Intro

This course is suitable for you if you are a qualified nurse or other professional, have completed a UK-credited diploma programme (or equivalent) and want to top up to an honours degree.

It is also suitable if you have studied a foundation degree in a health and social care related subject and wish to continue your studies to bachelor level. 

The recognition that patients come first in everything the NHS does, and the values of the NHS constitution – respect, dignity, compassion and working together for patients – are embedded in our curriculum.

By the end of the course you will be able to critically analyse factors that affect health and wellbeing. You will also have gained an evidence-based understanding of health as a contested concept and gained academic skills to aid your development within your own specialist area. This top-up course also provides an excellent foundation for students to progress to masters-level study.

Within the course there is an opportunity to undertake a placement with a local voluntary agency to gain some work experience.

The course is delivered by expert teachers, practitioners and researchers from the School of Health Sciences.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code L511

Full-time 1 year

Part-time 2 years

Join an online event

Apply now with UCAS

Course content

How this course is delivered

Students have a blend of on-campus and digitally enabled remote learning that keeps everyone safe, connected and involved in university life. Lots of opportunities are provided to interact and engage with lecturers and other students. The balance between online and on-campus learning varies by module, and in response to the external environment.

Course structure

The course is offered on a full-time basis (two semesters in one year). The semesters run from September to February and from February to June.

You will attend the university on three days in semester 1 and two days in semester 2. 

A range of teaching and learning strategies are used within this course, including lectures, small group seminars, student presentations, online learning and specific professional based visits. 

You will be assessed in a variety of ways which will include written essays and examinations. Assessments are fully supported and include early formative assessments in semester 1 to review your progress. You will also be allocated a supervisor to support your dissertation development in the final semester.

You will also have to opportunity to submit work for feedback that will not count towards your final grade.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

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Syllabus

If you choose this course you will complete it in one year, over two semesters. 

At the beginning of the course you will work with a personal tutor to build your personal development plan which will guide you towards future career choices. 

International students can benefit from an additional five-day orientation to nursing in the UK programme. This can involve hospital tours, developing practical skills in our state-of-the-art Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite and Flexible Learning Environment (FLE), community health centre tours, learning about cultural and NHS policy and a visit to the Florence Nightingale museum in London. There will be an additional cost for this programme.

Semester 1

As a student you will study three modules in your first semester and attend lectures three days per week.

Semester 1 requires the achievement of 60 credits gained through successful completion of the following modules: 

  • Research Approaches: Methods, critical appraisal and utility
  • Health Law and Ethics
  • Leadership and Managing within Care Organisations

Semester 2

In your second semester you will attend lectures for one and a half days each week and also complete your dissertation.

During this period you will need to achieve a further 60 credits gained through successful completion of two modules.

  • Health Promotion for Health Studies
  • Dissertation

The dissertation module will allow you to explore in-depth a concept related to health through using an extended literature review methodology. This will be supported through action learning sets and offers you the opportunity to consolidate your studies into one project area and perhaps apply your interest to a future career pathway. 

Facilities

Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite

Clinical skills and simulation rooms on both our Brighton: Falmer and Eastbourne campuses provide an invaluable tool for assessment and monitoring students' progress throughout the course.

You will benefit from practising nursing skills in an environment that simulates nurses’ real-life professional experiences. Learning by simulation with state-of-the-art mannequins enables you to practice in a safe environment under supervision, so you can apply your knowledge and skills in professional practice with confidence.

We have skilled technicians on every campus to support you.

nursing suite

Flexible Learning Environment 

The Flexible Learning Environment is an adapted home environment in a residential location where you'll be able to practise skills and learn from other students while taking part in realistic training scenarios.

Every room is fitted with cameras and microphones, so that students can be directed and monitored from the control room while the observation room provides the opportunity to review, playback and debrief.

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Staff profile

Darren Brand

Darren Brand is an experienced nurse who moved into education following a number of clinical practice roles, including operating theatres, medical equipment education and clinical governance management. He has involvement with the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP), and was until recently the educational lead for the South East of England.

Darren has a keen interest in the learning process, and is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Education, with a focus on how learning occurs in the practice setting.

He looks forward to working with you as course leader for the Health Studies top-up degree and encourages your application.

Darren_Brand_pic_for_website_-_IMG_1583.JPG

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Careers

The Health Studies BSc(Hons) top-up will significantly enhance your employability in the sector and in other areas of work.

The degree can help open doors to positions in management and administration (with potential access to the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme), health education, health promotion, teaching, medical law, medical journalism, community development or health research.

Recent graduates of the course have developed their clinical careers in nursing and gone on to hold senior positions in acute and community health organisations, both in the UK and internationally.

If you are interested in entering the caring profession, the Health Studies BSc(Hons) offers the basis for future fast-track graduate conversion into professions such as nursing and social work.

You will gain skills including the ability to gather, understand, interpret, and present information in a clear, logical and engaging way, which can be applied to many areas of work and will also prepare you for masters-level study.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2021. They should be used as a general guide. 

This top-up degree is suitable for qualified nurses wishing to gain graduate status or students with a foundation degree who want to achieve academic progression to a degree.

Applicants to the course are expected to:

1. Have a health and social care-related diploma of higher education, or foundation degree (minimum of 120 level 5 credits)

or

hold a current registered qualification in health or social care with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Health and Social Care Professions Council or equivalent Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB).

2. Normally have successfully completed study within the last five years at Level 5 or 6

or:

successfully complete a Level 6 module before registering on the award.

A-levels
International Baccalaureate
Access to HE Diploma
not suitable

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
not applicable

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

Your application
Your application should be made through UCAS using the following codes:

  • Institution code: B72
  • Course code: L511
  • Institution code name: BRITN
  • Short form of course: BSc/HSTU

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 14,748 GBP

International students can benefit from an additional five-day orientation to nursing in the UK programme. There is an additional cost for this programme.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Health Sciences are listed here.

  • Where your course includes a placement, travel costs which are over and above your daily journey to university and dual accommodation costs may be reimbursed by the NHS learning support fund. Paramedic Science students and overseas students are not covered by the NHS scheme and travel costs for this course will be your responsibility. Find out more about the NHS learning support fund.
  • Specialist clothing and uniforms, where required, are included in the course fees.
  • DBS checks, where required, are included in the fees.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 if buying your own copies.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

Location

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. 7,000 students are based here taking subjects including criminology, English, education, nursing and medicine, paramedic science, psychology and sociology. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. Psychology students learn in our applied cognition and flexible creative method labs.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes, and a students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre and there is a BTN BikeShare hub on site. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

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Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Falmer campus is linked to the halls on Falmer campus and at Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on Falmer campus and offer a range of rooms
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent.

Private renting
There's plenty of support if you opt for private renting. This is an option which offers choice and flexibility – enabling you to choose where you live and who with. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. This lists accommodation offered by landlords who have signed up to our code of standards. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Students dining at Westlain

Maps

Falmer campus

Student views  

Leah Brown

“The teaching and support staff were really informative and very approachable. It felt as though they had a vested interest in your learning and really wanted you to achieve your best. I loved the fact that all of the lecturers had experience of working in the health service.

“During my course I was able to book a one-to-one session with a professional writer from the royal literacy fund. It was a great opportunity for someone to proofread my work before submitting and providing feedback to help improve my assignments.

“For anybody in a similar position to myself, who has had a break from education and may be feeling apprehensive about returning, I would say to 100% apply and to not worry as there’s a lot of support available at the University.

“Three months after graduation I secured a role with Healthwatch Solihull as a Community Officer. It was on the course that I actually became aware of Healthwatch so it provided me with an insight into the kinds of organisations I could potentially work for upon graduation.

“The organisation uses patient feedback to help improve health and social care services and I currently help to design and conduct engagement sessions to deliver to the local community.

“Overall, I had a great time studying in Brighton. The course was challenging but also lots of fun.”

Leah Brown

Grace Mutingwende 

Nursing is a dynamic and fast-changing profession. There are constant challenges encountered, innovations in practice, policy developments and new standards for treatment. Having initially studied for a nursing diploma and with ten years' post-qualifying experience, I then enrolled for a Health Studies top-up BSc(Hons) at the University of Brighton. I found myself having to study hard to keep up with the dynamic profession. My dilemma as a working mum was trying to find flexible study arrangements that would fit in with work and family life.

The university provided this balance for me. Reflecting on my two years at the University of Brighton, I have benefitted tremendously. The experience has upgraded my critical thinking skills – an asset to my role as a registered general nurse. I have worked with supportive tutors alongside other students from varying backgrounds. I am leaving the University of Brighton as an independent and reflective learner, better able to provide evidence-based and current nursing care.

Becca Arnold

I have thoroughly enjoyed studying Health Studies top-up degree at the University of Brighton.

After completing my Higher National Diploma in health and social care, I decided to come to Brighton to do the top-up to get my full degree. This has given me a great insight into different aspects of health and health organisations. Studying alongside nurses and other health care professionals has given me a chance to gain knowledge and understanding from their experiences as well as sharing my own.

Having moved from the north to Brighton I am now planning on staying and starting a career in the health sector.

Stay in touch

Join an online event

School of Health Sciences
01273 644016
namcpeadmissions@brighton.ac.uk

 
Keep up to date at the School of Health Sciences blog. 

Programme specification

The programme specification is the official university document for each course. They are updated each year, and give a very detailed breakdown of what your course might look like.

Programme specification

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