Nursing (Blended Learning) Learning Disability BSc(Hons)

About the course

Are you looking to pursue an interesting and exciting career in nursing? Learning disability nurses are qualified to work with individuals with learning disabilities – from childhood through to end of life. They work in a person-centred way and are passionate about rights, choice, inclusion, and equality.

Our Nursing (Blended Learning) Learning Disability BSc(Hons) course has been designed for those who would like to become a nurse and are located within the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, Cheshire and Merseyside, North West, Cumbria or North Lincolnshire. If you are located outside these areas, please visit Health Education England for more information.

Supporting individuals with learning disabilities is an enriching and life-affirming experience – and if you’re passionate about meeting the needs of people with learning disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder, Learning Disability Nursing could be for you. The career opportunities of a learning disability nurse are varied, too, including roles within community teams, specialist behaviour teams, nursing care, autism services, children’s services, assessment and treatment services, mental health, and palliative care.

The course is designed to help you become a competent, caring, and compassionate nurse. You’ll have the opportunity to develop communication and interpersonal skills, become confident in person-centred approaches, and develop and hone leadership and management skills. This will also help improve your evidence-based decision making and team working, as well.

Why study Nursing (Blended Learning) Learning Disability BSc(Hons)

This blended learning course provides a flexible way to study using mainly digital technologies. You’ll attend the campus for a maximum total of 20 days per year of the course and you’ll also undertake practice placements across the NHS and healthcare organisations in a setting close to home. These will take place in a wide range of clinical practice settings, allowing you to provide care and support for both children and adults.

You'll be taught by a team who really understand what it is like be a learning disability nurse. Individuals with learning disabilities are also involved in the development of our teaching materials and will work with you on campus. To enhance your learning, you can borrow a clinical skills kit to familiarise yourself with fundamental equipment you may use in practice.

You’ll learn online through seminars and group work and have the chance to be part of an online community, to showcase your work, collaborate with peers and establish relationships with tutors. You’ll also learn through independent, self-directed study, developing confidence in your self-discipline and organisational skills.

In 2024, the University’s new Daphne Steele Building will open on the site of the National Health Innovation campus, too, allowing Learning Disability Nursing students to benefit from specialist clinical teaching facilities and world-leading research facilities.

After successful completion of the course, you can apply to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and work as a Registered Learning Disability Nurse. Students on this course may be eligible to receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each year – find out more on the NHS Learning Support Fund Website.

Not quite ready to start Nursing (Blended Learning) Learning Disability BSc(Hons)? Successful completion of our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degreewill equip you with the foundation knowledge to study Learning Disability Nursing.

Entry requirements

This course has been designed for those who would like to become a nurse and are located within the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, Cheshire and Merseyside, North West, Cumbria or North Lincolnshire. If you are located outside these areas please visit Health Education England for information on your nearest course provider.

In addition, you must have GCSE English Language or English Literature and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme, or Ofqual regulated Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree.

You must demonstrate that you have a broad understanding of learning disability nursing, as well as relevant work experience (employment or voluntary) highlighting your transferable skills.

You must have access to a computer with a reliable internet connection and the ability to access and use online study guidance and support as this course is delivered through distance learning.

Offers will be subject to an interview and references. Please note all the information provided in support of your application may be checked and must be verifiable as a true record.

You’ll need a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health clearances prior to registration on the course. We arrange these as part of the application process. You'll be required to sign a self-declaration at the start of each year and at the end of the course. All police contact during the course must be reported to the course leader as a matter of urgency and may lead to suspension or termination. We will request an Overseas Police Check if you have lived in a country outside of the UK for 6 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years before applying to us and whilst aged 18 or over.

Placement providers for this course may require you to have received a number of vaccinations, unless medically exempt, and provide evidence of these. As a student on a course with a clinical or healthcare placement, we strongly recommend that you complete any courses of vaccinations required under current guidelines for your future profession. Failure to do so may result in your inability to undertake a placement in certain clinical settings, therefore impacting upon your academic progression, and may result in academic failure of your course.

You must meet the NMC (2018c) entry requirements in respect of literacy and numeracy, good character and good health.

You may be eligible to gain accreditation for your prior learning towards this course. Please note that the course you are applying for is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) which allows a maximum of 50% of credits for the award to be conferred through accreditation of prior learning.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

If you have alternative qualifications, including the nursing associate foundation degree, you may wish to contact us for advice before applying. Please note places are limited and attainment of the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an interview or offer. You must include details of any previous study. Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

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