2025/26 entry Applications also open for 2023/24
BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies
Why study Nursing Studies at Liverpool John Moores University?
- Expertise: Each module is delivered by an expert in the field.
- Relevance: The modules give an excellent insight into a variety of speciality areas within Nursing.
- Flexibility: Earn while you learn through part-time study; the degree can be completed over a two year period.
- Choice: Your choice of modules will mean you can tailor education to your specific practice needs.
- Recognition of Prior Learning: We are able to consider your previous study and add this towards the 360 credits that you require to attain a degree, with honours, in the United Kingdom.
- Your dedicated pathway: You will be able to discuss the best route through to your graduation with your Programme lead.
About your course
This course is for experienced NMC registered nurses who want to enhance their professional knowledge and career prospects whilst gaining a full Bachelors degree.
- For qualified, Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registered nurses
- Further develop your skills, knowledge and professional understanding in order to provide effective, evidence-based care
- Study part-time around your career and personal commitments
- Fee: £42 per credit x 120 credits = £5,040
If you are registered nurse and you have a Diploma in Higher Education within your field of practice, this degree has been specifically developed for you. It will enable you to enter study at Level 6, following Recognition of Prior Learning (RPEL) of Levels 4 and 5, leading to a full Bachelor of Science with Honours degree.
Based in the Faculty of Health in Liverpool city centre, the School works with a wide range of health and social care organisations to design and deliver a dynamic portfolio of undergraduate, postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes.
Studying at a multi award-winning School!
LJMU's School of Nursing and Allied Health was delighted to be announced as 'Best Student Experience' Winner, in theStudent Nursing Times Awards 2020, following on from the accolade of 'Nurse Education Provider of the Year (pre-registration)' two years previously at Student Nursing Times Awards 2018.
"The course offers a great opportunity for experienced nurses to enhance their professional education and complete study that encourages and fosters their own knowledge and understanding of their profession."
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Employability
When you successfully complete this course, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies degree.
The nursing profession is now firmly placed at BSc (degree) level as entry criteria for Nursing and Midwifery Council registration. Previous to the full undergraduate programme, nursing students undertook the Diploma within their chosen field of adult, child or mental health. Those nurses are now employed across the sector and have since developed extensive experience within their field. This top up degree allows for the Diploma to be recognised and incorporated into a full BSc Honours award. On successfully completing Level 6 studies and attaining 120 credits, you will not only have a full degree, but will have a wealth of experience to add to your CV, enhancing your professional development and career prospects.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
A life-changing experience
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
This course is currently undergoing its scheduled programme review, which may impact the advertised modules. Programme review is a standard part of the University’s approach to quality assurance and enhancement, enabling us to ensure that our courses remain up to date and maintain their high standard and relevancy.
Once the review is completed, this course website page will be updated to reflect any approved changes to the advertised course. These approved changes will also be communicated to those who apply for the course to ensure they wish to proceed with their application.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 6
Core modules
Dissertation Individual study
30 credits
The aim of the module is to enable you to develop the skills necessary to plan and execute a systematic review.
Research in Health and Social Care
20 credits
This module will enable you to examine a variety of research methods used within the sphere of health and social care to enable you to develop skills in the critical evaluation of literature within the field of health and social care.
Leadership Development Through Action Learning
10 credits
The aim of the module is to facilitate the development of empowerment and leadership skills in line with current expectations of key personnel in the health & social care services.
Optional Modules
Advancing Tissue Viability
20 credits
This module will equip the student with the appropriate knowledge, skills and critical understanding of tissue viability required to improve the care of individuals with, or at risk from, tissue viability problems.
Infection Control for Healthcare
20 credits
This module will enhance your ability to critically appraise current policy and practice in relation to Health Care Associated Infection Prevention and Control within your professional practice.
Diabetes Care and Management
20 credits
This module will enable you to critically examine and apply knowledge and skills necessary to implement appropriate care for people with diabetes.
Palliative Care for Adults
20 credits
The aim of this module is to introduce palliative care principles to health and social care professionals. The module promotes high quality care for all those approaching the end of their lives whatever their condition and whatever the setting in which they may reside.
Dementia Care
20 credits
The aim of the module is to evaluate programmes of care for individuals with a diagnosis of dementia. You will critically analyse the care delivered to individuals with a diagnosis of dementia, recognising the need for mental health promotion of service users, carers and families.
Negotiated Work-based Learning Professional Studies
20 credits
This module will enable healthcare and social care professionals to maximise learning opportunities and experiences relevant to their own area of practice in order to facilitate career and professional development.
Critical Illness Management
20 credits
The aim of this module is for you to develop towards being a critical care practitioner with innovative skills and associated background knowledge used to effectively manage the care of critically ill patients and their families.
Developing and Managing Care of the Highly Dependent Adult
20 credits
Suicide Prevention in Adults: a Psychosocial Approach
20 credits
This module will help you to develop an understanding of psychosocial suicide prevention approaches, and evaluate and reflect on their application in practice.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Elements include formal lectures, tutorials, online activities and seminars within groups and individually, along with portfolio construction.
The use of a robust virtual learning environment supports a range of the learning and engagement tools. Formal learning time in practice environments, use of negotiated work based learning agreements and structured practice based tasks are an element of the programme on some of the option modules.
Work-related Learning
As you already have clinical experience, we do not require a specific work placement as part of the programme. We will encourage you to consider your clinical experience and current practice, along with developments in your role, in the context of the topics covered on the course and the required learning outcomes. Bringing your own wealth of experience together with your study will help to solidify your learning, and have a practical, positive impact on your clinical practice.
Our newly refurbished and extended Tithebarn Building offers professional-standard practice suites showing a patients journey from the home environment through to rehabilitation. We have the latest clinical equipment for simulations and clinical skills development in child nursing, adult and mental health nursing, paramedic practice, social work and midwifery. There are also purpose-built, soundproof booths equipped with video camera and playback facilities.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
As a part-time student, you'll enjoy all of the same benefits as our full-time students. We know balancing your employment as a registered nurse with your study time can seem intimidating at first, but there is a whole raft of support services to help you excel - from your personal tutor, to library skills guides, John Moores Students Union reps, or the money advice team. You can read more about the help available in the Student Support section of our website.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
Assessment methods are varied, forming a clear pathway for you throughout your course.
Each module has a specific assessment that has been designed around the module content. This means you will be well prepared to meet the learning outcomes of the module required to pass. You will be able to gain formative and summative feedback for the work you produce.
The types of assessments will depend on the Option modules you select. The range of assessments across the modules allows you to demonstrate you understanding of the programme learning outcomes.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
This is such a fantastic opportunity to add a Bachelor of Science award to your CV, tailoring option modules to address your current professional role. The nursing profession is moving from strength to strength and this programme allows you, as a professional, to enhance your career and future prospects.
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
Part of the City Campus, the School of Nursing and Allied Health works with a wide range of health and social care organisations to design and deliver a dynamic suite of courses. In addition to specialist clinical practice suite facilities, you will find high quality seminar rooms, IT suites and lecture theatres, plus a café and social spaces. The Schools flagship Tithebarn Building adjoins the Avril Robarts Library.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications:
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below:
- Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
- NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
- Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
- Higher Diploma in Maths/English
- Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/English
- Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
- Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
Alternative qualifications considered
Mature entry
Those students who meet the requirement in terms of professional registration and employment, but
do not have level 5, can apply for consideration of experience, which is mapped against the
following criteria through a negotiated and agreed portfolio design and a series of assessments:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the well-established principles of Nursing
service provision.
2. Have developed a sound understanding of the values, principles qualities, specific and
transferable skills in Nursing and have applied them in the context of either academic or
professional practice.
3. Use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information,
and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis.
4. Effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to specialist
and non-specialist audiences, and deploy key techniques of the discipline effectively.
5. Have learned to evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems.
6. Demonstrate that they have undertaken further training, developed existing skills and acquire new
competences that will enable them to assume significant responsibility within organisations.
7. Reflect with insight on own personal, academic and professional development or practice.
8. Exercise personal responsibility and decision-making in line with the relevant standards set out
by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
International requirements
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IELTS
6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent English language proficiency test.
Further information
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DBS, Occupational Health requirements
Candidates must be able to satisfy the programme team that they meet the entry requirements of the
programme:- Current registration as a Nurse
- A Diploma in Higher Education, or equivalent demonstrated through RP(E)L (in accordance with LJMU RP(E)L policy
Those students who meet the requirement in terms of professional registration and
employment, but do not have level 5 can apply for consideration of experience, which is mapped
against an agreed set criteria. Please see the 'Alternative qualifications considered' section, with the title "mature entry" for information on the assessed criteria. -
Reduced offer scheme
As part of LJMU’s commitment to widening access we offer eligible students entry to their chosen course at a reduced threshold of up to 16/8 UCAS points. This applies if you are a student who has been in local authority care or if you have participated in one of LJMU’s sustained outreach initiatives, e.g. Summer University. Please contact the admission office for further details.
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
Candidates must be able to satisfy the programme team that they meet the entry requirements of theprogramme:
Current registration as a Nurse
A Diploma in Higher Education, or equivalent demonstrated through RP(E)L (in accordance with LJMU RP(E)L policy
Those students who meet the requirement in terms of professional registration and employment, but do not have level 5 can apply for consideration of experience, which is mapped against an agreed set criteria highlighted within this document under additional entry requirement information 'mature entry' section.
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.