Post Graduate Diploma In Nursing at University of Southampton

The University of Southampton School of Nursing and Midwifery offers you opportunities to train as a nurse on our 2 year shortened programme for graduates. Joining an established and progressive programme, you will gain not only professional registration but also enjoy rigorous academic study at levels 3 and 4.

As one of the leading Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in the UK, you will be studying in a department with a strongly successful research focus and an innovative curriculum. We enjoy excellent relationships with our NHS colleagues and your course will have a clear interdisciplinary focus.

Course Structure

The Postgraduate Diploma course commences each March and comprises approximately one-third theory and two-thirds practice. An introduction to relevant clinical skills is followed by an innovative programme of clinical placements and modular study. You can expect to gain experience of, and insight into, client/patient care in a wide range of care settings relevant to your branch.

As with all higher education programmes, you will be required to take increasing responsibility for your own learning. The course includes the principle of “enquiry-based learning”, a strategy designed to further develop your skills in reflection, clinical reasoning and critical thinking. You will work together regularly with other students and your facilitator. Each student has both a personal academic tutor and a practice mentor, who provides academic, clinical and personal support. Some teaching is undertaken in larger groups with time also set aside for private study, tutorial group work, for accessing multi-media resources and working in the skills laboratory.

Your timetable will include approximately 7 weeks leave and 5 weeks personal study leave each year. Some of this will normally be at Christmas, Easter and during the summer. Academic studies will be timetabled during the normal University week. In order to gain insight into the diversity of nursing care, your placements will include mornings, evenings, nights and weekends as well as day shifts.

Assessment covers both the theory and practice components of the course, focusing on the evidence base for practice. You will enjoy a range of assessment styles including a competency based portfolio, submitted studies and an examination. Completing students will be eligible to access a shortened Masters programme.

Finance and Other Arrangements

All students on the Postgraduate Diploma programme receive a bursary of £6,519 per year for those over 26 years old and UK & EU residents; further allowances are payable under certain circumstances. In addition, you will be exempt from tuition fees. Any additional travel associated with clinical placements will normally be reimbursed or a mileage allowance paid.

Accommodation is often available for the first eight months of the course. There is also a wide range of private rented properties in the area. Students will be mainly based at the University’s main Highfield campus for study purposes with clinical placements in Hampshire and the IW. Where possible placements will be appropriate to your place of residence.

The Award

• Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing from the University of Southampton.
• Registration on the relevant Professional Register as a Adult, Mental Health or Childrens’ nurse.

Entry Requirements

Applications for the Postgraduate Diploma are welcomed from all who hold, or anticipate being awarded, a 2:2 first degree with health related components. A diverse range of degree titles will be considered. In addition, GCSE (A*-C) Maths, English and Science are required.Applications are enhanced when evidence of “insight to care” is offered. This might include part time care employment, voluntary work or community care work; ideally your experiences will relate to the branch you intend to study.

How to Apply

All applications are processed through a central clearing house – NMAS – from whom you should request an application pack. We welcome applications throughout the NMAS application cycle. The following NMAS codes apply:

• Adult branch: Centre code: S27, Course code: 3010
• Mental Health branch: Centre code: S27, Course code: 3110
• Child branch: Centre code: S27, Course code: 3310

Profile: Andrea Edwards, Postgrad Diploma student

I have just completed my first module of my post-graduate diploma in nursing (child branch) and have found it to be very exciting and challenging.

Even though its been more years than I would like to mention since I was last at University!, I have found that there is a lot of support from staff and fellow students to help get back into the studying mode.

Even though the course is only 2 years, you still complete the same number of modules and gain the same amount of hours as the 3 year programme. The post-graduate course gives you more autonomy to study what you want within the guidelines of each module. Whilst on placement, the post-graduate students still meet for tutorials which is unique to this course. This ensures that you keep in touch with your colleagues as shift working can make this difficult. You are able to share experiences and also have a better chance of arranging social activities!

Other students come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some like me have wanted a career change and so have come out of the work place whereas others have recently completed their first degrees. There is a wealth of knowledge and ilfe experience within those studying the post-grad course, all of which is valuable to share with one another.

Profile: Gill Gregory, Postgraduate Diploma student

I am a mature student and a mother of two young children on the two year post graduate diploma in Adult Nursing. The post graduate diploma builds on from my previous health related degree and fast tracks me into my nursing career a year earlier than the other courses, without loosing out on placement experience. I find the course challenging and exciting as two thirds of my course is on placement. Being on this course has really honed my organisational skills to enable me to enjoy the studying side of the course, the socialising side and of course my family life. I find the placements are very accommodating towards my childcare arrangements and any other family commitments that I have. As a disabled student I receive full support from the school and university with their wide range of student services from learning disabilities to online tutorials and additional study packs.

Contact:

School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southampton
The Nightingale Building (67), Highfield, Southampton
SO17 1BJ

Tel: 023 8059 5500
Email: nursingandmidwifery@soton.ac.uk