Postgraduate MA

Nursing (Adult)

Attendance

Full-time

Course

Two year

Next enrolment

January 2025

Introduction

In a nutshell

International applicants: please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates. 

At the University of Salford you will be welcomed into a relaxed and friendly environment, with access to facilities, support and opportunities that will enable you to succeed. On this course you will learn in our state-of-the-art simulation suites as part of a multidisciplinary team and prepare for a career as a Registered Nurse. 

This course is for you if: 

  • You want a wide-reaching, varied career with diverse opportunities. This course will give you exposure to community settings, specialist nursing roles as well as acute and emergency care environments.
  • You are a caring and compassionate individual who enjoys working with people and as part of a team.
  • You want to make a difference into the lives of adults of all ages and from diverse backgrounds.
  • You want to develop your critical thinking and future leadership skills.

You can find full details of the entry requirements and application process in the 'What you need to know' section further down this page. 

When studying this course, you will:

  • Study within an interprofessional learning environment.
  • Combine theoretical learning (50%) with practical clinical experience (50%).
  • Work towards NMC (Nursing & Midwifery Council) registration via an accelerated route while gaining a highly regarded master's qualification.
  • Have the opportunity to go onto an international placement to experience care outside of the UK.
Placement

options available

International

students accepted

Course accreditations

Course details

All about the course

Our Philosophy

Our Nursing programmes embody a shared philosophy that represents the values and beliefs of key partners, including: students, patients, service users and families, practice colleagues and university staff.  Theoretical underpinnings of the philosophy include: nursing ethics, personalised care, and a safety model ensuring the safety and protection of people of all ages and their carers and families. 

Key concepts support the development of professional behaviours, inter-professional working, values and attitudes expected of a compassionate nurse, such as: connectedness, emotional intelligence, moral responsibility and creativity.

Interdisciplinary Learning

You will work with staff and clinical partners as co-producers in your learning experience. A coaching approach to personal tutoring will unlock your potential and character development as a professional nurse. A wealth of facilities at the University are available to you, including formal teaching, group and one-to-one sessions, a comfortable and enriching learning space with state-of-the-art clinical and immersive simulation suites.

Programme Structure

50% of your studies will be spent across hospital and community settings, working alongside qualified assessors and supervisors. You will experience the realities of 24-hour service provision working night shifts and weekends. You will also have the opportunity to go on an international placement.

Programme Requirements

By the end of the programme, you will be able to evidence 2,300 hours of theoretical learning and 2,300 practice learning (4,600 hours in total) in order to be eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse.

Year one

Exploring Adult Field Specific Care Needs

Bringing your existing experience to this first year module, you will explore the management of care for a range of patients within the adult field of practice. This will be achieved through examining your role as a future adult nurse in the delivery of care and the support of service users, carers and families within a multi-professional team.  Using case examples and the participation in simulated scenarios, you will consider how to develop and apply your own professional identity within the context of an inter-professional and integrated health and social care environment.

Exploring Evidence-based Interventions in Nursing

A key component to ensuring that your future practice stays up to date is your understanding and interpretation of the best available evidence. During this module you will develop your ability to be able to critically engage with the discourse relating to the use of evidence within healthcare. Further to this you will also apply critical appraisal tools in the evaluation of different forms of evidence, including the evaluation of implementation and dissemination. You will be synthesise ideas related to the importance of personalised care within the context of applying evidence-based interventions.

Establishing Integrated Nursing Practice

On this 60 credit module, you will demonstrate the required NMC proficiencies commensurate with your stage of learning and development in year one in relation to your chosen field of practice and inter-professional practice (NMC part 1 and part 2 progression). This will include developing skills in self- awareness/assessment and personal and professional development planning. You will be able to critically articulate and evaluate how your own and others’ communication styles, values and belief systems impact on people, teams and inter-agency working from understanding of the major concepts and principles of communication.

Year two

Being a Judicious, Contemporary and Autonomous Adult Practitioner

You will develop the knowledge, skills and professional attitudes to facilitate the critical, systematic and contemporary application of the evidence base required to demonstrate autonomous nursing practice. This will be achieved through the completion of a systematised literature review. You will critically analyse the ability to utilise systems and processes that enable personalised care and support planning within a range of health and social care settings to facilitate service user empowerment. Further to this you will critically appraise transition theory and analyse strategies that will ease professional role transition.

Consolidation of Integrated Nursing Practice

You will demonstrate the required NMC proficiencies commensurate with your stage of learning and development in year two in relation to your field of practice and inter-professional practice (NMC part 3 progression). Your personal and professional development plan in year two will enable you to critically evaluate and reflect on your own and others understanding of the major theories, principles and concepts of inter professional, inter-agency and integrated working. You will demonstrate critical application of the evidence, knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, leadership qualities and self-awareness essential for the transition from student nurse to registered nurse. 

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.

What will I be doing?

50%

Theory

50%

Practice

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and simulated nursing practice sessions. Interprofessional learning will thread through your whole programme. Seminars will enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups and within your chosen field of practice. In addition, you will have timetabled sessions with your personal tutor.

Your whole programme is split 50:50 between theory and practice, therefore you will have regular practice placements throughout your course.

At level 7 you typically have around 2.5 days of face-to-face contact per week during your theory modules, typically consisting of:

  • 3.5 hours of lectures
  • 3.5 hours of field of practice seminars
  • 3 hours of simulated nursing practice
  • 2 hours with your personal tutor

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars, simulated nursing practice or personal tutor sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. For example, in Year 1 we advise you to complete 22.5 hours of independent study per week during theory modules to reach the minimum NMC requirement of 2300 theory hours by the end of the programme. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities, including the library, the learning zone, our simulation suites and our purpose-built immersive environment.

Assessment

Assessment methods include a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, presentations, OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations), and examinations. The grades from formal summative assessments count towards your module mark.

The approximate percentage of the course assessed by coursework is as follows:

  • Year 1 - 50% coursework, 50% practical
  • Year 2 - 50% coursework, 50% practical

Feedback

You will receive forward-focused ‘feedback’ on all formative and summative practice and theory assessments undertaken within the programme. Feedback on examination performance is available upon request from the module leader. Forward-focused feedback is intended to help you continually learn and develop. For summative assessments, we aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of submission.

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.

Simulation Suite

The School of Health and Society is home to state-of-the-art Simulation Suites.

Our Clinical Practice Wards are located in the Mary Seacole Building. There are four rooms designed to give the look and feel of a hospital environment. The rooms are furnished with patient beds, lockers, chairs, sinks and curtains as well as audio-visual equipment, internet and a teaching area.

We also have a number of clinical skills rooms that enhance student learning from taking blood pressure, to giving CPR and more complicated procedures. Along with nursing skills rooms where you can practice in a ward situation, there are basic skills rooms for sessions such as moving and handling.

Service Users 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.

Employment and stats

What about after uni?

As a graduate and qualified staff nurse in your chosen field of nursing practice, you will be able to apply for a job in either an acute setting such as a hospital or in the community. You may want to work within the NHS or in the public and private sectors for example, a ward, a health centre, a prison, a care home or a hospice.

Additional information for overseas students

For international students who want to stay in the UK and work in the NHS after graduation, you will need to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) which requires passing an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Assessment.

Career Links

  • You will work alongside a practice supervisor and assessor in the clinical practice areas where you will experience a wide variety of care-giving settings.
  • You will be expected to work the same shift patterns as your practice supervisors (including weekends and night duty) and will need to be able to travel to and from clinical placements.
  • You will spend half of your time at the University and the other half working in a range of clinical areas including the NHS, Private, Independent and Voluntary organisations.
Requirements

What you need to know

Applicant profile

As part of the direct application process to the University of Salford, you will need to provide evidence of health and/or social care experiences within the last 5 years equivalent to 800 hours.

This health and/ or social care experience within the last 5 years could be in a variety of settings, for example, experiences with: charity, educational, voluntary work, being a carer or service user, and paid / unpaid work. You will need to describe how this experience has prepared you for your chosen field of nursing in relation to key programme objectives.

At this point in your application, you do not need to evidence 800 hours of care experience. Following interview you will be asked for this evidence and a reference which explicitly supports the hours claimed. This will form part of your conditional offer. 

If fully met, once you start your programme these 800 hours will count towards the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) requirement to complete a minimum of 4600 hours by the end of the programme.

English language requirements

If you are an international student and not from a majority English-speaking country, you will need IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0. 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.

Additional Criteria

Due to the nature of the work experience placements and exposure to vulnerable members of the public, all places offered are subject to the following:

  • Subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check (Enhanced Disclosure).
  • Subject to a satisfactory medical clearance.

UK Visas and Immigration Compliance

The programme is compliant with the UKVI Student Visa and teaching will be delivered over a minimum of two and a half days per week.

Standard entry requirements

GCSE

GCSE Maths and English grade C/4 or above. 

Undergraduate degree

2:1 or above in any discipline. 

Please read the full 'What you need to know' section above for details of other requirements. 

Pre-requisite 800 hours

As part of the direct application process to the University of Salford, you will need to provide evidence of health and/or social care experiences within the last 5 years equivalent to 800 hours.

This health and/ or social care experience within the last 5 years could be in a variety of settings, for example, experiences with: charity, educational, voluntary work, being a carer or service user, and paid / unpaid work. You will need to describe how this experience has prepared you for your chosen field of nursing in relation to key programme objectives.

At this point in your application you do not need to evidence 800 hours of care experience. Following interview you will be asked for this evidence and a reference which explicitly supports the hours claimed. This will form part of your conditional offer. 

If fully met, once you start your programme these 800 hours will count towards the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) requirement to complete a minimum of 4600 hours by the end of the programme.

International Students

We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.

Alternative entry requirements

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).

Already have a nursing degree?

If you have an existing Honours Degree or master's in Nursing and would like to change your field of practice, you could be granted up to two thirds of credit value of the programme. Contact us to find out more about the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process and accelerated course options for existing registrants.

How much?

Your tuition fees are regulated by the UK government who has proposed changes to tuition fees for UK students studying in England from 1 August 2025. The fee stated reflects this proposed change, but remains subject to parliamentary approval. Your tuition fees may increase in your first and each subsequent year of your programme to the maximum amount permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year.

Type of study Year Fees
Full-time home 2025/26 £9,535.00per year
Full-time international 2025/26 £17,000.00per year

Additional costs

For more information about uniforms, DBS, Occupational Health clearance, and immunisations, visit our Information for Students page.

You should consider further costs which may include immunisations, books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.

Additional funding support for healthcare students

Additional funding support is available for healthcare students through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

This fund is accessible to students enrolled in specific courses, including Diagnostic Radiography, Occupational Therapy (including pre-registration master's), Physiotherapy, Podiatry (including pre-registration master's), Prosthetics and Orthotics, Midwifery, and Nursing (adult, child, mental health, learning disability, joint nursing/social work; including pre-registration master's).

For further details, visit the NHSBSA website for further information. 

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.

Apply now

All Set? Let's Apply

Still have some questions? Register for one of our Open Days or contact us:

By email: enquiries@salford.ac.uk
By phone: +44 (0)161 295 4545

Enrolment dates

January 2025