Adult Nursing BSc (Hons) with foundation year

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

An Adult Nursing degree can lead to a rewarding career working in settings including hospital or community and a wide variety of other areas where nursing is required.

Course option

Year of entry

Location

CU Coventry (Coventry) and
Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

4 years full-time

UCAS codes

B7DF

Start date

November 2024
January 2025
March 2025


Course overview

Our degree with foundation year could be the stepping stone you need to achieve your goals. The foundation year aims to prepare you for degree-level study and is a great way to build the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to succeed on your degree course.

Foundation year

The foundation year course helps you develop the necessary skills for degree-level study. In addition, you will also explore fundamental knowledge in areas such as anatomy, physiology and pathology, professional practice and approaches to health and wellbeing.

Degree

Fully accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) providing eligibility for registration as a nurse on successful completion of the degree (additional costs may apply)1.

  • All home students on this course can apply for a minimum payment from the government of £5,000 per year, with additional payments for students incurring childcare costs6.
  • Study in the state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building which features hospital wards, operating theatre, critical care settings, community housing and other real-life nursing environments relevant to practice4.
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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 a naturally caring and compassionate individual, adult nursing can be considered one of most rewarding professions you could choose to work in, as well as being challenging, varied and with excellent career prospects.

Foundation year

  • Supports you to gain the academic skills required for degree-level study.
  • Provides a grounding in key areas of anatomy, physiology, health and wellbeing.

Degree

If you are a naturally caring and compassionate individual, adult nursing can be considered one of most rewarding professions you could choose to work in, as well as being challenging, varied and with excellent career prospects.

  • Nurses work with people in a wide variety of roles and settings. These include monitoring seriously ill and deteriorating patients, caring for those with long- term conditions, caring for people requiring end of life care at home and in hospital, supporting family members, and promoting the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. The work can be intense but is rewarding. This course has been designed to develop professionals who are not only highly skilled but also caring, compassionate, effective communicators and have the capacity to be emotionally resilient. These principles are at the forefront of our teaching which aims to encompass theory, practice, and immersive learning.
  • Our ‘learning through exploration’ approach aims to provide an exceptional learning environment. You will have the opportunity to be taught using a range of scenarios using the latest technology to role play various evolving clinical situations. We believe this approach contextualises your learning and can help you to develop the skills you will need in practice.
  • You will be encouraged to immerse yourself in learning about the needs of populations, individuals, related health, and nursing services with an emphasis on using research to enhance and improve services. This also aims to ensure teaching is current and evidence-based in its approach.
  • We will encourage you to develop an in-depth understanding of the organisation and culture of modern healthcare systems, aiming to equip you with the confidence to be able to take a stronger role in the leadership and management of resources in delivering treatment and healthcare options to patients.
  • Throughout your studies, in groups and individually, you will be asked to undertake profession-specific health and social care related projects and case studies. These may, for example, include an appraisal of the role of the nurse in ethical and legal decision-making or complex care planning and delivery via the multi-disciplinary team. You will also have the opportunity to participate in activities such as group presentations demonstrating your understanding of research underpinning patient care.
  • This course aims to prepare you for the dynamic and fast-changing health and social care system, which should help you to develop into an adaptable, flexible, reflective, competent, and compassionate practitioner. From the outset, you will gain hands-on experience under supervision from qualified practice supervisors and assessors, spending around 50% of your time on clinical practice placements (sourced for you by the university) in a range of healthcare environments within the NHS in hospitals and community placements, at private hospitals and independent care providers5. We have well-established links with local NHS trusts and other healthcare providers, such as private hospitals, hospices, and community settings.
  • While the course has a clear focus on nursing adults, a key benefit of our curriculum is the notion of collaboration across all areas of health and social care. Your studies can be complemented with significant insights into mental health, learning disability and children and young people’s nursing. Some modules are also studied in conjunction with other health and social care professionals; looking at specific issues and challenges they face to broaden your knowledge and expertise.
  • You may have the opportunity to go on field trips within the UK which have previously included visits to the first operating theatre in London and museums capturing the history of nursing and healthcare2.

Accreditation and professional recognition

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

This degree is accredited1 by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the 2024/25 intake and, providing you also meet the NMC requirements, on successful completion you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (subject to additional costs).


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

This provides the foundations for nursing practice and university study. After successfully completing year one, you will have developed an understanding of the scientific principles of nursing and the importance of evidence-based practice and putting patients and their families at the centre of care. Practical skills should ensure you are able to perform fundamental care to vulnerable adults whilst on placement.

Modules

This year builds on the foundations learnt in year one. Modules become more adult nursing focused and include pathophysiology of common diseases, relevant assessment of patients that informs planning and evaluating care and how practice is based on robust evidence.

Modules

This year aims to consolidate from the previous two years. Drawing on theory and practice you should gain an appreciation of the value of the contribution of other health professionals when making decisions about the needs of patients who require complex care. You will be asked to investigate the contemporary issues relevant to adult nursing and explore the skills commonly required to become an accountable practitioner who is able to co-ordinate a team. Practical skills will mirror those required for a newly qualified nurse.

Modules

The foundation year offers an introduction to your chosen subject and supports you to develop the skills required for degree-level study.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

This Adult Nursing BSc (Hons) course uses a wide variety of stimulating approaches to teaching and learning to suit individual learning styles. This may include a series of interactive lectures, seminars, online learning, skills lab activities and practical placements. Successful completion of all modules are mandatory to enable you to exit the programme with the knowledge, values and skills to be able to work within integrated care settings and enhance the delivery of care for service users, their families and carers.

The foundation year programme is focused on applied learning geared to high-intensity teaching and study throughout the programme, requiring full commitment from students. The delivery of course content is a blend of lectures, tutorials and online mediums.

You will be able to critique and evaluate given scenarios and insights relating to the health professions and make recommendations to influence decision-making and increase your professional awareness.

Unlike traditional institutions, there are no end-of-year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and phase tests which are more reflective of a working environment.


Teaching contact hours

You can expect up to 20 hours of learning activities per week, made up of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, online classes and independent learning.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 30 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.


Assessment

Assessments have been designed to reflect those that you will be able to develop and use within your future role within the health professions e.g. a structured report, a professional debate and poster presentation.

You will be assessed using:

  • Case study
  • Individual presentations
  • Essay
  • Numeracy test
  • Values-based interview

Gaining experience using simulation across a range of care settings is aimed at building your confidence and knowledge about how to act in these situations. You can practise and develop your clinical and interpersonal skills in a safe but realistic environment. We have also used actors or staff to enhance these experiences in scenarios which include breaking bad news, demonstrating emotional resilience, conflict, aggression, teaching, and child protection conferences.

As 50% of the course is practice-based, this requires 40 hours per week in placements in line with NMC requirements – these are sourced for you by the university5. During theory modules, teaching is delivered in a variety of different ways and generally includes seminars, group work, clinical skills sessions and scenario-based learning, workshops, online learning, seminars and lectures.

Contact teaching hours will vary throughout the course, but on average you will have around 21 ‘contact’ hours of teaching per week in year one. In addition, you will be expected to undertake a further 15-20 hours each week of private study which can include self-directed learning and online activities which augment other approaches.

Over the duration of the course, as you become a more independent learner the contact hours will reduce (around 13 in year 2 and 11 in year 3) and independent study will increase.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

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

Assessment methods include:

  • Coursework
  • Practical placements
  • Formal examinations

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.


International experience opportunities

Our course provides international learning experiences to help prepare you for the global employment market as well as strengthen and develop your broader intercultural, personal and professional skills2.

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 offer for 2024/25 entry.

72 UCAS tariff points. All foundation courses require 5 GCSEs at 9-4 including Maths and English, and at least one A2 level or a BTEC equivalent qualification.

If you don’t fulfil the entry criteria your application may be considered on an individual basis, taking into account any work experience, other qualifications and/or any training you have completed. Speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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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. Satisfactory health clearance, DBS checks and criminal records disclosure is also required5.

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.

Is the student required to undergo a DBS check? Y

Is the student required or likely to undergo a placement in a social and/or healthcare setting? Y5

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.

Got higher grades? Have you considered direct entry to the degree without foundation year?


Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Foundation year

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £7,950 Not available
International/EU Not currently available*** Not available

Degree

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,250 per year Not available

Please note: UK (home) tuition fees for the degree course years will be charged at the current Coventry University UK (home) degree fee level. This was set at £9,250 for the 23/24 academic year.

A non-repayable grant of £5,000 and extra payments worth up to £3,000 may be available to eligible home students for each year of degree 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.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

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. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

Foundation year funding

In order to receive funding for degree with foundation year courses, you will need to complete a four-year degree programme which includes the integrated foundation year, otherwise you may be responsible for your foundation year fees. For further information, please refer to the 'Tuition Fee Loan' details in the 'Funding your undergraduate course' section of our 'Fees and finance' page.

*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.

**This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.


Facilities

Our foundation years are taught at CU Coventry’s Mile Lane building, a short walk from the city centre. You’re part of the university from day one, so during your foundation year you’ll have access to the wider facilities at Coventry University. Once you successfully complete your foundation year, you'll transfer over to studying your chosen degree at Coventry University, where you'll be taught on campus in the relevant academic buildings.

Located on our Mile Lane campus, you will have access to our Library and Learning Services (LLS), fully equipped seminar rooms and IT suites4. You can also take advantage of reading rights in Coventry University’s Lanchester Library, make use of sport centre facilities and receive full membership to Your Students' Union.

Two students walking outside with the CU Coventry building behind them.

Mile Lane

The campus is home to an on-site library with bookable one-to-one academic writing service and library support sessions, fully equipped seminar rooms, open-access study areas, a café and an IT suite. Our labs contain industry-standard equipment so that you learn using the same equipment as many industry professionals.

A student working in a booth in The Hub.

The Hub

At The Hub you'll find the Health and Wellbeing Centre, the Students’ Union and Square One (which provides entertainment from quiz nights to live music), the Spirituality and Faith Centre, Tank Studio, Careers Office, Enterprise Hub and a fantastic food court.

External view of the Lanchester Library.

Lanchester Library

Coventry University’s Lanchester Library is open 24/7, 364 days a year and has 1,400 study spaces, including group and silent areas. It also currently offers more than 550 computers and an additional 120 free-to-loan laptops.

 

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.

 

 


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 and 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's Talent Team provide 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.

Some of our recent graduates have taken up roles including staff nurses in the NHS, working in Africa in the Ebola Crisis with the Red Cross, and working in neonatal ITU.

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