BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing (with Foundation Year option)

Accredited by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), this course blends theory with real-world experience to help you develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to register and practice as a registered (adult) nurse. 

UCAS Code:
B700
Institution:
B50

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With foundation year: B703

This course is now full for September 2021 entry. You may still apply, but your application may be held on a waiting list (either prior to or following an interview). If your application is on a waiting list, we will inform you if a space becomes available by the end of June. Please note: there is still space on the Foundation Year option for this course and applications are still being processed for this entry route.

Why study BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing at BU?

Develop into a compassionate, knowledgeable, competent and confident graduate nurse capable of delivering and leading high-quality, person-centred care in a wide variety of healthcare settings
Apply to study based at either our Bournemouth or our Yeovil Campus
50% of the course is spent in practice placements to gain practical nursing experience in diverse locations like hospitals, community homes, private clinics and community nursing teams
Developed in conjunction with practice partners, service users and carers, on this course you’ll learn from experienced registered nurses and other healthcare practitioners
Newly built skills facilities include simulated hospital wards and community home settings, allowing you to learn and practice various nursing procedures safely
Our annual Careers Fair has numerous healthcare exhibitors in attendance, helping you to gain employment as a registered nurse on completion of the course.

Find out more about the content of this course.

Not sure which nursing course is for you? Read our guide to nursing courses at BU.

Funding support: Nursing students may be eligible for a non-repayable government training grant of at least £5,000 a year. Find out more information about the funding. Please note that this funding is not eligible for students on the Foundation Year, however you will be able to access it once you complete the foundation year and move onto the degree.

Foundation Year: We have a Foundation Year option for UK students who do not meet the entry requirements for the degree course. This additional year of study will give you a grounding in the scientific skills needed to prepare you for the Adult Nursing degree, building your confidence, knowledge and skills for further study. After successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will progress to the full degree and begin your Adult Nursing study. The Foundation Year will be based at the Talbot Campus, Bournemouth. If you wish to study the degree at the Yeovil Campus, you will be able to choose to this study location upon completing the foundation year in Bournemouth.

Apprenticeship route: Our registered nursing degree apprenticeship (RNDA) in Adult Nursing allows you to be employed and receiving a full wage while studying.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), this course will prepare you to be eligible to register and practice as a registered (adult) nurse and to graduate with a BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing award.

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Image description — An Adult Nursing student in a practical session

Next start date:

September 2021, September 2022

Location:

Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus and Bournemouth University, Yeovil Campus. Foundation Year: Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus.

Duration:

3 years full-time including mandatory placements. Foundation year: 4 years full-time including mandatory placements.

Accreditations:

Nursing & Midwifery Council

Required subjects:

All subjects considered

Entry requirements:

For September 2021 and September 2022 entry: 104 - 120 tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM. Foundation Year: 48-72 UCAS tariff points. A combination of academic and experiential learning to be considered on its individual merits. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

For September 2021 and September 2022 entry: If English is not your first language you will need IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 7.0 in all other components. For more information check out our international entry requirements.

Course details

There is a strong emphasis on practical learning on this course, with 50% of your time spent on work placements and the remaining time spent in theory, practical skills sessions and independent learning.

Located within the Department of Nursing Science, the BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing course is part of the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences' Nursing Framework, which also offers the BSc (Hons) Children and Young People's Nursing and BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing courses, all with advanced standing options.

We have developed the adult nursing course as part of a co-ordinated suite of nursing courses to enhance student learning and prepare you for practice. Our approach to interprofessional education means that throughout the course students will take part in shared workshops, lectures and learning events with students on the other nursing courses and students on other health-related courses within the faculty.

As an adult nursing student, there will be aspects of the course where you will be taught by lecturers who have specific adult nursing experience and you will be taught in groups with other adult nursing students, so that your learning is tailored and specific to your chosen field of expertise. Your placements and assessments will also be field-specific.

You will also benefit from regular guest lectures from local healthcare services and workshops run by service users (patients and carers) who are part of the teaching team.

Contact hours and assessment

Details of the assessment methods and contact hours for each unit of the course can be found in the programme specification.

Study location

The Foundation Year for will be based at the Talbot Campus, Bournemouth. If you wish to study the degree at the Yeovil Campus, you will be able to choose this study location upon completing the Foundation Year in Bournemouth.

Foundation year

Core units

Academic Study Skills: You will gain the fundamental academic and research skills required for degree level study. The unit will introduce you to a broad grounding in literature searching, literature review, data collection, methodological approach, data analysis and interpretation and ethical practice. It will also support you to begin to develop a critical and analytical approach to your work and identify areas for personal development.
Applied Sciences: You'll gain a basic understanding of some fundamental aspects of science underpinning more specific disciplines, and an appreciation of how various scientific disciplines impact human life. You'll understand the differences between pure and applied science, as well as the roles of different ways applied science can be funded, and implications of these funding mechanisms.
Introduction to Biology: Biology is the study of life and hence knowledge of plant and animal cell biology is fundamental to understanding wider concepts in biology. This unit also introduces key themes in human, environmental and ecological sciences to provide a sound underpinning in knowledge for future studies.
Introduction to Psychology: This unit is designed to prepare you for advanced coursework in psychology. You will complete the unit with a good understanding of the various areas of psychology and how they seek to explain behaviour.
Mathematics in Science: You will build your confidence in mathematics, in order to perform calculations on a range of scientific data from biology, chemistry and psychology and to be able to represent the findings in an appropriate format, including graphs. In order to carry this out, it is essential to be able to convert the data between systems of units and to understand how to present very large and very small numbers in standard form. Basic statistical analysis of tabulated data will be carried out to introduce the concept of confidence limits and familiarisation of statistical testing.
Foundation Year Project: You will carry out a research task on scientific topics chosen by the unit leader which you will be able to conduct a scientific investigation on. You will devise your own investigation and produce a literature review as a final scientific report.

Year 1

Core units

Foundations for Professional Practice and Research: This interprofessional unit will provide you with a foundation understanding and appreciation of the context of nursing care. You’ll develop the skills to prepare for your first practice placement by exploring the importance of respectful, reflective, resilient and person-centred professional practice.
Nursing Theory and Application 1: You will be introduced to the theoretical foundations of nursing by examining philosophical, historical, ethical, methodological, political and legislative processes that inform the practice of nursing. You will gain an understanding of the core values that underpin the different fields of nursing practice.
Applied Health Care Science 1: This unit introduces students to bio-psychosocial theories and concepts as they apply to health and wellbeing. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the biological, genetic, pharmacological, psychological, social and environmental factors that promote health and wellbeing.
Communication Skills for Nursing Practice: This unit focuses on the importance of good communication and interpersonal skills when having conversations with patients/service users and colleagues in the healthcare setting. You’ll develop effective communication and interpersonal skills in order to develop supportive relationships with patients/service users and their carers and families.
Developing Skills for Promoting Health and Wellbeing: Public Health England requires all health practitioners to work to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities and nurses are seen as being pivotal to this movement; by offering health improvement and wellbeing support to individuals, families, carers, communities and populations. This unit will provide you with the foundations of the knowledge and skills nurses require to facilitate a person and/or family for the promotion of their own health and wellbeing.
Nursing Practice and Nursing skills 1: This unit will provide you with practice learning opportunities to develop your skills and confidence in-line with requirements set out in the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) 2018 Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses. Simulation will be utilised to practice skills in a safe environment across this practice unit and you will participate in care with guidance from practice supervisors and assessors

Year 2

Core units

Research for Professional Practice: Building on foundation studies from year one you will work in an interprofessional group to advance your research and problem-solving skills to engage critically with evidence-based practice.
Improving Safety and Quality of Care: You’ll develop the knowledge and understanding required to promote and contribute to maintaining service user/patient safety and to engage in risk management in clinical practice. You will also explore strategies for quality improvement and international frameworks to promote quality of care.
Nursing Theory & Application 2: By considering the issues that may be pertinent to patients and their family’s health and wellbeing, you will explore and analyse how the impact of legal and ethical principles and values impact upon healthcare.
Applied Health Care Sciences 2: During this unit you will analyse the impact of challenges to physical and mental health and wellbeing in individuals and groups across their lifespan. You’ll also examine biological, psychological, sociological and social factors that impact on diseases that affect both physical and mental health, applying this to the assessment, management and evaluation of care for individuals and groups.
Acute and Long Term Health Challenges: This unit will develop your knowledge and understanding of the nursing management and co-ordination of health care which is necessary for managing patients with acute and long term health challenges.
Clinical Pharmacology and Medicines Management: You’ll learn how to apply your understanding of clinical pharmacology and medicines management as part of health care management, in the context of relevant regulatory frameworks.
Nursing Practice and Nursing Skills 2: This professional practice unit will provide you with the range of experiences you’ll need to develop your proficiency in-line with the requirements set out by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).

Year 3

Core units

Team Working for Service Improvement: During this unit, you will develop skills for working in inter-professional teams to design and develop service improvements for the people who use services and their carers.
Clinical Leadership and Management: This unit will prepare you to lead and manage yourself and others in the healthcare setting by evaluating management and leadership theories and how they inform managing change in the workplace.
Applied Health Care Sciences 3: You’ll critically analyse biopsychosocial concepts that underpin complex health needs and the challenges that individuals and groups face across their lives. You will also build upon developing your knowledge and confidence in the application of pharmacology.
Developing a Literature Review: You’ll evaluate a specific area of interest relating to your field of nursing and build on your understanding of research and literature reviewing and academic writing skills.
Therapeutic Communications and Interpersonal skills for Nursing Practice: This unit prepares you for the clinical and therapeutic conversations you will have with patients/service users in the healthcare setting and provide you with the skills to support individuals and their families to make informed decisions about their health and health care.
Caring for People with Complex Health Care Needs: You’ll show your knowledge of care management and develop the clinical decision-making skills for undertaking nursing assessments and risk assessments, leading to the planning and prioritising of care for individuals who experience critical and complex health care conditions.
Nursing Practice and Nursing Skills 3: This unit will develop the personal and professional skills you’ll need as a graduate entering the world of work as a professional nurse. You will demonstrate the appropriate ability to practice safely, responsibly and professionally and be accountable for your practice in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses.

Location

Our adult nursing course is delivered at both our Lansdowne Campus, Bournemouth and Yeovil Campus, Yeovil; and you can indicate upon application which campus you'd prefer to be based at. Our Lansdowne campus is located in Bournemouth town centre housing all of our Faculty of Health & Social Sciences students.

Our Yeovil Campus is a teaching base dedicated to our adult nursing students. With its own lecture theatres, seminar rooms and social space you'll benefit from a dedicated campus for your teaching experience.

Practical skills are taught locally at Yeovil District Hospital where the library is also based. If you are studying at our Yeovil Campus you will undertake your placements in the Somerset vicinity. You will also visit our Lansdowne Campus in Bournemouth for some of your teaching.

View contact details for our Yeovil Campus

How you will be assessed

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the university's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Download the programme specification (pdf 1mb)

Download the foundation year programme specification (pdf 338kb)

Facilities

With practical learning being integral to your degree, we provide practice simulation facilities including hospital wards and community home simulation suites, to mirror both clinical and community workplace settings and provide a safe environment.

We’re continuing to enhance our state-of-the-art facilities too – with a brand new, £48 million building currently under development, that will house our Health & Social Care courses.

Visit our facilities page to find out more – you can also take a 360° tour to get a feel for where you’ll be studying while you’re based on our Lansdowne Campus.

If you're going to be based at our Yeovil campus you can find out more about facilities there on the Yeovil campus page.

See our facilities

Placements

As a nursing student, you will spend 50% of your time on the course in a practice placement setting, and the remaining 50% studying – whether at home, at the library or on campus attending lectures, seminars or working under the guidance of our demonstrators in the practice skills suite.

Our clinical skills suites are a great way for you to try your hand at practical skills before you go on placement, as they provide a safe environment and allow you to continually work on skills necessary in the workplace. Throughout the course, you will gain experience of caring for clients in a variety of settings, such as elderly, medical, surgical, community and critical care.

Your placements will see you work in a range of placements which ensure you have a rounded experience of the patient journey and the different care settings. This means all students will experience placements in the community, in care homes, in GP practices, in the Private sector as well as within NHS hospitals wards and departments. As well as giving you the required experiences it helps you to form your ideas of where you want to work following graduation. What’s more, each year we host a Nursing Careers Fair with numerous exhibitors and employers in attendance to help you in that part of your journey to becoming a registered nurse.

Find out more about Health & Social Care placements

What hours do you work?

Placement locations

Your learning will either predominantly be based at our Lansdowne Campus (though Talbot campus is also utilised) or our Yeovil Campus, while clinical placements will be organised by locality in a variety of places within Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire in order to provide the necessary breadth of experience.

Please note - placement localities are allocated at the time of your offer for your course. You will not be able to change your main placement locality once you start. Once you have been allocated your locality this will remain for the remainder of your time on the course.

You will need to consider the realities of placements within the geographical area you have been given and be realistic as to whether this will be manageable and suitable for you – whilst being flexible may in some circumstances increase your chances of success, being unrealistic will lead to challenges. You should also consider where you choose accommodation during your studies.

Although you will be allocated a placement locality, to ensure that you get to experience a range of placement experiences needed for successful course completion, you may be expected to change location for a portion of your placement time.

Below are some examples of the specialities of some of the hospitals we work with. Your placements will involve both clinical and community placements throughout your study.

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals

Royal Bournemouth Hospital came in the top 10 in the first ever assessment of NHS hospital quality in England, based on what matters to people e.g. waiting time, infection control rates
Radiology – the cutting edge of technology. Toshiba has chosen Royal Bournemouth Hospital as the first site for installation of its latest CT scanner – the first of its type in the world
Pathology – Royal Bournemouth Hospital is the regional haemophilia centre for Bournemouth, Poole and Dorchester
Colorectal surgery – Royal Bournemouth Hospital is one of the best performing trusts nationally for 30-day post operative mortality after major colorectal surgery
Orthopaedics – third-largest joint replacement unit in the UK
Bournemouth Diabetes and Endocrine Centre - National and international reputation in the field of clinical diabetes
Cardiology – Cardiologists here have the lowest levels of major adverse cardiac events in the country.

Salisbury District Hospital

Cancer patients at Salisbury District Hospital have rated their care highly with 94% of those asked saying it was excellent or very good
Salisbury is the Regional Centre for Genetics, Burns and Plastics and a supra-Regional Centre for spinal injuries
Cancer patients at Salisbury District Hospital have rated their care highly with 94% of those asked saying it was excellent or very good
New 3D printing service enabling surgeons to plan their operations and become more cost effective
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded £115,000 for the Salisbury District Hospital Stroke Unit to improve the technology that enable staff to access electronic patient records in the community and on hospital wards
Specialist services include – Plastic Surgery Department, Spinal Treatment Centre and Rehabilitation Services.

The Somerset Partnership

13 Community Hospitals across the county of Somerset specialising in Stroke Care to Ambulatory care
A range of 30 nursing disciplines at all levels in the Community Health, Mental Health and Learning Disability Services
Clinical skills teams who provide on-site clinical skills training and support and advice when it is needed.

Find out more about our placement locations

Placement and travel costs

Our geographical footprint for placement is vast – covering four counties in the South; Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. This ensures we are able to provide you with a wealth of clinical experience across a variety of areas of the healthcare service, including opportunities to experience placements in both urban and rural communities.

Although your term-time address and method of transport are taken into consideration when allocating your placements there is an expectation that all students will have to travel across large areas including some of a more rural nature to reach their placements, in some cases this can be more than 40miles away from Bournemouth, and some travel will be outside normal working hours due to the nature of shift work. You must ensure that you have means to travel to your placement location at unsociable hours and this may require you to use short-term accommodation options in order to participate in your placement. To help you with this, the NHS learning support fund can support you with placement travel expenses and dual accommodation costs if required.

Find out more about the NHS Learning Support Fund

Your application

For Adult Nursing, we are looking for applicants who:

Have an interest in adult nursing as well as the motivation and commitment to undertake the course
Have undertaken relevant work experience
Have a clear understanding of the profession
Can demonstrate personal skills and qualities relevant to the course.

Background and experience

We want committed, keen, enthusiastic students who are going to make a real difference to the course they are studying. Our students learn from each other, as well as their academic staff, so it is really important to us that you can show us how much you care about the course you are interested in. Your UCAS personal statement is a great place to do this.

Tell us about your personal achievements or any relevant work experience you have done, and show us how they make you the ideal candidate for a place on the course.

It is recommended that you have some care experience. If you do not have any relevant experience, you will be required to demonstrate at interview that you have a clear insight into the nature of the profession that you will be training to enter.

Our courses are built around the NHS constitution values, and when assessing your application we will take these values into consideration:

Working together for patients
Respect and dignity
Commitment to quality of care
Compassion
Improving lives
Everyone counts.

Find out more about the NHS Constitution principles.

IT skills

In the healthcare sector, IT is now a vital tool for accessing and maintaining patient records, accessing literature to client care and conducting clinically-related research. As a student, you will receive an introduction to IT near the beginning of your course and you will be provided with computer access and your own email address.

During the course you will be expected to use your developing IT skills to produce assignments, to conduct literature searches, and to use client-related record systems in the clinical setting. Following instruction, some of your study will be undertaken through web-based learning tools, for example by participating in online discussions.

Selection methods

We select candidates for this course by looking at your application. For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU. We may invite you for an interview. You can find some handy hints about filling in your UCAS form on our how to apply web pages.

Please note that interviews are part of our selection process and you must be able to demonstrate at interview that you show the necessary insight into nursing, as well as the motivation and commitment to become a nurse.

What to expect at the interview

Your interview will take place online, on a free online video communication platform.

A member of the Admissions Team will email you with joining instructions and information about what to expect at interview.

Your individual interview is where you will have the opportunity to tell us a little more about yourself and why you would be a great candidate for the course. You will be scored using a common template and offers will be made based on these scores.

If you are invited to interview, you will also be able to access online on-demand information presentations, course talks, virtual campus tours and more which you can watch before your interview. On the day of your interview you may also be able to join a live chat-room where you can ask questions to our current student ambassadors and other members of staff.

Additional reference:

In addition to the reference on your UCAS form, once we’ve received your application we may contact you to ask for a second reference; depending on the course you’ve applied for, this may be an academic reference, or from an employer or person who knows you in a professional capacity.

Find out more about interviews with the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences

Our offer making process

Our offer making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

How we assess your application

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

AccessBU gives you the chance to tell us more about you and your life experiences if you haven’t had the same educational opportunities as other applicants. If you are eligible for AccessBU, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS Tariff Points below the published tariff.

Find out more about interviews with the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences

Applying for direct entry to the 2nd or final year

Unfortunately we cannot currently accept applications for direct entry into the second or final year of this course in September 2021, due to the course being full at these points of entry. However, during the Clearing period from 1 July 2021 this position may change so please contact our Clearing line which will be advertised during this time. You can register your interest for Clearing 2021 here.

Entry requirements

Our main entry requirements for the degree are outlined below. If you do not meet these you may want to consider our foundation year, a one-year course that will prepare you for degree-level study.

We use the UCAS Tariff in our entry requirements and will accept a combination of grades and qualifications to meet the overall tariff requirement. You can use the UCAS calculator to see how your qualifications equate to UCAS tariff points.

We have outlined our entry requirements below using the most common qualifications that we consider for this course. If your qualification is not on the UCAS tariff or listed below, please contact our Future Students Enquiry Team who can advise accordingly. You can also find out more about how we consider your application in our offer-making process section.

For September 2021 and September 2022 entry: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of 2 A levels or equivalent.

Numeracy and Literacy requirement: GCSE English Language or English Literature and Mathematics grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system). We also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework. See all the equivalencies.

A-level and AS levels: 104 – 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two A-levels.

Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate – Skills Challenge Certificate: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

Access to HE Diploma: 102 – 118 UCAS tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit, Pass grades.

BTEC National:

Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points)
Diploma: Distinction*, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points)
Foundation Diploma/ 90-credit Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff
Extended Certificate/ Subsidiary Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

Cambridge International Pre-U Diploma: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two principal subjects.

Cambridge Technical:

Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points)
Diploma: Distinction*, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points)
Subsidiary Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff
Introductory Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

Extended Project Qualification: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by two A-level sized qualifications to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

International Baccalaureate Certificates: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Higher Level certificates.

International Baccalaureate (Diploma): An overall score of 28 - 31 points.

Scottish Highers: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of four Scottish Highers.

Scottish Advanced Highers: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Scottish Advanced Highers.

T Levels: We will recognise T Level qualifications at a suitable level (and in a suitable subject, if applicable).

Other useful information

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

Foundation year entry requirements

For September 2021 and September 2022 entry: 48 - 72 UCAS tariff points.

Numeracy and Literacy requirement: There are no GCSE requirements. The foundation year will cover these skills in preparation for degree study.

Please note: in order to progress from the foundation year onto the degree course you will need to pass an Occupational Health (OH) check and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (full details in the tab below). These checks will be undertaken during your foundation year.

Non-academic entry requirements

Occupational Health (OH) Checks

Nursing is physically and mentally demanding and you will need to be mentally and physically able to undertake your chosen course. Places are offered subject to passing an OH check, and this will be carried out by the Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust. Health conditions need to be dealt with on an individual basis e.g. deafness, blindness, eczema (or other dermatological allergic reactions) on exposed areas, epilepsy, back problems, or mental health conditions, eating disorders and other disabilities. These do not automatically exclude you but please ensure that you fully disclose your condition to OH. The University can then consider the recommendations made by OH and whether reasonable adjustments can be made to support you on your chosen course. If you require more guidance please contact us for more information.

You will be required to provide a record of your immunity status or be vaccinated or have the required blood tests. Please see this table for the required immunisations. You may need to ask your GP or current OH department or find your childhood vaccination record for details of your past immunisation records. You should be aware that there may be charges made (for which you will be liable) relating to your gaining the appropriate immunity required prior to starting your training programme.

Refusing Immunisations

The University has an expectation that all students will comply with the vaccination programme. This ensures that you will be able to undertake the wide range of training placements that your course will require. Occasionally some vaccinations are contraindicated in certain medical conditions. OH will advise the University in these cases.The University will consider students on an individual basis. Refusal to have immunisations will result in the student not being allowed to attend practice placement and being withdrawn from the course. There is no opportunity to appeal against the requirements of the immunisation policy.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check (previously known as CRB)

All successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barred List check; this will be a condition of offer and will need to be completed prior to commencing the course. Please see the Government website for the most up to date information.

Terms of Expectations

It is important that you understand what will be expected of you as a student studying for both an academic award and professional qualification in nursing. You must agree to adhere to the Student Nurse Terms of Expectation for studying at Bournemouth University as detailed in this document. Failure to comply with these expectations could lead to disciplinary action.

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry onto Year 1 for September 2021 and September 2022 entry:

Chinese Senior High School Graduation Certificate (Huikao) average 80%, or Gaokao 61-71%. Grade depends on the course
Hong Kong HKDSE Diploma (4,4,3 to 4,4,4 from three subjects). Grade depends on the course
All India Senior School Certificate Examination (Standard XII) 60-70%
Italian Esame di Stato with 60-70%. Grade depends on the course
Titulo de Bachillerato with 6 or 7. Grade depends on the course

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

For September 2021and September 2022 entry: IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 7.0 in all other components. The NMC also accept the Occupational English Test (OET).

View further information about our English language requirements.

Language testing applicants from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the USA

All overseas applicants are required to meet the NMC standard for English language regardless of where they come from. This makes sure that all applicants meet the same standard in a system that is equitable, fair and non-discriminatory. There are no current plans by the NMC to waive the IELTS requirements for these countries.

Interview

If shortlisted for interview you will be notified of the interview arrangements once your application has been processed.

Careers

When you finish your course, you'll have the practical skills and knowledge you need to work in various organisations, such as within the NHS, in both hospital and community settings, or in the private/independent healthcare sector, for example in nursing homes or private hospitals.

Typical job roles

The roles you can take on are diverse and the majority have excellent career progression routes, leading to the likes of advanced nurse practitioner and consultant nurse. Among the jobs you can move into are:

Lecturer or specialist practitioner
Advanced nurse practitioner
Consultant nurse
Manager
Academic lecturer.

On graduating successfully from this course, you can apply for registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).

Industries worked in

Further study

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree and perhaps following some time in clinical practice you may wish to consider returning to BU to further develop your education! There are various options including working towards a Masters qualification, a postgraduate research degree or choose from our portfolio of continued professional development (CPD) units and courses.

Research degrees

If you are a BU graduate you are eligible for a 20% ‘loyalty’ discount on the published fees for further programmes with us!

Depending on your qualifications and experiences, you can choose to undertake a MRes or PhD level research degree. Bournemouth University has a strong nursing research foundation within our Department of Nursing Science and through a number of research centres, including the Nursing for Long Term Health Research Centre, which explores theory, education and professional practice.

Visit our postgraduate research courses for further details about research degree options with the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences and the funding options available.

MSc Health Research

Our MSc Health Research degree has been designed to take you through the research process from formulating a suitable research question to designing the study and collecting appropriate data, and reporting the findings to different audiences. All of this will provide opportunities to work with academics and clinicians experienced in conducting health and social care research. The work you will do as part of this course will provide opportunities for you to create research outputs (e.g. manuscripts for publication) to contribute to a portfolio of research experience suitable for applications related to future research study (e.g. NIHR Clinical Doctoral Fellowship), or to further your career as part of a research team (e.g. research nurse).

If you are a BU graduate you are eligible for a 20% ‘loyalty’ discount on the published fees for this course. Scholarship opportunities may also be available.

CPD

Once you have some experience of clinical practice you may wish to consider studying a unit or course from our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio. This may be related to an area you wish to specialise in or move into, or it may be to enhance your career opportunities. We have a wide range of options to consider. We understand that fitting study in around your busy working life can be a challenge, but we have a number of flexible courses that allow you to study bite-sized units at your convenience, while working towards a bigger qualification.

Find out more about CPD at BU.

Costs and fees

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per year. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course. You can find full information about funding your studies and paying your fees in our undergraduate fees and funding section, including NHS finance information. That’s also where you’ll find information about the scholarships and bursaries on offer.

Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise, and we’re committed to ensuring there are no hidden extra costs while you’re at university – that’s why we’re clear about what you can expect us to cover, and what your cost of living will be.

Find out more about budgeting and living expenses

Funding for nursing students

Nursing students may be eligible for a government training grant of at least £5,000 a year which you will not need to pay back. The grant will be given to all new and continuing degree-level nursing, midwifery and many allied health students.

Students starting in September 2020 received at least £5,000 a year, with further funding available for eligible students, including:

Parental Support allowance of £2000, on top of the £1,000 already on offer.
Up to £1000 specialist subject payment for subjects such as mental health nursing.
A regional incentive payment in areas of the country which have seen a decrease in people accepted on some nursing, midwifery and allied health courses.

Students will not need to apply for specialist subject or incentive payments as they will be automatically added to their account, if eligible.

This means that some students could be eligible for up to £8,000 per year, with everyone getting at least £5,000.

Please note that this funding is not eligible for students on the Foundation Year, however you will be able to access it once you complete the foundation year and move onto the degree.

Find out more about the funding

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

Professional body accreditation of the course.
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
Occupational Health Services and checks. Please note that you will be charged if you do not attend Occupational Health appointments without giving appropriate notice. Where the need for additional vaccinations arises, students may be required to cover the costs of these.
We will provide you with one standard set of uniform. Additional uniform items must be ordered by students, and this will incur an additional cost. Students will need to purchase appropriate footwear.
Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity.
Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and/or fieldwork and non-financial support whilst on placement.
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service.
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces.
Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow.
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme.
Disability and additional learning support.
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills.
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Laptops, tablets and mobile devices.
Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.
Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
Travel costs to and from the University campus for taught sessions (and occupational health referrals if required). An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation.
Travel costs to and from your placement which could be based at various locations across the southwest region. Students may claim reimbursement towards travel and accommodation costs from the NHS. Please visit the NHS Business Services Authority website for more information.
There may be an additional charge for replacement uniforms.
You may have the opportunity to study abroad as part of your programme, and there may be some additional costs attached to this.
SportBU membership.

Repeat units

Our staff

On this course, you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that staff can change.

Nikki Glendening – Course Leader & Senior Lecturer Nursing (Adult Nursing)

Nikki Glendening is a Registered Nurse, Registered Nurse Teacher and Registered Health Visitor/Specialist Public Health Practitioner who has worked both in the UK and abroad.

She joined Bournemouth University in 1998 as a nursing lecturer and later as a senior lecturer where she contributes to the undergraduate adult nursing programme. From 2005 to 2011, Nikki acted as the programme lead for the undergraduate nursing provision at the then newly established Yeovil campus and more recently, as Year (3) lead for the adult nursing programme across both the Lansdowne and Yeovil campuses.

Nikki is also unit lead for a number of undergraduate academic units. She is passionate about both higher and nurse education and in particular student-centred pedagogical practice and the purpose of higher education. She also has an interest in the concept of wellbeing, humanisation, the development of undergraduate students meta-cognitive skills and the facilitation of independent learning skills based on a social constructionist approach.

She has been awarded a number of awards by students at Bournemouth University related to her inspiring and humanised approach to teaching and learning. In 2012, this included both the Gold and Silver awards of the SUBU "You're Brilliant" scheme.

Nikki's current doctoral research explores the lived experience of self-managed independent learning among student nurses using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach.

View Nikki Glendening’s staff profile

Dr Desiree Tait – Principal Academic

Dr Desiree Tait is a Registered Nurse and academic with a passionate interest in the care of people with acute and critical illness, and has worked in acute and critical care units in England and Wales before going on to develop her role as a nurse academic.

In her position as a Principle Academic, Desi leads the Adult Nursing Programme together with a team of colleagues who aim to provide a well-supported and comprehensive programme of study.

Her scholarly interests focus on the development of humanised approaches to education and practice, and clinical decision making in acute and critical care.

View Dr Desiree Tait’s staff profile

Julie Ryden – Senior Lecturer - Community Dev & Health Studies

Julie Ryden is a Registered Nurse who worked as a District Nurse and has a passion for Community Care and supporting individuals and families within their own homes. She is a senior lecturer who has been in Higher Education for more than 20 years teaching a variety of both nursing and wider health and social care professionals.

Julie coordinates the first year of your programme ensuring that you are well supported and progress smoothly through the first year. Her particular areas of interest are in working with vulnerable people, health promotion and the therapeutic use of interpersonal skills.

View Julie Ryden’s staff profile

Ashley Spriggs – Lecturer (Academic) in Adult Nursing

Ashley is a Registered Nurse and academic with experience in the care of people with acute illness, having worked in the acute setting before developing her role as a nurse academic. She is a lecturer in Adult Nursing and coordinates the second year of your programme ensuring that you are supported as your develop both your academic and clinical skills.

Her particular areas of interest are end of life care, bioscience in nursing and therapeutic communication skills.

View Ashley Spriggs’ staff profile

Dr Sue Green - Lecturer (Academic) in Adult Nursing

Dr Sue Green joined the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences in 2018 from the University of Southampton. A Registered Nurse with experience in acute and continuing care environments, Sue has been at the forefront of the development of clinical academic careers for nurses. She held funded clinical academic posts, combining research and clinical work from 2009 to 2018. Sue continues to work clinically as a Nutrition Nurse seconded to Solent NHS Trust.

Extensive experience of teaching and learning in higher education enables Sue to work with students undertaking all levels of study, from first year undergraduate to PhD level. Sue’s research programme focuses on aspects of clinical nutrition, particularly nutritional care by nurses. She has a long standing interest in the process of nutritional screening and its effect on nutritional care.

View Sue Green’s staff profile

Mark Gagan – Senior Lecturer Nursing (Adult Nursing)

Mark Gagan RN, LLM (Medical Law), PG Diploma Social Research, RNT is a senior academic at Bournemouth University, having qualified in 1981 at North Manchester General Hospital.

He spent seven years in Critical Care areas in the United Kingdom and abroad. Since 1991, he has been involved in pre and post registered nurse education, including two years at Homerton College, University of Cambridge.

He has also contributed to Home Office reports on suicides in custody (2004) and to 'The Shipman Inquiry' (Department of Health Working Party 2009).

He has published various articles in the Nursing press and has authored a chapter on legal issues in Nurse Prescribing in 'Independent and supplementary prescribing for Nurses' (2010) Courtenay M and Griffiths M (Eds). He was shortlisted for the Student Nursing Times 'Nurse Tutor of the year 2014'.

He is currently nursing programme leader at Bournemouth University Yeovil campus, Yeovil, Somerset.

View Mark Gagan’s staff profile

Course changes

Changes in 2019

Date	Changes to this course
10/09/2019	Where the change was made: Course re-validation Change: Course overview, assessment, core units, contact hours, placement information Previous text: N/A
20/5/2019	Where the change was made: Key Facts and 2020 International Entry Requirements Change: 2020 International entry requirements have changed to IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 7.0 in all other components, or equivalent. Previous text: IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with minimum 7.0 in each component, or equivalent

Changes in 2018

Date	Changes to this course
06/04/2018	Where the change was made: Exceptional assessment regulations Change: The following paragraph was added: “The ‘Carrying Credit’ rule does not apply to this programme, i.e. students who have failed 20 credits, or exceptionally 40 credits, may not progress to the next stage of the programme”. Previous text: N/A

Changes in 2017

Date	Changes to this course
6/9/2017	Where the change was made: Key Facts and 2018 Entry Requirements Change: 2018 entry requirements have changed to104 - 120 tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent.BTEC Extended Diploma. DMM Previous text: The entry requirements for this course are 112-128 tariff points from 3 A-levels, BTEC Extended Diploma. DMM
6/9/2017	Where the change was made: 2018 Entry Requirements Change: 2018 GCSE entry requirements have changed to This course requires GCSE English and Mathematics grade C (or grade 4 in the reformed GCSE grading) or equivalent qualifications. Previous text: This course requires a minimum of 4 GCSEs grades A* - C (or grade 4 or above in the newly reformed GCSE grading) including Maths and English or equivalent qualifications.
14/03/2017	Where the change was made: International entry requirements Change: Only IELTs qualifications will be accepted for English language tests, we cannot accept equivalent qualifications. Previous text: IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with minimum 7.0 in each component, or equivalent.

Changes in 2016

Date	Changes to this course
23/11/2016	Where the change was made: Key facts and 2017 entry requirements Change: Tariff point range introduced of 104 - 120 tariff points, previously entry requirements were 120 tariff points Previous text: 120 tariff points
24/11/2016	Where the change was made: 2017 entry requirements Change: Grade specifications removed from the entry requirements for the BTEC Diploma, statement changed to: The BTEC Diploma will be accepted as part of your overall tariff but it must be accompanied by A-levels or equivalent qualifications. Previous text: BTEC Diploma: Distinction, Merit from the Diploma, in addition to an A-level Grade B in a relevant subject to achieve the overall tariff.
24/11/2016	Where the change was made: 2017 entry requirements Change: International Baccalaureate (Diploma) entry requirements changed to: 28-31 points overall including 5 points from each of the Higher Level subjects Previous text: The IB Diploma is welcomed as part of the International Baccalaureate (IB). This course requires 31 points including 5 points from each of the 3 Higher Level subjects.
24/11/2016	Where the change was made: 2017 entry requirements Change: European Baccalaureate entry requirements changed to: Applicants are required to achieve a minimum score of 70% overall. Previous text: This course requires a minimum score of 75% overall.

What our students say

Abigail King

I absolutely loved the practical side of it. Each placement taught me something different, which I will take with me throughout the rest of my career.

Hear from our staff

Vanessa Heaslip

Our course has evolved from our philosophy of humanising nursing care, ensuring that individual patients are at the heart of everything our students do.

What our students say

Joanne Salisbury-Standerick

Whilst excited to soon practice as a theatre nurse, I'll be taking any opportunity to continue studying. I wish I had discovered my thirst for knowledge sooner!

Statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats and BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.

BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing (with Foundation Year option)

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Course details

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Foundation year

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Placements

What hours do you work?

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Placement and travel costs

Your application

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IT skills

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Applying for direct entry to the 2nd or final year

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Foundation year entry requirements

Non-academic entry requirements

International entry requirements

Careers

Typical job roles

Industries worked in

Further study

Costs and fees

Funding for nursing students

No hidden extras

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Repeat units

Our staff

Nikki Glendening – Course Leader & Senior Lecturer Nursing (Adult Nursing)

Dr Desiree Tait – Principal Academic

Julie Ryden – Senior Lecturer - Community Dev & Health Studies

Ashley Spriggs – Lecturer (Academic) in Adult Nursing

Dr Sue Green - Lecturer (Academic) in Adult Nursing

Mark Gagan – Senior Lecturer Nursing (Adult Nursing)

Course changes

Changes in 2019

Changes in 2018

Changes in 2017

Changes in 2016

What our students say

Abigail King

Hear from our staff

Vanessa Heaslip

What our students say

Joanne Salisbury-Standerick