Family Action's Educational Grants Fund - £200 - £500 grants for families and individuals on low incomes.
- The Wellcome Trust - funding for biomedical research and medical humanities
- The Leverhulme Trust - scholarships for research and education
- Rotary Foundation Scholarships
- Fulbright Commission - US exchange programme
- IEFA - a searchable database of scholarship and bursary information
- Association of Commonwealth Universities - provides scholarships, grants, loans and assistantships open to commonwealth graduates who wish to undertake further study at a commonwealth university outside their own country
- American Association of University Women Educational Foundation - the largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women
- Scholarship search
Check out the websites below for more information about applying for postgraduate funding.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
Tuition fees for international students
Postgraduate tuition fees vary based on the intensity and length of the course. The links below provide details of the tuition fees the University charges for each programme.
If the programme you are interested in is not listed or you have further questions, please contact our Course Enquiry Centre.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Taught Degrees
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2019-20
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2020-21
The tuition fees for the 2019/20 academic year will be confirmed soon.
Please note that fees for modules and programmes may increase due to inflation.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Research Degrees (PhD)
Download the 2019-20 fees list (PDF)
Download the 2020-21 fees list (PDF)
Please note that fees will increase due to inflation.
Tuition fees for the 2019/20 academic year will be confirmed soon.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Alumni Discount
If you are interested in continuing your studies past graduation, then we’re here to help you get started. We offer a discount on postgraduate fees to eligible graduates of the University of Cumbria, or any of its legacy institutions.
For your first postgraduate award, you could receive as much as a 20% discount on taught courses, or 10% on research degrees. This is for awards of up to a maximum of 180 credits, and does not apply to PGCE students. International students will be entitled to the same absolute discount (not percentage) as home and EU students.
To receive this discount, you must have previously studied at the University of Cumbria as an undergraduate and achieved an award of 120 credits minimum, as well as meet the relevant entry requirements for postgraduate study. For research degrees, this will apply to any alumni that have graduated in the last 5 years. Accreditation of Prior Learning charges are not included in this discount.
We want to reward our students who choose to continue with academia, so for more information on this discount or anything about postgraduate study, please contact the Enquiry Centre.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Paying for your accommodation
If you choose to stay in univerisity accommodation you will be required to make a pre-payment of £250, and a pre-payment of £100 towards catering packages.
After you have made the pre-payment(s), and the contract has been returned, the balance of your contract will be due. Payment must be made by registration. Instalments are not available.
Please note that you do have the option to pay for the accommodation and catering in full with the contract.
Payment must be made in pounds sterling. You will be given the option online to convert your currency when making a payment.
If you’re having trouble paying online or have any questions, please contact your admissions officer who can give you advice about paying by bank transfer.
Resources and facilities
Our facilities within the Institute of Health include state of the art clinical simulation suites and clinical skills labs as well as clinical skills software (clinicalskills.net) and a wide range of library and e-resources specifically for nursing.
See our facilities through our virtual tours including campus tours, 360 footage and campus snapshots.
