• Postgraduate

Nursing (Learning Disabilities) Blended Learning – Pre-registration MSc

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Overview

Overview

This blended learning course welcomes self-motivated applicants with an undergraduate degree and healthcare experience. We offer a 2 year flexible route, resulting in eligibility to register as a Learning Disabilities nurse, with the NMC.

The theory elements of the course will be delivered online, using a variety of virtual and blended learning strategies. You should have access to your own IT equipment (laptop or desktop device and a reliable internet connection) and have a good level of IT proficiency. You will be fully supported to engage with the learning platforms, via a 2-week IT support package (mandatory), which you will undertake prior to starting the course.

Whilst there is a lot of freedom to undertake the learning at a time that suits your needs, you will be expected to log in online, at a set time each week during theory blocks, to engage with synchronous learning with your cohort. You will also be expected to attend campus, to engage in face-to-face simulation and mandatory training, which it is not possible for us to deliver online. The face-to-face theory, simulation and mandatory training and practice placements will equate to a minimum of 24 weeks per year.

Practice placements will take place in the clinical environment with NHS and Private, Voluntary and Independent partners, supported by practice-orientated simulation activities. You will be able to negotiate to some extent when you undertake these hours, within a specified block of time. However, you will be expected to work the shift pattern adopted by your placement area i.e. 12hr days, 7.5hr days etc. There will be a requirement to work days, nights, weekends and bank holidays during your course to ensure you experience caregiving, during the whole 24-hour period.

Whilst this is a 2 year full-time course, this creative, flexible delivery model enables you to balance your studies with other personal commitments. This course run at our West London campus, is also offered at our Reading campus in Berkshire. 

You are eligible to apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund, including a training grant of £5000. You may also qualify for additional financial support. Read the eligibility criteria and find out how to apply for the fund on www.healthcareers.nhs.uk. 

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Locations this course is taught at:
West London Campus (also offered in Reading)
Berkshire Institute for Health
Why study Nursing (Learning Disabilities) Blended Learning – Pre-registration with us?

Why study Nursing (Learning Disabilities) Blended Learning – Pre-registration with us?

A collage of students

What our students say…

I have thoroughly enjoyed my course and have felt supported in each stage. I have been able to achieve grades well above my expectations and believe this is because the content is delivered by lecturers who are passionate about their subject. The placement opportunities provided has given me a wide range of experiences which enabled me to build skills for my future practice.

Amelia Deane
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Top modern university London for nursing Times and Sunday Times 2023
This course has simulation centres in London and Reading
Graduates are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery council
Industry focused teaching
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

The learning disability nursing course has been designed to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council Future Nurse: Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses (May 2018). These standards set out the knowledge and skills you will learn as the next generation of nurses.

The aim of this course is to equip you with the clinical skills and evidence-based knowledge you need to face the challenges of modern learning disabilities nursing.

You will learn how to:

  • provide, lead, and coordinate care that is compassionate, and evidence based
  • care for people with complex mental, physical, social, and behavioural needs
  • care for people in various healthcare settings
  • help promote health, protect health, and prevent ill health
  • care for people of different ages, backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs
  • care for people at the end of their life
  • think critically and apply your knowledge and skills
  • be emotionally intelligent and resilient, while managing your personal health and wellbeing.

Facilities and support

We will provide a supportive learning environment to help you gain confidence as you develop your skills. You will learn using high-tech, innovative resources – including a fully equipped simulation centre – making your classes fun and engaging.

In addition, you will benefit from:

  • teaching staff who are highly committed and specialists in their subjects
  • a personal tutor to guide you through your course as well as access to the University’s mentoring service
  • regular personalised feedback on your progress in theory and practice components.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to ensuring people with a disability are provided with equal access to their chosen course of study and facilities at the University of West London. Appropriate support can be provided to remove barriers faced in education because of a person’s disability. This is support is called “reasonable adjustments”. 

We strongly encourage applicants to disclose their disability and discuss support requirements at the earliest opportunity by contacting our Wellbeing Team: online via the Student Hub or by email - wellbeing@uwl.ac.uk alternatively telephone 020 8231 2739. Early disclosure enables the University time to consider the individual support requirements that you may have and to identify whether reasonable adjustments can be made to help you with your studies prior to the start of the course. Some reasonable adjustments may not be possible in a placement setting due to professional standards and core competencies of the role so it is imperative these are considered prior to starting the course.

It is important to understand that successful progression on this course is dependent on professional standards being met. By disclosing to the University, where reasonable adjustments can be made, the University will provide you with the support you need to meet these standards. See standards of proficiency for registered nurses to explore the standards appropriate to your chosen course.

Practice learning

Placement learning is an essential part of your course and will give you practical experience so that you can apply what you learn in a real-world setting. This will include learning to care for people in hospitals, in their homes or within a community setting. As you will be working with people who require care for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you can expect to work days, weekends, bank holidays and night shifts.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

You need: 

  • a first degree at grade 2:1 or above (in any subject*) 
  • GCSE English and Maths (grade 9 - 4 / A* - C) or Level 2 equivalents

*If your undergraduate degree is not in a healthcare related subject we would require significant healthcare experience (this is in addition to the recognition of prior learning practice hours detailed below). 

Additional requirements
  • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)– 1,000 hours (500 hours theory and  500 hours practice); approximately 4 months formal healthcare experience signed off by a registrant - an RPL mapping tool has been devised to assist you with this
  • good basic IT skills
  • access to own device (laptop/desktop computer) and a reliable internet connection to facilitate remote working
  • completion of a 2-week on-line non-credited programme to prepare you to engage with on-line learning.
Experience and recent study

We recommend you should have some experience of:

  • studying in the past five years

You will be asked to provide a satisfactory reference along with your application form.

All offers are subject to satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health checks.

Find out more about the occupational health clearance requirements, tests and immunisations. (pdf, 723kb)

Selection Process

If you have the qualifications for this course, you will be asked to attend an individual values-based interview with an academic, clinician and service user/carer.

You will also need to complete a portfolio for evidencing graduate and transferable skills, which is required for entry. Additionally, you will need to show evidence of 500hrs of formal ‘hands on’ healthcare experience, signed off by a registrant.

Fees & funding

Fees & funding

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Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

You are eligible to apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund, including a training grant of £5000. You may also qualify for additional financial support. Read the eligibility criteria and find out how to apply for the fund on www.healthcareers.nhs.uk. 

The funding will not need to be repaid and you can also access funding for tuition and maintenance loans from the Student Loans Company.

UWL also offers a range of scholarships and bursaries, including awards for nursing, midwifery and healthcare. which you may be eligible for.

Please visit our Help with Funding page for more general information and advice:

Help with funding
Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Muili Lawal

Professor Muili Lawal

Areas of teaching interest:

  • Diabetes care
  • Management of people living with long-term conditions
  • Research methods
  • Public health
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Project supervision

Areas of teaching interest:

  • Diabetes care
  • Management of people living with long-term conditions
  • Research methods
  • Public health
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Project supervision
Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A team of nurses

As a successful MSc Nursing graduate, you will be eligible to register with the NMC, as a learning disabilities nurse.

Many graduates find work with local NHS Trusts or healthcare organisations.

Alternatively, you could continue your studies, helping you enhance your clinical knowledge and skills in a specialist area. We offer academic progression opportunities:

How to apply

How to apply

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Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2023 and 2024 - Average of answers to all questions by registered student population. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.