Infection Prevention and Control MSc

What is special about this course?

Promoting and developing best practice in the field of infection prevention and control is a pressing issue for professionals and the community as a whole. The issues facing hospital and community staff evolve quickly and IPC practitioners must be equipped to respond appropriately.

This innovative postgraduate course in Infection Prevention and Control has been designed to help you deal safely and effectively with infection risks.  You will develop your confidence and expertise in the management and implementation of infection control change.

If you have to deal with infection as part of your job, or if you’d like to widen your knowledge and be in a position to apply for more senior posts in infection control, the MSc Infection Prevention and Control can help you achieve these goals.

Special features

• The course is delivered online through the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE), enabling you to fit your study around your personal and professional commitments, wherever you are in the world
• You can choose to study individual modules for continuing professional development (CPD), or work towards the PgCert, PgDip, or full masters degree
• Specialist modules at PgDip and MSc level allow you to specialise in areas of particular relevance to your career
• The course content contributes to the development of the core dimensions in the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF): communication; personal and people development; health, safety and security; quality; and equality and diversity
• Students can complete the university’s Skills and Employability Award whereby you gain recognition (not academic credit) for a range of activities you take part in addition to your studies to help you stand out from the crowd and demonstrate the skills you have, prepare for a real interview and impress prospective employers

Entry requirements

• 2:1 honours degree in a health subject 
• Applicants with an ordinary degree or below, but with a minimum of three years experience and/or evidence of successful completion of relevant CPD study at SCQF level 10
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) may also be considered
• All students should be in employment in a relevant area

Access routes

• Three years relevant experience and/or evidence of successful completion of relevant CPD study at SCQF level 10

PgCert

Core modules are:

• Micro-organisms and disease
• Decontamination
• Epidemiology and surveillance of healthcare associated infections

PgDip

Core module:

• Host defence and protection

Option modules, from which you choose two, may include:

• Healthcare outbreak management
• Informatics in health and social care
• Qualitative inquiry*
• Research methods and techniques*
• Introduction to patient safety in integrated health and social care environment
• The built environment

*You must choose one of these modules if you wish to continue to the MSc

MSc

To achieve the award of MSc Infection Control you must complete a research dissertation related to your professional field.

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status, the following fees apply:

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. These students will get an automatic fee scholarship.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union, studying online from their home country, or assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This course is not available to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international postgraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying part-time can apply for a tuition fee loan from SAAS. You must be intending to complete the course in no longer than twice the length of time it would take for a full-time student. For example, if your course is available to full-time students as a one-year programme, you will be funded for a maximum of two years' part-time study. If your course does not have a full-time option, you must complete within three years. You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £7,000, which will be paid pro-rata for each academic year of study. 

Full details can be found on the SAAS website. Applications for loans open in April.

Students from the rest of the UK who meet the eligibility requirements may be able to apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company.

Additional costs

• Travel and accommodation costs for the induction weekend
• Dissertation printing costs (approx. £100.00)