The provision of health care service is a complex, highly skilled activity that requires all practitioners of the multidisciplinary team to have in-depth knowledge and skills together with an ability to reflect critically on their work. Health care professions in Malta have undergone several changes in recent years. The challenge faced by nurses today is to provide the highest possible standard of care within this context. The scope of the programme is to enable qualified state registered nurses the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skill relating to their clinical speciality. Since there are many clinical specialities, the programme will be organised according to clinical pathways. Each academic year, the Nursing department will offer a number of pathways. This programme consists of 30 credits at levels 3 and 4. There are a number of core study units that are shared across various pathways and a number of pathway specific study units that only candidates on a specific pathway may complete.

Applicants for the Course shall be in possession of the following qualifications:

(a) the Diploma in Nursing awarded by the University of Malta or
(b) a professional qualification deemed by Senate to be equivalent to the qualification listed above.

Unless otherwise stated by the Board at the time of the call for applications, applicants must be working in the same clinical area for which they are applying and must have a minimum of one year work experience in the same area.

The Board shall, after approval by Senate, determine the number of applicants that may be allowed to register depending on the availability of resources. The Board, shall, however, announce the number of available places at the time of the call for applications.

If the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of available places, the Board shall select applicants according to the following criteria:

(i) relevant work experience in gainful employment (30% weighting),
(a) applicants having more than 15 years relevant work experience shall be awarded 30 marks,
(b) applicants having between 10 and 15 years relevant work experience shall be awarded 25 marks,
(c) applicants having between 5 and 10 years relevant work experience shall be awarded 20 marks,
(d) less than 5 years relevant work experience shall be awarded 15 marks,
(ii) currently working as a clinical supervisor in undergraduate Health Care programmes (25% weighting),
(iii) successful completion of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses during the past three years for a maximum of 5 courses (30% weighting - 6 marks per CPD),
(iv) successful completion of other professional and/or academic related courses during the past three years for a maximum of 5 courses (15% weighting - 3 marks per course).

The admission requirements are applicable for courses commencing in October 2011. For more detailed information please refer to the bye-laws for the course available here.