Adult Nursing BSc (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Professionally Accredited Programmes
A tutor instructing a student using a manikin

This degree combines theoretical and practice-based learning to lead you to professional registration and a rewarding career as an adult nurse.

Course option

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

3 years full-time

UCAS codes

HU01

Start date

September 2025
January 2026


Course overview

Adult nurses work to improve people’s lives by offering comprehensive physical, emotional, mental and social support to people of all ages. This course aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to independently address the diverse health and care needs of individuals across the lifespan.

  • Successful completion of this course makes you eligible to apply for professional registration as an Adult Nurse with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) (please see Accreditation section for more information).
  • Gain the skills to deliver professional, impactful, evidence-informed care across a range of dynamic and diverse healthcare environments.
  • Learn to collaborate and thrive as an adult nurse across and within multidisciplinary teams to coordinate safe, evidenced-based care delivery.
  • Study one module at a time, with five weeks of learning followed by one week of assessment per module.
  • All eligible learners on this course can apply for a minimum payment from the government of £5,000 per year. You can apply for additional payments if you incur childcare costs6.
  • 50% of your learning will take place in diverse practice-based learning environments where you will apply your theoretical knowledge to the real world2,5.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

If you are compassionate, enthusiastic and committed, we can support you in developing the skills to deliver professional, evidence-informed care that truly impacts people’s lives.

  • Our approach supports you to develop a strong sense of professional identity and accountability as an adult nurse from day one.
  • Develop your confidence and skills in preparation to lead, influence and supervise others.
  • Delivered by a team that includes highly skilled, knowledgeable, nursing and allied health professionals.
  • Develop your digital fluency, curiosity, critical and reflective thinking.
  • Access to success coaches, placement supervisors and specialist support for mathematics and academic writing4.

Studying in the School of Health and Care

Gain the skills and experience to transform lives, communities and the future of healthcare delivery. We aim to empower you to become a stand-out healthcare professional, capable, competent and confident in your field and role within the wider healthcare team.

While continuously developing your sense of professional identity as an adult nurse from day one, you'll also collaborate with learners from other School of Health and Care fields, learning in an environment that puts inclusivity, diversity and dignity at its heart.

Accreditation and professional recognition

Nursing and Midwifery Council logo

Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)

This course is currently accredited by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)1. Following changes that have been made to improve the course, we will apply for re-accreditation for entrants of 2025-26. If any changes occur with respect to our accreditation, we will notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

This is a normal part of the process of continuous improvement of our courses to ensure they remain up-to-date and reflect best practice.


Hear why Melissa wanted to become a nurse and find out more about the Adult Nursing course at Coventry University.

Nursing at Coventry University

We have an excellent reputation for the quality of the education provided to trainee and qualified nurses.

Why study with us
We have an excellent reputation for the quality of the education provided to trainee and qualified nurses.

What you'll study

You will cover:

  • practical skills relating to assessing and caring for people in your care
  • evidence-based care
  • your role and responsibility as an adult nurse
  • knowledge and skills to maintain the health and wellbeing of others
  • leadership and working within the multi-disciplinary team.

All modules are compulsory.

Modules

All modules are compulsory.

Modules

All modules are compulsory.

Modules

These modules are currently under review and any changes will be updated by summer 2024. Please refer back to this page before applying.


How you'll learn

We understand that everyone learns differently, so this course will consist of structured teaching sessions which may include:

  • on-campus lectures, seminars and workshops
  • group work
  • self-directed learning
  • practice-based learning2,5
  • simulation.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary depending on year of study and module. During your first year you can expect 10-12 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Practice-based learning:

Practice-based learning forms an essential and significant part of your learning experience. Practice hours will differ between placements and different health and care courses. You will have access to university staff, but should expect to spend the majority of your contact time with practice collaborators undertaking placement activity. Overall, the hours you undertake in practice-based learning will need to satisfy the eligibility requirements set by the professional body regulating profession, the NMC. No less than 2300 practice-based hours gained from a combination of placement and simulated learning will need to be completed over the course of your degree.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

  • coursework
  • practice placement2,5
  • formal examinations
  • assessed discussions
  • Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
  • presentations.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Dad’s cancer battle inspires Coventry mum to start her nursing journey

Chantel Ward started her Adult Nursing degree in January 2023 after being inspired by the nurses who helped her dad through his prostate cancer battle during the Covid pandemic.

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Chantel Ward in her Coventry University nursing uniform.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC. Excludes General Studies.
GCSE 5 GCSEs at grade 4 / C or above including English, Mathematics and Science.
BTEC DMM in a health, sport or science-based subject.
IB Diploma 27 points to include 14 points at Higher level.
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma in a health or science subject to include 24 Level 3 credits at Distinction in health units. Plus GCSE English and mathematics at grade 4 / C or above.

Additional information

Caring experience, either paid or voluntary, is very desirable. You will also be required to attend an online selection event, which provides detailed information about the course and assesses aptitude as part of the selection process. Applicants must have certificates at point of interview.

In line with the National Health Service constitution, we use a values-based recruitment approach in seeking candidates with the appropriate values to support effective team working in delivering excellent patient care.

Students will be subject to satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure. Please refer to the full requirements in the disclaimer section5.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Chat with us

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year
Not available

A non-repayable grant of £5,000 and extra payments worth up to £3,000 may be available to eligible students for each year of study. Read more about this in the NHS Learning Support Fund information booklet.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.


Facilities

Our multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building features a range of mock healthcare settings, including hospital wards, ambulance, therapy suites and community houses, giving you the opportunity to replicate real-life situations before you go on placement4.

You’ll have the opportunity to make use of our extensive simulation facilities – from basic life support manikins to high tech simulation manikins, which emulate patient responses and test resuscitation skills. You will also use healthcare devices found in the real world of practice.

Students and a tutor with a manikin in the hospital ward

Mock hospital wards

We have two fully-equipped mock hospital wards, each containing four beds. The wards are built to NHS standards and contain moveable beds, first aid equipment and patient monitoring tools, so that you can study a complete patient pathway.

Students practicing patient therapy in a community house setting

Community houses

Learn how to work with patients outside of a hospital setting in our simulated, two full-size community homes, specifically built for teaching. This gives you the opportunity to learn in situations that mirror real-life scenarios.

Paramedic student attending to a patient in the ambulance

Ambulance

Learn in critical care settings with the use of a mock ambulance, giving you the chance to experience patient scenarios in a real-world environment.

 

 

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.


Careers and opportunities

On graduating successfully from this course, and providing you also meet the NMC requirements, you can apply for registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), additional costs apply1. Successful registration enables you to practise immediately.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and aims to give you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university provides a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Where our graduates work

Many of our graduates find employment as qualified nurses in the NHS with a growing emphasis on community settings, in acute hospitals, military nursing, in the private and independent healthcare sector, in private hospitals, nursing or care homes. As your career progresses a number of options may open to you for example as a lecturer or specialist practitioner, advanced nurse practitioner, consultant nurse or manager.

Coventry University nursing student Jessica Vaughan pictured holding her Nursing Times Student of the Year award for the adult nursing category

Coventry University student wins national nursing award

A nursing student at Coventry University who has juggled being a mum, a learner and volunteering in Africa has won a national award.

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