Occupational Health Nursing (Top-Up)

Course Highlights

• 100% online learning – study alongside your professional role and enjoy flexible access to structured learning materials to fit around shift patterns
• Course can be completed over 1-2 years, allowing registered nurses to top up their Diploma / Advanced Diploma in Nursing to a Bachelor’s degree whilst managing studies around their practice
• Develop specialist knowledge in Occupational Health, public health and long-term conditions
• Learn from expert academic and clinical lecturers
• Live, interactive online sessions scheduled to maximise accessibility
• Build practical, career-focused proficiencies aligned to Occupational Health practice
• Evidence-based curriculum informed by national OH and nursing guidance

Top up your nursing qualification online

BSc (Hons) Occupational Health Nursing (Top Up) is a flexible online degree designed for registered nurses working in Occupational Health (OH) who want to enhance their knowledge, gain a full honours degree and progress their career.

Depending on your previous qualification (Diploma or Advanced Diploma), you will complete either 60 or 120 credits to achieve your BSc (Hons) degree while continuing to work in your professional role.

Designed for working Occupational Health nurses

This programme has been developed specifically to meet the needs of registered nurses already working in Occupational Health. It provides a high-quality, industry-informed curriculum that supports professional credibility, workforce development and career progression.

The course complements existing professional routes such as:

• Postgraduate Occupational Health Practice programmes
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) modules
• The Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN – Occupational Health) qualification
• The Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) Diploma in Occupational Health Practice

These are often undertaken alongside, or following, employment in the specialty.

Evidence-based and industry informed

Although there is currently no statutory regulatory requirement for nurses to hold a specific Occupational Health qualification, this degree equips you with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed for effective practice in a wide range of OH settings.

The curriculum is informed by recognised national guidance, including:

• Educating Occupational Health Nurses (Public Health England, 2016)
• Growing Occupational Health and Wellbeing Together (NHS England, 2023)
• Standards for Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (NMC, 2022)

This ensures a robust, evidence-based learning experience aligned with current professional expectations.

Supporting your professional development

Delivered entirely at academic level 6, the BSc (Hons) Occupation Health Nursing (Top Up) degree supports you to develop safe, competent and evidence-informed practice in Occupational Health. It is designed to meet the needs of both employers and practitioners, helping you build skills that are directly relevant to your role and future career progression.

Your study plan depends on your previous qualification. We will confirm your module availability and running order when you are invited to enrol.

Entry with a Diploma

You will complete 120 credits at level 6, consisting of:

• One core 20-credit module
• Three optional 20-credit modules
• One 40-credit Independent Study core module

Entry with an Advanced Diploma

You will complete 60 credits at level 6, consisting of:

• One core 20-credit module
• One 40-credit Independent Study

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Our teaching approach is designed specifically for experienced, working nurses.

This course is delivered entirely online through our virtual learning environment and student portal where you can access the course materials, learning content and study resources, the online library, your university email account and virtual student community spaces.

Lecturers will work with you to support your discussions and answer any questions. This support will be through written discussions within the module learning spaces as well as regular live sessions to help you consolidate your learning, support you with your assignments and help you with any questions.

Through Develop@Derby, you will be able to access a resource package of live and recorded sessions covering things such as critical writing and reading, researching and referencing.

You will learn through:

• Online learning materials and guided activities
• Real-world case studies drawn from Occupational Health practice
• Formative assessments with feedback to support continuous improvement
• Opportunities to apply theory directly to your professional role

Study skills

Many of our students are mature learners and have not studied academically for many years. To help you to become an effective student, able to study at postgraduate level, there are a number of advanced study skill resources available to you covering areas such as research skills, critical evaluation in academic context, literature search, referencing, plagiarism and so on.

Pace of study

You can complete the course over one or two academic years, depending on your chosen study pace.

The academic year is divided into three 10-week trimesters. For the standard study route, we recommend around 20 hours of study per week to complete one 20-credit module per trimester. This includes time to work through learning materials and prepare and submit assessments.

If you choose the accelerated study route and study two modules in one trimester, you should plan for approximately 40 hours of study per week.

Before selecting the accelerated route, we strongly encourage you to consider your capacity to balance study alongside your professional and personal commitments. Many students find it helpful to begin with the standard study pace before deciding whether to increase their workload.

How you will be assessed

Assessment is designed to be authentic, relevant and supportive of professional development.

Across the programme, assessments:

• Are clearly aligned to module learning outcomes
• Focus on applying theory to Occupational Health and nursing practice
• Build progressively as you move through the course
• Include timely, constructive feedback in line with university policy

Assessments may include:

• Written essays that relate to Occupational Health Practice
• Case studies drawn from industry aligned scenarios
• Reflective accounts relating to your own practice
• Professional discussions related to your experience

Student support and guidance

Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:

• Library
• Health and Wellbeing Centre
• Careers and Employability Service
• IT Support
• Union of Students
• Develop@Derby for study, personal and employability skills

All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.

This degree provides a strong foundation for ongoing professional development. It develops the knowledge, confidence and transferable skills needed to work effectively and independently in Occupational Health practice.

You will gain an understanding of workplace health management, health surveillance and the prevention of work-related illness, enabling you to contribute safely and competently to Occupational Health service delivery. These skills also support career mobility across wider healthcare and public health settings.

Career opportunities in Occupational Health

Completion of the BSc (Hons) Occupational Health Nursing (Top Up), will help you to pursue or progress in roles such as:

• Occupational Health Practitioner
• Leadership, management or educator roles within Occupational Health
• Specialist or advanced practice roles (with further study)

The programme enhances employability within Occupational Health and supports long-term career progression.

Research, global and entrepreneurial pathways

If your interests extend beyond clinical practice, this degree can also support progression into:

• Research and academic roles, including teaching and scholarly activity
• International and global health opportunities, working with organisations addressing workplace health on a global scale
• Entrepreneurship and consultancy, such as establishing an OH service, advisory role or contributing to innovative healthcare and digital health solutions

Further academic study

After graduating, you may wish to explore further study:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Practice
• The NMC-approved Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Occupational Health Nursing) Postgraduate Diploma
• Master’s-level study through the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice which could then lead onto Doctoral study such as our Doctorate of Health and Social Care Practice
• The research intensive 2 year MRes Health and Care (Nursing and Midwifery) designed to help you lead, influence and deliver high-quality research across diverse healthcare settings

Utilise our Careers and Employment Service​

Whilst you are a student at the University of Derby, and for three years after you graduate, our Careers and Employment Service can assist you with job search advice, CV creation, workshops and events, as well as one-to-one appointments with employment advisers to help with career planning and interview preparation.

To apply, you will need:

• To be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or international equivalent
• To be employed in a health or care setting
• To hold a Registered Nurse qualification - Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Nursing (minimum 120 credits at level 5) or international equivalent. Alternatively, we may consider your application, if you can demonstrate the ability to work at level 5, by previous study or experiential learning that demonstrates you are ready to progress onto level 6 study

English language qualifications

If English is not your first language, or you have not successfully completed your highest level of qualification in English, you will need an English language qualification equivalent to a minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) average score of 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any element or equivalent.

Note: International qualifications will be assessed for equivalency according to UK ENIC (formerly NARIC) guidelines and the university's international admissions policy.

^‡2026/27 for new entrants

Starting between September 2026 and August 2027.

About your fees

This figure would be the total cost of this course based on the fee in the current academic year. However, please note that fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase if your course lasts longer than one year.

If you are required to undertake any associate study or additional study as a condition of your offer for the programme, please be aware that the cost for this may be in addition to the programme cost stated above.

Flexible payment plans available

Choose from two payment plan options:

• Pay monthly and only for the modules you are studying

• Pay your full course fees upfront and avoid annual increases

Undergraduate funding options

Depending on where you are from in the UK or EU, and on your pace of study, you may be eligible for an undergraduate student loan. Accessible through Student Finance, this is a non-income based loan to meet the cost of tuition fees.

If you are considering applying for a student loan, please also see our additional guidance on Loans for Online Students.

If you already hold an honours degree, and you are looking to re-skill or up-skill, you may still be eligible for a loan to study this course.

Contact us

Contact the University of Derby Online Learning: