MSc Nursing
Online, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 13,206 / per course *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* £13,206 UK / £13,884 International (2026-27)
Key Summary
About: This 100% online and part-time MSc Nursing programme develops clinical expertise, leadership and management skills to help nurses move into senior roles. You’ll study via a virtual learning environment (VLE) with access to lectures, forums, live seminars and an eLibrary. Assessments are online: assignments, reflective journals and forum participation; exams are rare and proctored remotely. Tutors and advisers support you.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can progress from clinical practice to middle and senior management; potential roles include Ward Manager, Charge Nurse, Nurse Manager, Senior Staff Nurse, Nursing Officer. Related pathways include clinical governance, service improvement, education and leadership in healthcare.
The demand for skilled nurses is growing worldwide, as are the demands placed on those already within the profession. This 100% online and part-time Masters has been designed to provide you with new knowledge and skills to help you thrive in your existing role as a nurse and enable you to progress your career to senior roles.
This online MSc Nursing will drive you to improve the care you offer patients, as well as your ability to handle sensitive issues in different healthcare contexts. You will also develop management and leadership skills which not only benefit you professionally but also your organisation. At the end of your studies, you will have the confidence and ability to take on more senior nursing responsibilities.
Teaching methods
We’re a 100% online education provider, so we use a state-of-the-art virtual learning environment (VLE) to deliver our teaching, resources and assessments. Our system tracks and manages the learning process in real-time and provides you with immediate access to your learning materials. The VLE is accessible 24/7 and allows both students and tutors to actively take part in real-time conversations and live Q&As.
We believe you get the most out of your time spent studying when you are kept informed of your performance, and we achieve this by:
- assessing you throughout modules rather than waiting for the end of year assessments
- showing your marks in your grade book which can be viewed whenever you log onto the virtual learning environment (VLE)
- rapid turnaround on work assessed to ensure your grade book is always up to date
- ensuring you have regular contact with your Student Support team
Assessment methods
All assessments are delivered through our virtual learning environment (VLE). There is no requirement to travel to external test centres or to sit exams! Instead, you will submit assignments through the VLE, such as written reports, discussion forum participation or reflective journal entries.
We also have a policy of ensuring that the work submitted by students is authentic – we use a well-established electronic monitoring system to check for plagiarism.
Why Essex Online?
Study online. Graduate on campus.
You will complete your studies and assessments 100% online and your qualification will be awarded by the University of Essex, an award-winning university with a 60-year heritage of teaching and research excellence and one of the top 30 universities in the UK (Complete University Guide 2026). Upon completing your course, you will graduate with the same certificate as campus-based students – your mode of study is only mentioned on your academic transcript.
World-class academic and mentoring support
Our online tutors are leading authorities and specialists in their respective fields. They are passionate about what they teach and combine their knowledge of industry practice with high-quality academic delivery, offering you an unparalleled learning experience.
We also have a dedicated team of Student Advisers and Study Skills Advisers that will support you from your first day to graduation. They will be on hand to help and guide you as you progress through your studies. Whatever the question or issue, they will work with you to find a solution.
We're proud to be rated Gold in the Times Higher Education (THE) Online Rankings 2024. Our achievement, which is based on four pillars - resources, engagement, outcomes and environment - recognises our commitment to excellent online education.
You can study the following modules on the MSc Nursing:
- Professional Practice Portfolio
- Evidence-based Decision Making in Practice
- Healthcare Management: Principles and Practices
- Applied Pathophysiology and Pharmacology in the Management of Disease
- Health Promotion
- Healthcare Leadership in Practice
- Diabetes: Prevention, Care and Management
- Principles and Practices of Pain Management
- Meeting the Needs of Vulnerable Patients
- Infection Prevention and Quality Improvement
- Introduction to Research Methods*
- Systematic Reviews
- Quantitative Approach to Research
- Qualitative Approach to Research
- Dissertation (Nursing)*
*These modules are core and must be passed in order to achieve the award.
- Designated for postgraduate student loans in England.
- Simple monthly payment plan available, enabling you to spread the cost over the duration of your studies.
- Global scholarship available for international students based overseas in eligible countries.
- 10% corporate discount available when three or more of your employees study with us.
Please note that the corporate discount can’t be used in conjunction with any other discount or scholarship.
This MSc Nursing will help you to progress from wholly clinical roles to middle and senior management positions within nursing. Potential job titles may include Ward Manager, Charge Nurse, Nurse Manager, Senior Staff Nurse or Nursing Officer.
Teaching methods and style
We’re a 100% online education provider, so we use a state-of-the art virtual learning environment (VLE) to deliver our teaching, resources and assessments. Our system tracks and manages the learning process in real-time and provides you with immediate access to your learning materials. The VLE is accessible 24/7 and allows both students and tutors to actively take part in real-time conversations and live Q&As.
Assessment
All assessments are delivered through our virtual learning environment (VLE). There is no requirement to go to external test centres; instead you will submit written assignments through the VLE. For the few courses where exams are required, we use a virtual system which allows you to take academically rigorous exams from the comfort of your own home.
We believe you get the most out of your time spent studying when you are kept informed of your performance, and we achieve this by:
- assessing you throughout modules rather than waiting for end of year exams
- showing your marks in your grade book which can be viewed whenever you log onto the VLE
- rapid turnaround on work assessed to ensure your grade book is always up to date
- ensuring you have regular contact with your Student Support team
We also have a policy of ensuring that the work submitted by students is authentic – we use a well-established electronic monitoring system to check for plagiarism.