The highlights:
- Fully online delivery designed around shift-based clinical practice
- A blend of live webinars and flexible self-paced learning
- Strong focus on evidence-based, compassionate and person-centred care
- Completion of critical care clinical competencies via e-portfolio, aligned to Steps 2 and 3 of the CC3N framework
- Emphasis on self-care throughout the programme
- Opportunities to develop leadership, communication and quality improvement skills
- Supportive learning environment with academic guidance and peer interaction
- A postgraduate qualification that enhances current practice and future career opportunities
Designed for critical care nurses in practice
Designed for registered nurses working in adult critical care, this online Postgraduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing (Adult) supports you to develop advanced clinical knowledge, professional confidence and leadership capability while continuing to work in practice.
Flexible online learning built around clinical work
This innovative programme reimagines traditional critical care education for a flexible online environment. Purposefully designed for online delivery, the programme offers a flexible blend of live (synchronous) teaching and guided self-directed (asynchronous) learning, allowing you to engage with expert academics and peers while balancing the demands of shift-based clinical work.
Advanced clinical knowledge for complex care settings
Across three practice-focused modules, you’ll develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to deliver safe, evidence-based and compassionate care in complex critical care environments. You’ll strengthen your understanding of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, apply a systems-based approach to patient assessment, and enhance your ability to communicate effectively with patients, families and carers during challenging situations.
Developing professionalism, leadership and clinical competence
Professional development is embedded throughout the course, with a focus on leadership, teaching, supervision and preceptorship within the critical care setting. You’ll also complete clinical competencies aligned to Steps 2 and 3 of the CC3N framework, supported through an e-portfolio, ensuring your learning is directly transferable to practice.
Supporting wellbeing and sustainable practice
The programme recognises the emotional and professional demands of critical care nursing. You’ll explore strategies to promote self-care, resilience and burnout prevention, supporting sustainable practice in high-pressure environments.
Improving care through quality and innovation
You’ll develop the skills needed to contribute to quality improvement, service evaluation and innovation in critical care practice, applying ethical, legal and evidence-based frameworks. The course also explores how local, regional and national drivers influence critical care delivery.
Structured support throughout your studies
With structured online support, live webinars, discussion forums and academic guidance, you’ll never feel like you’re studying alone. This course is designed to fit around the realities of modern healthcare practice, helping you progress professionally without stepping away from the workplace.
Preparing you for the future of critical care
In the context of ongoing workforce pressures and evolving healthcare demands, this flexible and cost-effective postgraduate qualification supports both individual career development and the wider need for a competent, resilient and future-ready critical care workforce.
You will study three 20 credit modules (one at level 6 and two at level 7) that support your development as a safe, reflective and effective critical care practitioner.
Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.
Fully online and designed around your role
This programme is delivered entirely online through a structured blend of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (self-directed) learning. Each module is organised into manageable weekly units, allowing you to study flexibly around shift work and personal commitments.
Structured weekly learning
You’ll be guided through high-quality online learning materials and engaging activities designed to support the development of your knowledge and clinical reasoning. Weekly study units help you build understanding progressively, with clear direction on how learning links to practice and assessment.
You’ll be encouraged to contribute to discussion boards, sharing insights and experiences with fellow critical care professionals. This collaborative approach supports peer learning and helps you develop confidence in articulating clinical decision-making and professional perspectives.
Live online sessions and real-time support
Each week, you’ll be invited to attend a short live online session via MS Teams. These sessions provide the opportunity to ask questions about learning materials and assessments, explore key concepts in more depth, and connect with peers and lecturers in real time. All live sessions are recorded, allowing you to revisit them at a time that suits you.
Experienced academic support
You’ll be supported throughout your studies by the programme lead and senior lecturers who are registered nurses with critical care experience. Regular feedback on your contributions and assessments will help guide your development and build confidence in both academic and clinical practice.
Whether you are new to online learning, returning to study after a break, or progressing into level 7 postgraduate study, the programme team are committed to providing supportive and responsive guidance to help you succeed.
Practice Supervision
Your Practice Supervisor will oversee your progress towards the CC3N framework competencies.
You will follow the part-time postgraduate tutorial programme, whereby you will receive four individual tutorials. This ensures that your progress towards completion of all elements of the programme including step 2 & 3 of the CC3N step framework is supported by an academic as well as a supervisor in the workplace.
This approach enables discussion between you as the learner, your employer and the university to identify if additional support is required and if so, how this can be achieved. It also ensures that your employer remains informed of your academic progress and commitment to study.
Pace of study
The academic year is made up on three 17-week terms, known as trimesters. You will complete one 20 credit module per trimester, with the e-portfolio element spanning the duration of programme allowing time to complete the CC3N competencies. During each term, we advise you to allocate around 20 hours per week of study time.
How you will be assessed
Assessment on this course is designed to support your learning and reflect the realities of professional practice in adult critical care. A range of assessment methods are used to help you demonstrate your knowledge, skills and professional development in applied and meaningful ways.
The first module is assessed at level 6 to support your transition into postgraduate study, helping you build the academic skills and confidence required for level 7, with access to academic development resources throughout the programme.
- Written assessments - to explore evidence-based practice, apply theory to critical care scenarios and develop critical thinking and academic writing skills
- Presentation - supporting the development of communication, leadership and teaching skills essential to multidisciplinary critical care practice
- Completion of e-portfolio – to evidence professional development and achievement of clinical competencies aligned to Steps 2 and 3 of the CC3N framework
You’ll receive academic guidance and feedback to support your progress and help you build confidence in both your academic and clinical development.
Student support and guidance
Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:
All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.
This course is designed to support your ongoing development as a critical care nurse, strengthening your clinical expertise, professional confidence and leadership capability within adult critical care settings.
On successful completion of the PG Cert Critical Care Nursing (Adult), you’ll be well positioned to progress within roles such as senior staff nurse, critical care specialist practitioner, practice educator or leadership-focused positions within critical care environments. The skills developed throughout the programme – including advanced clinical reasoning, communication, quality improvement and leadership – are directly applicable to day-to-day practice and service development.
Progression to further postgraduate study
The PG Cert provides 60 credits at postgraduate level, which can be used towards further study and may contribute to a full Master’s degree in a related health subject, subject to meeting entry requirements.
Potential progression routes include:
By continuing your studies, you can further enhance your career prospects, expand your scope of practice and contribute to innovation and improvement across critical care and wider healthcare services.
Utilise our Careers and Employment Service
Whilst you are a student at the University of Derby, and for 3 years after you graduate, our Careers and Employment Service can assist you with job search advice, CV creation, workshops and events, as well as one-to-one appointments with employment advisers to help with career planning and interview preparation.
To apply, you are required to:
- have completed step 1 of the CC3N framework in practice
- be registered with the NMC as a registered nurse (or equivalent body in home country)
- be working in a critical care environment
- have evidence of level 6 study. If you cannot evidence level 6 study, we can also consider applicants with evidence of level 5 study – in this case, we may ask you to complete an assessment or interview prior to being offered a place on the programme
- have a Supervisor in Practice to complete the competencies mapped to steps two and three of the CC3N competencies. Please provide written confirmation from your employer that they can be provide you with the opportunity to meet the competencies of the CC3N framework and that a suitably qualified practice supervisor can be provided for the duration of the programme
Interviews
To ensure the Postgraduate Certificate Nursing (Adult) is right for you, applicants will be invited to an interview (to be held via Microsoft Teams) with the programme leader. During the interview, we will discuss your reasons for wanting to do the Postgraduate Certificate Nursing (Adult) programme, the time commitment and intensity of study, access to suitable IT facilities and your digital literacy. It is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions about the programme, student support and the mode of study.
English language qualifications
If English is not your first language, or you have not successfully completed your highest level of qualification in English, you will need an English language qualification. For this course you will need IELTS 6.0, with a minimum of 6.0 in each area.
Recognition of Prior Learning or Experience
Exemptions can be made on the basis of prior academic study, professional qualifications (such as ACCA or CIMA) or professional experience. Students who have already studied at another institution, completed a training course or have work experience which appears equivalent to one or more modules of this programme, may be able to translate this prior learning into credits towards course modules so that they do not have to study them again. This is called recognition of prior learning or RPL.
‡2026/27 for new entrants
Starting between September 2026 and August 2027.
| | Per 20 credits | Modules | Cost |
|---|
| UK/EU/International |
£1,080 |
3 |
£3,240 |
About your fees
This figure would be the total cost of this course based on the fee in the current academic year. However, please note that fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase if your course lasts longer than one year.
If you are required to undertake any associate study or additional study as a condition of your offer for the programme, please be aware that the cost for this may be in addition to the programme cost stated above.
Flexible payment plans available
Choose from two payment plan options:
