Intro

Studying adult nursing at the University of Brighton enables you to work closely with patients and their families as part of a versatile team of health and social care professionals including doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. You will learn how to tailor individual care for adults with a range of clinical needs.

We will support you in becoming a caring and compassionate professional who delivers skilled, evidence-based care in partnership with patients, families and communities. Our focus on interdisciplinary learning across all our health courses enriches your experience while also preparing you for the reality of professional practice. There are varied placements across Sussex in both acute and community settings, and you will have the opportunity to experience nursing abroad through our international placements.

You’ll spend 50% of the course on placement in healthcare settings with local NHS trusts, private and voluntary organisations. You will participate in simulation learning in our well-equipped clinical skills and simulation suites, allowing you to apply theory to practice in a supported environment.

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.

Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and are entitled to practice anywhere in the UK.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code B7L0

Full-time 3 years

This course meets the NMC 2018 education standards and course graduates are eligible for registration

Join an online event

Apply now with UCAS for 2022

Course content

Course structure

You’ll share some modules with students on our other nursing courses, allowing you to benefit from interprofessional collaboration, sharing knowledge and expertise. You will also benefit from patients contributing to your learning through shared stories.

In each year of the course you engage with both theory and practice learning. The course alternates between academic terms and blocks of practice. Theory sessions in academic terms take place at the university. You will attend Monday to Friday with independent study days. Practice placement blocks are 32 hours per week and are eight and 10 weeks long.

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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Year 1

You are introduced to the profession of nursing and begin your development of the required knowledge and skills. You will develop an understanding of the structure and function of the human body. 

Modules

  • Nursing Assessment in Partnership with People

    This module will enable you to undertake a holistic nursing assessment of a person in terms of their mental, physical, social and spiritual needs. You’ll learn the importance of completing an assessment in partnership with the person, taking into account their circumstances, characteristics and preferences.

    You will also gain an understanding of the role of the nurse in assessing the person’s needs as a member of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

  • Planning Nursing Care in Partnership with People

    This module will enable you to plan nursing care based on the information gained from a holistic nursing assessment. You’ll learn the importance of identifying priorities in the mental, physical, social and spiritual needs of the person and formulating a plan of care in partnership with the person and the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

  • Human Biology for Nursing

    This module will enable you to explore human biology in relation to the health, well-being and illness of a person across the lifespan. You’ll develop an understanding of how human biology and altered physiology underpins your developing nursing practice.

  • Practice Learning for Nursing Year 1

    This practice assessment of the course is divided into three parts. This module comprises part one, which will enable you to begin developing the knowledge, skills and values required for nursing practice.

    You will integrate learning from your placement and at university in order to meet the Future Nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC] 2018).

Adult nursing students

Year 2 

You continue to build your skills and knowledge in professional practice. You will start to develop the principles of adult nursing and gain an insight into the clinical settings in which nurses work such as public health, acute services, community and research.

Modules

  • Quality Improvement Using Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
  • Nursing to Promote Health and Prevent Illness
  • Nursing Assessment and Management of Clinical Deterioration in an Adult
  • Approaches to Nursing Adults with Long-term Conditions
  • Practice Learning for Adult Nursing Year 2
ECG workshop

Final year

You will complete an extended project and develop your professional practice further in the areas of leadership, physical assessment and complex care needs.

Modules

  • Contemporary and Future Nursing Practice
  • Leading and Managing Nursing Care and Effective Teams
  • Enhanced Nursing Assessment and Clinical Decision Making
  • Palliative and End of Life Care Using an Integrative Nursing Approach
  • Practice Learning for Adult Nursing Year 3
Nurses Brighton

Facilities

Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite

Clinical skills and simulation rooms 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.

Medical students practising on a dummy

Click to view a virtual tour of some of our nursing facilities.

Nursing skills zone – practice independently in a safe environment

Our nursing skills zones are fully equipped open access areas where you can practice your skills at a time to suit you.

You can practice skills including ECG electrode application, sterile glove application, nutritional assessment, basic life support, aseptic technique, urinalysis, physical measurements, personal hygiene, catheterisation, peak flow measurement, administration of medicines, A-E assessment and physical assessment.

You can book a nursing PASS leader to help you in the skills zones. Our PASS (peer-assisted study sessions) project is a student-led scheme where you can discuss issues relating to your course material and student life informally with your peers and trained student facilitators.

Nursing skills zone

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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Placements 

Our flexible approach to practice-based learning and excellent links with local healthcare trusts enable us to offer clinical practice in hospital and community settings, working alongside multi-professional teams.

You will spend 50% of the course studying theory which requires attendance in lectures and the other 50% on placement. You must accumulate 4,600 hours in total over the three years before you can register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Practice placements are up to 32 hours per week and you will be supported by a practice supervisor. Clinical placements take place across across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Community placements offer experience in schools, doctors surgeries, with health visitors and community staff.

It is currently possible to claim back excess travel costs, this is reviewed each year by the NHS.

A day on placement can be between 07.00 and 22.00, some weekends and some nights.

Nursing placements map

Supporting you 

You will receive lots of support throughout your nursing degree. During your course you'll have access to: 

  • personal tutor
  • practice liaison lecturers
  • practice supervisor in clinical practice
  • PASS (peer-assisted study sessions) nursing student leaders
  • student support and guidance
  • welfare.

Nursing Society
Our student-run Nursing Society provides support for all nursing students at every stage of their degree.

The society facilitates group learning and extracurricular lectures from speakers across the multidisciplinary team.

Study abroad

Within the School of Sport and Health Sciences we are committed to providing a global perspective to nursing and midwifery education. As such we offer a range of international English-speaking exchange placements to nursing, midwifery and paramedic science students. All of our international placements are fully supported and academically credited.

International placements are only with partners with which we have an agreement – this ensures a good quality learning opportunity and safe experience. 

European

Active placement of up to three months in year 2 with one of our partner universities.

  • University College, Denmark
  • University College of Borås, Sweden

Two-week observational placement with one of 25 institutions across 13 European countries in our European Nursing Module Network. For more information on our European partners and network visit the  European Nursing Module Network website.

For an insight into what life is like on a study abroad placement, have a read of Sabrina Barnes' experience in our Graduate Views below.

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International

  • Observational placements of up to three weeks in Africa, Asia or South America through Work the World.

We provide guidance with sourcing accommodation, visas, occupational health checks and insurance. You will be connected with a key personal contact for each partner and have access to online support from the university whilst you are abroad.

All students who take part in a study abroad experience identify its immense value, whether through hosting visiting students or participating in an exchange. We share all students' experiences through our newsletters and through the student ambassador project. 

If you wish to learn more about these opportunities you are welcome to discuss this at interview. 

How this course is delivered

How will my course be taught?
For the academic year that starts in September 2022 we’re planning for all students to be taught face-to-face on campus, enhanced by some online learning.

Students who started their course with us in 2021 are on campus for some face-to-face learning including tutorials, workshops, laboratory classes and studio sessions. They are also taking part in off-campus learning activities such as placements, field trips and study visits. And all of our campus facilities – libraries, learning spaces, restaurants, gyms and more are open.

Like all universities we are following government guidance and we are monitoring the pandemic very closely. Should Public Health advise it we have robust plans in place for additional safety measures to be introduced to enable everyone to continue learning on campus, and, as a last resort, for students to continue their learning remotely.

We will update you regularly on our teaching plans for the next academic year as you progress your application with us.

When does my course start?
The 2022 academic year begins on Monday 26 September 2022. Teaching for most courses starts the following week.

Many education courses, some health science courses including Medicine, and some postgraduate business courses have an earlier start date. Check your offer letter for the start date of your course.

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Careers

 

Careers and employability 

Our nursing and midwifery courses are joint 1st in the UK for career prospects, Guardian University Guide 2022, and joint 1st for graduate prospects, Complete University Guide 2022.

This course provides a solid foundation for working in numerous healthcare settings and for further professional development in clinical practice, education, management and research. 

Our adult nursing graduates have developed successful careers in both hospital and community settings. Many of our graduates leave university with a firm offer of employment.

After a period of consolidation and further study you can work as a specialist practitioner in the community in areas such as practice nursing, health visiting or in the hospital as a clinical nurse or nurse consultant. Acute care offers a range of roles, for example caring for patients needing emergency and intensive care or surgery.

Successful completion of the course will enable you to access further academic study at masters and doctoral level.

Nurse and doctor using diagnostic equipment

Graduate views 

Daisy Bower, Community Staff Nurse in Bexhill District Nursing Team, East Sussex Healthcare Trust

"Eastbourne campus is great place to study nursing. The lecturers are really supportive and I felt I could approach them with academic questions as well as personal problems.

"The placement opportunities are varied and allowed learning in focused, friendly environments. I found this really improved my confidence and developed my skills as a nurse. The clinical area for simulation aided in practical learning and there are good quality sporting facilities on campus for leisure.

"Student nurses looking to start a career locally and who benefit from attentive and welcoming teaching should consider Eastbourne campus."

 

Daisy Bower

Rachael Fisher, graduate Feb 2017, GP practice nurse, Eastbourne

"When looking back at my time studying at the University of Brighton I have the fondest of memories.

"I studied adult nursing at the Eastbourne campus and feel the university offered me a great platform to start me off in my career. What really struck me was the relationship the lecturers had with their students and feel their support had a huge impact on my studies.

"The variety of placements on offer helped improve my employability but also made me more aware of what field of nursing I wanted to go into. 

"I made lifelong friends along the way. I am grateful to the university for nurturing and moulding me into the person I am today as they provided me with knowledge and skills to follow my dreams of becoming a nurse.

"I went straight into practice nursing. I did the Introduction to Practice Nursing module at university. This gave me insight into the role of a practice nurse and highlighted areas that I was interested in – for me this was diabetes care.

"I am working at a large GP medical practice and enjoy being part of the team there. What I love is that I am always learning and every day is not the same. But most of all is the impact I have on the patients to help empower them to take an active role in their own care. I hope my story encourages more people to enter this profession as it is an extremely rewarding job."

Rachael Fisher

Sabrina Barnes, graduated 2018

"In May 2017, I was lucky enough to spend two weeks in Kathmandu, Nepal on placement in three different paediatric wards; general medicine and surgery, neonatal intensive care and paediatric intensive care. In this time, I was able to learn how different the Nepali culture was and both the differences and similarities between nursing in Nepal and the UK. 

"I was also able to learn a lot about myself and my own nursing practice and share some of my experiences with the Nepali nurses. I had never travelled alone before so even before I got to Nepal, I had done something new and when I got there, I was able to meet lots of other nurses doing exchange placements from across the world. This enabled me to learn about other people’s experiences of healthcare and I also met friends that I went travelling with recently to Pokhara, Nepal.

"My experience in Nepal taught me a lot about family-centred care and I have been able to take this in with my nursing practice as a qualified nurse. In particular my time on the intensive care unit in combination with my second year placement on HDU, inspired the title of my dissertation, which had a focus on supporting family involvement in intensive care environments."

Sabrina Barnes in Nepal

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff
112 points.

A-levels
BBC, must include a science or social science subject at grade B.

BTEC
DMM in a health or science subject. 

International Baccalaureate
28 overall with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
pass with 60 credits overall. Health studies, nursing or science.At least 45 credits at level 3, with 18 credits at distinction and 27 credits at merit or above.

T-level
Merit in the Health T-level. Other T-levels are not accepted.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)

  • with Access course – maths and English.
  • with A-levels, BTEC or K101 – at least three GCSEs including maths and English.

Functional Skills 2 will be accepted in lieu of GCSE English and maths.

If you do not have the required GCSEs find out which equivalent qualifications we accept instead.

A wide range of other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, for example, Open University K101 and K102.

For all nursing courses leading to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a nurse, you must demonstrate the following:

  • completion of 10 years general education
  • successful completion of literacy and numeracy assessments during the interview process
  • evidence of study within the last five years is desirable
  • evidence of commitment to the profession
  • passing of occupational health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
  • ability to meet travel requirements to attend placements
  • ability to follow a shift pattern that could cover any part of a 24-hour seven-day cycle.

Foundation degree
Completion of our Health and Social Care Practice foundation degree with 120 credits at level 5 may enable you to start in year 2 of our nursing degrees – Nursing (Adult), Nursing (Child) or Nursing (Mental Health).

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2.

Candidates are advised that places for entry into year 2 of this course for September 2021 are very limited. We normally welcome these applications but high demand for all nursing courses for both 2020 and 2021 entry will restrict availability. 

Interviews
Students successful at the application stage will be invited to attend an interview.

Men are under-represented in many nursing and allied health professions in the UK. We are committed to helping address the balance and particularly welcome applications from male applicants.

 

Personal statement 

Tips for writing a good personal statement

  • Identify why you are interested in the course.
  • Only apply for one field of nursing (adult, mental health or child).
  • Provide insight into your personal experiences, work or voluntary work.
  • Do not discuss Florence Nightingale or quote words of wisdom as an opening statement.
  • Consider how your referee may describe you and reflect this in your statement.
  • Our nursing degree is theory and practice so discuss your ability to cope with the demands of the whole course.

Our applying to Brighton section provides more information on writing a personal statement.

Come for an interview

Application timeline

June

  • Receive email regarding occupational health and DBS – start completing these forms 

  • Receive email regarding accommodation 

July

  • Complete your occupational health and DBS forms 

August 

  • From mid-August – enrolment – you will receive an email with instructions.

September

  • Early September – receive your one-week induction timetable. 

  • Mid September – deadline for completing your occupational health and DBS forms

You must be enrolled for your course before the start date.

Occupational health check

Your offer is subject to occupational health and DBS clearance.

All applicants must complete a University of Brighton occupational health clearance check. If you are working within an NHS/healthcare organisation you will still require a University of Brighton health clearance check.

Once you receive your health questionnaire you must fill this in immediately and return your completed and signed form to the occupational health department by the deadline provided (usually a couple of weeks before your start date), failure to do this will affect your ability to attend your first placement.

Send your form by email or registered post, see the form for contact details. Please note that the questionnaire will need your GP's signature which your GP may charge for, this will need to be paid for by you. We suggest that you use your current GP to complete this form rather than a university-based GP who will not have immediate access to your medical records.

The University of Brighton will pay for your occupational health clearance throughout your course. However you will personally have to pay for any travel to occupational health appointments at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

We will send you your occupational health questionnaire by email  in June if you are starting in September.

DBS check 

All applicants must complete a University of Brighton DBS clearance check. 

If you are currently working within an NHS/healthcare organisation you will still require a University of Brighton DBS check. Failure to complete a University of Brighton DBS will affect your ability to attend your first placement. 

  • We will send you an email regarding filling in your DBS form in June if you are starting in September. 
  • The deadline for completing your DBS form will be provided but it is usually required at the beginning of the month in which you start your course.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP


Additional funding support

The government has announced that from September 2020 new and continuing students studying nursing, midwifery and some allied health subjects will receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000. Find out more on the NHS website.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2022–23.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

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

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

If you've already got a degree in another subject you are still eligible for the student finance package for this course.

 

Location

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.


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 who apply by 30 June.

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

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

Maps

Falmer campus

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Cricket Academy

New for September 2023, our Cricket Academy offers aspiring players the opportunity to continue their cricket development alongside studying for a degree. The programme offers a world-class training environment with the highest quality coaching.

Find out more about the Cricket Academy.

Students playing frisbee

Meet our students  

Gavin Woodgate 

"I can’t quite believe how quickly the three years has passed. It really does seem like only yesterday I was celebrating the offer of a place on the adult nursing course. However, when I stop and think about how far I have come in those three years, I am proud of the healthcare professional I have become – and continue to develop into.

"The University of Brighton has provided the essential support needed to learn clinical skills, whilst also supporting and guiding me in practice. It’s fair to say I did not regard myself as the most academically minded student but the excellent help and guidance I have received has helped me obtain grades I am proud of. With qualifying just a few short months away, I am excited, if a little nervous, but I know I will always take the University of Brighton with me whatever happens, it's where my nursing career began!"

Gaving_Woodgate_1

Maddii Rapson

"I chose to start this course in February, the content and delivery of modules are the exactly the same as if I had started in September. I really enjoyed being part of the February cohort. Being part of a smaller cohort has really helped enhance my learning throughout the three years, because of the small class sizes we have all gotten to know the teaching staff pretty well, this has meant I personally engaged with the lectures and practical learning more, getting more out of the experience as I felt comfortable approaching them with anything I was unsure of. 

"Eastbourne is the perfect place to study if you are looking for a smaller university feel whilst still being part of a good Uni with an excellent reputation. The atmosphere on the campus itself is very relaxed, you have the opportunity to meet and socialize with other health students and despite being smaller than Falmer and other University of Brighton sites the resources are excellent." 

Maddie Rapson

Stay in touch

Join an online event

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644


Keep up to date at our health sciences blog. 

 

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to Brighton.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni enables you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Discover Uni data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course, and are updated following course changes.

Programme specification

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