Nursing Studies (Learning Disabilities) Pre-registration, MSc

Course overview

As a learning disabilities nurse you are an important member of a multi-professional team working in partnership with people with a learning disability and/or autism, family, relatives and carers with a range of complex needs. You are in a unique and privileged position and play a key role in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the wide-ranging care needs of people with a learning disability and their families. This requires hard work, commitment and excellent interpersonal skills.

From September 2020 all new and continuing students on this course will receive a £5,000 maintenance grant each year if they’re eligible. They will not need to pay it back. Full details hereIf you are a motivated graduate with healthcare experience, this course gives you an exciting opportunity to work towards professional registration within two years, and prepares you for a fulfilling and successful career in learning disabilities nursing.

During the course you develop the essential knowledge and nursing skills required to care for people and their families in a variety of diverse settings, including hospital and community care. During these placements you participate in shift work, including weekends and night. This innovative course prepares you to become a confident and competent skilled practitioner, capable of leading and managing the care of people and their families. It also helps you to become a resilient and future-ready nurse who holds strong professional values, is able to exercise clinical judgement, challenge inequality, champion diversity and uphold the integrity of the profession whilst delivering high quality, person-centred compassionate care. The course content reflects the changing and challenging nature of providing healthcare in the 21st century and the evolving and diverse role of the registered nurse. Leadership is embedded over two years of the course, recognizing the crucial role nurses play in moving practice forward. You study the course full-time, with two years of university-based theory, self-directed study and practice placements, leading to the award of 180 credits at masters level. You work together with students from the adult, learning disabilities and mental health fields of nursing courses to share your learning and experiences. In the new nursing curriculum, there is increased emphasis on mental health and cognitive issues impacting on physical health and vice versa, and the essential need to consider biological, psychological and social care across the age continuum, bridging the existing gaps between healthcare services. Please note 100% attendance is expected during this course.

Career opportunities

A diverse range of career opportunities are available within the NHS and private sectors in the UK and overseas. This course provides a stepping stone from which you can develop your expertise. You have the opportunity to explore future career and academic development opportunities, including becoming an NMC professional registrant, plus possible progression to becoming a non-medical prescriber, an advanced practitioner, alumni member or graduate researcher. Progression to doctoral studies may also be considered on completion of the course.

The current employability rate is excellent for nursing graduates. To gain a higher grade and leadership posts within the nursing profession, registrants are required to be qualified to master’s level. This course therefore enables you to be future ready and highly employable. Completion of the course positions you and may inspire you to pursue an accelerated career pathway towards becoming a future leader, clinical expert or researcher within the nursing profession.