University Calendar 2008/9
Section VIII : Academic Regulations - Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
School of Health Sciences



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Regulations for the MSc in Public Health Practice

Criteria for Admission
The School adheres to the University's Equal Opportunities Policy and to those statutory/professional obligations associated with practice. In this capacity the School welcomes applications from candidates who meet the following entry requirements.
  • Satisfy the regulations for admission to postgraduate courses as specified in Section IV of the General Regulations.

  • Be able to demonstrate financial and practical support for your studies.

  • The normal requirement for entry is a first degree in a related subject (2:2 class or above) or equivalent qualification of an approved University.

  • Opportunity and employer support to access a Practice Teacher/Mentor in practice.

  • You should normally have at least two years relevant work experience some of which must be at a senior level.

  • You must be able to satisfy the programme leader that you are competent to pursue the programme.

  • An offer of a place will be conditional on meeting any outstanding academic requirements, health and criminal records checks.

  • The right to refuse admission to the programme shall be reserved by the Programme Leader. If you satisfy all the entry requirements, and with the agreement of the Head of School, a recommendation will be made to the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences that you should be accepted. Formal notification of acceptance will be made through the School Registry.

  • You will be considered on an individual basis for transfer of credits in accordance with University regulations and the School's Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) procedures.

  • Reasonable adjustments will be made to enable applicants with disabilities to undertake the programme in line with the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act [1995].
   
Specific Criteria for Admission - Specialist Community Public Health Nursing
These are as follows:
  • You should fully comply with the Nursing and Midwifery Council's requirements for programmes designed to meet the proficiencies for Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visitor) or (School Nurse) [NMC 2004]. You must be registered on either Part 1 or Part 2 of the NMC Register.

  • You should have attended an interview by the selection panel. This normally consists of one lecturer in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing, a senior representative of the Health Visitor/School Nursing service, and a representative of the sponsoring/seconding employer.

  • The programme pathway for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act [1960]. This means that you will be subject to an enhanced check by the Criminal Records Bureau and any Police cautions and civil or criminal convictions will be revealed. You must disclose any Police record and discuss it, in confidence, with your employer/programme sponsor. Having a record will not necessarily prevent you from entering the programme pathway for Specialist Community Public Health Nursing.
It is important to note that, when assessing applications, your suitability to undertake the programme is being evaluated not your suitability for eventual registration on Part 3 of the NMC Register. The offer of a place is not a guarantee or suggestion of likelihood of registration at the end of the programme. On application for registration, the NMC considers each application individually and a decision is made based on each individual's circumstances particularly in relation to criminal records and health requirements. In addition, registration with the NMC on Part 3 of the Register does not guarantee employment. Employers will evaluate all applications for employment on an individual basis in relation to organisational policies and procedures.
   
Exit Points with an Award
The programme allows students to exit at three different points:
  1. Postgraduate Certificate: 60 HEM credits (three core modules).

  2. You may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Practice and a professional qualification in Community Health Care Nursing by successfully completing three core modules, two required modules and the competency-based portfolio (120 HEM credits).

  3. On successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma, you may choose to either exit at this point or complete the 60 credit dissertation to achieve the MSc in Public Health Practice (see University Regulations for Masters awards) (180 HEM credits).
Each module will be assessed by an assignment or assignments based on the learning outcomes. All assignments across the programme carry credit towards the final outcome of each module. A range of assessment methods allows you to benefit from a rounded educational experience. Continuing assessment allows you to demonstrate your achievement of the learning outcomes throughout the programme. Each module is assessed by an assignment or assignments based on specific learning outcomes.
The module pass mark and overall average programme pass marks for the award of MSc, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate is 50%. You will not have the opportunity to increase your assessment mark by re-submission except in the case of failure at first submission.
Failure to submit an assignment within the allocated time, and without prior arrangement from the module leader or Programme Director, will generally result in a failed module. You will normally have the chance to re-submit a failed module on one occasion. The maximum mark awarded for a re-submission is 50%. Any further opportunity to satisfy the examiners in any module, including the dissertation, after the second attempt is at the discretion of the Assessment Board and shall only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
Extensions for the submission of assignments must be agreed with both the Module Leader and the Programme Director well in advance of the published submission date.
The MSc may be awarded a Pass or Pass with Distinction. To qualify for a Distinction you must have achieved an overall mean mark of at least 70% in the taught modules and at least 70% for the dissertation.
   
Specialist Community Nursing Pathway
You will complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Practice with a professional qualification in Specialist Community Nursing on successful completion of all modules. You must also submit a competency-based portfolio passed in practice by the Specialist Practice Mentor.
Assessment of practice and theory is integrated. Within the Specialist Community Nursing module you must achieve competencies in practice which are verified in the workplace. You are required to pass all components of the assessments to pass the module overall. If you are referred on first submission you will have a second attempt. The maximum mark awarded for a re-submission is 50%. If you are referred on a second attempt, this counts as a failed module. You will exit the programme with a Postgraduate Certificate but without a professional qualification in Specialist Community Nursing.


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Submitted by the Secretariat
Last reviewed: 26-Aug-2008
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