PgDip Community Nurse Specialist Practitioner (District Nursing)

• This programme is open to qualified nurses registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, as first-level nurses who have an active entry at the time of application. Please contact the programme leader for details of the application procedure. You can find their name, email address and phone number in the Programme Contacts section of this page.
• Applicants must hold a degree qualification (or evidence equivalent experience) and have the ability to work at postgraduate academic level HE7.
• An applicant must possess GCSEs in English and Mathematics at grade 4-9 (or grade C or above) or hold an equivalent such as Functional Skills Level 2 in Literacy and Numeracy. Please contact apprentices@bolton.ac.uk for a list of acceptable GCSE equivalents, further information and support.
• Experience in this specialist field is beneficial, although not essential.
• Candidates will be required to attend an interview if their application is successfully short-listed. The interview process will involve an individual interview with a university member of staff, a representative from the sponsoring employer and a service user. Applicants will also be assessed on their values, behaviours, communication and problem-solving skills, and undertake a presentation or written assessment. Applicants will be asked to provide a portfolio of work/evidence in support of their application.
• RP(E)L for exemptions from modules in this course. Any applications for accreditation of prior learning will be considered before admission, on an individual basis, by the RPL panel. Claims need to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes in theory and practice as defined within the specific module specification.
• Applicants must satisfactorily pass occupational health screening before enrolment.
• An applicant must provide satisfactory professional and academic references.
• Apprentices will need to demonstrate that they are of good health and good character prior to enrolment and on an on-going basis throughout their studies and career.
• This course involves regulated activity, so applicants must have an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting their studies. This is confirmed with the employer and does not require an additional certificate.
• Admission to this programme is only available to applicants who meet ESFA eligibility criteria, including the following: 1) They are employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week in a role relevant to the apprenticeship. 2) They have valid residency status and the right to work in England and can provide a valid BRP card (valid beyond the end date of the programme including End-Point Assessment (EPA)), and a ‘Right to Work’ share code for validation. 3) Their employer is willing to sponsor them to spend a minimum of six hours per week of their time in off-the-job training, including attending the University (times and dates to be determined) for the duration of their course. Please note that an apprentice cannot be self-employed. ESFA eligibility criteria may change so please contact apprentices@bolton.ac.uk for up-to-date information.
• If English isn't the applicant's first language, they must meet the NMC's English language requirements. Currently, the NMC will accept an IELTS Academic examination certificate with an overall score of at least 7.0 and at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7.0 in the reading, listening and speaking sections. Alternatively, the NMC will accept an OET examination certificate with at least a grade C+ in the writing section and at least a grade B in the reading, listening and speaking sections. For more information, please visit the NMC's Accepted English language tests web page.
• To be eligible for tuition fee funding through the Apprenticeship Levy, applicants should not have already completed a qualification at the same level as the proposed apprenticeship (Degree Level 6) unless that qualification was gained in a completely unrelated discipline.
• Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

The University of Bolton's Level 7 PgDip Community Nurse Specialist Practitioner (District Nursing) degree apprenticeship is designed to meet the degree apprenticeship standard for Community Nurse Specialist Practitioner (NMC 2022) (ST1419). Regulated by the NMC, the standard underpins a highly relevant qualification and professional development pathway that educates apprentices to care for patients with a wide range of health conditions. This course focuses on the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) and duties required for district nurses who provide health care at an advanced level of practice to people of all ages and communities, and across different organisations and settings.

Upon successfully completing this community nursing specialist practice qualification (SPQ), graduates will possess the knowledge and skills needed to perform as independent, highly competent, compassionate district nurses. Graduate apprentices will be able to develop, lead and manage activities that aim to promote health and social well-being, prevent health breakdown and improve ill health through working with individuals, families and communities. They will be able to help individuals and families take control of their lives and protect vulnerable members of society by promoting social inclusion and reducing inequalities.

Employers can expect them to have a wide range of transferable skills and supporting knowledge, including leadership, communication, enquiry, advocacy, critical reflection and analysis skills. They will be adept at planning and time management, rational decision-making, critical thinking, physical assessment, and possess excellent communication skills.

What can I do with this qualification?

The University of Bolton’s PgDip Community Nurse Specialist Practitioner (District Nursing) programme is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

After successful completion of the course, apprentices will have their qualification recorded on the NMC's professional register.

Successful apprentices will be awarded a PgDip Community Nurse Specialist Practitioner (District Nursing) from the University of Bolton and a degree apprenticeship certificate from the relevant awarding body.

Apprentices will not be expected to pay tuition fees towards this programme. If your organisation has a wage bill of more than £3 million per annum, then it may be able to fund this apprenticeship through its Apprenticeship Levy contributions. If your organisation does not pay the levy, it will be eligible for government support to fund apprenticeships. This support, called co-investment, covers 95% of the apprenticeship's tuition fees, with your organisation funding the remaining 5% of the fees.

Home/EU Fees

Apprentices will need to be employed by your organisation for a minimum of 30 hours per week. Your organisation will also need to commit to sponsoring apprentices to complete this qualification.

For further information on how your organisation can access funds to support apprentices, please e-mail apprentices@bolton.ac.uk.

Whether you’re an employer, employee or school leaver, please visit our Apprenticeship web page for support and advice regarding apprenticeships.

International Fees

International applications are not possible for this course

As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.

We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.

There are no bursaries associated with this programme.

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

To achieve this postgraduate diploma, apprentices must complete 120 credits at level HE7. Apprentices will be required to complete the four core modules listed below, which make up 80 credits towards the postgraduate diploma award. Apprentices must also select a further 40 credits from our approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) range. Where an apprentice has completed relevant modules prior to attending the programme, these may be considered for RPL purposes on an individual basis.

Modern healthcare professionals require a range of skills and values. Our tutors will work with your organisation to ensure your apprentices gain experience in various clinical scenarios designed to develop their skills in a safe and supportive environment. Learning focuses on your workplace environment and builds the transferable body of knowledge and skills required to achieve professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a district nurse and apply this expertise within your organisation. Your apprentices will spend approximately 60% of their time in the workplace, with the other 40% of their time being devoted to off-the-job training and university learning. This will enable them to achieve the NMC requirements to enter the register and fulfil the required level of off-the-job training specified for apprenticeships by the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

The course explores the concepts of health and ill health within the adult population and the key elements in district nursing to meet the biological, psychological and social needs of the individual. Topics such as assessment, care management, leadership, health promotion and evidence-based practice are covered. Apprentices will have the opportunity to learn about the importance of research and how its application in healthcare can transform the lives of patients and their carers, along with how to access and assess the latest research and incorporate their findings into care plans and intervention strategies.

We'll work to help your apprentices gain key transferable skills, including the ability to work independently and lead teams on innovative practice, adapt to changing circumstances, work in teams and groups, and listen and respond to customers and their needs. We'll also encourage them to develop planning and time management, rational decision-making, critical thinking, physical assessment and communication skills during their studies. We aim for your apprentices to grow into compassionate, kind and empathetic practitioners who respect and support patient privacy, dignity and individuality, and make safe and effective clinical decisions.

To complement lectures that introduce the course content, apprentices can engage in seminars and group-based activities that explore subjects in greater detail. Tutorials give them the opportunity to clarify their understanding of the topics we cover in lectures and seminars. We use case studies and practical scenarios to help apprentices apply their newly acquired academic knowledge to their district nursing practice and gain valuable insights into contemporary healthcare practice. Apprentices will also be expected to undertake considerable guided independent study; for instance, library research and background reading, preparing for seminar and tutorial activities and working on assignments.

To help support your apprentices' learning, we'll offer additional study skills sessions covering areas such as essay writing, numeracy, library skills and electronic searching. Inter-professional health and social care practitioners will also contribute as guest speakers, offering your apprentices the chance to further develop their knowledge and understanding in applying theory to practice.

A range of assessment methods will be used, including essays, reports, presentations, portfolios, set exercises via multiple-choice questions, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE), traditional examinations, and assessment of practice within the practice setting. Some assessments contribute to their final module marks, while others are designed to help them identify their strengths and weaknesses and where they need to seek extra support from course tutors.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Professional Practice and Compassionate Leadership in District Nursing
• Synthesising The Evidence-Base For Innovative Specialist Practice
• Sustainable Population Health Across The Life Span
• Clinical Skills for Community and General Practice Nursing Specific (Adult)

Assessment methods

Learning Activities

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.