Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting or Occupational Health Nursing or School Nursing)
MSc
University of Derby

Key Course Facts
Course Description
This course is for NMC registered nurses who want to gain a professional qualification in health visiting or occupational health nursing or school nursing. If you have either a Diploma or Advanced Diploma in nursing studies this course can be studied at degree level to top up your qualification.
-
Gain a professional qualification in health visiting or occupational health nursing or school nursing
-
Build your understanding of clinical practice, wider public health and leadership and management
-
Develop specialist assessment, leadership and management skills.
-
Develop and build on your existing knowledge to ensure that you meet the competencies set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and you’re eligible to gain a registrable qualification
-
Become part of the public health workforce working toward improving people's lives and their health outcomes.
This course is for NMC registered nurses who want to gain a professional qualification in health visiting or occupational health nursing or school nursing. If you have either a Diploma or Advanced Diploma in nursing studies this course can be studied at degree level to top up your qualification.
During this course you will:
-
Develop the skills you need to become a practitioner in your own area of expertise, and work as a specialist public health nurse
-
Learn how to share the core values of a practitioner with your colleagues to help them with their professional development
-
Build up your skills in clinical practice, care and programme management, leadership, and public health, which will be essential when you become a practitioner
-
Enhance your research skills that will help you to look at the quality of care in your current practice and suggest improvements
-
Improve your understanding of professional roles and functions by networking, team building and communicating with other professionals.
Practice Assessment will encompass all the four domains of care, facilitation of learning, leadership and management, research and development.
We’re proud to say that our courses are closely mapped against the health and social care sector. This ensures that our curriculum is up-to-date, providing you with the assurance that your learning is current and relevant. This does mean that we do have to respond to national changes such as government policy. As a result, some of the information about our courses may change.
The Specialist Community Public Health Nurse Programme leading to Health Visitor or Occupational Health Nurse or School Nurse qualification accessed at Masters level gives you 120 credits at level 7 (Post Graduate Diploma). You can undertake this full time (1year) or part time (up to 3 years). To complete the full MSC (Masters) you will need to gain funding or self-fund to undertake the additional 60 credits needed at level 7, which will take an additional year post HV/OHN or SN qualification.
Entry Requirements / Admissions
Requirements for international students / English requirements
IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)
-
- 6.5
- All Degrees
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting or Occupational Health Nursing or School Nursing), MSc, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.
This course is for NMC registered nurses who want to gain a professional qualification in either health visiting, occupational health nursing or school nursing. If you have either a Diploma or Advanced Diploma in nursing studies this course can be studied at degree level to top up your qualification. To study this course you must: Hold a current nurse or midwife qualification and have a current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council; Possess a degree at 1:1 or 2:1 having 120 credits at degree level or equivalent academic credits or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL); Have gained a student Health Visitor or Occupational Health Nurse or School Nurse position from a seconding/sponsoring organisation; Have at least one year post registration experience due to the requirements of the V100 prescribing component and 2 years if taking the V300 non-medical prescribing qualification (NMC). It is the Employers responsibility to ensure that any necessary Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and health checks are carried out, proof of this and indemnity will be required prior to commencement of the Programme. The student will have successfully applied for a clinical secondment/sponsorship with a local Care Provider/employer prior to applying for this Programme.
Costs
Average student cost of living in the UK
Rent | £518 |
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
Supermarket shopping | £81 |
Clothing | £35 |
Eating out | £33 |
Alcohol | £27 |
Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
Transport within city | £17 |
Self-care / sports | £20 |
Stationary / books | £13 |
Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
Insurance | £51 |
Other | £95 |
Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
University Rankings
Positions of University of Derby in top UK and global rankings.
See all 18 university rankings of University of Derby
About University of Derby
The University of Derby is a publicly owned university located in the city of Derby, England. The university’s main campus is in Allestree, a suburbian zone in Derby itself, and is situated directly opposite the popular Markeaton Park where many students enjoy going for a walk in their free time.
Student composition of University of Derby
-
Students by level of study Academic year 2020/21 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on 10 February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 13890
- postgraduates:
- 2295
- Total:
- 16185
Where is this programme taught


