BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult)

Why choose this course?

  • This course is professionally accredited by The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). When you graduate you'll be eligible to register with them allowing you to practice as a nurse in the UK.
  • In the 2012 National Student Survey, 100% of our 2011 graduates were in work or study after six months.
  • Local NHS foundation trusts think highly of the nurses graduating from this course. Chesterfield Royal Hospital's Chief Executive, Gavin Boyle comments “High standards of nurse education are absolutely pivotal to the quality of care we provide. We know that the nurses the University of Derby deliver are first class and we want to recruit the people that it trains."
Show All

Fact file

UCAS code: B770

Start date: September and February

Course length: full time: three years

Campus: Derby Campus, Kedleston Road or Chesterfield Campus

About this course

This is a three year full time course, and you will qualify with a BSc (Hons) Nursing - Adult Nursing

The course acts as preparation for registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Is adult nursing for you?

As an adult nurse, you will work with a range of adults with diverse, acute and chronic conditions. Using the skills you'll develop during this course, you'll improve the quality of your patients' lives in a number of environments. Throughout the course you'll gain experience in a wide variety of placements across Derbyshire, including hospitals, acute settings, community and voluntary organisations and the independent sector. As part of your preparation for registration as a nurse, you will take part in 24 hour care that will involve shift patterns.

You'll study the following core themes throughout the course:

  • Biological sciences
  • Evidence based practice and research
  • Leadership and management
  • Professional, legal and ethical studies
  • Pharmacology studies
  • Sociological aspects of health care
  • Integrated practice, incorporating essential skills clusters.

What you will cover

Stage one

You'll study these modules:

  • Integrated Adult Nursing Practice 1    
  • Foundations for Nursing    
  • Applied Health Sciences 1
  • Evidence Base for Practice

Stage two

You'll study these modules:

  • Integrated Adult Nursing Practice 2    
  • Public Health    
  • Applied Health Sciences 2
  • Research Methods for Practice

Stage three

You'll study these modules:

  • Integrated Adult Nursing Practice 3    
  • Interprofessional Learning (Service Improvement)    
  • Applied Health Sciences 3    
  • Teamworking, Leadership and Management

Entry requirements

You'll need a minimum overall of 240 UCAS tariff points at least 200 of which can come from:

  • two or three A2 levels
  • BTEC National Certificate
  • BTEC National Diploma
  • Advanced Diploma (14-19)

and a maximum of 40 from AS levels.

You must also have five GCSE passes at grade C or above including maths, English language and single science. We don't accept any other level two qualifications except as part of an Access course.

We'll also accept the following:

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma (60 credits) with a minimum 24 level three credits at Merit plus level two maths and English (either GCSE or when taken as part of the Access course). Please note: If your Access course doesn't have substantial level three science content you'll also need a level two qualification in science (either at GCSE or when taken as part of the Access course).
  • NVQ3 in a health related subject plus five GCSE passes at grade C or above including maths, English language and single science. We don't accept any other level two qualifications except as part of an Access course.

When you apply for this course you should make sure that you consider the following areas in your application:

  • Give evidence that you meet the academic entry criteria above or are expected to
  • Show you meet the criteria to apply for NHS financial support
  • Provide examples of using your communication skills with the public
  • Give examples of working as part of a team
  • Demonstrate you can write clearly and concisely, showing a good level of spelling and punctuation
  • Show that you're motivated to become a nurse
  • Provide a reference
  • Show that you've studied formally at some point over the last five years
  • Demonstrate how you've gained insight into caring for others

We'll then use this information to shortlist candidates for our selection day. If you're shortlisted for a selection day, the day will include:

  • A presentation by our nursing team
  • An opportunity for you to talk to current nursing students
  • A chance to take part in interactive workshops
  • An individual interview

You'll need to make sure that you're prepared for the selection day as we'll make decisions on who we offer places to based on meeting you on the day.

All BSc (Hons) Nursing degree offers are subject to:

  • A successful selection process
  • Satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau and Occupational Health checks
  • Meeting the criteria for NHS financial support
  • A satisfactory reference

How to apply

UK students

Apply for this course through UCAS.

Fees and finance

All students on university courses in nursing (leading to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council) will be eligible for some financial help from the NHS while studying.

Eligible students who are accepted onto this course will usually have their tuition fees paid in full and may receive financial support in the form of a bursary.

All eligible students will receive a £1,000 grant each year. They will also be eligible to apply for an additional means-tested bursary of up to £4,395 per year.

NHS Student Bursaries provides financial support to eligible students taking approved (NHS funded) courses in nursing. Please visit the NHS Student Bursaries' website at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students for more information including:

  • eligibility requirements
  • the financial support available
  • an online bursary calculator
  • how the process of applying for financial support works
  • frequently asked questions
  • the latest rates
  • details of the adoption award
  • details of the maternity support award

How you will learn

This course is delivered at both our Derby Campus and Chesterfield Campus. Teaching takes place in our purpose built Clinical Skills Suite, which replicates hospital settings and incorporates a hospital ward, counselling rooms and an x-ray suite. It also includes a wide range of clinical equipment, from high technology simulation mannequins to moving and handling equipment that is used in practice settings. This will help you to put your skills into practice and prepare for working in a clinical environment. The course has strong links with local healthcare facilities across Derbyshire.

You'll go on placements for half the duration of this course which are fundamental to developing you as a registered nurse. These will take place in various clinical learning environments including hospitals, accident and emergency departments and within community and voluntary organisations.

Careers and employability

Nursing is a highly valued profession and when you become a registered nurse you'll be able to find opportunities in a wide range of specialities immediately after qualifying. We work closely with employers in the health and social care sector to make sure this course is relevant to their workforce, so you can be sure that you'll develop the skills you'll need to keep moving forward in your career.

Graduates from this course have gone into hospital based posts on a variety of wards, intensive care units, coronary care units, theatres and in A&E. Others have gained posts within community teams, private hospitals, nursing homes, health and social care settings and independent voluntary sectors. And some of our graduates have gone on to work in posts overseas.

Where will I study?

Derby Campus, Kedleston Road or Chesterfield Campus

Contact details

General enquiries about admissions and applications, UK and overseas

T: +44 (0)1332 591167
F: +44 (0)1332 597724
E: askadmissions@derby.ac.uk