Birmingham City University Undergraduate and Postgraduate Open Day, 28th June 2025
28 Jun 2025, 09:00
Birmingham
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Course summary
Learning disability nurses can make a difference in the lives of people with learning disabilities and their families. Study learning disability nursing at one of the country’s largest nursing schools, with 100% graduate employability rate, to gain all the knowledge and experience needed to fulfil the role of a learning disability nurse.
Our aim is to develop you into a graduate nurse who is able to work flexibly across a range of settings and meet the health needs of the whole person throughout their lifespan. We will work with you on your development to help you become a skilled, knowledgeable, emotionally intelligent nurse, able to lead and co-ordinate compassionate, evidence-based, person- and family-centred care while working as an integral member of interdisciplinary teams.
The university-based elements of the first two years of your course are integrated, with all fields of nursing working together. In your final year, the theory you learn will be specific to learning disability nursing. You will study five modules each year. In year one, you will complete a year-long practice module which will prepare and support you to develop your confidence and competence in practice as you work towards independently leading and co-ordinating care.
In your first year, you will gain theoretical and practice knowledge to develop a range of key skills. This will include: exploring the evidence that underpins person- and family-centred care; professional values; self-leadership; and the role of the registered nurse. Second year modules will further enhance your first-year learning and explore evidence-based complex care incorporating a wide range of research, skills, team leadership and principles of co-ordinating care. During your third year you will continue build on your previous learning and develop proficiency in learning disability nursing. The modules you study will develop you as a leader who uses research-informed critical thinking to co-ordinate care, supervise other health professionals and gain confidence in the safe management of medication. You will also have access to personal tuition throughout the course which will enrich your learning experiences and will enable to reflect meaningfully on your practice and the development of your individual field identity.
Your practice placements will be specific to your field, learning disability nursing, throughout the three years. To help you become a more rounded nurse, you will also have opportunities to learn across the four fields of nursing. Your placement learning experiences may be within community, hospital or home environment settings and at a location anywhere within the West Midlands and potentially into neighbouring counties. While on placement you will be supported, supervised and assessed by practice and academic staff to develop your knowledge and skills.
We are committed to providing excellent, innovative, learning, teaching and assessment experiences through the use of technology, which we use to enhance your learning, through lectures, seminars, skills simulation and virtual learning. Engaging with practice partners and service users is also integral to our approach.
Our BSc (Hons) Nursing course has been designed to comply with the new Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards (2018) meaning that successful completion of this course makes you eligible to apply and be entered onto the NMC register in one of the four fields of nursing: Adult, Child, Learning Disabilities or Mental Health.
Assessment method
Interview/Audition
Applicants should be aware that qualifications, personal statement, interview and references all form part of the selection criteria for this course.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
Apply by
31 January
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
Application codes
- Course code:
- B761
- Institution code:
- B25
- Campus name:
- City South Campus, Edgbaston
- Campus Code:
- E
- Points of Entry:
- Year 1
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Birmingham City University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?
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How to apply
Apply by
31 January
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- B761
- Institution code:
- B25
- Campus name:
- City South Campus, Edgbaston
- Campus Code:
- E
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 120 points
Please note: If you qualify for our BCU Accelerate scheme, you could receive an offer that is two grades below our normal entry requirements.
If your level 3 qualifications do not meet the UCAS tariff for this course, you may be offered a place on our Foundation Year instead. You do not need to submit a separate application but will automatically be considered for this if your predicted grades fall below the UCAS entry tariff.
A level - BBB
120 UCAS tariff points from three A Levels. Grades BBB (or equivalent). Required subjects: Health and Social Care, Psychology, Sociology or a Science subject at A Level or level 3 equivalent. Excluded subjects: General Studies; Critical Thinking; Extended Project.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
120 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Health and Social Care; Science. National Diploma/Extended Certificate - accepted subjects: Either this qualification or the accompanying A Level / level 3 equivalent must be in Health and Social Care, Psychology, Sociology or a relevant Science subject (e.g. Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics).
Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits. At least 45 credits at level 3 with 30 credits at Merit or Distinction, with 24 credits in a science or health-related subject.
Scottish Higher
120 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CCC) or two Advanced Highers (CC) plus two Highers (CC). Required subjects: Health, Psychology, Social Science or Science subject at Higher level or above.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
120 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Health and Social Care; Science. National Diploma/Extended Certificate - accepted subjects: Either this qualification or the accompanying A Level / level 3 equivalent must be in Health and Social Care, Psychology, Sociology or a relevant Science subject (e.g. Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics).
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
120 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Health and Social Care; Science. National Diploma/Extended Certificate - accepted subjects: Either this qualification or the accompanying A Level / level 3 equivalent must be in Health and Social Care, Psychology, Sociology or a relevant Science subject (e.g. Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics).
Scottish Advanced Higher
120 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CCC) or two Advanced Highers (CC) plus two Highers (CC). Required subjects: Health, Psychology, Social Science or Science subject at Higher level or above.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 points
Obtain a minimum of 30 points overall. Required subjects: One of Biology, Chemistry or Physics at Higher level. For students who do not already hold a GCSE in Mathematics at grade C/4 or above, grade 5 in Maths (Standard level) from the IB Diploma will be accepted. For students who do not already hold a GCSE in English Language at grade C/4 or above, English Language (Standard level) from the IB Diploma will be accepted. For English A, this must be grade 4 or above; for English B, this must be grade 5.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Minimum of 120 UCAS tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects. Required subjects: Health, Psychology, Social Science or Science related subject at Higher level.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English Language or English Literature and GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests.
T Level - M
Merit overall. Accepted subjects: Healthcare Science; Science.
Welsh Baccalaureate: 120 UCAS tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Required subjects: Either this qualification or an accompanying A Level / level 3 equivalent must be in a Health and Social Care, Psychology, Social Science or Science subject (e.g. Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics).
OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 120 UCAS tariff points. Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Health and Social Care or Applied Science. Diploma - accepted subjects: Either this qualification or the accompanying A Level / level 3 equivalent must be in Health and Social Care, Psychology, Sociology or a relevant Science subject (e.g. Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics).
NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 120 UCAS tariff points. Accepted subjects: Childcare and Education; Children's Care, Learning and Development; Children and Young People's Workforce; Health and Social Care; Early Years Education and Care.
WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 120 UCAS tariff points. Required subjects: Either this qualification or an accompanying A Level / level 3 equivalent must be in a relevant Health and Social Care, Psychology, Social Science or Science subject (e.g Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics).
- Places are subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health Check, Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
- Qualifications, personal statement, and references all form part of the selection criteria for this course.
- Applicants must demonstrate evidence of literacy, numeracy, and IT skills in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council requirements.
- Applicants must normally have evidence of formal study within the last five years. However, we are sometimes able to waive this requirement if a candidate has a significant amount of professional experience in a relevant field, for example healthcare, social care, or education.
- You must provide evidence of having been in general education for a minimum of ten years.
"I really want to become a nurse but do not meet your entry requirements. What advice can you give me?"
All applicants must meet our academic entry requirements in order to be considered for the course. If you do not have sufficient level 3 qualifications, you could consider taking an Access to Higher Education Diploma qualification in a relevant subject such as Nursing, Midwifery or Health. You can search for Access course providers via www.accesstohe.ac.uk/course-search.
Maths and English language GCSE qualifications need to have been achieved at grade C/4 or above. In terms of acceptable equivalents to GCSEs, if you are taking an Access course we can consider Functional Skills level 2 in maths and English.
If you are applying to enter year 2 or year 3 of this course, we require a reference from your previous institution before enrolment.
Additional entry requirements
- Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
- Health checks
- Interview
- Applicants are required to undertake a face-to-face engagement, normally in the format of an interview. Interviews are currently taking place via Microsoft Teams.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | overall with no less than 6.0 in each band. |
If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course.
Historical entry grades data
This section shows the range of grades students were previously accepted with - learn more. It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
- Data from:
- This course and 16 other nursing and midwifery courses
- Date range:
- 2022-2024
Grades held by accepted students
- A*AA
- Highest grades
- DDD
- Lowest grades
Offer rate for UK school & college leavers
Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.
How do you compare?
See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| EU | £16085 | Year 1 |
| England | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
| International | £16085 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Birmingham City University
University House
15 Bartholomew Row
Birmingham
B5 5JU
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Course contact details
Course Enquiries Team
Email:courseenquiries@bcu.ac.uk
Phone:0121 331 6295
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