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Deutsch Does the Master’s Degree Programme in Advanced Nursing Practice Suit Your Profile?
This part-time Master's degree programme is aimed at nursing professionals who wish to deepen their scientific and practical skills in the field of Advanced Nursing Practice. The target group primarily includes graduates of a Bachelor's degree in nursing, health sciences, or social sciences who are already working in nursing practice and want to take on extended roles in direct care, case management, counselling, or at the interface between science and practice. The programme is particularly suitable for qualified nurses, registered nurses, paediatric nurses, and geriatric nurses with a university degree. It also addresses individuals who assume responsibility for complex nursing and organisational tasks, manage care processes based on evidence, and aim to further develop nursing practice scientifically.
Which formal criteria must you meet?
To be admitted to the Master’s degree programme in Advanced Nursing Practice (M.Sc.), you must provide evidence of the following requirements:
- Completed university degree: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent university degree in nursing, health sciences, or social sciences
- Professional qualification in a nursing profession: Proof of state recognition as a qualified nurse, registered nurse, paediatric nurse, or geriatric nurse
- Minimum of one year relevant professional experience: Proof of at least one year of professional experience in nursing practice with a minimum workload of 25% (certificate from the facility required)
Personally, you should bring a willingness to engage in scientific work, an interest in shaping and further developing complex nursing processes, and a sense of responsibility for evidence-based care. The ability to self-organise, strong communication skills, resilience, and the motivation to continuously invest about 15–20 hours per week alongside your job in your studies are important prerequisites for successful completion. The ability to critically reflect on nursing practice and an interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and leadership tasks are also advantageous. If there is a high number of applicants, selection will be made through an academic interview in which your motivation for studying, suitability, and compatibility of study and profession will be assessed.
Which subject areas do you specialise in during the Master's programme Advanced Nursing Practice?
The continuing Master’s programme Advanced Nursing Practice – Erweiterte Pflegeexpertise equips you with the competencies to take on highly complex nursing, scientific and organisational tasks in all fields of modern nursing practice. The focus is on three professional specialisms:
- Professional Nursing Practice (36 ECTS): You develop an expanded understanding of your nursing role. Reflection and deepening of practical knowledge is complemented by evidence-based concepts. Topics such as coaching, counselling and case management are central components.
- Nursing Science (36 ECTS): You engage intensively with Evidence Based Nursing and learn how to integrate findings from nursing research practically into your work. Quantitative and qualitative research methods are included in the curriculum, as is the conduct and evaluation of your own research projects.
- Administration and Organisation (24 ECTS): Here you deal with legal frameworks, health economics, quality management as well as tasks in project management and clinical leadership.
The key competencies you acquire in this Master’s programme are:
- Independent management of complex care processes in all nursing settings
- Transfer of research findings into practice and development of outcome-oriented nursing concepts
- Leadership, counselling and case management with a focus on the individual needs of users
- Legal and health economic knowledge for managerial and coordinating tasks
The module offering covers topics such as nursing process design, role development for Advanced Nursing Practice, case management, counselling in highly complex situations, project management, care processes (interdisciplinary and international), law, health economics as well as two research-oriented practical projects and the Master’s thesis.
How is the part-time distance learning programme structured?
The programme starts each summer semester and is designed for a standard duration of five semesters (2½ years). It comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits and a workload of approximately 3,000 hours. The final degree awarded is Master of Science (M.Sc.).
- Learning format: The joint programme consists of approximately two thirds media-supported self-study. At the start of the semester, you receive the learning materials for all modules and work through them independently (around 15 hours per week).
- In-person phases: About one third of the programme takes place in face-to-face sessions (on average every other Saturday all day) at the university. In small groups, you deepen what you have learned through exercises, case studies and skills labs (approx. 5 hours per week).
- Digital support: Additionally, the learning platform ILIAS enables continuous exchange with lecturers and fellow students, for example via forums and online courses.
- Assessment requirements: Integrated in the programme are written exams, oral examinations, essays as well as scientific project work. The Master’s thesis including the oral defence completes the studies.
- Module structure: Each semester you take three to four modules, which are designed to build on each other in terms of content and didactics to gradually develop the competences for Advanced Nursing Practice.
What career prospects does Advanced Nursing Practice open up for you?
Graduates of this Master’s programme are qualified for demanding roles in direct nursing care, but also act as a link between nursing science and clinical practice. Typical fields of work include:
- Clinical nursing experts (Advanced Practice Nurses) in inpatient, partial inpatient, outpatient or long-term care facilities as well as in rehabilitation
- Management and coordination roles in nursing and healthcare facilities, e.g. as case manager, department manager or project manager
- Quality management and process development in healthcare with a focus on implementing new nursing concepts based on current research findings
- Counselling, coaching and training of nursing staff as well as advice for relatives and patients
- Research and teaching in the field of nursing science, for example as a research associate in projects or in university teaching
With this qualification, you are optimally prepared to lead evidence-based, quality-oriented nursing projects or to pursue an academic career.
How are the costs of the part-time Master’s programme composed?
The tuition fees amount to €1,700 per semester. With a standard period of study of five semesters, the total sum comes to €8,500. The fees include all essential services such as study materials, in-person phases and the use of the online learning platform.
- Instalment payments: The fee is usually paid per semester.
- Funding opportunities: Since this is a continuing, professionally qualifying distance learning programme, funding by employers, tax deductibility and various scholarship and support programmes are possible.
- Tax tip: The verifiable costs can generally be claimed as work-related expenses or special expenses for tax purposes.
This is how you can invest purposefully in your specialisation in the growing field of advanced, evidence-based nursing practice.
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