Community Health Studies, Specialist Practice Qualification in District Nursing, PGDip

To apply for this course you must meet the following criteria:

• Be registered with the NMC on part 1 of the register
• Have graduated with a BSc/BA/BN Honours degree or equivalent
• Provide evidence of post-registration experience within the specialised area of practice
• Provide confirmation of any recent study (e.g. continuing professional development module preferably within the last 5 years).
• Present an up-to-date enhanced DBS disclosure
• Provide copies of academic qualifications and any other documents required by the admissions department, for verification during the selection process.
• If you are considering transferring any prior learning, a full transcript of the module outline is required at interview.

Applications should be made directly to Swansea University by contacting our Admissions Team: chhsadmissions@swansea.ac.uk. 

Interviews take place in the summer months and the course starts in October each year.

Don't meet these requirements?

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.

Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching. 

Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.

A key aim of classroom-based learning is to support theory to practice. To help you develop theoretical knowledge that can be applied to practice you will be taught through a variety of methods including:

• Online learning
• Webinars
• Discussion forums
• Peer assessment
• Peer teaching
• Learning from service users

The course is also supported by the virtual learning environment (VLE) ‘Blackboard’. Blackboard provides access to a whole range of module materials including announcements, timetables, assignment briefs, useful information, student activity briefings, session presentations, hand-outs and links to evidence-based internet resources. 

Your learning will be assessed through lectures, seminar presentation, reflective groups, action learning, work-based learning, problem-based learning, self-directed learning and e-learning will be utilised in order to achieve the theoretical and clinical outcomes for the course.

Some provision

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study some elements of this postgraduate course through the medium of Welsh but there is not yet enough provision to reach 40 credits in each year. The Programme Director can outline to you what is available in Welsh.

Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We can offer you:

• Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
• Access to the Arwain mobile app for the latest information about Welsh-medium courses and modules available to download free on the App Store and Google Play.
• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• Personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
• The option to create and submit your coursework or sit exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be assessed in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
• Membership of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

Visit the Welsh Language Rights webpage for further information about Students' Welsh Language Rights.

Continuing to study through the medium of Welsh will be:

• a natural step for you if you have studied through the medium of Welsh at undergraduate level.
• a way of maximizing your chances of getting the best education.
• a way of receiving a high level of support as the study groups are smaller.
• a valuable addition to your CV and career development.

Accredited by The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

• Alyson Bray, Programme Director District Nursing, District Nurse, BScHons, Ma Education for Health Care Professionals, PGCE HE, Nurse Prescriber – Senior Lecturer.
• Nia Griffin, District Nurse, MSc Community & Primary Care, Nurse Prescriber – Lecturer & Service User Champion within the team.
• Cathy Taylor, Programme Director SCPHN practice, Health Visitor, Senior Fellowship Higher Education Academy, MSc Nursing, PGCE, Nurse Prescriber – Senior Lecturer.
• Amanda Makin, Health Visitor, MA Child Welfare & Applied Childhood Studies, Nurse Prescriber – Lecturer.
• Elizabeth Churne, Lecturer Practitioner School Nursing, School Nurse - Lecturer.
• Janet Swanson, RGN, RM (lapsed), BSc (Hons), SCPHN (RHV), MA - Lecturer.

Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

International students and part-time study: It may be possible for some students to study part-time under the Student Visa route. However, this is dependent on factors relating to the course and your individual situation. It may also be possible to study with us if you are already in the UK under a different visa category (e.g. Tier 1 or 2, PBS Dependant, ILR etc.). Please visit the University information on Visas and Immigration for further guidance and support.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

If you're a UK or EU student starting a master’s degree at Swansea University, you may be eligible to apply for Government funding to help towards the cost of your studies. To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Interviews take place in the summer months and the course starts in October each year.
Please click on the green 'Apply' button on the top right of the webpage.

Further information can be obtained from the Programme Director, Alyson Bray or via the Admissions Team (Tel: 01792 (98)7661).

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.