Specialist Practitioner (District Nursing), BSc Hons (Top up)
If you’re a nurse hoping to lead and inspire your own team, our top-up degree will help you become a specialist practitioner in district nursing and lead on care delivery in your community.
Our top-up degree is for nurses who wish to pursue a career as a specialist practitioner in district nursing. This course combines the study of health and policy with research and evidence-based practice to develop your skills in this specialist field of nursing.
You spend half of your learning time in practical work placements, where you are assessed by qualified practitioners. The other half is spent learning nursing theory in our state-of-the-art laboratories on campus. Our work placements often result in employment for students through the trusts they are sponsored by.
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School
Location
Duration
- 1 years full-time
- 2 years part-time
Start month
January
Home fees 2024/25
TBC
What you should know about this course
What you will study
About the course team
You will be taught by an experienced team of experts, which includes senior academics, technical officers, and practitioners with industry experience. Trained postgraduate researchers may also contribute to seminar teaching with the module leader. Teaching is informed by our research and consultancy work, and 97 per cent of our lecturers hold a teaching qualification.
Come and meet us
We are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.
Next Open Days
Got a question?
To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
Applicants should have:
- A first level nursing qualification
- Current registration with the NMC
- A minimum of 120 credits at level 5 (normally). If you do not have this you can complete an APEL claim which is accreditation od Prior learning.
For more information, use our contact form or call us on 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
Further information about entry
Students are seconded from an employing Community NHS Trust. Numeracy and literacy testing as well as an interview are some of the usual methods of recruitment for the employing Trust as well as meeting the academic requirements for entry to the programme. You will also need to complete an online application form for the university, once places with employing Trusts have been confirmed.
COVID vaccine
An important part of many of our Health programmes is the opportunity to learn on placement and work with patients, service users and their families. On all our programmes leading to a professional accreditation with either the NMC or HCPC, placement in a health or social care setting is a compulsory learning outcome of the programme.
Prior to commencing on your chosen programme of study we strongly urge you to complete a full course of Covid-19 vaccinations. Although not currently compulsory, both the NMC and HCPC strongly encourage all registrants to be fully vaccinated. This is because There is a global scientific consensus, supported by our own medicines regulator in the UK, on the importance and value of full vaccination against Covid-19 and the benefits for people receiving care, vaccinated individuals themselves, their families, communities and the wider health and social care system.
While currently you can register with the NMC and HCPC as a non-vaccinated individual, their expectations and regulatory advice is clear, please see here for NMC position on Covid-19 vaccination and here for the HCPC’s position.
Available to overseas students?
No
Can I use Prior Learning?
Find out more on our Recognition of Prior Learning pages.
How you will learn
Teaching
Learning takes place through a combination of timetabled learning and independent study.
You can view more information about how each module is taught within our 'What you will study' section.
Seminars and workshops enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. You will also be able to meet your personal tutor. Timetabled learning may fall between 9am and 9pm depending on your courses and tutorials.
Class sizes
Class sizes vary by module. Lectures are normally attended by larger groups, and seminars/tutorials by smaller groups. This can vary more widely for modules that are shared between degrees. All students will have opportunities for 1-to-1 time with their tutors.
Independent learning
Outside of timetabled sessions, you are also expected to dedicate around 30 hours a week to self-study. This may involve further reading and research, preparing coursework and presentations, and preparing for tests and exams. Our facilities are designed to support you in these activities.
We encourage you to join societies and participate in sporting and other activities to engage in the wider life of the university community.
Overall workload
If you are studying full-time, you should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job. For part-time students, this will reduce in proportion with the number of courses you are studying.
Each module you study towards this degree is worth 15 or 30 credits. These represent around 150 or 300 study hours respectively. If you receive 100 contact hours for a 30-credit module, you should expect to commit 200 hours to independent study to complete it successfully.
Assessment
You can view how each module is assessed within our 'What you will study' section.
Each course has formal assessments which count towards your grade. Some courses may also include 'practice' assignments, which help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.
Feedback summary
We aim to provide feedback on assignments and to release examination results within 15 working days.
Dates and timetables
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.
Fees and funding
Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
| Cohort | Full time | Part time | Distance learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | TBC | TBC | N/A |
Accommodation costs
Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. University accommodation is available from £126.35 per person per week (bills included), depending on your location and preferences. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost.
Funding your study
There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, including the Aspire@Greenwich award for study resources that many full-time students will receive.
Discover more about grants, student loans, bursaries and scholarships. We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.
Other costs
Information coming soon.
For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.
Careers and placements
Will I have a work placement?
We have a 50:50 theory and practice element to our degree, meaning half of your learning time is spent in practical work placements, where you are assessed by qualified practitioners.
Our work placements often result in employment, with our students regularly being recruited through the trusts they are seconded/sponsored by.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
This course is professionally recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Career options include District Nurse and a range of Leadership roles.
Do you provide employability services?
Our Careers Service is committed to supporting our students and recent graduates in their transition towards a rewarding graduate destination. We strive to deliver a professional service with the aim of empowering our students to achieve their potential. We provide the following:
- CV and cover letter checks
- Application support
- One-to-one careers advice
- Interview tips and support
- Careers fairs
- Internships
- Graduate jobs.
Contact: employability@gre.ac.uk / 020 8331 8810
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.
Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.
Support from the department
We offer strong support to all our students. We aim to help you deliver and lead district nursing services safely and effectively at individual, group and community levels. Our top-up degree fully prepares you to promote health and well-being, while proactively preventing ill health within the context of contemporary local and national policy.
Not quite what you were looking for?
We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our undergraduate courses or check our related courses below.....
Health and social care at the University of Greenwich
You’ll learn from our expert, research-active tutors and be well supported during your work placement. You’ll benefit from great job prospects thanks to our strong links with NHS trusts and social care providers.
Visit our health and social care degrees page.
Health and social care degrees
Nursing at the University of Greenwich
Join us and gain the skills for a fulfilling career that makes a real difference. You’ll benefit from our excellent links with health service providers, and you could get extra support of at least £5,000 a year, which you won’t need to pay back.
Visit our nursing degrees page.
Mode of study
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