Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. With 99% graduate employment rates and wide-ranging placements. This respected course offers the ideal preparation for you to become a registered nurse. Study in Derby or Chesterfield.
Gain essential practical experience on a range of clinical placements in different health care settings
Develop your practice in some of the UK's best learning facilities, including our state-of-the-art immersive suites
You could be eligible for the NHS Learning Support Fund that could provide a grant for training, childcare costs and travelling to placements
99% employment rate
99% in professional occupations 15 months after graduation**The Guardian University Guide 2023 (Adult Nursing and Nursing Associate)
Top20Nursing subject area ranked**The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022
Ideal preparation for your career
We have a strong track record in providing high-quality and innovative nurse education. We help you develop an in-depth understanding of the demands and rewards of the role so that you are fully prepared to work with adult patients who have diverse, acute and chronic conditions.
Because this course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, you will be eligible to register and practise as a nurse as soon as you graduate, as long as you meet the NMC's requirements. If you already hold a degree and are looking to qualify as a nurse, find out more about our MSc Nursing (Adult).
Specialist facilities
Both our Derby and Chesterfield sites offer outstanding including clinical skills suites built to professional standards, with replica wards, counselling rooms and treatment rooms fully equipped with the latest clinical resources.
Our state-of-the-art immersive simulated environments allow you to practise your skills in a realistic setting. These suites are the first university facilities of their kind outside London. They replicate the atmosphere and sights and sounds of, for instance, the inside of an ambulance, a busy A&E ward or an operating theatre. They will give you a greater understanding of clinical decision-making in action.
Expertise to inspire you
You'll be taught by enthusiastic and dedicated staff who are immersed in their areas of practice and committed to supporting you at every stage of your studies. Some continue to work in practice alongside their teaching role.
Our course is closely mapped against the needs of employers, which will ensure that your learning is up to date and relevant. And we respond to national changes such as the latest government policies.
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.
Undergraduate Open Days
The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.
The best way to find out if studying at The University of Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the campus, tour our first-class facilities and meet our academic team.
Practical experience is a cornerstone of this degree. Drawing on our extensive links with the NHS and other local employers, you'll hone your skills on a wide variety of placements, including:
hospitals
acute settings
community and voluntary organisations
the independent sector
This is essential to your preparation for registration, taking up approximately half of your time on the course. You'll take part in 24-hour care with shift patterns so you gain a genuine feel for the practicalities and demands of the profession.
Your clinical placement hours will be completed in settings carefully selected by the University in association with the NHS Trusts. You'll benefit from the support of approved and qualified Practice Assessors and Practice Supervisors. They will help you get as much out of the experience as possible.
The practical abilities you develop on placement will be underpinned and extended through lectures, tutorials, workshops and activities in the University’s own high-quality training facilities.
You'll cover the core themes of:
biological sciences
pharmacology studies
the sociological aspects of health care
leadership and management
professional, legal and ethical studies
evidence-based practice and research
integrated practice
How you’re assessed
Our assessment approaches include problem-based learning, assignments, online activities, and exams. While you are in practice, a qualified mentor will assess your knowledge and skills. The assessment strategy is designed to provide a diverse range of assessment approaches. We use feedback and feedforward mechanisms to help students make the most from assessment and continue to develop.
Who you will meet
Our teaching team includes qualified health professionals with extensive experience in nursing and leadership roles within the NHS as well as nurse education. They have professional interests ranging from surgical nursing care to cardiac rehabilitation, A&E to public health.
And they are involved in a range of projects aimed at building healthy, sustainable communities. This gives you access to up-to-date knowledge and the latest thinking relevant to your career. Our team includes renowned professionals whose work features regularly in leading journals and books and who help shape national policies.
As health care is increasingly delivered by multi-professional teams, we offer opportunities at each stage of the course for you to learn with, and from, students from other disciplines. This is really important in preparing you to work in more flexible ways after graduation. By learning to work together, you can help achieve the best outcomes for your patients.
Personal academic tutoring
Your personal academic tutor will work with you to help you get the most out of your time at university. Having someone to talk to about your academic progress, your university experience and your professional aspirations is hugely valuable. We want you to feel challenged in your studies, stretched but confident to achieve your academic and professional goals.
Debbie Watkinson is a qualified nurse and registered midwife and programme lead for student experience and a senior lecturer in pre-qualifying health care at the St Helena site in Chesterfield.
These are the typical qualification requirements for the 2023-24 academic year which includes September 2023 and March 2024 entry.
Requirement
What we're looking for
UCAS points
112-120
A Level
BBB-BBC
T Level
Merit
BTEC
DDM-DMM
GCSE
GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HE
Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, our admissions team may offer you an alternative course that will enable you to continue in your aspirations towards becoming a registered nurse. You can study this programme starting in March (UK students only) or September (UK and International students) at Kedleston Road, Derby Campus.
Students should apply for the full degree programme and our admissions team will get in touch with you after the interview stage if this pathway is suitable for you.
An Occupational Health Assessment and Clearance by the University is required for this course. We will contact you with information on how to complete this when required
English language requirements
IELTS: 6.5 (with at least 6.0 in each skills area)
2024 entry
These are the typical qualification requirements for the 2024-25 academic year which includes September 2024 and March 2025 entry.
Requirement
What we're looking for
UCAS points
112-128
A Level
BBC-ABB
T Level
Merit
BTEC
DMM-DDM
GCSE
GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HE
Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, our admissions team may offer you an alternative course that will enable you to continue in your aspirations towards becoming a registered nurse. You can study this programme starting in March (UK students only) or September (UK and International students) at Kedleston Road, Derby Campus.
Students should apply for the full degree programme and our admissions team will get in touch with you after the interview stage if this pathway is suitable for you.
An Occupational Health Assessment and Clearance by the University is required for this course. We will contact you with information on how to complete this when required
English language requirements
IELTS: 6.5 (with at least 6.0 in each skills area)
Fees and funding
2023/24
Full-time
Part-time
UK
£9,250 per year
N/A
International
£14,045 per year
N/A
Funding for nursing and allied health courses
By studying on this programme, you are eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,250. The loan will support your studies and enable you to start a rewarding career in healthcare.
All new and continuing nursing and allied health students on pre-registration courses will also receive a grant of at least £5,000 per year that is not means-tested and will not have to be repaid. This is provided through the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF) and is not managed by the University. Please check with the LSF for residency requirements and eligibility criteria.
If you're eligible, you can get:
A training grant of £5,000 per academic year
Parental support of £2,000 if you have at least one dependent child under 15 years or under 17 years if registered with special educational needs
Money back for excess travel and temporary accommodation costs while you're on your placement
£1,000 if studying a shortage specialism
Among others, the shortage specialisms have been confirmed to include:
Mental health nursing
Learning disability nursing
Diagnostic radiography
In addition to this non-repayable grant, you are also able to access a maintenance loan of up to £9,488 per year to support your studies, giving you access to over £17,000 per year of funding. Training grant payments will be paid in three instalments over the academic year. This is to provide you with a consistent flow of funding throughout the academic year as far as possible.
All NHS LSF applications must be submitted within six months of the start of the academic year and you will need confirmation of your Student Finance in order to complete your application. You need to set up an NHS Learning Support Fund online account to apply.
On successful completion of this degree, you’ll be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and go into practice as a nurse, as long as you meet the NMC’s requirements.
We offer full support to help you achieve your career goals, including guidance on applications, CVs and interview techniques. Health care organisations large and small attend our annual employer fairs as part of their recruitment drives. Some of our students are fortunate enough to have several job offers by the time they complete their course.
Our graduates have gone into hospital-based roles on a variety of wards, intensive care units, coronary care units, theatres and A&E departments. Others have secured posts within community teams, private hospitals, nursing homes, health and social care settings, and the voluntary sector. Many take up roles in settings where they gained experience on placement.
As a registered nurse, you could also pursue career opportunities in the armed services, prisons, travel companies and charitable organisations, to name but a few. Some of our graduates have even gone on to work overseas.
Take your studies to the next level
We offer a full range of post-registration courses to help you gain more advanced and specialist skills to take the next step in your career. You could, for instance, focus on areas such as district nursing, health visiting, school nursing or the management of long-term conditions.
You could also explore broader issues such as leadership for healthcare improvement or inter-professional practice. If you would like to conduct independent research into a specialist aspect of health and social care practice, there are opportunities to progress to doctorate level study too.
Many of our post-registration courses and modules can be incorporated into your workplace practice as part of a programme of continuing professional development. Find out more about our Health and Social Care short courses.
A personal insight into nursing placements
Many things can define your time during the journey to becoming a qualified nurse. Perhaps most defining are your placements. Final-year student Kieron Powis gives his personal insight into how his placements have shaped his learning.
If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.
International students can only join the September intake at Kedleston Road, Derby Campus.
Teaching hours
Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.
Additional costs and optional extras
We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.
The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.
Included in your fees
Travel and accommodation expenses associated with placements are to be met. Travel will be reimbursed if it exceeds travel to and from the University campus base
Uniforms
Markers, name badges and ID holders
DBS Check
Occupational Health Check
Mandatory vaccinations mandatory training
Mandatory costs not included in your fees
Textbooks for skills sessions and placements approx. £40
Suitable shoes that comply with uniform policy approx. £40
Optional costs not included in your fees
Travel to elective placement in year three if the student chooses to go out of usual placement locations
Textbooks to supplement anything available through the library - various prices depending on the content
Printing costs of course materials if a hard copy is desired approximately 5p per sheet
Students may opt to engage in international trips and activities that are not fully funded, though bursaries may be available
Optional outings and trips will also require self-funding
Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.
Minimum numbers
Please note that this course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.
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