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Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc (Hons)
Study level: UndergraduateProfessionally Accredited Programmes
This degree combines theory with practice-based learning to lead you to professional registration and a rewarding career as a learning disabilities nurse.
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
3 years full-time
Course code
HU06
Start date
September 2025
Course overview
Learning disabilities nurses provide specialist healthcare and support to people with a significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information. They work across a range of settings including people’s homes, primary and community settings, schools and specialist services, in-patient hospitals and care homes.
This course aims to equip you to support, empower and safeguard people with learning disabilities. It emphasises the importance of involving individuals, their families and support networks in the holistic assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care.
- Successful completion of this course makes you eligible to apply for professional registration as a learning disabilities 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 a learning disabilities nurse across and within multidisciplinary teams to coordinate safe, evidenced-based care delivery.
- Study one academic 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.
Rated Gold Overall
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2025Why study this course
The course is aimed at committed and enthusiastic individuals who embody a compassionate attitude and are eager to acquire the skills to deliver professional, impactful and evidence-informed care.
- Our approach supports you to develop a strong sense of professional identity as a learning disabilities nurse from the outset.
- Learn to thrive in dynamic healthcare environments and multidisciplinary teams, developing your relationship management skills.
- Focus on one academic module at a time, with five weeks of learning followed by one week of assessment per module.
- Gain a strong sense of professional accountability, in preparation to lead, influence and supervise others.
- Delivered by a team that includes highly skilled, knowledgeable, nursing and allied health professionals.
- Focusing on digital fluency, curiosity, critical and reflective thinking, this course instils you with the ability to access, evaluate and apply evidence to inform your practice.
- Access to success coaches, placement supervisors, health and wellbeing services 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 a mental health 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.
1st
for Student Satisfaction in the West Midlands in Nursing and Midwifery
The Complete University Guide 2025
Accreditation and professional recognition
This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:
Nursing & Midwifery Council
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.
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
What you'll study
You will study various cross-field modules as well as modules specific to your nursing field. Throughout the course you will study:
- clinical skills
- pharmacology
- communications
- nursing models and theory
- nursing assessments and interventions
- interprofessional working
- research.
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 can include:
- on-campus lectures, seminars and workshops
- group work
- self-directed learning
- practice placement2,5
- simulation
- role play (MaskEd).
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
- Virtual Simulated Placements
- simulations
- Objective Structured Clinical Examinations
- presentations
- viva.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.
The academic staff have vast knowledge supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health. The team have worked closely with the criminal justice system as well as working with individuals with profound learning disabilities.
Ijaz Mahmood, Assistant Professor, 2022
Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements:
Fees and funding
| Student | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | 2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year |
Not available |
| EU | 2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary** 2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary** |
Not available |
| International | 2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year |
Not available |
A non-repayable grant of £3,000 and extra payments worth up to £3,000 may be available to eligible students for each year of study6. 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.
For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
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.
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).
*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.
**EU Support Bursary
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.
How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
Facilities
Our multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building features a range of mock healthcare settings, including hospital wards, ambulance, therapy suites and community houses. These give 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.
Mock hospital wards
Our fully-equipped mock hospital wards are built to NHS standards and give you the chance to experience patient scenarios in a real-world environment.
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.
Mock operating theatre
Our Alison Gingell building includes a full-size mock operating theatre, containing scrub sinks and theatre lights.
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
There are currently over 3,000 learning disabilities nurses within the NHS and demand for these specialist nurses is high. Typically, past final year students have been offered a range of posts within the NHS and the private sector prior to qualifying.
As a learning disability nurse, you will have opportunities to support people of all ages with learning disabilities in a range of settings, which may include:
- hospital wards such as epilepsy and palliative care
- mental health trusts
- adult education
- residential and community centres
- patients' homes
- workplaces
- schools.
During your three years on the programme, you will have the opportunity5 to undertake six placements in a range of service settings, with the chance to work with and alongside qualified learning disability nurses, and therefore potential local and regional employers. On graduating successfully from this course, you can apply for registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), which can enable you to practise immediately (additional costs apply)1.
Where our graduates work
The majority of our graduates find employment as qualified nurses in the NHS with a growing emphasis on community settings, in acute hospitals, military nursing or within the private and independent healthcare sector, in private hospitals, nursing or care homes. As your career progresses, a number of options are open to you as a lecturer or specialist practitioner, advanced nurse practitioner, consultant nurse or manager.
Recent graduates have gone on to roles such as working in forensic services, generic and specialised children’s services, end of life care (adults and children), neurology services, dementia services, prison and court diversion, police diversion, schools, research and many more.
The course at Coventry University offered me the opportunity to gain an in-depth experience and the academic staff were supportive and encouraging throughout. The skills and knowledge gained have allowed me to develop and become a compassionate Learning Disability Nurse.
Frances Manley, Registered Learning Disability Nurse, quoted in 2021
How to apply
UK students
International students
Disclaimers
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