Nursing Studies (Learning Disability)

Learning disability nurses play a vital role in supporting people to live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives. They work in partnership with individuals and their families to improve autonomy, promote inclusion and reduce health inequalities. They help people overcome barriers to care and achieve the best possible quality of life.

Our BSc Nursing Studies (Learning Disability) programme equips you with the knowledge, skills and values to deliver compassionate, person-centred care across a range of settings.

You’ll explore key themes including:

• community engagement

• inclusion and integration

• health inequalities

• person-centred planning

• supporting individuals with complex needs.

You’ll also develop insight into areas such as positive behavioural support, safeguarding, and specialist fields including forensic and acute care, preparing you to respond to diverse and often complex situations.

Training as a learning disabilities nurse, you’ll build a diverse professional toolkit. Half of your learning will take place in clinical placements. You’ll gain hands-on experience supporting people in the community, in hospital, and across specialist services. Working with individuals with a range of learning disabilities, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), you’ll build confidence, adaptability and strong communication skills essential to practice.

As Scotland’s largest single-campus provider of pre-registration nursing education, you’ll train in our state-of-the-art Interprofessional Simulation Centre. Here, you’ll practise in realistic environments using real equipment and advanced patient manikins, working alongside students from other health and social care disciplines. This collaborative approach helps you develop the teamwork, leadership and decision-making skills needed to deliver safe, effective care.

You will graduate ready to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse. You’ll be prepared for a rewarding career supporting people with learning disabilities to improve autonomy, enhance life opportunities and live healthier, more independent lives.

Please note:

The BSc Nursing (Learning Disability) and BSc (Hons) Nursing (Learning Disability) follow the same structure in the first 3 years.

The BSc focuses on the core knowledge and clinical skills needed to become a Registered Nurse. The BSc (Hons) provides an additional fourth year of specialist study and academic dissertation.  Both the BSc and BSc (Hons) lead to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse following completion of the first 3 years.

Important: You must apply for your preferred route. Opportunities to transfer between the BSc and BSc (Hons) once you accept your offer are very limited and will not be considered until Year 3.

Why choose this course?

• Learn how to meet the holistic needs of people with a range of learning disabilities. Work in partnership with families to improve autonomy, support inclusion and maximise quality of life.

• Study at the largest single-campus provider of pre-registration nursing education in Scotland.

• Practice clinical skills in lifelike hospital wards and community settings. Build confidence with real equipment and advanced patient manikins at our Interprofessional Simulation Centre.

• Set yourself up to thrive as part of a dynamic multi-agency team, working regularly with students from other health and social care courses.

• 50% of the course is dedicated to clinical placements. Engage with patients face-to-face and get hands-on experience of real-life settings.

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

• Nursing and Midwifery Council