Adult Nursing BSc (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Professionally Accredited Programmes
Young female nurse looking after her patients white wearing a light blue top

This degree combines theoretical and practice-based learning to lead you to professional registration and a rewarding career as an adult nurse.

Course option

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

CU Scarborough (Scarborough)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

3 years full-time

UCAS codes

HU01

Start date

September 2025


Course overview

Adult nurses work to improve people’s lives by offering comprehensive physical, emotional, mental and social support to people of all ages. This course aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to independently address the diverse health and care needs of individuals across the lifespan.

  • Successful completion of this course makes you eligible to apply for professional registration as an Adult Nurse with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) (please see Accreditation section for more information).
  • Gain the skills to deliver professional, impactful, evidence-informed care across a range of dynamic and diverse healthcare environments.
  • Learn to collaborate and thrive as an adult nurse across and within multidisciplinary teams to coordinate safe, evidenced-based care delivery.
  • Study one module at a time, with five weeks of learning followed by one week of assessment per module.
  • All eligible students on this course can apply for a minimum payment from the government of £5,000 per year, with additional payments for students incurring childcare costs6.
  • 50% of your learning will take place in diverse practice-based learning environments where you will apply your theoretical knowledge to the real world2,5.

Why you should study this course

If you are compassionate, enthusiastic and committed, we can support you in developing the skills to deliver professional, evidence-informed care that truly impacts people’s lives.

  • Our approach supports you to develop a strong sense of professional identity and accountability as an adult nurse from day one.
  • Develop your confidence and skills in preparation to lead, influence and supervise others.
  • Delivered by a team that includes highly skilled, knowledgeable, nursing and allied health professionals.
  • Develop your digital fluency, curiosity, critical and reflective thinking.
  • Study in our campus which includes a clinical skills space for realistic scenarios.
  • Access to success coaches, placement supervisors and specialist support for mathematics and academic writing4.

Studying nursing at CU Scarborough

Gain the skills and experience to transform lives, communities and the future of healthcare delivery. We aim to empower you to become a stand-out healthcare professional, capable, competent and confident in your field and role within the wider healthcare team.

While continuously developing your sense of professional identity as an adult nurse from day one, you'll learn in an environment that puts inclusivity, diversity and dignity at its heart.

11th

Coventry University ranked No.11 for General Nursing

Guardian University Guide 2025

Accreditation and professional recognition

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Nursing and Midwifery Council

The degree is currently accredited by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)1. Following changes that have been made to improve the course, we will apply for re-accreditation for entrants of 2025-26. If any changes occur with respect to our accreditation, we will notify applicants and students as soon as possible. This is a normal part of the process of continuous improvement of our courses to ensure they remain up-to-date and reflect best practice.


CU Scarborough celebrates success of Nursing graduates

87 per cent of 2024 Nursing graduates secured employment locally before they even graduated.

Find out more about this achievement
Two nursing students working on a manekin

What you'll study

You will cover:

  • practical skills relating to assessing and caring for people in your care
  • evidence-based care
  • your role and responsibility as an adult nurse
  • knowledge and skills to maintain the health and wellbeing of others
  • leadership and working within the multi-disciplinary team.

All modules are compulsory.

Modules

All modules are compulsory.

Modules

All modules are compulsory.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

We understand that everyone learns differently, so this course will consist of structured teaching sessions which may include:

  • on-campus lectures, seminars and workshops
  • group work
  • self-directed learning
  • practice-based learning2,5
  • simulation.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary depending on year of study and module. During your first year you can expect 10-12 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Practice-based learning:

Practice-based learning forms an essential and significant part of your learning experience. Practice hours will differ between placements and different health and care courses. You will have access to university staff, but should expect to spend the majority of your contact time with practice collaborators undertaking placement activity. Overall, the hours you undertake in practice-based learning will need to satisfy the eligibility requirements set by the professional body regulating profession, the NMC. No less than 2300 practice-based hours gained from a combination of placement and simulated learning will need to be completed over the course of your degree.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

  • coursework
  • practice placement2,5
  • formal examinations
  • assessed discussions
  • Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
  • presentations.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

I started my Adult Nursing course as a 36-year-old single mum to two sons. I’d returned to nurse training following a failed attempt around 16 years ago. CU Scarborough was local so I knew juggling placements and childcare would be doable.

I had a placement at York Drug and Alcohol Service in my second year, which moulded who I am as a nurse today.

I'm currently working in the community. I chose this route as it worked around family life and I wanted to be out and about rather than in a hospital. I've been working in a very supportive, close-knit team, developed a broad range of clinical skills and competencies, built confidence as a newly qualified nurse and also forged some lovely friendships with patients.

Charmaine Mashonganyika, Adult Nursing BSc (Hons) graduate, 2023
A photo of CU Scarborough campus building

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC. Excludes General Studies.
GCSE 5 GCSEs at grade 4 / C or above including English, Mathematics and Science.
BTEC DMM in a Health, Sport or Science based subject.
IB Diploma 27 points to include 14 points at Higher level.
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma in Health or Science subject to include 24 Level 3 credits at Distinction in Health units. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above.

Additional information

Caring experience, either paid or voluntary, is very desirable. You will also be required to attend an in person or online selection event, which provides detailed information about the course and assesses aptitude as part of the selection process. Applicants must have certificates at point of interview.

In line with the National Health Service constitution, we use a values-based recruitment approach in seeking candidates with the appropriate values to support effective team working in delivering excellent patient care.

Students will be subject to satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure. Please refer to the full requirements in the disclaimer section5.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,535 per year Not available
EU £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary**
£19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International £19,850 per year Not available

A non-repayable grant of £5,000 and extra payments worth up to £3,000 may be available to eligible students for each year of study6. Read more about this in the NHS Learning Support Fund information booklet.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see the University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

Our campus building is designed with your needs in mind4.

As nursing students, you'll have the opportunity to:

  • make use of our simulation facilities - from basic life support manikins to high-tech simulation manikins, which emulate patient responses and test resuscitation skills
  • use equipment found in the real world of practice, such as medical devices
  • assist with all elements of care, including medication administration.

This is designed to help you to build your confidence before you go on placement.

Mock hospital ward

Gaining experience using simulation across a range of care settings. The aim is to:

  • build your confidence and knowledge
  • prepare you for how to act in real-world situations
  • enable you to practice and develop your clinical and interpersonal skills in a safe but realistic environment.

Realistic scenarios

We may use actors to enhance your experience. This gives you the opportunity to replicate real-life situations. For instance, breaking bad news, demonstrating emotional resilience, and dealing with conflict and aggression.

Facilities on campus

Our purpose built campus building is arranged around an open central atrium and also includes:

  • indoor social spaces, including a café
  • a library that includes loan laptops and a silent study area
  • open-access computers
  • a prayer room
  • student support and careers advice teams
  • free on-site student parking
  • public bus stops close to the campus
  • free WiFi.

The campus itself is located next to Scarborough’s Sports Village, a complex that includes an Olympic Legacy swimming pool, sports hall, fitness suite, all-weather pitches, and the Scarborough Athletic Club Football ground.

The campus is just a 10-minute walk from the stunning Yorkshire seafront. North Bay is Scarborough’s Blue Flag beach, meaning it is one of the best in Europe for cleanliness, both on the sand and in the water, for facilities, and safety.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.


Careers and opportunities

On graduating successfully from this course, and providing you also meet the NMC requirements, you can apply for registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), additional costs apply1. Successful registration enables you to practise immediately.

CU Scarborough is committed to preparing you for your future career and aims to give you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. We offer a range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

There is a real shortage of qualified nurses across the North Yorkshire Coast and nationally, meaning that there is a demand for graduates in the sector.

Where our graduates work

Many of our graduates find employment as qualified nurses in the NHS with a growing emphasis on community settings, in acute hospitals, military nursing, in the private and independent healthcare sector, in private hospitals, nursing or care homes. As your career progresses a number of options may open up to you, such as a lecturer or specialist practitioner, advanced nurse practitioner, consultant nurse or manager.


How to apply

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