MSc/PgDip/PgCert Research in Nursing and Midwifery
Full-time
Part-time
One year
September 2025
In a nutshell
This programme is designed to enhance the knowledge and critical application skills of nurses and midwives. It allows you to explore various research methodologies, methods, ethics, and to critique and review the literature. This can help you understand the significance of research in practice and the delivery of evidence-based care. The course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to understand, participate in, and apply evidence to your practice for the benefit of service users, carers, and people in diverse health and social care environments.
The full course runs full-time or part-time, giving you the chance to exit with the following awards:
Full-time:
- Postgraduate Diploma: four modules over eight months
- Master's: four modules plus a dissertation over one year
Part-time:
- Postgraduate Diploma: four modules over two years
- Master's: four modules plus a dissertation over three years
You will:
- Develop your critical knowledge and skills to support your career development.
- Enhance your expertise whilst contributing to the advancement of practice.
- Focus on your own professional practice and the application of the evidence base.
- Critically examine your practice and services, developing an evidence-based approach to care.
students accepted
This is for you if...
You want to explore the challenges and opportunities for research in advancing your area of nursing or midwifery practice.
You want to understand yourself as a researcher and enhance your knowledge, skills, and qualities.
You aim to improve your work options within your chosen organisation and area of practice.
You aspire to pursue doctoral-level study in the future.
All about the course
The below drop-down highlights the different core and optional modules available to study.
Critically Exploring Professional Practice (core module)
This module explores the characteristics of professions and professional practice at the master's level. You will be enabled to critically analyse professional values and beliefs about healthcare in the global context, driving your development as a nurse leader. You will cover the following topics:
- Professional practice in healthcare: critical review of informed consent, dignity, patient rights, and autonomy.
- Healthcare policy in the global context.
- Factors influencing contemporary healthcare: political, socio-economic, technological, and other perspectives.
- Analysis of future healthcare trends.
- Comparison and contrast of factors influencing professional development and career progression.
- Personal development and career planning: developing SMART objectives.
- Critical self-assessment, skills, and tools.
- Writing styles for biographical narratives.
- Accessing and critiquing research evidence to underpin knowledge and skills development related to practice.
Research Methods (core module)
Please note, this module can be studied in either Trimester 1 or Trimester 2.
This module explores contemporary issues and debates in research. You will come to understand the nature, role, and context of research in health and social care, covering the following topics:
- Theoretical issues and approaches to research.
- Developing a research proposal.
- Developing research questions and hypotheses.
- Searching for evidence and information, and critical review of existing research.
- Methods of data collection.
- Samples and access to study populations.
- Presentation, analysis, and interpretation of various forms of data.
- Fundamentals of frequently used statistical tests.
- Ethical issues in research: ethical conduct, ethical approval, and other strategies.
- Dissemination and publication of research.
- Implementation strategies.
Evidence-Based Practice for Patient Care
This course will enable you to use the following skills, contributing to preparation for your Dissertation work.
- Searching: formulating a search question, selecting search terms, building up a search strategy, limiting searches; sources of health and social care information; (e.g. MEDLINE; CINAHL; PSYCHINFO etc.)
- Appraising: for quantitative (e.g. RCT and survey); qualitative (e.g. participant observation); systematic reviews; policy documents and other evidence.
- synthesising: what is a systematic review - literature searching dimension plus appraisal; issues in synthesising RCT’s Vs qualitative research
- Implementing/Getting findings into Practice: need for change management; research evidence and other evidence; current approaches in health and social care (audit, guidelines, protocols, CRD, Cochrane, evaluation, performance review). Gaining local ownership.
Research Methods (core module)
Please note, this module can be studied in either Trimester 1 or Trimester 2.
This course explores contemporary issues and debates in research. You will come to understand the nature, role, and context of research in health and social care, covering the following topics:
- Theoretical issues and approaches to research
- Developing a research proposal
- Developing research questions and hypotheses
- Searching for evidence and information, and critical review of existing research
- Methods of data collection
- Samples and access to study populations
- Presentation, analysis, and interpretation of various forms of data
- Fundamentals of frequently used statistical tests
- Ethical issues in research, including ethical conduct, ethical approval, and other strategies
- Dissemination and publication of research
- Implementation strategies
Project Management and Methods of Inquiry (core module)
Upon completing this module, you will be able to critically apply knowledge of project management through experiential learning within your organisation, in addition to the following:
- Utilising an evidence-based approach, apply and critically evaluate the principles of project management to an individually determined project for service improvement.
- Critically explore different project management methodologies to support innovative and creative ways of working to make service improvements.
- Critically appraise your own project management skills in relation to holding people to account for what they have agreed to deliver and in the management of resources.
- Critically evaluate the utility of appropriate methods of inquiry in relation to specific projects.
- Construct a business case which effectively justifies the need for a specific project within your organisation and supports the long-term capability of those it affects.
- Communication skills / interpersonal skills / production of business case.
- Problem-solving through critical appraisal, using information and communication technology, project planning, and management skills.
- Working with others – teamwork, managing others, and leadership.
- Lifelong learning – improving own learning and performance, reflective and reflexive skills, openness to feedback.
Dissertation
This module enables you to develop a research proposal with clear aims and objectives related to your study. You will undertake critical analysis of existing research and engage in various forms of recognised research to produce a sustained, sophisticated, and logical argument in the form of a written dissertation.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
The School of Health and Society
The School of Health and Society is a forward-thinking, dynamic school with a commitment to lifelong learning and real-world impact.
Our courses are informed by the latest research and we work closely with organisations from both the public and private sector to ensure our teaching is at the forefront of practice. The University has received approval for a new health building on the Frederick Road campus which will create brand new teaching spaces, including new Podiatry spaces. Construction will begin in late 2024, with completion expected by Autumn 2026. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a health and wellbeing hub, supporting popular healthcare courses and community services. It will feature sustainable design elements and provide modern clinical facilities to enhance student learning and community engagement. Find out more about our new Health Building.
In time community healthcare clinics will also take place there as partnerships are developed to explore research opportunities and to provide a range of therapeutic sessions.
Service User and Carers Group
Our Nursing Service Users and Carers Group (SU&C) is a collective group of service users, carers and parents who have past and current lived experience of engaging with local healthcare services and or providing care for family or friends. The group shares their breadth and wealth of expertise and diverse lived experiences in an open genuine, generous and frank manner with students to ensure that the voices of the public, patients and carers are fully heard and represented in the nursing curriculum.
What about after uni?
Completing an MSc course provides diverse career opportunities in clinical practice, leadership, education, and research. Graduates from this course have pursued roles as researchers, leading projects and working in teams, as well as working in leadership roles in the NHS or in the private, voluntary, and independent sectors. Overall, MSc study has given graduates opportunities to make a greater impact in the healthcare industry both nationally and internationally.
In addition, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an essential part of maintaining your professional registration. By undertaking CPD modules and courses, you will be able to demonstrate to employers a commitment to the profession.
What you need to know
Applicant profile
This programme is for you if you are a qualified nurse looking to advance your knowledge and critical awareness. It will help prepare you to progress to more senior roles by building your confidence in challenging and influencing practice. You will pursue modules from a number of options, allowing you to tailor your degree to suit your future career aims.
Home students
Applications are invited from registered nurses and midwives, and the following application documents are requested:
- Proof of registered nurse or midwife status
- Undergraduate nursing or midwifery degree comparable to 120 credits at level 6 or equivalent
- Letter of reference
- Passport copy
- Online application form, including a personal statement
International students
To apply, you must be a registered nurse or midwife and provide the following documents:
- Undergraduate nursing or midwifery degree comparable to 120 credits at level 6 or equivalent
- English language proficiency: IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with the writing element no less than 6.0
- Letter of reference
- Passport copy
- Online application form, including a personal statement
English language requirements
If you are an international student and not from a majority English-speaking country, you will need IELTS 6.5 with writing at 6.0 or above. We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take the Pre-Sessional English course to gain entry onto this degree. We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take the Pre-Sessional English course to gain entry onto this degree.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
Looking for funding for a master's degree? You can check out options like government loans, scholarships, grants, or even see if your employer offers sponsorships.
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,100 per year |
| Full-time international | 2025/26 | £17,000 per year |
| Part-time | 2025/26 | Part-time costs and single module costs will be calculated on a pro rata basis. |
| Full-time international | 2026/27 | £17,520 per year |
Additional costs
You should consider additional costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for international students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our International Scholarships.
All set? Let's apply
Still have some questions? Register for one of our Open Days or contact us: