Learning Disabilities Nursing, BSc Hons
Study our learning disabilities nursing degree for a rewarding career supporting people with learning disabilities and helping to achieve equality in health care.
Learning disabilities nurses play an important role in the health and well-being of people with learning disabilities, as well as their families and carers. They work in a variety of specialist settings and within generic services to provide support.
Our degree provides you with the skills to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities, including those with complex needs. You will experience practice-based learning in the community with patients, families and carers in south-east London and Kent.
We prepare you to apply for registration as a learning disabilities nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Our course helps you achieve the outcomes identified in the NMC Realising Professionalism: Standards for education and training, Part 3 (2018) and Future Nurse: Proficiencies for registered nurses (2018).
All nursing students on courses from September 2020 may benefit from guaranteed, additional support of at least £5,000 a year, which they will not need to pay back. See more information.
UCAS points
112 (full requirements below)
Course/institution codes
B761 A BSc/LD
Department
Campus
Duration
- 3 years full-time
- 5 years part-time
Start month
September; January
Home fees
What you should know about this course
What you will study
About the course team
You will be taught by an experienced team of experts, which includes senior academics, technical officers, and practitioners with industry experience. Trained postgraduate researchers may also contribute to seminar teaching with the module leader. Teaching is informed by our research and consultancy work, and 97% of our lecturers hold a teaching qualification.
Come and meet us
Given the current situation with Covid-19, we are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.
Next Open Days
Got a question?
To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
You should normally hold three GCSEs at Grade 4 or above on new grading system (or grade C) which must include English Language (or equivalent) and Mathematics (or equivalent)
And 112 UCAS points.
We also accept:
- BTEC/National Diploma
- International Baccalaureate
- Advanced and Progression Diplomas
- Access courses
- NVQ (Level 3)
- Diploma in Health and Social Care (Level 3)
- Foundation degrees.
Registered nurses can exceptionally apply for more than 50% of RPL/RPEL from a pre-registration nursing programme.
For more information, contact courseinfo@greenwich.ac.uk or 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
Further information about entry
Candidates will be required to:
- Attend an interview at a Selection Day
- Appropriate healthcare experience through work shadowing or observation either voluntary or paid is encouraged
- Professional / Academic reference required
- Suitability Declaration
- If you were educated in a language other than English and/or in a country where English speakers are in a minority, you should have a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 or an equivalent rating in another Secure English Language Test.
Students who require a visa to study in the UK are not eligible to apply for this programme.
Available to overseas students?
No
Can I use prior learning?
Appropriate healthcare experience either voluntary or paid is encouraged.
Enhanced disclosure
Applicants for this course are required to complete a suitability declaration, an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check, and an occupational health check.
How you will learn
This section helps you understand more about how you'll learn based on standard delivery of teaching and learning on campus.
However, as a response to COVID-19 we are currently operating a 'blended model' of teaching and learning (except for distance-learning courses). This means a combination of face-to-face sessions on our campuses with online lectures. There is additional support for any students who are unable to attend campus because they are ill or shielding. We'll continue to offer blended learning to all our students, in line with government guidelines, for as long as we are advised to. If government or local authority rules require it, we may be limited to offering online-only learning but will return to blended learning as soon as we are safely able to do so.
You can find out more about how we are supporting our students.
Teaching
In a typical week learning takes place through a combination of:
- Timetabled learning
- Independent study
You can view more information about how each module is taught within our 'What you will study' section.
Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. You will also be able to meet your personal tutor. Timetabled learning may fall between 9am and 9pm depending on your elective courses and tutorials.
Class sizes
Class sizes vary by module. Lectures are normally attended by larger groups, and seminars/tutorials by smaller groups. This can vary more widely for modules that are shared between degrees. All students will have opportunities for 1-to-1 time with their tutors.
Independent learning
Outside of timetabled sessions, you are also expected to dedicate around 30 hours a week to self-study. This may involve further reading and research, preparing coursework and presentations, and preparing for tests and exams. Our facilities are designed to support you in these activities.
We encourage you to join societies and participate in sporting and other activities to engage in the wider life of the university community.
Overall workload
If you are studying full-time, you should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job. For part-time students, this will reduce in proportion with the number of courses you are studying.
Each module you study towards this degree is worth 15 or 30 credits. These represent around 150 or 300 study hours respectively. If you receive 100 contact hours for a 30-credit module, you should expect to commit 200 hours to independent study to complete it successfully.
Assessment
On this course, on average, students are assessed by:
- Examinations
- Coursework
Students are assessed through a combination of course work, exams and practical assessment where relevant. You can view more information about how each module on this course is assessed within our 'What you will study' section.
Each course has formal assessments which count towards your grade. Some courses may also include 'practice' assignments, which help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.
Feedback summary
We aim to provide feedback on assignments and to release examination results within 15 working days.
Dates and timetables
The academic year runs from September to June.
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.
Full time
Part time
Fees and funding
Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
Accommodation costs
Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. University accommodation is available from just over £100 per person per week (bills included), depending on your location and preferences. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost.
Funding your study
There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, including the Aspire@Greenwich award for study resources that many full-time students will receive.
Discover more about grants, student loans, bursaries and scholarships. We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.
Other costs
Further costs may include (but are not limited to):
- Books and journals (estimate, £150 per year)
- Shoes (£60) and clothing (£100) (dependent on field and uniform policy)
- Travel costs to and from placements
- Parking (if appropriate)
- Meals while on duty.
Careers and placements
Will I have a work placement?
We have excellent links with the National Health Service and other care providers. Through your placements, you have the opportunity to work in a range of different settings, including community learning disability teams, forensic services, assessment and intervention services and special needs schools. This will give you experience and knowledge of working with children, young people and adults with learning disabilities, including those who have more complex needs.
More on health placements.
How long is my placement?
You will spend 50% of your time each year in these valuable work placements, where you will be assessed by qualified practitioners. These placements will be in a variety of institutional and community settings, which will enable you to fully understand the needs of individuals with a learning disability. As a learning disabilities nurse, you will play a vital role in providing specialist support and interventions.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
Successful completion of this course will equip you to work as a Registered Nurse Learning Disabilities in various setting, such as community nursing, inpatient services, specialist liaison roles, and within generic mental health services or child health services.
This course helps you develop a wide range of transferable skills to boost your career development and progression in nursing.
Do you provide employability services?
Our Employability & Careers Service (ECS) is committed to supporting our students and recent graduates in their transition towards a rewarding graduate destination. We aim to empower our students to achieve their potential, with support including:
- CV and cover letter checks
- Application support
- One-to-one careers advice
- Interview tips and support
- Careers fairs
- Internships
- Graduate jobs.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.
Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.
Support from the department
Throughout your degree, we aim to make you aware of the range of opportunities available to you as a registered learning disabilities nurse.
We also promote multi-professional and collaborative working, with shared learning between nursing and midwifery students.
Our friendly and supportive staff are committed to supporting you during your studies.
Accommodation information
Not quite what you were looking for?
We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our undergraduate prospectus or check our related courses below.
Health and social care at the University of Greenwich
As a health and social care student at Greenwich, you can expect research-active expert tutors, work placements and great job prospects thanks to our strong links with social care providers.
Visit our health and social care subject page.
New £5,000-a-year bursaries
From September 2020, students in nursing, midwifery, paramedic science, and speech & language therapy may be entitled to receive at least £5,000 a year towards their studies.
Health and social care courses
Health and social care subject page Subject page Search our health and social care courses All undergraduate courses
Nursing at the University of Greenwich
Take your first step towards a fulfilling career with one of our pre-registration nursing degrees and benefit from excellent links with health service providers. Nursing students on courses from September 2020 may benefit from guaranteed, additional support of at least £5,000 a year, which they will not need to pay back.
Visit our nursing subject page.
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Need more help?
020 8331 9000• Live chat• courseinfo@gre.ac.uk• More information