National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care: Information Hub

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are providing funding for 10 Scottish Rural Nurses and AHP Practitioners currently working within Remote, Rural & Island Primary and NHS Community Care to undertake the RAP MSc programme being delivered by the University of the Highland & Islands (UHI). 

The closing date to apply to NES for RAP funding is Friday 30^th May 2025.

Applicants should be currently employed within a rural community team or rural primary care practice, providing healthcare services within NHS Scotland. 

The prerequisite to apply for a NES funded place is that practitioners will have already completed Clinical Assessment and Non-Medical Prescribing Modules at SCQF level 11, which will enable them entry into year 2 of the programme (level 9 modules in clinical assessment and non-medical prescribing will also be accepted but will require some additional work to map to level 11 learning outcomes).  Practitioners may exit the programme after year 2 with a Diploma in RAP or may choose to continue into year 3 and complete the full MSc RAP Programme. 

Receipt of NES funding is conditional on successful application for the UHI Rural Advanced Practice MSc.  Please note, the closing date for applications for the UHI Rural Advanced Practice MSc is Friday 20th June 2025. Early completion of the UHI application process to confirm your suitability to undertake the UHI Rural Advanced Practice MSc is advised. 

Prior to application, candidates must have discussed and have the support of their line manager and identified a suitable Practice Supervisor.  

To apply for the MSc in Rural Advanced Practice, you will require to meet the University of Highland & Islands admissions criteria.  Please contact the programme lead: Roland Preston at: roland.preston@uhi.ac.uk for further information. 

Please note UHI applications are now open and will close on Friday 20^th June 2025.  

To apply for funding from NES please click HERE to complete the application form. Please note funding applications from NES will close on Friday 30^th May 2025. For questions regarding funding, please contact: nes.ruralteam@nhs.scot

As part of our work to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of this course we have conducted interviews with some of the first students to undertake the course and produced case study videos showcasing their experiences of participating in the RAP MSc. You can watch the first of these case study videos below.