• Undergraduate

Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc (Hons)

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Overview

Overview

Why study at the University of West London?
  • Ranked 30th university in the UK - The Guardian University Guide 2025
  • Our Nursing courses are ranked #4 in England and #2nd in London - Guardian University Guide 2025
  • Number 1 London university for overall student satisfaction - National Student Survey 2024**
  • Best university for Student Experience and Teaching Quality in the UK - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

As a Learning Disabilities Nursing student, you will receive a specialist subject grant of £1,000 per year. This is in addition to the Government grant of at least £5,000 a year - see our Fees and Funding section for more details. 

Are you ready to make a difference and embark on a rewarding career in Learning Disabilities nursing? This BSc (Hons ) Nursing course will prepare you to positively contribute to the health and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities. 

You will learn how to assess the often complex social and healthcare needs and support the delivery of robust, evidence-based care.

This course will be approved against the Nursing and Midwifery Council Future Nurse: Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses. Find out more about what it's like to be a nurse in London:  video by Health Education England.

Please note, this course is subject to re-approval by UWL and the NMC.

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.

Why study Learning Disabilities Nursing with us?

Why study Learning Disabilities Nursing with us?

A collage of students

What our students say…

This field specialises in the most important and challenging part of nursing profession which include; communication difficulty, Autism, Epilepsy, challenging behaviour, Down Syndrome and Dysphagia. I am now proud of my field as a specialist nurse-to-be because my field is unique. We also have brilliant and professional tutors and leading researchers.

Veronica Temitope
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Top modern university London for nursing Times and Sunday Times 2023
This course has simulation centres in London and Reading
Statistic emphasising this course involves 50% placement and 50% classroom
Graduates are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery council
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

Designed with input from students, service users and our partners in the NHS, this course will prepare you to think critically and apply your knowledge and skills to pursue a rewarding career in nursing.

This professional degree is recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. In accordance with their high standards, you will learn to:

  • provide, lead and coordinate care that is compassionate and evidence-based
  • care for people in their own home, in the community and in hospital
  • help to promote health, protect health and prevent ill health
  • empower people, communities and populations to take control of their own health decisions and behaviours
  • care for people of different ages, backgrounds, cultures and beliefs
  • care for people with complex mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural care needs
  • provide nursing care for people at the end of their lives
  • work across health- and social care services, playing a proactive role.
Facilities and support

We will provide a supportive learning environment to help you gain confidence as you develop your skills. You will benefit from:

  • teaching staff who are highly committed, passionate subject specialists
  • a personal tutor to guide you through your course
  • regular personalised feedback on your progress in theory and practice components
  • access to a variety of practice placements, thanks to our many partners
  • high-tech, innovative resources that make your classes fun and engaging. 

Our state-of-the-art facilities include a simulation centre, virtual reality facilities and immersive rooms. These all play a major role in our approach to teaching and learning and are located at both our West London and Reading campuses.

Learning Disabilities Nursing placement partners

Your placement is an essential part of your course. It will give you practical experience to apply your skills in a real-world setting. 

We currently partner with the following healthcare organisations for Learning Disabilities Nursing:

Course subject to approval

Approval is the formal process by which the University ensures that the proposed design, content and delivery of a course will provide a high quality learning experience for all students.

Compulsory modules

  • Accountability and Professional Leadership in Nursing Practice

    The aim of this module is to develop the self-awareness essential for practising with integrity and the ability to self-manage and develop practice. 

  • The Science of Nursing Practice

    The aim of this module is to introduce the biological and behavioural sciences. This is related to health and wellbeing across the lifespan.

  • Fundamental Skills of Nursing

    The aim of this module is to apply the knowledge and understanding from The Science of Nursing Practice to ascertain patient needs and develop skills in patient assessment. This module is taught in field specific groups with simulated learning.

  • Understanding Health and Illness

    The aim of this module is to introduce key concepts of health and illness and the influences that impact on individual, family and population health and wellbeing. 

  • Foundations of Evidence for Nursing Practice

    The aim of this module is to introduce key knowledge and skills to support the identification, use and implementation of evidence to underpin nursing and healthcare interventions and professional practice. 

  • Part 1 Nursing Practice

    The aim of this module is to ensure you are able and ready to progress into the second year of the course. This will be achieved by field-specific experience in practice placements that include acute and/or community settings and which will be supervised and assessed by appropriately qualified and prepared clinical staff.

Compulsory modules

  • The Pathology of Physical and Mental Health for Nursing Practice

    The aim of this module is to build on knowledge gained from The Science of Nursing Practice module in year one. This module explores the underlying pathophysiology and pharmacology of patients with ill health.

  • Patient Assessment and the Nursing Process

    The aim of this module is to develop year 1 skills from Fundamental Skills in Nursing and apply pathophysiology, pharmacology and the nursing process to inform clinical reasoning and decision making. This is taught in field specific groups.

  • Health Promotion and Nursing Practice

    The aim of this module is to develop knowledge and skills from year 1, Understanding Health and Illness, to effectively promote health and prevent ill health emphasising the key role of the nurse as a health promoter.

  • Translating Evidence into Nursing Practice

    The aim of this module is to develop the knowledge and skills from year 1 Foundations of Evidence for Nursing Practice and requires evaluation of research that impacts patient outcomes and experience and informs clinical practice.

  • Leading and Managing Nursing Care

    On this module you will explore leadership theory. You will identify your own abilities and areas for development so that you will be able to lead in practice.

  • Part 2 Nursing Practice

    The aim is to ensure you are ready and able to progress into the third year of the course. This will be achieved by field-specific experience in practice placements that include acute and/or community settings and which will be supervised and assessed by appropriately qualified and prepared clinical staff.

Compulsory modules

  • Nursing Leadership and Clinical Competence

    The aim of this module is to develop and enhance communication skills and teamwork whilst coaching and developing peers. The module prepares for registration and the responsibilities of a Registered Nurse, including supervising others. This module is taught in field specific groups.

  • Holistic Care and Complexities in Nursing Practice

    The aim of this module is to focus on increasing complexity in decision making. This will include medico-legal knowledge and translation into clinical practice through empowering patients in shared decision making, and co-production of person-centred care. This module is taught in field specific groups.

  • Art and Science of Person-Centred Care

    The aim of this module is to embed knowledge and skills and focus on increasing complexity in decision making. This to enable you to develop the confidence to involve and empower patients in shared decision making and the co-production of person-centred care.

  • Transitioning to Being a Registrant

    You will be able to transition from student to registered nurse in your final year and to practice as professionals within the NMC Code in a variety of health and social care environments.

  • Driving Innovation Through Evidence

    This module develops skills in research in relation to enhancing patient experience and outcomes, whilst expanding knowledge in an area of choice. This is the ‘dissertation’ module. 

  • Part 3 Nursing Practice

    This module ensures you meet the requirements for completion of the course and can register with the NMC as a nurse in your chosen field. This will be achieved by field-specific experience in practice placements that include acute and/or community settings and which will be supervised and assessed by appropriately qualified and prepared clinical staff.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

112 UCAS points required from level 3 qualifications

These can include:

  • A Levels at grade B, B and C, or above
  • BTEC Extended Diploma with Distinction, Merit, Merit
  • Access to HE Diploma in Nursing/Health or Social Care/Science with a Merit/Distinction profile
  • T Levels

Your UCAS points would normally include at least 2 subject areas.

You also need GCSE English and Maths (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C) or Level 2 equivalents.

Experience and recent study

We recommend you should have some experience of:

  • studying in the past five years
  • working in a health/social care setting (paid/voluntary)

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)

You must be 18 years of age at the start of the course.

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.

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

As a Learning Disabilities Nursing student, you will receive a non-repayable Government grant of at least £5,000 a year, plus a specialist grant of £1,000 per year. Check the NHS financial support information for further details and eligibility for these grants.

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

You may also qualify for additional financial support. Read the eligibility criteria and find out how to apply for the fund at 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.

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

Help with funding
Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Dorothy Kupara

Dorothy Kupara

I am a Learning Disabilities Nurse by background and have been teaching in nurse education for since 2014. I have written for publication, presented at conferences and participated in different research projects over the years.

I am a Learning Disabilities Nurse by background and have been teaching in nurse education for since 2014. I have written for publication, presented at conferences and participated in different research projects over the years.

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A female nurse talking to an elderly woman at home

On successful completion of the course you will be eligible to apply to register with the NMC, as a Learning Disabilities nurse. Many of our graduates find work with local NHS Trusts or healthcare organisations.

Alternatively, you could continue your studies at UWL. This will help you to enhance your clinical knowledge and skills in a specialist area.

We also offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses for healthcare practitioners.

How to apply

How to apply

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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.

Students in a lecture theatre

Facilities

Simulation centres

Our simulation centres at the Berkshire Institute for Health and our West London Campus accurately recreate today's healthcare settings and contain a host of innovative teaching resources.

Transfer trolley at the UWL Simulation Centre

Simulators

High-tech simulators, such as Aries and Lucina, enable you to develop the clinical skills, knowledge and decision-making needed to deliver excellent care.

Lucina, a birthing simulator

Birthing simulator

Lucina, our high-tech birthing simulator, enables you to learn all the stages of delivery and rare emergency scenarios.

Practical teaching aids

Practical teaching aids

Learn to become a midwife with the hands-on teaching and learning techniques, supported by innovative learning resources and our passionate, highly experienced staff.

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.