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Neonatal Critical Care (QIS) - BSc / GradCert / Module / MSc / PgCert / PgDip

Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.

Our flexible Neonatal Critical Care course has been developed in line with the National Standards for neonatal Qualified In Specialty (QIS) education (2024) to support neonatal practitioners to develop the knowledge and skills to excel in their field.

  • Level Postgraduate Taught
  • Study mode Part Time
  • Award BSc / GradCert / Module / MSc / PgCert / PgDip
  • Start date September 2025
  • Fees View course fees

This course is:

Overview

This course is for neonatal practitioners who want to develop their knowledge and skills in caring for the neonate and their family. It has been designed to equip you with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and proactive approach necessary to excel as a neonatal practitioner, ready to meet the complex challenges of modern neonatal care. You will explore both the underpinning physiology and care provision required for practice. All aspects of the role will be considered from the fundamentals to high dependency and intensive care.

Neonatal practitioners provide care for an extremely vulnerable population and need to undertake accredited training appropriate to a Qualification in Specialty (QIS) (DH, 2009) in a neonatal setting. This course has been developed to align with the National standards for neonatal qualified in specialty (QIS) education (2024).

This course is not open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

We have developed this Neonatal Critical Care post-registration course in collaboration with service providers to enable registered staff working in neonatal units to become equipped with the specific knowledge and skills required to practise safely and effectively in this critical care area (BAPM, 2012). You will develop the confidence to work as a competent practitioner within the speciality, committed to ensuring the best outcome for neonates and their families.

The course will develop your skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences as well as engage in both directed and self-directed learning activities. The course is delivered through blended learning, with a mixture of online and in-person sessions, in line with the university’s learning and teaching strategy.

We offer the option to study standalone modules as well as a full degree or Master’s qualification, so that you can build your learning to suit your needs.

On successful completion of part 1 and part 2, you will achieve the Qualified in Specialty (QIS) aspect of this course. You can then progress to further modules to enhance your knowledge and understanding of research, quality improvement and leadership, thus enhancing your practice and professional development.

Why Choose Us?

  • The course has been developed in consultation with service providers to ensure it meets the needs of the sector.
  • The course is flexible so you can adapt it to your needs – can choose to study standalone modules or a top up degree or Master’s qualification.
  • The wide range of clinical experts that provide their breadth of know-how enables you to be really aware of how this knowledge can impact on your clinical practice. This ultimately helps develop your relationships with the families and improves their experience too.
  • The detailed physiology taught on the course enables you to understand what is happening and gives you the confidence to deal with situations your encounter confidently and with a high level of competence.

OPEN DAY

Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation. Booking isn't open for this event yet, register your interest and we'll let you know as soon as booking goes live.

Next Event: 28 June 2025

Register your interest

Entry Requirements

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BSc

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £860 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 60 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

Award: GradCert

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 1 Year
  • £860 in 2025/26

Award: Module

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 1 Year (Level 6)
  • £860 per 20 credit module
  • Part Time
  • 1 Year (Level 7)
  • £860 per 20 credit module

Award: MSc

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £860 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 60 credits
  • Year 2 - 60 credits
  • Year 3 - 60 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

Award: PgCert

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £860 per 20 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

Award: PgDip

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £860 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 60 credits
  • Year 2 - 60 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

International students

Sorry, this course is not available to International students.

Access to computer equipment 

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms. 

Printing 

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment. 

Field trips 

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees. 

Access to Microsoft Office 365 

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation. 

Key software 

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research. 

Key subscriptions 

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library. 

DBS check 

If you are required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for this course, the cost for your first DBS check is included in your fees. 

Travel (mandatory) 

You will be required to cover any travel expenses associated to this course – including coming to campus, or placements at a different trust etc.  

Excess printing (optional) 

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet. 

Personal stationery and study materials (optional) 

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. 

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Course in Depth

BSc / PGCert / Grad Cert

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete both of the
following CORE modules (totalling 40 credits):

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete a further 20
credits from a choice of one of the following OPTIONAL modules:

An alternative option module can be undertaken and transferred in utilising BCU’s RPL policy and procedure at the discretion of the course team, determined by the suitability of the module to the award.

PGDip

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all of the
following CORE modules (totalling 100 credits):

Year 1:

Year 2:

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete a further 20
credits from a choice of one of the following OPTIONAL modules in year 1:

An alternative optional module can be undertaken and transferred in utilising BCU’s RPL policy and procedure at the discretion of the course team, determined by the suitability of the module to the award.

MSc

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all of the
following CORE modules (totalling 100 credits):

Year 1:

Year 2:

Year 3:

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete a further 20
credits from a choice of one of the following OPTIONAL modules in year 1:


An alternative optional module can be undertaken and transferred in utilising BCU’s RPL policy and procedure at the discretion of the course team, determined by the suitability of the module to the award.

How you learn

The underlying principle and aim of the learning, teaching and assessment strategy for this course focuses on the relationship between theory and practice, highlighting the importance of the links between relevant, contemporary evidence-based theory and practice in the delivery of high-quality Neonatal care.

A varied range of learning and teaching approaches are used throughout the module(s), for example:

  • A blended delivery utilising face to face and/or online resources
  • Lectures
  • Simulation
  • Group work
  • Discussions
  • Quizzes
  • Workshops
  • Case studies
  • Self-directed study

A variety of assessment methods are used to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and understanding. The assessment methods are designed to enable you to apply theory to your developing Neonatal practice.

Employability

This course will enable you to enhance your knowledge and understanding of research, quality improvement and leadership, which will enhance your practice and professional development. Previous students have gone on to roles such as clinical educator, promotion to band 6, family integrated care lead and infant feeding lead.

Facilities & Staff

 

Our Facilities

Our Nursing and Midwifery courses are based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.

We’ve spent £41million expanding our facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice.

In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that you learn using the most up-to-date equipment available. Alongside physical spaces such as a mock operating theatre and wards, we also make use of online and virtual technology, such as our virtual ward and virtual case creator.

See more of our skills facilities at City South

Centre for Skills and Simulation

The Centre for Skills and Simulation offers a range of different spaces which replicate situations that you will encounter in practice. These include hospital wards, an operating theatre and a home environment room.

Our mock wards enable you to get a feel of what a ward is really like before you head out for your first placement. The hospital wards can be adapted from low care to high dependency care environment with the necessary monitoring equipment.

The home environment room is the perfect space for teaching communications skills and allows us to simulate a community setting for our students. It is particularly useful for mental health nurses, learning disability nurses and midwives.

Simulation Manikins

We have several Simulation men (SIM men) and simulation babies (SIM babies) which are anatomically correct manikins used for teaching specific techniques such as advanced adult and paediatric life support skills, acute and high dependency clinical skills, first aid and communication skills. The manikins contain software which replicates real symptoms, and can manipulate indicators such as blood pressure, pulse and heart rate for extra realism. SIM man can even ‘talk’ to the students as they are treating him, to add another dimension to learning.

Computer Facilities

The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.

Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:

  • Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
  • Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Research and statistical software
  • Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home

Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.

In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.

Our staff

Laura Maguire

Course lead for MSc Enhancing Neonatal Care and MSc Neonatal Critical Care

Laura has worked at BCU since 2021, has completed her PGCert in Teaching and Learning – Higher Education and is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE. She qualified as a registered Children’s Nurse in 2009 and chose to specialise in neonatal nursing working as a Junior Sister in a busy Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. During this...

More about Laura