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Nursing (Learning Disability)

  • BN
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 7 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Sighthill
More about Edinburgh Napier University

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Voted Best Education Provider for the Undergraduate Nursing Programme of the Year at the SNTA National Awards 2017.

Learning disability nurses aim to improve the health and quality of life of people with learning disabilities through evidence-based nursing care and support.
This degree course will develop your professional knowledge and understanding in the field of learning disabilities nursing and its application, giving you an academic qualification and the vocational training to become a registered nurse.

Taught by experts in a friendly and supportive environment, you'll put theory into practice in our state-of-the art Simulation and Clinical Skills Centre and participate in work placements within Lothian and Borders and across the East of Scotland in a variety of health and social care settings, with both children and adults. Work placements make up 50% of the course content.

Over the three years you will develop your skills, knowledge and confidence and complete the degree programme with a registered nurse qualification. Learning disability nurses are the only professionals educated specifically to work across the lifespan with people with learning disabilities.

Please visit our website for full course and module details.

This course is available in Clearing. If you have submitted an application, you can add this course. If you haven’t sent us an application yet, you can do this until 24th September 2026.

This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Sighthill

Study options

  • BN • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 7 September 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
B761
Institution code:
E59
Campus name:
Sighthill
Campus Code:
S
Points of Entry:
Year 1

How to apply

This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
  • EU
  • Wales
  • England
  • International
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland
  • Republic of Ireland

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
B761
Institution code:
E59
Campus name:
Sighthill
Campus Code:
S

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
BC

Preferably to include English or a Literary subject* and a Science subject**

GCSE grade C/4 in Maths also required.

GCSE grade C/4 in English and a Science subject/Double Award Science required for candidates who do not have these subjects at A Level.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
MMP

Minimum grades MMP (Merit, Merit, Pass) in any subject.*

GCSE English, Maths and a Science subject** at grade C/4 also required.

*Recommended subjects: Health and Social Care/Applied Science/Sports Science/Health Science.

Access to HE Diploma
M: 27 credits P: 18 credits

Pass Access to Higher Education Diploma in any subject with 45 credits overall, with minimum 27 credits at Merit & 18 credits at Pass. English, Maths and a Science subject** must be achieved at Level 2/3 as part of the diploma.

Scottish Higher
BBC

Preferably to include English or a Literary subject* and a Science subject**

National 5 Maths OR Applications of Maths at grade C or above also required.

National 5 English and a Science subject** at grade C or above required for candidates who do not have these subjects at Higher.

If you are eligible for an adjusted offer under our Contextual Admissions Policy, please see the ‘Minimum Qualification Requirements’ below.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
25 points

25 points overall with three Higher Level subjects at grades 5, 4, 4, preferably to include English or a Literary subject* and a Science subject**

Standard Level Maths, English and a Science subject** at grade 4 also required if not studied at Higher Level.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H3, H3, H3

Grades H3, H3, H3 preferably to include English or Literary subject* and a Science subject**

For those who do not have English, Maths and a Science subject at Higher level, grade O3 at Ordinary Level will be required.

Scottish HNC
Pass

Pass in any subject with grade C in the graded unit for Year 1 entry. For the subjects below, the National 5 requirements differ. For all other HNC's, National 5 grade C in Maths, English and a Science is also required.

- Care and Administrative Practice/Healthcare Practice (No additional National 5 grades required)

- Social Care, Social Services, Social Sciences, Childhood Practice, Early Education and Childcare (National 5 grade C in Maths and a Science also required)

- Applied Science (National 5 grade C in English and Maths also required)

T Level
P

Pass in any subject, preferably English or a Literary subject** or a Science Subject**

GCSE Maths at C/4 also required.

GCSE English and a Science Subject** at C/4 required for applicants who do not have these subjects at A-Level.

Standard Year 1 Entry Requirements

QQI Level 5 Pre-Nursing Studies - Minimum of 6 Distinctions must be achieved overall. Distinctions must also be achieved in the Communication Unit and the Anatomy and Physiology Unit.
B2/O3 in Ordinary Level Maths in Irish Leaving Certificate or Maths completed as part of QQI Level 5.

Mature students - Adequate and appropriate previous (and recent) study is essential. Please contact ugadmissions@napier.ac.uk if you are unsure whether or not you would be eligible to apply. Relevant work experience will be considered alongside recent study. It may necessary for those with limited qualifications to undertake an Access course or other appropriate courses/studies in a Further Education setting.

*Literary Subjects include: English/English Literature, History, Modern Studies, Religious, Moral & Philosophical Studies/Christian Theology, Psychology, Geography, Sociology, Health and Social Care, Law.

**Science Subjects include: Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics, PE (only accepted as a Science subject if studied at Higher level)

Selection Day Requirements - Part of the selection process for entry to the programme of your choice will include a computer based Confident Caring Assessment (CCA) where you will be given a short video and related scenario with questions. This is an assessment of the attributes expected of a nurse/ midwife, not your clinical knowledge and skills. It is designed to assess the qualities needed to work as a nurse/ midwife and the proficiencies outlined in the:

Nurses Standards of proficiency

Standards of proficiency for midwives

The Code

It presents a series of work-related situations, and you will be questioned about how you would respond. All applicants are required to sit the CCA.

If you require adjustment for a learning support need, please get in touch by emailing nursingandmidwifery@napier.ac.uk before your selection event.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Scottish Higher BCC

Preferably to include English or a Literary subject* and a Science subject**

National 5 Maths OR Applications of Maths at grade C or above also required.

National 5 English and a Science subject** at grade C or above required for candidates who do not have these subjects at Higher.

*Literary subjects include: English/English Literature, History, Modern Studies, Religious, Moral & Philosophical Studies/Christian Theology, Psychology, Geography, Sociology, Health and Social Care, Law.

**Science Subjects include: Biology/Human Biology; Chemistry; Physics; PE (only accepted as a Science subject if studied at Higher level).

The grades listed above are our minimum entry requirements for applicants who meet our widening participation criteria. For further information about our entry requirements and our widening participation criteria as outlined within our Contextual Admissions Policy please visit our website.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
Interview
Other
Satisfactory PVG Check required.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7IELTS 7.0 overall with no component below 7.0 (excluding writing which requires 6.5).

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not available

Historical entry grades data is not currently available for Edinburgh Napier University - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

International - Year 1 £18,220 - £21,120 (See course page for details)

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