Nursing Practice (Adult) BSc (Hons)

UCAS code B742

Duration

3 Years

3 Years

Location

Centre for Health Innovation Stafford

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Help to improve people’s lives on a daily basis by specialising in the diverse and rewarding field of adult nursing.

As a student nurse, you’ll spend 50% of your time on placements. It will include caring for patients with serious illnesses or life-long conditions.

We also offer elective placements, where students can travel as far afield as Tanzania and the US. We can support you in securing funding for these opportunities.

You’ll spend up to three days a week on campus, learning theory and practising in our immersive spaces. On simulated wards, you could be treating injuries, doing assessments and higher level skills such as cannulation on high-fidelity manikins. Students also work with real service users.

We offer lots of careers support too. As the course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, you’ll be eligible to become a registered nurse on graduation. It can lead to lots of careers, ranging from becoming a staff nurse in an acute hospital to a nurse specialist or district nurse.

As a student nurse, you’ll spend 50% of your time on placements. It will include caring for patients with serious illnesses or life-long conditions.

We also offer elective placements, where students can travel as far afield as Tanzania and the US. We can support you in securing funding for these opportunities.

You’ll spend up to three days a week on campus, learning theory and practising in our immersive spaces. On simulated wards, you could be treating injuries, doing assessments and higher level skills such as cannulation on high-fidelity manikins. Students also work with real service users.

We offer lots of careers support too. As the course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, you’ll be eligible to become a registered nurse on graduation. It can lead to lots of careers, ranging from becoming a staff nurse in an acute hospital to a nurse specialist or district nurse.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Nursing Practice (Adult)

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Nursing Practice (Adult)

Work placements

Our wide range of placements go beyond the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You will experience a total of nine clinical placements across the three-year period. Each placement is over a block of six weeks.

We work with NHS trusts across Staffordshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Derby, Wolverhampton and Birmingham. We will try to find a ‘home’ trust for you near to where you live.

For the hospital placements, you could be working under supervision on medical and surgical wards, intensive care and other high dependency units. You’ll also cover community-based care and will visit people’s homes. In some cases, students can get clinical experience in hospices, prisons or voluntary organisations.

Course content

First year:

You will have an introduction to core nursing skills, including observations and assessments related to basic risks, falls and nutrition. We also cover basic life support, medicine management, manual handling and infection prevention.

You’ll be immersed in simulations, treating interactive manikin patients and engaging with service users who support student learning. You will also have your first clinical placements.

For some modules, adult, child and mental health nursing students learn together. These include one module exploring professional and legal matters, and another focusing on mental and physical health across the lifespan.

Second year:

After learning how to recognise what is ‘normal’ in an individual, you will focus on what is ‘abnormal’. You’ll look at the deteriorating patient and learn skills such as how to insert and manage urinary catheters, peripheral cannulation and administering intravenous medication.

You will complete further clinical placements covering hospital and community settings.

We also look at altered mental and physical health across the lifespan, including common problems related to areas such as the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and neurological systems. You will explore human factors which affect patient safety and will also practise your medication management skills through simulations.

Third year:

We’ll use more complex simulated scenarios so you gain confidence and competence in the range of clinical skills you have learnt across your training.

Alongside core placements, you’ll have the chance to do a self-funded elective placement. Some students go abroad for this or link it to the specialist area in which they want to work.

There will be a focus on developing your leadership skills. You’ll complete a literature review as well, focusing on a topic of your choice. We will also support you if we feel your work has potential to be published.

First year:

You will have an introduction to core nursing skills, including observations and assessments related to basic risks, falls and nutrition. We also cover basic life support, medicine management, manual handling and infection prevention.

You’ll be immersed in simulations, treating interactive manikin patients and engaging with service users who support student learning. You will also have your first clinical placements.

For some modules, adult, child and mental health nursing students learn together. These include one module exploring professional and legal matters, and another focusing on mental and physical health across the lifespan.

Second year:

After learning how to recognise what is ‘normal’ in an individual, you will focus on what is ‘abnormal’. You’ll look at the deteriorating patient and learn skills such as how to insert and manage urinary catheters, peripheral cannulation and administering intravenous medication.

You will complete further clinical placements covering hospital and community settings.

We also look at altered mental and physical health across the lifespan, including common problems related to areas such as the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and neurological systems. You will explore human factors which affect patient safety and will also practise your medication management skills through simulations.

Third year:

We’ll use more complex simulated scenarios so you gain confidence and competence in the range of clinical skills you have learnt across your training.

Alongside core placements, you’ll have the chance to do a self-funded elective placement. Some students go abroad for this or link it to the specialist area in which they want to work.

There will be a focus on developing your leadership skills. You’ll complete a literature review as well, focusing on a topic of your choice. We will also support you if we feel your work has potential to be published.

Academic year

The course operates on a modular basis. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity.

All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6.

The course operates on a modular basis. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity.

All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6.

Professional body accreditation

Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of registration as a qualified nurse (adult).

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Professional body accreditation

Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of registration as a qualified nurse (adult).

Nursing and Midwifery Council

NSS shows positive improvement in teaching

News

Teaching provision has improved across the University’s extensive course portfolio in this year’s National Student Survey results.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module where available.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Year 1 compulsory modules
Adult Nursing Care 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 1 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 2 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 3 20 credits
Mental Health And Physical Health Through The Lifespan (Rn) 20 credits
Professional, Legal And Ethical Considerations 20 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Year 2 compulsory modules
Adult Nursing In Practice 4 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 5 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 6 20 credits
Altered Mental Health And Physical Health Through The Lifespan 20 credits
Human Factors: Risk, Decision-Making And Uncertainty 20 credits
Physical Assessment And Preparation For Prescribing 20 credits
Year 3 compulsory modules
Year 3 compulsory modules
Adult Nursing In Practice (7,8,9) 60 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 7 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 8 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 9 20 credits
Peer Learning And Teaching In Professional Nursing Practice 20 credits
The Evidence-Base For Practice 40 credits

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module where available.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Year 1 compulsory modules
Adult Nursing Care 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 1 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 2 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 3 20 credits
Mental Health And Physical Health Through The Lifespan (Rn) 20 credits
Professional, Legal And Ethical Considerations 20 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Year 2 compulsory modules
Adult Nursing In Practice 4 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 5 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 6 20 credits
Altered Mental Health And Physical Health Through The Lifespan 20 credits
Human Factors: Risk, Decision-Making And Uncertainty 20 credits
Physical Assessment And Preparation For Prescribing 20 credits
Year 3 compulsory modules
Year 3 compulsory modules
Adult Nursing In Practice 7 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 8 20 credits
Adult Nursing In Practice 9 20 credits
Peer Learning And Teaching In Professional Nursing Practice 20 credits
The Evidence-Base For Practice 40 credits

Entry requirements

Typical UCAS Offer: 112 points, plus GCSE in Mathematics and English at Grade C (4) or above

A levels: BBC

BTEC: DMM Access awards (60 credits, with 45 at Level 3)

All applicants are individually assessed and a range of qualifications are accepted, so applicants are invited to enquire directly with the School.

An interview, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and occupational health screening form part of our selection process. You must also sign the Health and Social Care awards Contract of Professional Behaviour at the start of the programme.

This course requires IELTS 7 for students whose first language is not English.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

Typical UCAS Offer: 112 points, plus GCSE in Mathematics and English at Grade C (4) or above

A levels: BBC

BTEC: DMM Access awards (60 credits, with 45 at Level 3)

All applicants are individually assessed and a range of qualifications are accepted, so applicants are invited to enquire directly with the School.

An interview, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and occupational health screening form part of our selection process. You must also sign the Health and Social Care awards Contract of Professional Behaviour at the start of the programme.

This course requires IELTS 7 for students whose first language is not English.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

Harriet: My eye-opening Nursing Elective in Sri Lanka

Blog

Harriet's placement showed her the differences between healthcare in the UK and the developing world.

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

GO

Facilities

Careers

Graduate Earning potential

Nursing is a career that offers excellent prospects and earning potential. On qualification you will start on over £25k and with experience and further development & training you have the potential to reach positions in advanced clinical practice where you could earn over £49k.

Graduates from our Nursing Practice (Adult) degree have followed a diverse range of career pathways in a wide variety of clinical specialisms and roles. Roles range from staff nurse in an acute hospital or community-based setting, to specialist practitioner in areas such as cancer care, sexual health, long-term condition management or older adult care.

Employment opportunities for nurses are varied and exciting. Our graduates find work with a range of local and national employers in both the NHS and independent sectors, while others see opportunities abroad.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and laboratory practicals. Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups of around 16-18 students. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor at least twice a year. You will be taught in first-class learning spaces throughout your course.

Simulation

The course utilises a five-stage approach to teaching and learning, ensuring students develop a strong evidence base for practice, whilst also supporting them to develop their clinical skills, communication and team working. As part of the five stage approach to teaching and learning, simulation is embedded throughout our course and allows our students to experience real life scenarios within the safety of the University setting.

At Staffordshire University, we have state of the art facilities which help us to recreate the ‘real world’ experiences such as our Centre for Health Innovation, which is a unique, multi-purpose space, and allows us to recreate a vast range of different clinical environments, from community settings, to wards and even operating theatres. We also have access to immersive and virtual reality technologies to allow us to further develop the learning environment for our students enhancing learning.

The team strive to make our simulations a real as possible and draw on a wealth of clinical and teaching experience to help achieve this.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and laboratory practicals. Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups of around 16-18 students. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor at least twice a year. You will be taught in first-class learning spaces throughout your course.

Simulation

The course utilises a five-stage approach to teaching and learning, ensuring students develop a strong evidence base for practice, whilst also supporting them to develop their clinical skills, communication and team working. As part of the five stage approach to teaching and learning, simulation is embedded throughout our course and allows our students to experience real life scenarios within the safety of the University setting.

At Staffordshire University, we have state of the art facilities which help us to recreate the ‘real world’ experiences such as our Centre for Health Innovation, which is a unique, multi-purpose space, and allows us to recreate a vast range of different clinical environments, from community settings, to wards and even operating theatres. We also have access to immersive and virtual reality technologies to allow us to further develop the learning environment for our students enhancing learning.

The team strive to make our simulations a real as possible and draw on a wealth of clinical and teaching experience to help achieve this.

Assessment

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include:

  • study skills such as reading, note-taking and presentation skills
  • written English, including punctuation and grammatical accuracy
  • academic writing and how to reference
  • research skills
  • critical thinking and understanding arguments
  • revision, assessment and examination skills
  • time management

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

You will normally receive feedback on coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

You will normally receive feedback on coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Your study time will consist of class contact hours, self-directed learning, assessment and placements where appropriate. Your actual contact hours will depend on the subject area, on the option modules you select and professional body requirements. A typical composition of study time for this course is:

Your study time will consist of class contact hours, self-directed learning, assessment and placements where appropriate. Your actual contact hours will depend on the subject area, on the option modules you select and professional body requirements. A typical composition of study time for this course is:

Year 3

17% of time in lectures, seminars or similar
33% of time in independent study
51% of time in work based learning

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars, laboratory or other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve utilising a range of digital resources including our virtual learning environment; reading journals, articles and books; working on individual and group projects; undertaking research in the library; preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations. Your independent learning will be supported by a range of excellent facilities. These include the library, open access computer facilities, informal learning zones, a range of laboratories and performance and studio spaces.

When not attending lectures, seminars, laboratory or other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve utilising a range of digital resources including our virtual learning environment; reading journals, articles and books; working on individual and group projects; undertaking research in the library; preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations. Your independent learning will be supported by a range of excellent facilities. These include the library, open access computer facilities, informal learning zones, a range of laboratories and performance and studio spaces.

Year 3

25% practical assessments
75% coursework
0% written exams

Fees

For the course starting on 22 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Tuition fees for BSc (Hons)-Full-time, Centre for Health Innovation Stafford
Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,535 per year of study £19,000 per year of study

For the course starting on 22 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Tuition fees for BSc (Hons)-Full-time, Centre for Health Innovation Stafford
Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,250 per year of study £19,000 per year of study

UK and Channel Island students: This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation. If the UK government passes appropriate legislation, the fee for subsequent years of study may increase in each academic year. But this increase will not exceed the rate of inflation as measured by RPIX**. Any change in fees will apply to both new and continuing students. The University will notify students of any change as early as possible. Further information about fee changes would be posted on the University’s website once this becomes available.

**RPIX is a measure of inflation equivalent to all the items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.

Included in tuition fees
Included in the fees:

The School will fund uniforms, occupational health screening and DBS services.

The School will fund uniforms, occupational health screening and DBS services.

Not included in tuition fees
Not included in the fees:

Some students may choose to take an elective placement outside of our standard Practice Learning Placement circuit. Where this is the case, the costs associated with travel, accommodation, insurance etc will be the responsibility of individual students.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS ONLY

International Students, like all others, should be aware of the additional costs they will incur of travelling to their Practice Learning Placements (which constitutes fifty per cent of the course over three years). This is in addition to the costs associated with studying away from home such as accommodation.

International Students are unlikely to be eligible for the additional financial support offered to some UK/EU students. The International tuition fee includes a contribution to the yearly Practice Learning Placement tariff which will allow students to access the full range of clinical learning experiences.

Some students may choose to take an elective placement outside of our standard Practice Learning Placement circuit. Where this is the case, the costs associated with travel, accommodation, insurance etc will be the responsibility of individual students.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS ONLY

International Students, like all others, should be aware of the additional costs they will incur of travelling to their Practice Learning Placements (which constitutes fifty per cent of the course over three years). This is in addition to the costs associated with studying away from home such as accommodation.

International Students are unlikely to be eligible for the additional financial support offered to some UK/EU students. The International tuition fee includes a contribution to the yearly Practice Learning Placement tariff which will allow students to access the full range of clinical learning experiences.

Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Sources of financial support

If you receive funding from Student Finance you may be eligible to apply for additional benefits. Details can be obtained by reading our additional funding web pages, or visiting www.gov.uk.

Scholarships and additional funding

Adult Nursing Bursary

In order to support students who want to enter into the nursing profession, and address the shortage of adult nurses in the UK, we have introduced a bursary for all students who enrol onto our Nursing Practice (Adult) course in September 2024.

Each student will receive a £500 bursary per year of study. Once enrolled on the course, you will automatically receive the payment in two instalments of £250, meaning there's no application process to go through.

As this is a bursary, and not a loan, you won't have to pay it back.

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date Apply Link
Centre for Health Innovation Stafford BSc (Hons) Full-time, Centre for Health Innovation Stafford 22 September 2025 Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

Have you considered?

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021