Back to subject area

MSc Adult Nursing

Foundation

Start date
Study mode
Course length
UCAS Code
Adult Nursing - Students on ward

Interested in a different start date?

MSc Adult Nursing

Discover how compassionate care, clinical expertise and evidence-informed practice come together to prepare you for a rewarding career in adult nursing. The MSc Adult Nursing at Birmingham Newman University is a full-time, two-year postgraduate programme designed for graduates from any discipline who are ready to make a meaningful contribution to healthcare. Developed in partnership with clinical providers and service users, the course offers a reflective and practice-led route into professional nursing. On successful completion, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and begin your journey as a registered adult nurse.

Why Study This Course?

Studying the MSc Adult Nursing at Birmingham Newman University offers more than a route into nursing. It provides a values-led and inclusive approach to professional education, grounded in current research and shaped by the realities of healthcare. The course is ideal for graduates who want to make a lasting impact in people’s lives and are seeking a career with purpose. With small cohort sizes, personalised support and access to state-of-the-art simulation facilities, you will be part of a learning community that empowers you to grow in confidence and develop your identity as a nurse.

Explore Nursing Practice in Diverse Settings

Throughout the course, you will study key areas such as health assessment, care planning, clinical reasoning and leadership in nursing. You will examine how research, policy and professional standards shape nursing practice, and how to respond thoughtfully and effectively in a range of care environments. Clinical placements in community, hospital and home-based settings will give you hands-on experience, supported by expert supervisors and immersive simulation facilities. The programme encourages critical reflection and professional growth, enabling you to deliver safe, inclusive and responsive care across diverse populations.

Supportive and Personalised Learning

At Birmingham Newman University, you will be part of a supportive academic and clinical community that places your development at the centre. Our experienced teaching team, practice partners and newly enhanced simulation suite will guide your learning throughout the course. You will receive regular feedback, take part in reflective practice and benefit from personalised academic support. Whether you are preparing for your first role or aspiring to lead in healthcare, you will be supported every step of the way.

Got a question you’d like to ask?

Standard 2-year entry requirements 2:2 BSc (Hons) degree, usually in a health related subject Plus: GCSE/IGCSE English language and maths grades 9-4/A*-C or equivalent Candidates must have achieved these before commencing on the MSc programme. Candidates applying for the MSc programme will need to evidence 600 hours RPL of care experience of other relevant work experience. This needs to be verified by someone who is on a professional register. In line with NMC requirements RPL cannot total more than 50% of the programme unless you are a registered nurse seeking an additional field of practice and there are no restrictions on your practise. All RPL claims for NMC programmes are scrutinised on an individual basis and are also assessed by an external examiner as part of the School of Nursing and Allied RPL/RPEL process. Candidates must also complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check which must be satisfactory prior to commencing the course. The Admissions team will use the entrance criteria, as well as the personal statement, reference and work experience information, to shortlist candidates for interview. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview– Candidates will be assessed on their motivation and understanding of the role of a nurse and familiarity with the NHS Constitution and Values and the requirements of an NMC registered nurse. Health Checks As part of the health clearance checks you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. Candidates must prove they have been immunised against Rubella, Measles, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B. We strongly recommend that all successful applicants (unless exempt on medical grounds) receive a full course of Covid-19 and Influenza vaccinations prior to commencing the course. Candidates must receive a satisfactory occupational health clearance prior to commencing the course.

The full-time course fee, for UK home students, for September 2025 is: £9,535

Additional Costs

Check out our blog/news/events

Emma Powell

Dr Emma Powell Named Finalist in Birmingham Awards 2025 – Contribution to Education

Dr. Emma Powell SFHEA, Senior Lecturer in Primary ITE at Birmingham Newman University, has been…

Student at library desk

Birmingham Newman University Library Recognised as THE Award Finalist for Pioneering AI Support

Forward-thinking work to support the responsible and innovative use of AI in academia has landed…

Student sitting down with laptop

Birmingham Newman University is delighting in the news that St John Henry Newman, our Patron, will be the newest Doctor of the Catholic Church

Pope Leo made the official announcement – Conferral of the Title of Doctor of the…

Dr Marie Rowlands, Professor Judith Champ, alongside Fr. Cecil Rogerson, presented Dr Rowlands with the Bene Merenti Medal on 22 February 2020 in recognition of her contribution to Catholic Life and Witness in the Midlands

Dr Marie Rowlands Rest In Peace

Long-standing friend and former student of Dr Marie Rowlands, Professor Judith Champ, alongside Fr. Cecil…

Students - greenhouse

Birmingham Newman University Shortlisted for Prestigious Sustainability Award

Birmingham Newman University has been shortlisted for the 2025 Green Gown Awards in the Creating…

Book an open day

Find out about our next open day. Book now to secure your place.

Safe and effective professional healthcare practice
20 Credits (Compulsory)

In this module you will be given the opportunity to reflect and develop self-awareness to foster an understanding of your own beliefs, attitudes, values, knowledge, attributes and skills. This will enable you gain insight into how others may see the world differently to build and develop your professional identity. You will explore what it means to be a professional within the context of legal, ethical and regulatory frameworks as applied to your professional healthcare discipline.

The principles of courage, transparency and the professional duty of candour will be covered in the context of raising and escalating concerns and whistleblowing in healthcare and social care environments. You will explore the role of the nurse and other health care professionals in managing and improving patient safety, quality of care and healthcare outcomes. Health and safety legislation will be examined, and you will develop your knowledge and skills in identifying, assessing, managing risk when maintaining healthy and safe work environments.

The importance of partnership working and communication with people, their families, carers and other professionals to encourage reflective learning and improve patient safety & quality will also be considered. The process of reporting and critically reflecting on near misses, critical incidents and serious adverse incidents and ways in which both individuals and organisations learn and make improvements will be outlined.

Coordinating and managing complex care in adult nursing
40 Credits (Compulsory)

In this module you will learn how to holistically assess, plan, implement and evaluate evidence-based care for individuals, their families and carers across all stages of the lifespan. You will explore a range of evidence-based interventions including commonly occurring medicines and therapeutic approaches.

This module aims to provide the knowledge and strategies to develop problem solving and decision-making skills. These skills will enable the management of complex situations and health conditions across the life span in a variety of nursing settings. You will learn about detection, analysis and interpretation as part of the assessment process and how to escalate assessment findings appropriately. As part of this process, you will become skilled in individual need identification and both family and person-centred care plan development. You will have a good understanding of identified physiological systems that may impact on a patient, and pharmacological management. Throughout this module you will be required to build on your existing communication skills and apply professional principles such as duty of candour to complex, challenging and sensitive health care situations. You will also consider care needs in relation to the legal principles of consent and capacity. You will advance your critical thinking, problem solving and team-working skills to manage and provide continuity of person-centred care in partnership with people, their families and carers.

Introduction to pharmacology and numeracy for nursing practice
0 Credits (Compulsory)

In this module you will develop your knowledge and skills in relation to pharmacology, health numeracy and medicines calculations. You will be introduced to two e-learning platforms SCRIPT and safemedicate

There will be opportunities to explore the types of drug calculations commonly used in practice and engage with them to find areas of challenge. You will examine the base constituents of common drugs and administration routes, to understand how interactions occur. The module will also explore methods to minimise the risk of drug calculation and administration errors. You will have unlimited access to the two virtual platforms to practice calculations formatively.

Developing pharmacology and numeracy for nursing practice
0 Credits (Compulsory)

The Nursing & Midwifery Council demand that on qualification Nurses understand the principles of safe and effective administration and optimisation of medicines and they can demonstrate proficiency and accuracy when calculating dosages of prescribed medicines. Through engagement with the virtual learning platforms Script and Safemedicate you will build upon the skills and knowledge gained in part 1; whilst blending experiences from your simulation and clinical practice experience to understand the importance of meticulous medicines management. Intravenous administration will be a core component, you will examine the implications of administering medication via this route, and how to do so safely. You will also explore the role of regulatory bodies concerned with drug prescription and administration and the implications for your practice. Explaining the medications we administer to patients in order to gain consent and concordance is a cornerstone of the nurses role in this area, so you will explore issues around health literacy.

Healthy people and communities
20 Credits (Compulsory)

This module will introduce you to the concept of compassionate, person-centred, evidence-based nursing care. You will explore the role of the nurse when promoting, protecting and improving health and preventing ill health across the lifespan and understand the relevance of maintaining your own personal health and wellbeing as a healthcare professional. It will enable you to identify key factors that can impact upon health and wellbeing outcomes for individuals, families and communities, locally, nationally and globally and recognise commonly encountered mental, physical, behavioural and cognitive conditions.
You will understand the potential impact that early years and childhood experiences can have on later life and the impact of individual behaviours such as smoking, diet and exercise and substance and alcohol use on health and wellbeing.
You will examine models of health promotion that support health interventions, taking into consideration health literacy and reasonable adjustments. Health protection measures including screening programmes and immunisation and notifiable diseases and infection prevention will be explored within the local health system and globally

Delivering nursing care
20 Credits (Compulsory)

This module aims to build on your knowledge, experience and skills in a clinical practice setting relating to your field of nursing, with a specific focus upon practical skills, medicines management, multidisciplinary team working, prioritising health needs and managing people with increasingly complex health and social care needs. You will also critically reflect on your own development as a team member within professional practice. You will undertake study related to the underpinning theory around advanced practical skills related to nursing care alongside having the opportunity to develop those practical skills by undertaking simulated practice within the University Skills and Simulation suites. You will continue to develop an understanding of evidence-based practice and the practical skills that are required to fulfil the role of the nurse. This module will prepare you for your final Nursing Care module and enable you to progress to Part 3 of the nursing programme.

Placement Information

Throughout your MSc Adult Nursing course, you will undertake a variety of clinical placements across the West Midlands and surrounding areas. These include hospital, community and home-based settings, giving you hands-on experience of delivering person-centred care. You will be supported by experienced supervisors and assessors, with progress tracked using the Electronic Practice Assessment Document (ePAD). From January 2025, travel and accommodation claims through the NHS Learning Support Fund can be submitted and tracked online. These placements are designed to help you build confidence, develop practical skills and gain the professional insight needed to practise safely and effectively as a registered nurse.

Live, Learn & Belong at Birmingham Newman

At Birmingham Newman University, you’ll enjoy the best of both worlds: a peaceful, green campus that creates the ideal setting for focused study and personal reflection, yet remains just eight miles from the vibrant city centre. As the UK’s second-largest city, Birmingham is also one of the youngest and most diverse in Europe, offering a dynamic blend of culture, innovation and opportunity. From world-renowned museums and music venues to a thriving food scene alongside a growing business and tech sector, it’s a place where creativity and ambition naturally thrive.

Experience Birmingham: A City Full of Possibilities

Whether you're discovering the Midlands for the first time or already know the area well, Birmingham provides a lively and inclusive environment for students. As one of the most energetic and multicultural cities in the UK, it’s a place where you can grow academically while developing personally. Its rich cultural heritage, creative energy and broad range of opportunities make it an inspiring backdrop for your university journey.

A City That Loves Great Food

Birmingham is a brilliant place to explore diverse culinary experiences. You might wander through the famous Balti Triangle, sample global street food at Digbeth Dining Club or enjoy a relaxed meal by the canals in Brindleyplace. The city is also home to independent cafés, vegan-friendly eateries and countless hidden gems. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite between lectures or planning an evening out, there’s always something new to discover.

Arts, Culture and Entertainment

The city pulses with creativity. You could catch live music at the O2 Academy, experience a world-class performance at the Birmingham Hippodrome or browse exhibitions at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Creative spaces like the Custard Factory showcase local talent while hosting events that celebrate innovation. With festivals, sporting fixtures and cultural celebrations taking place year-round, there’s never a shortage of things to enjoy.

Simple & Convenient Travel

Getting around Birmingham is straightforward thanks to its well-connected public transport system. Buses, trams and trains make it easy to reach campus, explore the city or travel further afield. Whether you're commuting daily or heading off for a weekend adventure, transport is both accessible and affordable.

Life Beyond the Lecture Hall

Your time at Birmingham Newman University extends far beyond academic study. You’ll have the chance to join student societies, contribute to community projects or try something entirely new. The university’s supportive atmosphere encourages you to build confidence, develop practical skills and feel genuinely at home throughout your studies.

Where this course can take you. You will graduate with a professionally accredited master’s degree and be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Birmingham Newman-trained nurses are known for their compassion, professionalism and ability to lead inclusive care. Whether you choose to work in hospitals, community services, home-based care or specialist settings, you will be equipped to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. The course also provides a strong foundation for future study, including advanced clinical practice, leadership or specialist nursing roles.

Accreditations and Exemptions

This course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and meets national standards for pre-registration nursing education. Developed in collaboration with healthcare providers and service users, the programme reflects the expectations of the profession and the realities of modern nursing. On successful completion, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the NMC as an adult nurse, prepared to practise with confidence and integrity across a wide range of healthcare settings.

Courses we think you'll also like

Instagram does not support direct link sharing, below is the page URL to copy to add to Instagram posts manually: