Master’s Program in Nursing Science

The demands and the complexity of nursing care are increasing due to an aging population and the rise of chronic diseases. With a master's degree in nursing science you are prepared to address these challenges. You learn to understand complex healthcare delivery systems, you develop innovative solutions and you sustainably contribute to the affected persons' quality of life.

Program at a Glance

Degree
Master of Science in Nursing Science (90 ECTS)

Program Start
Every September in calendar week 38

Duration of Studies
Three semesters full-time or six semesters part-time
You can complete the program while working.

Tuition
CHF 1,000 per semester

Campus
Campus St. Gallen

Registration Deadline
Up to June 30th of the current year.
Applications are still accepted as long as places are available.

Good to Know
Since the courses are taught in German, we kindly refer you to the German pages for more detailed information.

You familiarize yourself with new perspectives in nursing and extend your skills in “Advanced Nursing Practice”.

You continually discover new areas of interest during your studies – thanks to the involvement of persons affected/peers and a supervised transfer internship.

You have a personal mentor who supports you throughout your studies. By setting individual goals, you determine your learning process.

Why a master's degree in nursing science?

Developing competencies: Focused on “Advanced Nursing Practice” (ANP), the master's program offers you the chance to comprehensively extend your clinical, research-related, and methodological competencies. You learn how to develop advanced nursing roles, how to use them effectively and how to make informed decisions in the best interests of persons with chronical conditions. The program strengthens your professional skills and your communication competency. On this basis, you can skillfully handle complex care situations. You more profoundly understand the needs of chronically ill people.
Creating participation
Transferring theory into practice is an essential component of the master's program.
Your advanced skills qualify you to plan, implement and subsequently reflect on a participatory process in clinical practice as part of a transfer project. Many of the lecturers work in different settings, so you receive direct input from practice throughout your studies.
Experiencing variety: You explore a wide range of topics, including lifeworld-related, clinical, therapeutic and ethical aspects of nursing and health care, evidence-based practice, and factors influencing health economics and health policy. You take part in current research projects, and you design your own research and development project.
Strengthening leadership quality
The program prepares you to promote intra- and interdisciplinary cooperation in nursing and healthcare organizations. You receive the necessary tools to develop and utilize synergies for meeting complex requirements. To this end, you familiarize yourself with innovative models of patient care, leadership and organizational development. You develop strategies to improve the quality of nursing care.

“The Master's degree in Nursing Science enables you to understand life-worlds, to shape care worlds and to professionally care for relationship worlds.”

Prof. Dr. Thomas Beer, Head of Master's Programm in Nursing Science

[Translate to English:] Absolventin des Masterstudium Pflegewissenschaft

after graduation

Future prospects

Graduates are qualified to actively shape the future of nursing. They are nursing experts who are sought-after. With a degree in this field, you are predestined to take on key roles. This could be in direct healthcare, in complex care situations or at the system level by fostering innovation and further development.

Learn more about your perspectives

Field of study Advanced Nursing Practice (ANP)

The Master's program qualifies nursing professionals for extended roles in the field of “Advanced Nursing Practice”. The focus is on the role of a “Clinical Nurse Specialist”. We empower you for the role and equip you to independently make nursing diagnoses and provide care/support services for specific groups of people with chronic conditions or care needs.

The focus is on an in-depth familiarization with persons in complex care situations. After completing your studies, you are able to develop and implement innovative care approaches in outpatient and long-term care. You always act with the aim of sustainably improving the quality of care

Find out more about the role and importance of Advanced Nursing Practice (ANP)

“The OST master's program enabled me to grow into my role as a prospective APN. I developed a deeper understanding about this role, and I understood why it is so important for the healthcare system, for my patients, and for myself. [...] In my daily work with patients and families, I often experience how important it is for them to feel truly taken seriously and understood. This feeling reaches far beyond medical care«.

Jelena Topic, graduate of the OST Master's Program in Nursing Science

Module categories and contents

The program comprises three categories of modules. It offers you individual choices, practice-oriented teaching formats and agile practical workshops. This allows you to deepen your specific interests, to combine theory and practice, and to pursue your individual goals.

Find out more about module categories and content

Module Categories and Contents

1. Advanced Nursing Practice (ANP)

The focus is on aspects related to life-world, concepts, and interventions. These aspects are relevant for comprehensive care and support of people with chronic impairments. To ensure that you are optimally prepared for the realities of specialized care, you gain in-depth insights and learn practical approaches.

2. Evidence-Based Practice

The emphasis is on developing research competencies and methodological skills that are essential for performing your role as an Advanced Practice Nurse (ANP). You acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions in nursing practice.

3. Interprofessional health care

You receive comprehensive insights into leadership issues and organizational topics that are specifically tailored to your interdisciplinary field of work. You strengthen your capacities for collaborating with various healthcare professions. Furthermore, you receive the necessary skill-set to act in a dynamic and cooperative working environment.

Further information about the program

Study models

You can study for the master's degree in nursing science on a full-time or part-time basis:

Full-time study: To complete the full-time master's program, it takes three semesters. In addition to your studies, it is recommended that you work between 20 and 30 per cent. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are scheduled for class attendance.

Part-time study: To complete the part-time master's program, it takes six semesters. During your studies, it is recommended that you work up to 60 per cent.
Most of the on-campus teaching takes place

on Thursdays and Fridays in the first year (first and second semesters)
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the second year (third and fourth semesters)
on Thursdays and Fridays in the third year (fifth and sixth semesters).

The program comprises one third classroom time and two thirds self-study. Classroom sessions usually last from 9:15am to 5pm.

You graduate when you have obtained 90 ECTS credits (1 credit corresponds to approximately 30 hours of work).

Support and mentoring

Our OST Master's program in Nursing Science is distinguished by intensive support in small learning groups. We aim to respond individually to your specific professional challenges and to provide you with the best possible support during your studies.

It is important to us that you are able to grow personally through your studies and are optimally prepared for future tasks in nursing and health care. Therefore, we offer you mentoring, supplemented by continuous reflection. It takes place as part of supervision and allows you to explore individual experiences in greater depth with a professional. Intervision offers you the chance to share ideas with fellow students about practice-related issues and challenges.

Campus

Campus St. Gallen is located directly at the railway station. It offers not only excellent public transport connections. You also find an inviting atmosphere that encourages learning and networking. Thanks to the central location, you are just a few steps away from the city life with its various attractions.

The roof terrace is the perfect place to take a break between lectures or to relax in the sun. From the top, you have a magnificent view over the city – ideal to prepare for exams or simply to re-energize.

Proximity to practice

The OST Master's Program in Nursing Science is distinguished by its proximity to real-life practice. Various experts by experience have their say in the teaching units. This peer approach is of central importance to better understand the life-world of people with chronic conditions and to adjust the development of nursing care programs accordingly.

We also offer you an “APN work shadowing” to explore various APN-roles in practice. Additionally, you can complete an internship in Switzerland or abroad in the transfer module. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the work of nursing experts in APN-roles.