The Postgraduate Certificate in General Practice Nursing (GPN) is a flexible professional programme designed for Registered Nurses who are considering or are new to a career in General Practice.
Delivered 100% online, this programme recognises the realities of working within Primary Care. It is designed to fit around professional commitments while enabling you to develop the specialist knowledge, clinical capability and professional confidence required for contemporary General Practice Nursing.
You will graduate equipped to deliver proactive, holistic and culturally competent care to increasingly complex populations in community and primary care settings.
The highlights
Fully online delivery – study around your clinical practice
Flexible optional modules – tailor learning to your professional goals and local population needs
International learning community – benefit from cross-cultural perspectives that enhance service delivery
Designed by experienced General Practice Nurses – evidence-informed and practice-focused
Innovative, interactive teaching and assessment – supportive virtual learning environment
Emphasis on clinical autonomy and leadership confidence
Designed for modern Primary Care
General Practice Nursing is a dynamic and evolving role requiring increased autonomy, adaptability, and collaborative working.
The General Practice Nursing PG Cert supports your development in key areas including:
Evidence-informed clinical practice
Cultural competence and inclusive practice
Clinical autonomy and confident decision-making
Multidisciplinary and collaborative working
Person-centred care delivery
Health promotion and illness prevention
You will develop the skills to contribute meaningfully to proactive, preventative and population-focused models of care.
A curriculum grounded in practice
The curriculum integrates a bio-psycho-social approach, clinical knowledge and public health principles to reflect the breadth of the General Practice Nurse role.
Learning is aligned to contemporary primary care policy and service delivery models, equipping you to respond to:
Increasing long-term condition management demands
Ageing and diverse populations
Care delivered closer to home
Evolving public health priorities
This ensures your practice remains responsive, forward-thinking and grounded in current evidence.
Applying learning to your practice
Although the programme does not require a formal placement, learning is designed to be directly applicable to your clinical context.
You will be encouraged to integrate theory with practice, reflect on real-world challenges, and enhance your professional capability within your current or intended role. This approach supports meaningful development and fosters lifelong learning within the evolving primary care landscape.
Research-active and professionally relevant
Teaching is informed by research-active academics and experienced clinicians working at the forefront of healthcare practice.
You will engage with current evidence, contemporary debates and emerging innovations in healthcare, developing critical thinking skills that enhance both academic success and professional credibility.
What you will study
You will study two core 20-credit modules plus one 20-credit optional module, enabling you to tailor your learning to your developmental priorities, professional competencies and the needs of your practice population. Academic counselling is available to support you in selecting the modules that best align with your professional goals.
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.
Discovering Online Learning: April 2026
Thursday, 23 April 2026 12.00 - 13.00
During this hour long webinar, we'll take you through how online learning works and what you can expect as an online student with the University of Derby.
The programme is delivered entirely online through a combination of live interactive sessions and flexible self-paced study.
Throughout the programme, you will take part in engaging learning activities designed to reflect the day-to-day role of a General Practice Nurse. These include:
Scenario-based simulations exploring typical practice situations
Risk assessment activities
Consideration of relevant policy and legislation
Application of evidence-based, individualised care
Our learning approach is designed to provide a supportive and holistic educational experience, helping you develop as a culturally competent practitioner committed to improving health and wellbeing.
You will participate in guided online discussions with your peers, who are Registered Nurses from a range of practice settings and countries, creating opportunities to share experiences and learn from diverse perspectives. Lecturers with direct experience of General Practice will actively support your learning, answer questions and help consolidate your understanding.
Teaching materials are innovative and interactive, incorporating a range of activities and feedback opportunities to strengthen your confidence, critical thinking and professional development throughout the programme.
Study skills support
We recognise that many postgraduate students are returning to academic study after time in practice. You will have access to comprehensive study skills support, including:
Research skills development
Literature searching
Critical academic evaluation
Referencing and academic integrity
Avoiding plagiarism
These resources are designed to build confidence and support success at Master’s level.
Pace of study
The programme is typically completed over one academic year, studying one 20-credit module per trimester under the standard study plan.
For greater flexibility, the course may also be completed over up to two academic years. This extended route allows you to vary your pace — for example, by studying one module in the first year and two modules in the second — and to build in study gaps where needed to accommodate professional or personal commitments.
As a guide, you should expect to commit approximately 20 hours of study per week when undertaking a 20-credit module across a 10-week trimester.
How you will be assessed
Assessments are aligned to module learning outcomes and designed to develop both academic capability and professional competence.
Assessment methods include:
Interactive quizzes and formative activities
Participation in online discussion forums
Variety of assessment formats applying theory to clinical practice
Each module contains self-contained summative assessments with direct relevance to General Practice Nursing practice.
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:
Develop@Derby for study, personal and employability skills
All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.
Who will teach you
Dr Jill Gould
Programme Leader
Dr Jill Gould
A Senior Lecturer in health care practice, Jill teaches across pre-registration, post-registration and postgraduate programmes. She is programme leader for a selection of online programmes. She also teaches on non medical prescribing a...
Hope Marsden is a lecturer specialising in General Practice education, leading modules and programmes that prepare learners for evolving primary care roles. Alongside her academic work, she practises as a senior practice nurse and non‑...
Mariesa is a nursing lecturer with responsibility for leading the General Practice Nursing and Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction modules. She works collaboratively with NHS partners to deliver practice-focused education, supports students ...
Successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in General Practice Nursing enhances your employability within Primary Care and beyond. The programme develops your confidence in autonomous practice, preparing you to contribute effectively to independent clinics, population health management, health screening and illness prevention.
Graduates are well positioned to deliver and lead proactive, person-centred services that respond to the changing needs of practice populations, with skills that are transferable across a wide range of nursing settings.
Career opportunities
Career progression may include:
Lead General Practice Nurse
Nurse Manager
Nurse Educator
Advanced or Specialist Nurse roles
The knowledge and skills gained may also support opportunities in global health settings, service development, or innovative models of primary care delivery, including entrepreneurial or consultancy roles.
Further Postgraduate Study
You may choose to continue your professional development through further postgraduate study, including:
These routes support the development of advanced research capability and leadership in evidence-informed healthcare.
Academic counselling is available to help you plan the next stage of your postgraduate journey.
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.
Entry requirements
Applications are welcomed from practitioners who meet the following criteria:
Registered Nurse with professional registration capable of safe and effective practice at an appropriate level of proficiency. Registration must be with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK) or an equivalent professional, statutory or regulatory body in your country
A Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree or Diploma / Advanced Diploma with evidence of additional level 6 (Undergraduate) study within the past five years
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 equivalent to a minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) average score of 6.5 in all areas.
Note: International qualifications will be assessed for equivalency according to UK ENIC (formerly NARIC) guidelines and the university's international admissions policy.
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.
Fees and funding
‡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.
For your application to be assessed, you will need to provide the following documents when you apply:
Official photo identification such as a passport or driving licence
NMC PIN / evidence of your Nursing Registration
Current CV
Written reference supplied on headed paper from either a manager, supervisor, tutor or teacher
Copies of certificates and transcripts or a letter of testimony for previous qualifications*
*Documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation by a professional translator/translation company. Each translation must contain:
Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
The date of the translation
The full name and signature of the translator, or an authorised official of the company
.png)
.jpg)
