Course Overview

The Master Health Science (Public Health Nursing [PHN])—runs over two academic years. Candidates will register initially for a one year postgraduate diploma upon successful completion of year one can register with the NMBI as a public health nurse. To successfully complete Year One the student must complete theoretical modules totalling 60 ECTS and clinical assessment requirements as stipulated by NMBI (2015). They will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Public Health Nursing). This is currently sponsored by the HSE.

Students on successful completion of year one may choose to transfer to Year 2 of the MSc programme, without exiting the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma. In order to transfer to Year 2 of the MSs programme, students must achieve 60% on the aggregate of modules undertaken in year one to progress to Year Two. Year Two of this programme is offered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Galway, and is not sponsored by the Health Service Executive.

Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

HSE brochure
Click here to download HSE information brochure about the PHN programme. (It includes detail on sponsorship/funding.)

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via The Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC). Application form should go live mid-March 2024.

Please read the Instructions for Applications and Instructions for Applying to the Public Health Nursing sections carefully on the Postgraduate Applications Centre website.

Applicants must satisfy the selection/admission committee that they have the ability to complete the programme.

Successful candidates must have secured sponsorship from the Health Service Executive prior to commencement on the programme.

Confirmation of placement on the programme is subject to the candidate providing evidence of guarantee of clinical placement for the duration of the programme.

Note: Confirmation of sponsorship and clinical placement is by provision of a copy of the HSE student Public Health Nurse contract provided to you following successful application and confirmation of your sponsorship.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please see the following link for important information regarding the application and recruitment policy:  http://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/Jobs/Job_Search/Nursing/PHNSponsorship/

Who Teaches this Course

External expert speakers also contribute to programme content.

researcher
Ms Teresa Meaney
MSC, BNS,DNS,RGN,RM,RNT
Lecturer Bar/College Lecturer
SCHOOL OF NURSING & MIDWIFERY
ARAS MOYOLA
NUI, GALWAY
View Profile
researcher
Mr Bernard McCarthy
RGN, R.N.M.H, Bsc, Msc
View Profile
researcher
Dr Maura Dowling
MSc,BNs,RNT,RGN,RM Cert Oncology,PhD
View Profile
researcher
Dr Linda Biesty
M.Sc. B.Sc. PgDip
Senior Lecturer
School of Nursing and Midwifery
NUI Galway
View Profile
researcher
Dr Patricia Healy
PhD.
Lecturer Above The Bar
SCHOOL OF NURSING & MIDWIFERY
Room 235, 1st Floor
Aras Moyola
Central Campus
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researcher
Ms Anne Fallon
RNT,MSc,BN,Dip,Cert Neonatal,RM,RN
Lecturer
T: 00353 91 495601
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researcher
Ms Deirdre Fitzgerald
BSc,HDip,Dip
PART-TIME TEACHING ASSISTANT
E: DFITZGERALD@nuigalway.ie
View Profile
researcher
Dr Duygu Sezgin
B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD
Lecturer above the bar
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Aras Moyola
University of Galway
View Profile
researcher
Ms Eimear Burke
RGN, Dip General Nursing,BNS, HDip, MHSc
View Profile

Requirements and Assessment

Modules are assessed using a combination of coursework and examinations.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

  • Be registered in the General Nursing Division of the Register of Nurses maintained by the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) or entitled to be so registered AND have a minimum of three years' post-registration general nursing experience.* OR
  • Be registered in the General Nursing Division and another Division of the Register, including Registered Midwife (RM), Registered Children’s Nurse (RCN), Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability (RNID) or Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) Divisions of the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the NMBI or entitled to be so registered; AND have a minimum of 18 months' post-registration general nursing experience as an RGN, and 18 months post-registration experience as an RM or RCN or RNID or RPN.* AND
  • Meet the academic criteria set by the relevant Higher Education Institute (HEI); Hold an NQAI Level 8 qualification (honours degree) or proof of equivalency; Demonstrate that they have undertaken a programme of study at NFQ Level 8. The academic transcript provided will be used as evidence to demonstrate this, and it should be for the highest level award.*
  • If an applicant has not studied at Irish NFQ Level 8 or above or is unable to submit a complete academic transcript or is unsure of the level of their award as detailed above or is unable to confirm the level of their award is equivalent to Irish NFQ Level 8 or above they must complete an Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).*
  • Applicants whose first language or language of primary expression is not English must provide evidence that their English language ability meets the required standard for admission in one of the following ways*:

– International English Language Testing System (IELTS)—the overall minimum required score is 6.5 on the IELTS assessment test, a score of 6.5 in each band of the Academic Version is required.
– Duolingo English Test (DET)—the minimum requirement will be a DET score of 110 is required with at least 100 in each sub-score.
– Evidence of the applicant’s English language ability (ie. the applicant’s complete IELTS or DET certificate) must be submitted as a part of their application and be within three years prior to the 6th of September;

  • Unless the candidate’s name is registered in the midwives division of the NMBI register, they must complete an approved module of study on child and maternal health, approved by the NMBI, as part of the programme;* 
  • Satisfy the selection/admission committee that they have the ability to complete the programme;* 
  • Meet in full the requirements for registration specified by NMBI to be eligible for the award of the Master Health Science (Public Health Nursing).*

Further information here.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

1 year, full-time (for Year One of programme)
1 year, part-time (for Year Two of programme)

Next start date

September 2024

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

10 (minimum)

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Year 1: see https://v2.pac.ie/institute/8
Year 2: contact Programme Director

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

60 (Year One), 30 (Year Two)

Award

CAO

Course code

MHSC-PHNU (Year 1 full-time, Year 2 part-time)

Course Outline

PROGRAMME CONTENT (subject to change)

Year One
This year totals 60 ECTS and is delivered over an academic year.  The theoretical component of year one is comprised of six modules (if a registered midwife) and seven modules (if not a registered midwife). You will complete two clinical practicum competency assessments within the community setting comprising of Practicum One (1, 2 and 3 professional assessments) and Practicum Two (4 and 5 professional assessments). For students who are not registered midwives one clinical skills assessment in the maternity unit is also undertaken.

Modules (Year One):

  • Clinical Governance—Supporting Safe practice  
  • Advanced Research Methods
  • Service Improvement A (non-midwife cohort)  
  • Service Improvement B (midwife-cohort)  
  • Promoting Population Health Across the Lifespan
  • Essential Physical Assessment Skills
  • Child Health Surveillance, Welfare and Protection
  • Child and Maternal Health (non-midwives only) 
  • Practicum One (Professional Practice 1, 2,3)
  • Practicum Two  (Professional Practice 4, 5)
  • Practicum One (Child and Maternal) (Non midwives only)

Note: Year One is currently sponsored by the HSE.


Master of Health Sciences (Public Health Nursing)—Year Two

On successful completion of year one you can register with the NMBI as a Public Health Nurse. You can either choose to complete your studies at the end of year one and receive the award of postgraduate diploma in health science (public health nursing) OR you can opt to undertake the Master of Health Science (Public Health Nursing) by completion of Year Two. Entry to Year Two of the programme is subject to you achieving 60% on the aggregate of modules undertaken in year one. In Year 2 you complete a research dissertation (30 ECTS) on a topic of relevance to public health nursing.

Note: Year Two is self-funded and part-time.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits
You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module
An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject
Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional
A module you may choose to study.
Required
A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject
A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester
Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Optional NU623: Clinical Governance: Supporting Safe Practice - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional NU6585: Child and Maternal Health (Non Midwife Cohort) - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional NU6751: Promoting Population Health Across the Lifespan - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional NU7439A: Service Improvement A Midwife Cohort - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional NU7439B: Service Improvement B Non-Midwife Cohort - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional NU890: Professional Practice I (NH) - 0 Credits - Semester 1
Optional NU890.MW: Professional Practice I - 0 Credits - Semester 1
Optional RPL010: Recognised Prior Learning - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional RPL005: Recognised Prior Learning - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional NU502: Advanced Research Methods - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU6885: Child Health, Surveillance, Welfare and Protection - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU607: Essential Physical Assessment Skills - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU736: Professional Practice (Child/Maternal Health) I - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU738: Professional Practice V - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU738.MW: Professional Practice V - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU891: Professional Practice II (NH) - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU891.MW: Professional Practice II - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU893: Professional Practice IV (NH) - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU893.MW: Professional Practice IV - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU892: Professional Practice III (NH) - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU892.MW: Professional Practice III - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NU6573: Public Health Nursing Praxis - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

As a graduate, you will have the opportunity to practise autonomously within a community setting. You will have developed a specific knowledge that will enable you, as a community practitioner, to provide primary healthcare and target public health issues in the community.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€8,240 full-time; €4,370 part-time p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Tuition

€8,100 full-time; €4,300 part-time p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Student levy

€140 full-time; €70 part-time p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

 

Student levy €140 - payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI.  Further detail here.

Find out More

Ms Nicola Gill Meeley
Programme Director
T: +353 91 495 036
E: nicola.gillmeeley@universityofgalway.ie
www.universityofgalway.ie/medicine-nursing-and-health-sciences/nursing/

 

Rebecca

Rebecca Moylan |   2nd Year MSc student

I am currently working in the community as a public health nurse. As well as other aspects of public health, I have always been passionate about wound care. With the support of my management team, I intend to specialise as a tissue viability nurse with the help of this further education. I felt that NUI Galway provided a lot of flexibility with the structure of the course, this made it possible to travel to Galway and attend lectures while also working full time in a busy role. I always felt well supported by the speedy responses of the lecturers if I ever had any query. The practical element of the venous leg ulcer module as well as the OSCE in ABPIs gave me the confidence to practice in the community and initiate compression therapy safely for patients and therefore reduce the amount of referrals onwards to the acute services. I also very much enjoyed learning alongside my podiatry colleagues. Working full time and also studying full time is a challenge. However, the online recorded lectures have been a saving grace. As I approach the end of Year 2, I can say with confidence that having this Masters will outweigh any challenge I was faced with.

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