MSc in Nursing (Year 2)
€6,900
Equip yourself with the knowledge and research skills to advance your career and promote evidence-based practice.
Masters
1 year
Hybrid - Part-time
30 ECTS
September 2025
About
Advance your nursing/midwifery career by completing an MSc in Nursing (Year 2) from the RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery following the completion of your postgraduate diploma.
This programme will enable you to play an important role in ensuring that nursing/midwifery practice continues to be based on the best evidence. Enhance your theoretical knowledge and develop a critical and questioning approach as you explore professional, clinical and managerial issues relevant to your speciality role.
You will develop key research skills and work on a cutting-edge research knowledge base, built on exposure to best practice in research and evidence-based practice. You will be supported to develop a systematic review based on a speciality topic of your choosing.
This focused one-year programme is delivered part-time via an active blended learning approach including self-directed learning and live online classes approximately once every week. Further support is provided through the module lead, programme director and regular online drop-in sessions.
Develop the skills to perform research-based practice
Work with data tools and techniques to support research, and consider ethical principles and research-focused data
Integrate your enhanced knowledge to improve overall patient care and outcomes
Suitable for
This programme is for anyone who has completed a PgDip in a nursing speciality (e.g. critical care, infection prevention) and who wishes to continue learning to MSc level.
Course information
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of a comprehensive range of knowledge in the specialist area.
- Articulate a critical awareness of the latest evidence-based knowledge in the specialist area.
- Demonstrate a range of research and specialist knowledge and skills to the specialist area of clinical practice.
- Select from a broad range of specialist skills and knowledge in the specialist area.
- Act in a comprehensive and often unpredictable variety of professional and ill-defined contexts in the specialist area.
- Take significant responsibility for the work of individuals and groups and lead and initiate activity in the specialist area.
- Critically self-evaluate professional and personal learning needs and those of others within their specialist area of practice and link to related continuing professional development requirements.
- Present a reflective and questioning approach to specialist practice delivery and exhibit professional application of her/his knowledge in an accountable, responsible and evidence-based manner.
The programme will begin in September each year.
The programme is assessed through a range of assessment modalities.
On the successful completion of your Masters programme, you may be interested in pursuing a professional doctorate. For more information, please contact us at:
- Tel: +353 1 402 2445
- Email: nursing@rcsi.ie
All RCSI programmes offered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery are accredited by the RCSI, the National University of Ireland and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Recognition by bodies in other jurisdictions must be determined by individual applicants.
Admissions
To be eligible for this programme you must:
- Hold an NFQ Level 8 qualification. However, if you do not hold a Level 8 qualification you may still be eligible to join the programme through our supported-entry pathway programme. This is subject to an assessment of prior learning and experience.
- Have an active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland or other registration in a country in which you are practicing if you are an international student.
- Be working in the specialist practice of the programme for the duration of the programme.
Please note:
- For MSc programmes delivered by the RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery in partnership with specific partner hospitals, you must also be working in the specific hospital associated with the programme or other site which has been audit approved for the duration of the programme.
- For MSc programmes delivered solely by the RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery, you will be expected to provide a clinical learning agreement signed by a director of nursing or designate.
Learning occurs in many contexts including work, involvement in social and community activities, and learning through life experience generally.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) does not give credit for experience as such – rather, it considers learning that was acquired as a result of the experience. RPL may be used to gain admission to programmes where an applicant may not have obtained the standard entry requirements.
This is considered on a case-by-case basis. Exemptions from programme modules which duplicate learning already demonstrably acquired through prior learning may also be considered on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please contact the School of Nursing and Midwifery:
- Tel: +353 1 402 2445
- Email: nursing@rcsi.ie
English language requirements for postgraduate programmes are published on the RCSI website.
If you have completed undergraduate/postgraduate full-time studies in the medium of the English language (three or more years cumulatively), and if you are registered with the NMBI, you are exempt from these requirements.
If you have completed a postgraduate diploma, the fees for Year 2 of the MSc programme are: €6,900.
Fees for the MSc Advanced Nursing Practice and the MSc Advanced Nursing Practice (Prescribing) will vary.
Please note:
- Fees include the €45 NUI fee.
- There is an additional application fee of €50 which is non-refundable.
- Fees are subject to review annually.
- Fees can be paid by bank transfer. Full details on fee payment will be emailed to you before the commencement of your programe.
- You can pay your fees in three instalments – one payment of 40% is due before you commence the programme, while the remaining payments can be paid in two 30% instalments in November and February of your year of study.
- If you meet the criteria for a non-EU student, please contact us for more information on fee payments at tel: +353 1 402 2445 or email: nursing@rcsi.ie.
Sponsored students: If your study is sponsored by your employer, you will be required to upload written confirmation of your sponsorship when accepting your programme offer. You will be unable to accept your offer until confirmation of sponsorship is received or a payment is made.
Please view our Postgraduate Fees Policy for more information.
How to apply
Applications for this programme are currently closed. For guidance or further information, please contact nursing@rcsi.com.