Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (Learning Disability) MSc

About the course

This two year apprenticeship course has been designed to provide the opportunity to study whilst being employed in learning disability healthcare services. During this apprenticeship you will get the opportunity to develop the vital skills, values and confidence you need to work with people who have a range of learning disabilities, providing hands on care in relation to their complex physical, social and psychological needs. You will also have the chance to develop a high level of personal and technical skills to help improve the quality of life of people with a learning disability and their ability to live as independently as possible.

• You will be supported by a team who really understand what it’s like to be a learning disability nurse and will learn through lectures, seminars, group work, simulation and role play. Teaching and learning will involve a combination of face to face on campus learning as well as online teaching and resources.
• You will practise and develop your skills through a variety of clinical placements in a range of statutory, private and voluntary services, in order to prepare you to pursue your career.
• You will learn how to work in partnership with service users, their families, carers and other professionals to promote health and wellbeing.
• You will have the opportunity to hear the experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.
• You will also learn how to respond to the physical, cognitive and mental health care needs of all patients and service users across their lifespan.

In line with the apprenticeship model, the course is designed to support a training in practice approach. Whilst undertaking the course you will remain employed by your host organisation. You will be a supernumerary student for the full duration of the course and as such will not work for your employer. Instead, your time will be split 50% in clinical practice and 50% in the University. The course is designed to be progressively demanding and once qualified will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and work as a Registered Nurse for Learning Disabilities.

If you are an employer looking for an apprenticeship for your employees, you will also find useful information on our Degree Apprenticeship webpages.

Entry requirements

You must:

• Be employed in healthcare and supported to undertake the course by your employer.
• Have an Honours degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent professional qualification, in a relevant subject.

In addition you must have GCSE English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme.

You also need satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational Health Clearances prior to registration on the course. These will be provided by your employer and checked by our admissions team.

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 you have alternative qualifications 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 may be considered.

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 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.