About the course

Our student intake numbers ensure that you will receive individual attention and, because of the relatively small numbers of students in each clinical speciality, you will get plenty of 'hands-on' experience with patients in a wide variety of settings. You will also get the opportunity to work practically and theoretically with members of the wider healthcare profession throughout your programme of education.

The clinical pathway options are as follows and focus specifically on meeting the needs of practitioners working within clinical practice:

• Contemporary Rheumatology
• Critical Care Pathway
• Fundamentals in General Practice Nursing
• ‌Generic Pathway 
• Neonatal Intensive Care

Each pathway is designed to develop and enhance your application of specialist theory to your practice area.

Please be aware that individual pathways run subject to minimum numbers.

For information on how to apply please contact our administration team at nursing.cpd@keele.ac.uk

Course structure

Successful completion of the course requires: 60 credits for a Graduate Certificate.
Modules: This is dependent on the pathway and electives chosen. 

How the course is taught

The programme is delivered through a range of blended learning approaches (which includes lead lectures, tutor and student-led tutorials, case study presentations, simulation, experiential learning, web resources, course workbooks).

In your programme you will sometimes be expected to role play and engage in simulated clinical scenarios with other students, such as the practice and observation of practical skills in physical contact with other students. For some specific practices, this may necessitate modification of dress - e.g., to shorts and t-shirt.  These activities will be conducted in a professional, safe,  respectful and culturally sensitive way, under the supervision of academic staff, according to a defined protocol.

Entry Requirements

• Current registration with a relevant regulatory body
• Working in practice where pathway specific care is delivered
• Hold a Diploma in Higher Education in a related subject or equivalent
• Accreditation of Prior Learning considered
• International candidates should have an English Language qualification in written and spoken English. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) minimum 600 score or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 7 score.
• International candidates who meet residency/academic requirements of UK students but whose first language is not English will need to hold IELTS with an overall score of 7.
• Keele University currently accepts Tofel iBT tests that have been taken outside of the United Kingdom. All Tofel iBT tests will need to be taken no longer than two years prior to your start date at Keele and must be verifiable with ETS. If you have taken your Tofel iBT test in the UK please contact the admissions team for more information.

Please note this programme is available for Home students only. 

Funding

Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines, we do not anticipate any additional costs for this postgraduate course. 

Living costs

Keele University is located on a beautiful campus and has all the facilities of a small town. Student accommodation, shops, restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance of the teaching buildings. This is a very cost effective way to live and to reduce your living costs.

Scholarships and Funding

We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our scholarships and bursaries webpage for more information.

Planning your funding

It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in this case, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.

Facilities

Keele University School of Nursing and Midwifery is based at the Clinical Education Centre within the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust.

The Clinical Education Centre is a contemporary building which houses not only the School of Nursing and Midwifery, but also incorporates part of the well-established Undergraduate and Postgraduate School of Medicine. The spacious and light interior of the building consists of seminar rooms, extensive clinical skills laboratories, inter-professional Health Library and IT laboratories, which not only provide high-tech learning and teaching facilities, but also allow and encourage multi-disciplinary learning and team working, an approach that we believe is key to developing a professional healthcare workforce for the future.