Overview

NFQ Level 9, Major Award

The MSc in Nursing Studies is a part-time programme running over two academic years from the date of first registration for the programme.

There is an opportunity to exit the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Studies, provided a student has passed 60 credits in Year 1.

A number of modules may be offered using a blended learning approach with the majority of the content of these modules delivered in an online mode.

Note: A student may not register for the Second Year of the programme until the First University Examination for the MSc (Nursing Studies) has been passed. However, under certain circumstances, students may be eligible for Direct Entry to Year 2, without having taken the First University Examination.

See also General Regulations for the Degree of Master.

Exit Award: Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Studies 

Upon successful completion and passing Year 1 modules to the value of 60 credits students may exit the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Studies.

A student who subsequently wishes to continue progression for the degree of Master must complete the programme within 5 academic years from the date of successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma Examinations, subject to the programme being available.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

Module List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1
Students take 60 credits as follows - all listed core modules (30 credits) and 30 credits of elective modules:
Core Modules
NU6005	Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals	10
NU6070	Clinical Leadership in Practice Enhancement for Nursing and Midwifery	10
NU6201	Personal and Professional Portfolio	10
Elective Modules
Students take modules to the value of 30 credits from the following: 1		30
NU6019	Person Centred Care (not on offer in 2023/24)
NU6074	Nursing and Midwifery Management and Development (not on offer in 2023/24)
NU6076	Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery Practice (not on offer in 2023/24)
NU6120	Patient Safety (not on offer in 2023/24)
NU6125	Professional Practice Issues for Nurses and Midwives (10)
Year 2
Students take 30 credits as follows: 2
Core Modules
MH6014	Advanced Research Methods for Healthcare Professionals	10
NU6073	Dissertation in Nursing	20
Total Credits		90

¹

Not all modules will be offered each year.

²

 Alternatively students may take up to a maximum of 10 credits, relevant to the MSc programme with the approval of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and subject to timetabling restraints, in lieu of 10 credits.

Examinations

Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.

Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes for MSc (Nursing Studies) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Exercise enhanced personal and professional competence through accountability and autonomy in professional practice;
  
• Practise with greater insight of the research-base, ethical, socio-political and professional underpinnings of nursing/midwifery and health care in Ireland;
  
• Demonstrate higher levels of judgement in the practice of nursing/midwifery through the generation of nursing knowledge for innovative nursing and midwifery practice;
  
• Act as innovators and leaders in a chosen area and contribute to practice development and best practice;
  
• Demonstrate vision of professional practice that can be developed beyond scope of practice;
  
• Demonstrate critical inquiry, research evaluation and synthesis skills to the study of a discrete area of professional practice.