Advanced Practice

Overview

The MSc in Advanced Practice is undertaken over two academic years. Via the commissioning process, students are appointed to full-time AP student posts within the Health and Social Care Trusts or GP Federations in Northern Ireland undertake the course on a part time academic basis. To achieve the award of MSc Advanced Practice, students must complete 180 academic credits of study at level 7, plus a practice learning component and portfolio. 

Year one

Practice Learning for Independent Non-Medical Prescribing

Person-Centred Approaches to Prescribing

Prescribing Across the Lifespan

For postgraduate programmes applicants must hold a degree [with at least 2:2 Honours B2/25 August 2025 standard for Master's only programmes] or equivalent or demonstrate their ability to undertake the programme through the accreditation of prior experiential learning. Students undertaking this course will normally be commissioned by a Health and Social Care Trust, GP Federation, or similar organisation. Students will be working in a clinical area which will facilitate their achievement of the advanced practitioner competencies.



And;

Have live registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in a relevant field of practice



Have one year's recent post-registration clinical experience in the specific area of practice (NMC requirement for prescribing component).



Provide confirmation of an Access NI check within the last three years



Have agreement of their employing organisation to ensure that appropriate governance arrangements are in place.



Provide confirmation of the availability of an appropriately qualified Practice Assessor/Supervisor



English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.



Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.



• For English language requirements go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/english-language-requirements



• For Your country go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/country



Exemptions and transferability

Recognition/Accreditation of Prior Learning (RPL/APL-) The university guiding principles for implementing its policy on the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) were updated in 2020. This policy enables students to apply for recognition of prior learning against modules of the programme to be undertaken. As per policy, exemption can be granted for whole modules only. Accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) is not considered for this programme.



The school has an APL coordinator who holds three APL boards each academic year, students’ evidence is reviewed and approved (if they meet the required standards) at the APL boards. Where students choose to undertake a portfolio of evidence, and have been unsuccessful in their claim for APL, they will be provided with detailed feedback to allow the applicant the opportunity to resubmit. Each applicant has two opportunities to submit a portfolio which meets the required standards. External examiners will have oversight of these processes.



Where students have completed NMP qualification at level 7 they can APL up to 60 credits towards the first year of the program only. Applicants who have completed Level 6 NMP previously can apply to APL up to a maximum of 30 credits as per the requirements of the qualification and credit framework of the University as detailed in the Postgraduate Taught Programme regulations (2024-2025). This will require completion of a further 30 credits at level 7 to achieve the total credits for an MSc award. All students will be reviewed on an individual basis on application.



This course is aimed at a specific population of registered nurses/midwives. It is not anticipated that students will wish to transfer out of the programme. Exit routes for students for lower academic awards have been included. Those who have not been successful in practice learning but have achieved academic credit will have an academic award but will not be permitted to use the title Advanced Practitioner.



In year 2 students will undertake a module in semester 1 relevant to their area of practice. In the rare occasion where students choose to undertake a module outside of the MSc Advanced Practice programme offering, either from another school or HEI, APL processes will be applied to ensure a total compliment of required credits for the MSc award. If this level 7 module has been undertaken prior to entry to the MSc Advanced Practice programme these credits must not have previously been used for APL. Students' evidence is reviewed on an individual basis (and approved if meeting the requirements) by the APL Coordinator, Program Director, and the External Examiner.

Your Application

You can apply directly to Ulster at any time of year. We advise that you submit your application no later than two weeks prior to your course start date. This is to ensure there is sufficient time for your application to be reviewed and, should you be made an offer, time for you to complete all the necessary pre-enrolment tasks.



Some programmes will have specific deadlines as additional selection (e.g. interview, portfolio submission etc) is required, so please check the course page to ensure you have sufficient time to complete your application.

Students undertaking the MSc Advanced Practice are required to complete 258/270 days of practice learning across the 2-year course and submit a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates achievement of the competencies outlined in the ANP Framework (DOH 2016).

Start Date: September 2026.

Careers and Opportunities

Students on the MSc Advanced Practice from Ulster are all already in employment within the Health and Social Care Trusts, private sector and GP Federations. Successful completion of this course leads students to the opportunity to apply for advanced practitioner posts within a desired healthcare setting. This qualification enables students to advance their clinical practice to provide a more holistic care experience enhancing outcomes for both patients and healthcare services Completion of this course ensures that the student has met the specific requirements of the AP Framework for NI (Doh 2016) and makes the student an attractive prospect for any health service provider and employer wishing to advance their clinical service. Graduates of this course are also eligible to apply for PhD study on completion.