Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Study level: 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.

Course features

Course option

Year of entry

Location

CU Scarborough (Scarborough)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

4 years full-time

UCAS codes

H06F

Start date

September 2026
November 2026

The degree with foundation year is still available through Clearing

Please note the degree is full. However, the foundation year is still available. Not sure if you meet the entry requirements? Use our eligibility checker now and save your place or call us to talk through your options.

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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 This funding is not available for the foundation year of this course
  • 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.

Accreditation and professional recognition

The degree is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)

The Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc (Hons) programme is approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) for the 2026-27 intake.1


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

Modules

Modules

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

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.

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.

To help ensure the safety and wellbeing of both you and those you work with during placements, you’ll need to complete satisfactory occupational health clearance and an enhanced criminal record disclosure (DBS) as part of the admissions process. These checks are required to confirm your eligibility for practice-based learning.

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 placement2,5
  • 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.

To help ensure the safety and wellbeing of both you and those you work with during placements, you’ll need to complete satisfactory occupational health clearance and an enhanced criminal record disclosure (DBS) as part of the admissions process. These checks are required to confirm your eligibility for practice-based learning.

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
  • 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

Check your eligibility

Take a few quick steps to see if you can apply now.

Typical entry requirements:

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


Fees and funding

Foundation year

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,790 Not available
International/EU Not currently available*** Not available

Degree

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,790 per year 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.

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

To secure funding for a degree with a foundation year, you must complete the full four-year programme. If you do not finish the entire course, including the integrated foundation year, you may have to pay the foundation year fees yourself. 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 degree with foundation year is not currently available to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK.


Facilities

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

You’ll use facilities through timetabled teaching, practical activities and relevant independent study. Access may vary by module, activity, capacity, supervision or safety requirements. Access may change or be limited where the University needs to follow 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

This course with foundation year is not available to international students.

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