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MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities)

NHS Learning Support Fund

  • Training grants of at least £5,000 a year are available for eligible healthcare students which you will not have to pay back.
  • You may also be eligible for an additional £2,000 towards childcare costs to help balance your studies with family life and £3,000 for students who find themselves in unforeseen financial hardship.

Find out more

Why choose Herts?

NMC Accreditation: You will be eligible to enter the Nursing and Midwifery Council Professional Register to legally practice as a Learning Disability Nurse.

Work-Related Learning: Gain nursing care work experience! Students have had placements within social and independent sectors working with children and young people, adults, and older people.

Sector-Specific Course Content: You will develop essential skills and knowledge in nursing care for people with learning disabilities.

  • This course is up for periodic review

    To ensure this course continues to be cutting-edge and enables you to be ready for the modern workplace, it is due to be reviewed by March 2025.

    Our website will typically be updated within a month of the review confirming any enhancements, including:

    • module titles (and whether they are core or optional)
    • expected contact hours
    • assessment methods
    • staff teaching on the course
  • Entry requirements and key information
    • A first degree at Honours level, normally, in a related discipline (life sciences, psychology or the social/ behavioural sciences). Graduate attributes associated with learning and research skills will normally be expected. 
    • GCSE mathematics and English at grade C or above (or equivalent).

    All offers will be subject to the applicants demonstration of the NHS constitution’s “Values and Behaviours”, satisfactory interviews, numeracy and literacy test, health screening and the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks. You can view the full NHS Constitution for England on the Government website.

    English language requirements

    All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency.

    IELTS (with no less than 7 in any band)

    If you do not have the required level of English for entry, our academic English courses can help you to achieve this level.

    Institution code

    		 H36

    School of study

    		 School of Health and Social Work

    Course length
  • Full Time, 2 Years

    • Location
  • University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
  • Employability

    Careers

    Following successful completion of the Learning Disability Nursing programme you will be entitled to apply for registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council UK. This registration will enable you to take advantage of the varied opportunities available to you, to put into practice all you have learned and make a positive contribution to the lives of people with learning disabilities and their families.

    You will be able to seek employment in a wide range of organisations including NHS, social services and private and voluntary organisations. You will meet many interesting people throughout your career and each day will be different. You will always be learning, and developing new and innovative skills through experience and education that will enable you to diversify or specialise in a particular area of Learning Disability Nursing, giving opportunity for promotion and job satisfaction.

    Following qualification there are many opportunities to further your professional studies with courses, available at graduate level and above, to help develop your knowledge and practice.

    Work placement

    Our practice experience may involve working with a broad range of health and social care professionals and carers who support children, adults and older people who have special needs/ disabilities.

    Practice learning experiences during the two year course include:

    • Community Learning Disability Nursing teams
    • Assessment and treatment services
    • Forensic services
    • Educational services.
    • A range of residential services in health, social, and independent settings
    • Health liaison experience
    • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Teams
    • Short Term Break and Respite Services.
    • Intensive Support Services

Professional Accreditations

Successful completion of the programme will lead to entitlement to apply to enter the professional register of the Nursing and Midwifery Council UK for Learning Disabilities Nursing.

About the course

The pre-registration Learning Disability Nursing course provides a carefully integrated balance of theory and practice that will enable students to confidently take on the role of a registered nurse for people with a learning disability within a changing health and social care arena. The programme will benefit those who have an interest or experience in supporting people with a learning disability. During the programme you will:

  • Acquire and become equipped with the current knowledge and skills required for this challenging and yet highly rewarding nursing role
  • Be part of a friendly, dedicated and highly experienced team of lecturers and practitioners within the School of Health and Social Work
  • Be taught in small class sizes during the field programme
  • Be provided with a range of practice placement opportunities within health, social and independent sectors, these may include working directly with children and young people, adults and older people.
  • Be provided with excellent pastoral and academic support during the course of your studies
  • Be provided with excellent teaching and learning opportunities
  • Be provided with the best possible opportunities to develop the academic, personal, professional and clinical skills required to be a confident, competent and professional practitioner

Why choose this course?

The Learning Disability Nursing degree pathway offers students the opportunity to take up the challenge of ensuring that the health care needs of people with learning disabilities are addressed using using a holistic approach, both within mainstream and specialist services.

  • Enhance the person's health and well-being.
  • Improve or maintain a range of complex developmental, physical, psychological and mental health needs.
  • Work in partnership with people with a learning disability, their families/carers and other health and social care professionals.
  • Reduce barriers to disability and promote social inclusion.
  • Support people with a learning disability to achieve a life which is as fulfilling as possible by maintaining their rights, choice and independence.
  • 2nd in the East of England for Nursing (2023 Complete University Guide).
  • 2nd for health and social care in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES, Advance HE, 2023).

What will I study?

This programme comprises both of theory and practice in a range of service-user contact experiences in a diversity of settings. The aim is to enable you to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to assess, plan, implement and evaluate the total nursing care of service-users who have learning disabilities in partnership with their families / carers and other professionals.

A range of teaching and learning approaches will be used. Teaching approaches will include; lectures, seminars, group work/projects, role play, tutorials, practice experience / fieldwork, course work, problem based learning, internet technologies and reflection as an integrating technique between theory and practice.

  • Level 6
    Module Credits Compulsory/optional
    Understanding the Lived Experience and the Role of the RNLD 30 Credits Compulsory
  • Level 7
    Module Credits Compulsory/optional
    Enhancing Health & Social Care through Inter-professional Education 15 Credits Compulsory
    Nursing Art and Science 30 Credits Compulsory
    People with Learning Disabilities who Experience Mental-ill Health 15 Credits Compulsory
    Leading and Managing Learning Disability Nursing Practice 30 Credits Compulsory
    Planning Care in Learning Disability Nursing Practice 3 30 Credits Compulsory
    Imagination and Innovation in Evidence Based Nursing Practice 30 Credits Compulsory
    Final Numeracy Exam 0 Credits Compulsory
    Complex Healthcare Needs 30 Credits Compulsory
    Fundamentals of Nursing Practice 30 Credits Compulsory

    • Further course information

    Course fact sheets
    MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities) Download
    MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities) Download
    Programme specifications
    MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities) Download
    MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities) Download
    Additional information

    Sandwich placement or study abroad year

    n/a

    Applications open to international and EU students

    		 No

    Student experience

    At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.

    Find out about how we support our students

    You can also read our student blogs to find out about life at Herts.