Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Undergraduate
Professionally Accredited Programmes

A nurse attending a patient who is using a desktop computer.

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

2025-26 2026-27

Location

CU Scarborough (Scarborough)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

4 years full-time

UCAS codes

H06F

Start date

November 2025

How to apply

Book an Open Event

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Don't meet the entry requirements? This course is available with a foundation year with lower entry requirements.

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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.

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.

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

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 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 costs.⁶
50% of your learning will take place in diverse practice-based learning environments where you will apply your theoretical knowledge to the real world.^2,5

Why you should 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.

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.

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

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.

1st

Coventry University Group: No.1 for Learning opportunities, Learning resources, Assessment and feedback, Organisation and management, and Student voice in Learning Disabilities Nursing, across England HEIs.

National Student Survey (NSS) 2024

Accreditation and professional recognition

The degree is accredited¹ and recognised by the following bodies:

Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)

The degree is currently accredited by the Nursing and 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.

CU Scarborough celebrates success of Nursing graduates

87 per cent of 2024 Nursing graduates secured employment locally before they even graduated.

Find out more about this achievement

Two nursing students working on a manekin

What you'll study

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

Modules

Becoming a Professional Practitioner – 20 credits

This module aims to equip you with the values, behaviours and actions essential for professional practice. We will support you to develop your personal and academic skills, providing you with opportunities to reflect on your knowledge, skills and values. We will work with you to foster a culture of professionalism, collaboration and valuing diversity to prepare you to work within multi-professional environments.

Compulsory

Evidence: Your Profession in a Global Context – 20 credits

This module aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to understand and appreciate the role of evidence in both your profession and the wider health and care sector. The module supports you in understanding how your personal views and experiences may influence your thinking in developing your professional identity. This module will help you develop critical thinking skills by encouraging you to question, challenge and reflect. You'll learn to use evidence to build your approaches, making you a more inclusive, evidence-based practitioner.

Compulsory

Nursing Assessment and Care Delivery – 20 credits

This module aims to provide you with the essential theory and practical skills related to nursing health assessments and explore how these can be used to inform individualised care plans across the lifespan. The module covers key body systems and principles of pharmacology and medicine administration. Additionally, it introduces the concept of holistic nursing care and aims to deepen your understanding of equality, diversity and inclusive nursing practice. Throughout the module, emphasis is placed on building therapeutic relationships and enhancing your communication skills. All of this will help to prepare you for your first placement experience as a student nurse.

Compulsory

Understanding Influences on Health and Care – 20 credits

This module explores the factors that influence people's health and wellbeing across the lifespan. You will learn about societal influences, health inequalities and determinants of health, exploring health policy and the different strategies you can use to help promote health and wellbeing. You will gain further understanding of the impact of behaviours on physical and mental health (pathophysiology) and how this impacts the need to access care. You will gain valuable insights into the global communities you will be supporting, alongside the delivery of culturally competent and inclusive care. You will learn about collaboration and care coordination within multidisciplinary health care teams, whilst developing the skills you need to effectively contribute.

Compulsory

Placement 1: Introduction to Nursing Care – 20 credits

This module is designed to provide your first experience of nursing practice^2,5. During this module you will spend time within a nursing care setting, delivering hands-on patient care through guided participation. Under the supervision of your practice supervisors and assessors, you will work within the multidisciplinary team towards achieving practical proficiency and bringing your theoretical knowledge to life. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your professional values and gain feedback towards continuing to develop your nursing care and delivery.

Compulsory

Placement 2: Delivering Nursing Care – 20 credits

This module aims to allow you to consolidate and apply the knowledge and experience you have gained. You will again spend time within a nursing healthcare setting^2,5 and continue to work towards the expected level of proficiency for a year one student nurse. Under continued supervision, you will work towards delivering an episode of care through effective assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of a person or family receiving care. You will also work towards demonstrating the safe and effective administration of medications under supervision, while continuing to maintain your professional values.

Compulsory

Modules

Therapeutic Interventions and Innovations in Learning Disabilities Nursing – 20 credits

This module aims to strengthen your understanding and ability to form and maintain therapeutic relationships within learning disabilities nursing. In this module you will explore the complex behavioural needs of individuals and how to select, initiate and evaluate appropriate care interventions to support their individualised and holistically assessed needs. You will explore both pharmacological and non-pharmacological care interventions within the context of contemporary service delivery. You will examine nursing care innovations, sustainable practice and digital developments which support the needs of people with learning disabilities.

Compulsory

Complex Decision-Making with the Learning Disabilities Nursing Environments – 20 credits

This module examines complex decision-making within the context of learning disabilities nursing. This module offers you the opportunity to explore complex needs including co-morbidities, and the impact these may have on the health and social care needs of individuals with learning disabilities. It will examine key ethical and legal frameworks, alongside policy, governance, and clinical guidance related to the care of people with learning disabilities. It will debate how such factors shape the rationalisation, critical reasoning and judgement of nurses making complex care decisions. During this module, you will also examine the skills required to safeguard and undertake complex risk assessments, encompassing knowledge of human factors, alongside implementing strategies to identify and prevent potential adverse events.

Compulsory

Exploring Knowledge Through Curiosity – 20 credits

This module explores methods of enquiry utilised in daily practice. You will develop your ability to analyse the knowledge, theory and practice-based evidence within health and care. This module will explore how daily inquiry methods can be transformed into more systematic approaches to data collection and analysis. You'll learn about quantitative and qualitative research, evaluation and audit techniques. Through exploration and debate, you will develop an appreciation of interdisciplinary and profession-specific evidence and how to use this learning within the practice context.

Compulsory

Enhanced Approaches in Delivering Holistic Care – 20 credits

This module aims to explore – across a variety of care contexts – how we can combine information we learn about people through a range of nursing assessments to develop holistic and individualised care plans. You will learn how to ensure these are inclusive and made in partnership with individuals and those who support them. Incorporating personal preferences and goals, including those that influence end-of-life care, you will develop skills to allow you to monitor, evaluate, prioritise and adjust your care and the care delivery of others, to meet the changing needs of individuals. Building on your knowledge of physiology you will learn to respond to signs of deterioration, and how to escalate safely to others.

Compulsory

Placement 3: Delivering Enhanced Nursing Care – 20 credits

This module aims to consolidate the knowledge and experience gained in year one of your nursing course. You will spend time within a nursing care setting, building your confidence, and beginning to work towards the expected level of proficiency for a year two student nurse^2,5. You will have the opportunity to learn to work more independently with less direct supervision in an increasingly confident and competent manner, delivering safe holistic care to individuals and people who support them. You will look to demonstrate safe and effective administration of medication under supervision, whilst continuing to develop and strengthen your professional values.

Compulsory

Placement 4: Delivering Complex Holistic Nursing Care – 20 credits

This module aims to build on your experiences gained from Placement 3, developing your ability to deliver evidence-based care for groups of people and people with increasingly complex health and social care needs within the nursing care environment. This fourth placement^2,5 is designed to allow you to demonstrate continued maintenance of your enhanced professional values and meet the expected level of proficiency for a year two student nurse. During this placement, you will aim to strengthen your ability to work independently with reduced supervision, as you strive to gain confidence and competence in delivering high-quality, holistic and inclusive care. You will aim to further develop proficiency in preparing and administering medication, whilst demonstrating your practical application of pharmacological knowledge.

Compulsory

Modules

Complex Care Coordination in Learning Disabilities Nursing – 20 credits

This module aims to advance your knowledge of health conditions and strengthen your ability to undertake a leadership role in coordinating care for groups of people with learning disabilities who have complex and diverse health and social care needs. The module explores the coordination of complex care packages within learning disabilities nursing, including individuals in specialist environments, requiring multidisciplinary services and safe care transfers. You will aim to further develop your skills in prioritising, delegating and assigning care responsibilities within a framework of safe staffing and skill mix, towards ensuring safe, high-quality care delivery. You will look to strengthen your communication skills, ensuring confident interaction with others whilst adopting a non-discriminatory approach.

Compulsory

Leading for the Future as a Health and Care Professional – 20 credits

Our health and care workforce is required to lead the delivery of high-quality care, whilst navigating a complex health and social care ecosystem. This module aims to foster confident and accountable leadership through an interprofessional learning experience. By collaborating with colleagues from different backgrounds, you'll explore fresh perspectives and analyse contemporary theory, practice and evidence to redefine leadership for yourself. The module aims to foster your development as a reflective leader.

Compulsory

The Evidence-based Practitioner: Professional Project – 20 credits

In this module, you'll have the opportunity to critically evaluate, interpret and apply the latest national and international research to improve care. You'll look to gain the skills to analyse, safely use and share these findings, ultimately shaping best practices in your field. This module should also equip you with the skills to conduct an independent study. We'll support you as you develop your research and communication abilities, empowering you to share your findings with healthcare professionals, policymakers and the public.

Compulsory

Preparing for your Career in Nursing – 20 credits

This module aims to prepare you for becoming a registered nursing professional. Equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours acquired throughout the course, this module is designed to complete your preparation to respond to the dynamic demands of contemporary nursing practice and deliver culturally competent, inclusive and holistic care. It aims to empower you to fully recognise and appreciate your accountability and responsibilities as a nursing registrant and role model. It will support you towards becoming fully competent in the safe numerical calculations involved in medicines administration. In addition, it will offer training to enable you to assume the role of a practice supervisor on registration.

Compulsory

Placement 5: Coordinating Nursing Care – 20 credits

This module is designed to combine your knowledge, skills and professional values towards becoming a nursing registrant. During this placement, you will routinely be coordinating the care for groups of people, while working with a wide range of multidisciplinary team members^2,5. This next step in your professional development aims to support you towards independent practice, where you are using your comprehensive, evidence-based knowledge to critically rationalise and justify your care delivery. You will begin to supervise and oversee the care delivery of others, delegating tasks appropriately and putting into practice your skills as a leader.

Compulsory

Placement 6: Practising Autonomously – 20 credits

This module is designed to offer your final opportunity to refine and strengthen your knowledge and skills before becoming a registered nurse who is autonomous and fully accountable for their practice. During this placement, you will be working towards meeting the expected level of proficiency for year three^2,5. You will have the opportunity to independently organise and manage the care of a group or caseload of complex patients with minimal guidance. Leading a team of healthcare professionals, you will have the opportunity to delegate tasks and oversee the delivery of high-quality, non-discriminatory care, offering guidance, supervision and appraisal to others. You will continue to administer medications under supervision with confidence and competence, demonstrating a sound knowledge of pharmacology.

Compulsory

Modules

Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology - 30 credits

This module introduces you to the fundamental knowledge of anatomy and physiology and how the body functions throughout the levels of organisation, from cells to body systems. As well as covering the relationship between the structure and function of each body system, you will also be introduced to the inter-relationships between body systems and how they work together to maintain homeostatic control, as well as including the key internal and external factors that influence these systems.

Compulsory

Fundamentals of Pathophysiology and Disease - 30 credits

This module introduces you to how ill health and disease develop (including the impact of lifestyle on health and disease) and the key pathophysiological changes to body functions throughout the levels of organisation from chemical/molecular to cells, organs and organ systems. You will cover the relationship between pathophysiological changes to the structure and function of body systems and the most common causes of morbidity, mortality and sickness absence. You will also be introduced to the inter-relationships between specific health issues and how they impact on homeostatic control, and therefore cause key signs and symptoms.

Compulsory

Introduction to Professional Practice and Regulatory Standards - 30 credits

Successful completion of this module will enable you to become familiar with the professional and regulatory standards in relation to your chosen health profession. You will explore the current challenges to these within your chosen profession whilst exploring areas for good practice and service development. Issues around law and ethics, accountability and professionalism and clinical governance will become familiar discussion points.

You will have the opportunity to gain confidence in your ability to challenge practice through this knowledge and in relating it to your preferred profession. Professional resilience within the health professions will be discussed and strategies on how to achieve this and indeed its impact on delivering holistic care will be debated. You will explore your own resilience and develop strategies that will support you with your future studies and career.

Compulsory

Approaches to Health and Wellbeing for the Health Professional - 30 credits

This module will examine how health and wellbeing are viewed in society, enabling you to challenge definitions and perspectives of health and ill health. Models of health will be explored alongside health beliefs allowing you to determine professional approaches to health and wellbeing. The impact of social determinants of health will also be examined in order to identify the environmental conditions that promote good health for all.

You will explore the role of Public Health - locally, nationally and internationally - as an essential aspect of the health professions. Health promotion strategies will be examined and their impact upon health behaviours debated giving you essential tools for working with community health.

Compulsory

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

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

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

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 30 credit module requires a total of 300 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 15-18 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.

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

The foundation year will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module and may include:

case study
individual presentation
essay
numeracy test
values-based interview.

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.

on-campus lectures, seminars and workshops
group work
self-directed learning
practice placement^2,5
simulation
role play.

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 each semester, year of study and due to module selection. 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:

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 placement^2,5
formal examinations
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations
presentations
assessed discussions.

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.

The tutors at CU Scarborough are supportive and knowledgeable, the campus is small and modern. We had the opportunity to work with Coventry students within our Learning Disabilities modules. My advice for someone who wants to be a nurse is ‘Go for it!’, no matter how old you are or even if you have young children, like me.
Charlotte Gill, final year Learning Disabilities Nursing student, 2023

A student nurse writing down notes with a patient in a bed behind them.

Entry requirements

Apply now

You could receive a provisional offer for your chosen course.

Choose your course of interest, fill in a short form and we will send you an offer to your inbox if you are eligible.

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Typical entry requirements:

Fees and funding

Foundation year

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£9,535	Not available
International/EU	Not currently available***	Not available

Degree

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£9,535 per year	Not available
International/EU	Not currently available***	Not available

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 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.

Applies to degree only:

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).

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 Pathway courses for additional options.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Our campus building is designed with your needs in mind⁴. As nursing students, you’ll have the opportunity to:

make use of our simulation facilities - from basic life support manikins to high-tech simulation manikins, which emulate patient responses and test resuscitation skills
use equipment found in the real world of practice, such as medical devices
assist with all elements of care, including medication administration.

This is designed to help you to build your confidence before you go on placement.

Mock hospital ward

Gain experience using simulation across a range of care settings. The aim is to:

build your confidence and knowledge
prepare you for how to act in real-world situations
enable you to practice and develop your clinical and interpersonal skills in a safe but realistic environment.

Realistic scenarios

We may use actors to enhance your experience. This gives you the opportunity to replicate real-life situations. For instance, breaking bad news, demonstrating emotional resilience, and dealing with conflict and aggression.

Other facilities on campus

Our purpose built campus building is arranged around an open central atrium and also includes:

indoor social spaces, including a café
a library that includes loan laptops and a silent study area
open-access computers
a prayer room
student support and careers advice teams
free on-site student parking
public bus stops close to the campus
free WiFi.

The campus itself is located next to Scarborough’s Sports Village, a complex that includes an Olympic Legacy swimming pool, sports hall, fitness suite, all-weather pitches, and the Scarborough Athletic Club Football ground.

The campus is just a 10-minute walk from the stunning Yorkshire seafront. North Bay is Scarborough’s Blue Flag beach, meaning it is one of the best in Europe for cleanliness, both on the sand and in the water, for facilities, and safety.

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.

Career options for successful graduates may include working in specialist areas such as education, sensory disability or service management or moving into areas such as management, teaching or clinical research.

During your three years on the programme, you will have the opportunity to undertake six placements in a range of service settings⁵. These will give you the chance to work with and alongside qualiﬁed learning disability nurses, and therefore potential local and regional employers. Upon successful graduation, you can apply for registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), which can enable you to practise immediately (additional costs apply)¹.

Local employers include:

Happy Futures Support Specialists
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

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.

We are very proud of the nursing programme at CU Scarborough. We are continuously exploring new approaches to teaching that is responsive to our students and links to real world practice. The course team have a wide range of experience across all fields of nursing and are extremely passionate about using this to prepare the future workforce.

Smaller cohort sizes mean that we get to know our students in their journey to become a registered nurse. We have close links with our practice partners who students will learn in practice with, and many go on to secure jobs in these areas too.
Claire Barwick, CU Scarborough Nursing Curriculum Lead, 2024

Nursing students around a mock hospital bed with a tutor and an acting student playing the role of a patient.

How to apply

BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Apply via UCAS

C85

Institution code

View our courses on UCAS

Visit UCAS

UK students

Full-time UK undergraduate students apply through UCAS. Otherwise, you will need to apply to CU Scarborough directly. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

Apply via UCAS

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

(+44) 02477 652222

ukadmissions.cu@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

International students

International codes:
CSHC006BI

International students should apply to CU Scarborough directly. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International pages or Coventry University Group's International hub.

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

(+44) 02477 652222

cus@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

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 Home Students, if Parliament permit 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.

⁴Facilities

⁵Placements

Satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure is also required. As part of the health clearance checks, you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The University is, therefore, unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.

⁶NHS payment

The rules may be subject to review by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in the future and as a result may change. Please therefore check the NHSBSA website for up-to-date information before applying.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2025/2026 contract is available on the website. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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Student life

Accommodation

Fees and funding

Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Available through Clearing

Don't meet the entry requirements? This course is available with a foundation year with lower entry requirements.

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Course overview

Foundation year

Degree

Why you should study this course

Foundation year

Degree

Accreditation and professional recognition

Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)

CU Scarborough celebrates success of Nursing graduates

What you'll study

Modules

Modules

Modules

Modules

How you'll learn

Teaching contact hours

Teaching hours:

Guided and independent study:

Online learning:

Assessment

Teaching contact hours

Teaching hours:

Practice-based learning:

Guided and independent study:

Online learning:

Assessment

Entry requirements

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You could receive a provisional offer for your chosen course.

Fees and funding

Foundation year

Degree

Foundation year funding

*Irish student fees

**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 Pathway courses for additional options.

Facilities

Mock hospital ward

Realistic scenarios

Other facilities on campus

Careers and opportunities

Where our graduates work

How to apply

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