Trinity University

What you'll study

The programme combines advanced clinical practice, leadership and research methods to prepare nurses for specialist and managerial roles. Core taught modules typically include advanced health assessment and diagnostic reasoning, pathophysiology and pharmacology for advanced practice, leadership and management in healthcare, patient safety and quality improvement, and research methods and evidence-based practice.

Students follow one of the programme pathways—Nursing Administration, Nursing Research or Clinical Nursing—each of which contains pathway-specific modules and practice experience. Examples of pathway content:

• Nursing Administration: strategic management and organisational behaviour, finance and resource management in health services, workforce planning, policy and governance, service development and change management.
• Nursing Research: qualitative and quantitative research design, advanced statistics for health researchers, implementation science, dissertation or research project working with a supervisor, and preparation for knowledge translation.
• Clinical Nursing: advanced clinical skills and decision-making, clinical supervision and mentorship, specialist assessment and management in the chosen field (for example medical-surgical, critical care, community, paediatrics or mental health), and extended practice under clinical mentorship.

The programme typically culminates in a substantial research project or practice-based dissertation that allows you to synthesise taught content, demonstrate leadership in a clinical or service development project, or contribute original research to nursing practice.

Entry requirements

Applicants should be a registered nurse with a current, unrestricted registration in their country or jurisdiction. Typical academic requirements include a recognised undergraduate degree in nursing or equivalent professional qualification. Many applicants are expected to have relevant clinical experience; a minimum of one to two years of post-registration practice is commonly required, with stronger applications from those with longer or more specialised experience.

Additional application materials usually include a CV, a personal statement outlining your reasons for study and intended pathway, academic transcripts, and professional references (including at least one clinical or managerial referee). International applicants may need to demonstrate English language proficiency through an approved test. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an interview or a skills assessment.

Career prospects

Graduates move into advanced clinical roles such as clinical nurse specialist, advanced practice nurse or nurse consultant, and into leadership positions including nurse manager, service or ward manager, and director-level roles in health services. The Nursing Research pathway prepares graduates for roles in clinical audit, research nursing, trial coordination, and positions within academic institutions or healthcare research units. The Nursing Administration pathway is suited to nurses seeking roles in service development, quality improvement, policy, commissioning and executive leadership.

Other common career directions include nurse education and practice development, roles in public health and community services, consultancy, and positions with regulatory bodies, charities and health policy organisations. The qualification also supports further academic study such as doctoral research for those pursuing an academic or high-level research career.

Why study at Trinity University

Trinity University offers a student-centred environment with small cohort sizes that support close supervision, personalised feedback and peer learning. The programme is delivered by staff with clinical and research experience, providing a balance of evidence-based teaching and applied practice preparation. Strong links with local healthcare providers and robust clinical partnerships enable supervised practice placements and opportunities to undertake service-focused projects.

Facilities and learning support typically include simulation suites or clinical skills laboratories, research support from experienced supervisors, and access to university learning resources. The programme is designed to be flexible for working professionals, with a mix of taught modules, blended learning and supervised practice to accommodate part-time study while maintaining clinical employment.