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Nursing Studies (Learning Disability)

Course details
  • BSc
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 07/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site

Course summary

Learning Disability nursing involves working in partnership with individuals and families to improve autonomy, promote health and support inclusion. This includes making a real contribution towards enhancing behaviours and lifestyles that help achieve the best health outcomes.

This course focuses on meeting the holistic needs of people with learning disabilities. You will explore key themes within contemporary learning disability practice including meeting health needs, community engagement, person-centred planning, inclusion and integration, addressing health inequalities, legislation, forensic practice, care planning and assessment, evidence-based practice, research methods and appraisal.

You will undertake a variety of practice learning experiences within a variety of health and social care settings.

GCU's virtual learning environment and state-of-the-art inter-professional simulation suite provide flexible, innovative, appropriate and effective learning design, content and assessment. There is the opportunity to undertake clinical placements in a variety of NHS Health Boards and third sector organisations throughout west and central Scotland.

Your career
On successful completion of the course, you will be eligible for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

There are a wide range of employment opportunities in both NHS and third sector services, for example, assessment and treatment units, community learning disability teams, hospital liaison services, forensic services, child and adolescent mental health services, and other specialist services.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Nursing and Midwifery Council

How to apply

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:
G42
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Open days

Entry requirements

Standard Qualification requirements

A level - BC

plus GCSE English Language and Maths at C/4

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

plus GCSE Maths and English at C/4

Access to HE Diploma - M: 21 credits P: 24 credits

Access to HE Diploma with minimum of 60 credits with 45 at level 3 . Access to HE Diploma in Health or Care – Requires GCSE Maths and English C/4 if not included in Access Diploma.  SWAP Access to Nursing applications from our partner colleges only, grades required BBB

Scottish Higher - BCC

Must include Higher English or Essay based subject plus National 5 Maths or Application of Maths at C or Numeracy at SCQF level 5

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points

IB Diploma of 24 with specific scores of SL 4 in Maths and English A at SL or HL at Grade 5 or English B at SL Grade 6 or HL at Grade 5

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

including Higher Level English or Essay based subject plus Ordinary Level Maths at O3/O4

Scottish HNC - Pass

Most HNC courses accepted, must also have National 5 C in Maths or Application of Maths or SCQF level 5 Numeracy See further information for details of year 2 entry with HNC Healthcare Practice

Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) - Pass

Accepted as equivalent to one Higher at grade B as part of the overall grade profile of Highers required for entry. Any essential subjects at Higher should still be achieved in addition to the Foundation Apprenticeship.

T Level - Pass (C and above)

Health and Science: Science  Health and Science: Healthcare Science  Health and Science: Health Education and Childcare  plus GCSE Maths and English at C/4 or above

Applicants are expected to have evidence of assessed study (not work based) within the last 5 years.
A reference which should be relevant within the past 9 months.
Applicants must be 17 by the January after their Programme starts.
For year 2 entry - HNC Healthcare Practice with B in the Graded Units, successful completion of Articulation Pathway. This could be 600 clinical hours but advised to achieve as close to 620 clinical hours as possible (in designated clinical area). Candidates need to obtain a minimum of 90% attendance at College and a minimum of 90% attendance at Practice Placement. Applicants must be named by their college in order to be considered and will be required to attend an interview with our nursing department.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Scottish Higher - CCC

Must include Higher English or Essay based subject plus Nat 5 Maths or Application of Maths at C grade or above, or SCQF Level 5 Numeracy.

Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) - Pass

Accepted as equivalent to one Higher at grade B as part of the overall grade profile of Highers required for entry. Any essential subjects at Higher should still be achieved in addition to the Foundation Apprenticeship.

Applicants should have recent assessed study (not work based) within the past 5 years, and a reference which should be relevant with the past 9 months.
Applicants must be 17 by the January after their Programme starts.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
Arranged by University
Interview
Applicant interview event attendance is compulsory. We recommend applicants check their spam email for updates as interview invitations will be sent from the university email address.
Other
Applicants must be 17 by the January after their Programme starts.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7IELTS - overall 7.0 with at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking, and 6.5 in writing.

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted 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 enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

90 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

95 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9790Year 1
Northern Ireland£9790Year 1
Wales£9790Year 1
Channel Islands£9790Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9790Year 1
Scotland£1820Year 1
EU£15700Year 1
International£15700Year 1

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

For further information please visit our website www.gcu.ac.uk/study/tuitionfees

Additional costs may apply to students on this programme. Please check the fees and funding section of the programme page on the GCU website for specific details.

Sponsorship information

The fees and financial support that are relevant to you depend on where you lived before coming to university.

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