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BSc (Hons) Develop your understanding of contemporary issues in children’s nursing and the importance of a family-centred approach to assess, plan, implement and evaluate safe and effective care.
Develop your understanding of contemporary issues in children’s nursing and the importance of a family-centred approach to assess, plan, implement and evaluate safe and effective care.
Undergraduate courses/Nursing and Midwifery courses/Learning Disability Nursing with NMC registration
Key facts
Entry requirements
112 or DMM
Full entry requirements
UCAS code
B761
Institution code
D26
Duration
3 yrs full-time
Three years full-time (45 week year)
Fees
2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,250
Additional costs
See all the key facts
Entry requirements
112 or DMM
Full entry requirements
UCAS code
B761
Institution code
D26
Duration
3 yrs full-time
Three years full-time (45 week year)
Fees
2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,250
Additional costs
See all the key facts
With an excellent reputation and good links with the local NHS trust and other potential employers, you will benefit from our Nursing and Midwifery Council‑accredited course when applying for jobs.
The primary aim of being a learning disability nurse is to support the well-being and social inclusion of people with learning disabilities; through improving or maintaining physical and mental health to live full and rewarding lives within their communities. You need to be committed and dedicated with the willingness to give time to others with care and compassion.
This course is structured through Inter-professional (IP) learning. Allowing you to collaborate with other allied healthcare students and professionals and gain a wider understand of issues and debates in the sector.
During this course – thanks to strong links with service providers across the region – we can offer a range of placement opportunities embedded within all three years of the course. You'll find opportunities in areas specific to the field, including community learning disability nursing teams, respite and inpatient services, learning disability primary and acute care liaison nursing, forensic and residential nursing.
Placements are typically provided across the East Midlands, in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and sometimes in surrounding counties. In your placement, you will work alongside practice supervisors and practice assessors to learn the practical application of nursing relevant to your chosen field. During the course, students also have access to updated facilities, utilising simulation suites, VR technology and LearningSpace software.
You will benefit from shared learning opportunities with students from the other fields of nursing practice but will also engage in field of practice specific learning opportunities throughout the programme, to ensure that you develop your identity, skills and knowledge within the learning disabilities field of nursing practice.
Block teaching designed around you
You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments – rather than lots of exams at the end of the year – and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.Read more about block teaching.
Our next Open Day is on
Saturday 08 February
Join us in 70 days and 18 hours.
Financial support
The NHS Learning Support Fund provides eligible students with additional financial support whilst studying for their degree:
- training grant of £5,000 per year
- parental support payment of £2,000 per year to help with childcare
- help towards additional travel and accommodation costs to clinical placements over your normal daily travel costs
- an exceptional hardship fund of up to £3,000 per student per academic year
Students must be eligible for tuition fees and maintenance support from the Student Loans Company (including certain residency criteria) to be eligible. Read more about thegrant and eligibility criteria.
Accreditation
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
This programme is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and has been developed to reflect the requirements of the NMC (2018) Future Nurse proficiencies standards of Nursing Education.
What you will study
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
In first year, students will engage in 917 hours of theory and 720 hours of practice (56% theory and 44% practice).
Practice experience 1
This module is used as a vehicle to monitor NMC requirements, professional practice outcomes, professional conduct in practice and student attendance in practice. Students will have three placement blocks in year one in which the foundational skills required by the Learning Disabilities nurse will be developed.
Foundations of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology in Nursing
This module explores human anatomy and physiology with an emphasis on pharmacology. Students will explore the main body systems and changes that occur through the aging process. Students will have opportunity to learn foundational knowledge about pharmacology including pharmakinestics and pharmacodynamics.
Influences on Wellbeing
This module will support students to developunderstanding of the influences on wellbeing and health and how this can impact on individuals and groups throughout the lifespan. Students will develop fundamental knowledge regarding the learning disabilities nurses’ role on the promotion of wellbeing and skills to support the wellbeing of the learning disabilities patient.
Foundations of Field of Practise
This module will enable students to adopt an enquiring approach to the assessment, planning and delivery of safe and effective practice within their relevant field of practice. Students will explore foundational pathophysiology, including learning disabilities field of practice specific pathophysiology, assessment and identification of immediate and essential care needs for patients/clients within the learning disabilities field of practice.
In second year, students will engage in 848 hours of theory and 840hours of practice (50% theory and 50% practice).
Practice experience 2
This module is used as a vehicle to monitor NMC requirements, professional practice outcomes, professional conduct in practice and student attendance in practice. Students will have two placement blocks in year two in which they will continue to develop the skills required by a learning disabilities nurse.
Evidence Based Practice and Research
The module will examine a range of research paradigms and will provide students with skills and understanding involved in planning, designing, contextualising and thinking critically about evidence-based research, which underpins nursing and health care practice.
Primary Care – Patient Journey 1
This module will enable students to develop their knowledge regarding the patient’s first point of contact with health care services through involvement with primary care services.You will learn about the context of factors that influence patient behaviour and their decision-making processes.You will examine common illnesses and experiences alongside some long-term health conditions utilising a holistic perspective and the importance of health promotion.
Acute Care – Patient Journey 2
This module explores acute nursing care (in secondary care). Students will develop skills in working with commonly encountered mental, physical, behavioural and cognitive health conditions, recognizing and responding to the deteriorating patient and the utilization of safe interventions to support patient care in the acute nursing care context. You will learn how to recognize and respond to deteriorating patients, using appropriate interventions to ensure evidence-based learning disabilities nursing care.
In third year, students will engage in 769 hours of theory and 920 hours of practice (45.5% theory and 54.5% practice).
Practice experience 3
This module is used as a vehicle to monitor NMC requirements, professional practice outcomes, professional conduct in practice and student attendance in practice. Students will have two placement blocks in year three in which they will continue to develop and begin to consolidate the skills required by a learning disabilities nurse.
Critical Inquiry and Research proposal
Students will be supported to complete a critical inquiry and research proposal based on a subject relevant to the learning disabilities field of nursing practice. This will enable you to critically evaluate sources of evidence and support you to become an independent, accountable practitioner, ensuring that your practise as a future learning disabilities nurse, is based on the best available evidence.
Leadership and Service Improvement
This module will develop students’ knowledge in understanding accountability and skills in relation to nursing leadership, and of the leadership roles and responsibilities of a registered learning disabilities nurse.
Managing Complexities in Nursing Practice
This module aims to enable the student to critically analyse their knowledge, skills and decision-making processes relevant to caring for patient/clients within the learning disabilities field of practice. Students will also develop skills in managing complex health presentations within the learning disabilities field of practice and have opportunity to further develop skills required to work effectively with the wider inter-disciplinary team.
Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.
Learning is supported by a strong system of personal tutors, teaching teams, academic assessors, practice work placements and enthusiastic practice supervisors and assessors. Teaching methods include:
- Lectures (face-to-face and online)
- Seminars
- Webinars
- Workshops
- Presentations
- Tutorials
- Simulation activities
- Clinical skills learning
- Enquiry-based problem solving
- Independent e-learning
- Peer learning sets
The programme meets the NMC (2018) requirements for an equal split between both theory and practice and the QAA requirements for a BSc (Hons) Award. The programme provides 2,534 hours of theory and 2,480 hours of practice (50.5% theory and 49.5% practice) across the duration of the three years of the programme. The Nursing and Midwifery Council introduced new national educational standards, Future Nurse Standards of Proficiency for registered Nurses, in 2018. The curriculum from September 2021 onwards is based on these standards for nurse education.
You will complete blocks of clinical placements 40 hours per week and blocks comprised of theory and independent learning hours up to an equivalent of 37.5 hours each week.
Students in practice placements are allocated an academic assessor, practice supervisors and practice assessors to help develop and support learning in the practice context.
Inter-professional (IP) learning allows you to mix with other students and professionals, and understand wider issues and debates in the sector.
Assessment
Assessments fall at the end of each block and are used to assess your theory and practice knowledge. We use a variety of methods that are designed to support you with developing skills vital to a career in nursing. These include:
Examinations – demonstrating resilience and working under pressure
Presentations and Vivas – developing verbal communication skills and the ability to effective communicate complex material
Essays – building strong written skills to support with communicating complex nursing information
Reflective practice – develop skills to engage with written reflection as required by the NMC
Teaching contact hours
Contact hours in a typical week will depend to some extent on the modules you are studying. However, typically you will have up to 16 contact hours of teaching per week.
Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.
Learning Disability Nursing with NMC registration in the spotlight
Contribution to the community earns lecturer prestigious title
A senior lecturer at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has been given the prestigious title of Queen's Nurse (QN) by the Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI).
January 2024
Nursing student Abbi Bott: My Nursing Journey
Children's Nursing student Abbi Bott, from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is about to embark on a career as a children's nurse in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We caught up with Abbi, as she explains what has motivated her into a career that has an important impact on families' lives.
March 2023
Related courses
Open Days at DMU
Join us on-campus, find your new home at DMU at our Open Day 8 February
Book Now
Our facilities
Clinical skills and simulation facilities for Health and Life Sciences
At DMU we provide clinical skills and simulation teaching and practice that will enhance your theoretical learning by using a realistic, immersive environment that mimics the practice environments you will encounter during your clinical placements and in your career beyond. This provides our students with opportunities to develop cognitive, practical and interpersonal skills through a comprehensive programme of simulated experiences and clinical skills sessions, allowing you to develop the confidence to perform in the real world.
DMU have invested in extending and enhancing the range of clinical skills and simulation facilities available for health and life science students. We currently have two dedicated spaces on campus that provide flexible teaching and assessment spaces to meet a wide range of student’s needs.
Hawthorn building houses two ward environments, a dedicated midwifery suite, radiography suite and bespoke manual handling and paramedicine spaces.
Our designated clinical skills teaching hub in Heritage House offers flexible teaching rooms - designed to replicate the changing environments of clinical practice, a soft furnished space, audiology suite and observation rooms. Students benefit from the audio /visual technology that allows sessions to be recorded and live streamed, facilitating remote learning opportunities. This technology also enhances your learning opportunities through the use of meaningful debriefing of teaching and simulation sessions allowing you to reflect on your practice and improve in both ability and confidence before taking your learning into the real world.
Our expertise
The Learning Disability Nursing team is made up of highly qualified, skilled nurses, two of which are prestigious Queens Nurses.
Most of our nursing lecturers are registered nurses or other recognised health care professionals and qualified teachers. Many are research active bringing their subject knowledge and research expertise in to their teaching. A number of our lecturers have doctoral level qualifications, with many more currently undertaking academic and professional doctorates.
The Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery has an excellent reputation and good links with the local NHS trust and other potential employers, which is beneficial when you are applying for jobs.
Student experience
Ryland Looseley
Ryland's experience
Why did you choose Learning Disability Nursing?
My family has a history of working with learning disabilities in care or special schools. When I was younger, my mum would take me to the Special Educational Needs school she worked at on inset days and then I began to volunteer there. I’m a keen disability activist, which really inspired me to start this degree. Since joining DMU, my passion for disability activism has grown massively.
How have you been supported with your studies at DMU?
DMU has one of the best disability support teams out there. I was supported with my autism, before I was even given an official diagnosis. I have physical disabilities which have become more challenging lately, but I have been supported throughout. Nobody has ever assumed I can’t be a nurse because I use a cane as a mobility aid, have chronic fatigue and a joint disorder. Just because I have those things, it doesn’t mean I can’t do placements and it doesn’t mean I can’t be a nurse!
What have you enjoyed most on the course?
Getting hands on experience has been amazing. My first couple of placements helped me to develop my communication skills and learn different communication methods for different patients. For example, at one placement I had a patient who communicated by pointing her eyes in a particular direction so I would hold up two cards or two different options and she’d move her eyes to the one she liked.
My most recent placement was a psychiatric unit for learning disabilities and it showed me the range of people I can work with in my field. In was an invaluable experience, with something new to learn every day. I wasn’t interested in psychiatric care within learning disabilities until I went on this placement, the amount of support that is needed in this area was eye-opening. There aren’t many facilities for people that have learning disabilities that are specialised within the mental health field of practice, so I really benefited from this experience.
All of the placements are incredibly different and varied, so I’m excited for what’s next!
What do you think about the facilities on your course?
The clinical suites are fantastic! I had a wound care practical the other day and we learned how to put on a sterile dressing without compromising infection prevention guidelines; it was so realistic and great training for the real thing. It’s really useful to see the different scenarios that could occur, and the realities of carrying out procedures. Experiencing how exhausting it is to do CPR, and having to figure out different solutions for different needs, like being in a wheelchair, is so helpful when you go out on placement.
Emma Hasman
Emma's experience
Why did you choose Learning Disability Nursing at DMU?
I actually wanted to do teaching when I was younger, and I worked in a special needs school for 10 years. I come from a family of nurses and I did feel that pull but kept thinking it wasn’t for me. But when I started exploring the options, and saw Learning Disability Nursing at DMU, I knew that was the field I wanted to pursue.
I’m local to Leicester and I wanted to study somewhere close to home. I’ve had family members come here; my mum did her nursing training at DMU many years ago. I really like the fact that the Learning Disability class sizes are quite small, and I feel like I’m part of a tight community, a family even. I did look at other Uni’s on Open Days, but they just didn’t feel like home. Leicester is so diverse and multicultural; I’m meeting students from other countries and backgrounds and learning from them that DMU has a place for everyone.
What's your favourite aspect of your course?
Nothing beats going out and getting that real-life experience and putting theory into practise with the placements. You also get that contact with patients or residents and get to see first hand how your interventions, no matter how big or small, impacts their lives in a positive way. Its honestly the best part of the course!
I’ve been on a range of placements including with a community team that goes out to patients and does a lot of work around relationships or teaching patients skills for independence. I’ve also been placed in a residential setting which had a nursing team and gained experience supporting in personal care, supporting patients with shopping and learning how to manage money. For my next placement, I’m going to a prison and I’m really looking forward to the experience. It’s a completely different setting to what I have been working in with those who may have challenging behaviours or mental health disorders.
What inspired you to become a Learning Disability Nurse?
My sister has a rare condition called Williams Syndrome. She’s missing chromosome 7 and like any other learning disability, it’s a spectrum; some people are very independent and some need support. My sister lives in a home with specialised staff caring for her and supporting her with independent activities such as cooking, shopping and everyday things that we take for granted.
Learning disabilities have always been a part of my world. When she went into an in-patient facility, I remember one of the nurses saying, ‘Right, it’s our turn now to be the carers, you go home and be sister, mum and dad. We’ve got it from here’. Hearing that made me realise I do have a life outside of helping my sister and that the care nurses give often extends to their family as well, not just the patient.
What makes us special
Block teaching
With block teaching, you’ll learn in a focused format, where you study one subject at a time instead of several at once. As a result, you will receive faster feedback through more regular assessment, have a more simplified timetable, and have a better study-life balance. That means more time to engage with your DMU community and other rewarding aspects of university life.
DMU Global
DMU Global is our innovative international experience programme, which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world. Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips, volunteering and international exchanges.
Students on this course have recently undertaken DMU Global trips to places such as Peru, where they took part in healthcare programmes, as well as India, where they helped to improve the health of communities living there. Another trip gave students the opportunity to examine the social and health inequalities faced in America.
Where we could take you
Placements
As part of this course, you will have the opportunity to complete a number of placements, which offer invaluable professional experience. Placements are typically provided across the East Midlands, in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and sometimes in surrounding counties. Students must therefore be prepared to travel to access placement opportunities which are an essential component of the programme.
In your placement, you will work alongside practice supervisors and practice assessors to learn the practical application of nursing relevant to your chosen field. Placements are typically based in a variety of acute and community health environments and social care settings, including caring for individuals in their own homes. This includes a range of different shift patterns across a 24-hour cycle.
Further information
All students will be required to adhere to a uniform policy when in practice, in which they must be bare below the elbow. This is non-negotiable as it is an infection prevention requirement to safeguard the health and safety of all students and service users.
Graduate careers
Upon successfully completing the course nursing graduates are eligible to apply for NMC registration and can apply to work on a variety of roles throughout the NHS, charitable and private healthcare sectors. Registered nurses can start on a salary of £28,407 (NHS pay scales 2023/24). Once qualified, our postgraduate study opportunities can further enhance your knowledge and skills, includingPost Registation Education, professional doctorates and master’s degrees such asPhysician Associate Studies MSc.
Additional costs
The core textbooks for all modules are available in the Kimberlin Library, and journal articles in your reading lists are also mostly available electronically from your myDMU login. Some students like to purchase their own text books or print course documents and we suggest allowing approximately £200 per year for this.
All students are required to pay for their DBS check if required for your programme or placement.
In addition students will be required to pay for their travel costs to placements or project locations.
All students are provided the opportunity to participate in DMU Global trips. These trips are subsidised by the University, and the cost and subsidy varies by location.
Take your next steps
Course specifications
Course title
Learning Disability Nursing with NMC registration
Award
BSc (Hons)
UCAS code
B761
Institution code
D26
Study level
Undergraduate
Study mode
Full-time
Start date
September
Duration
Three years full-time (45 week year)
Fees
2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,250
Additional costs
Entry requirements
GCSEs
- Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above including: English and Maths
Passes in Functional Key Skills in Level 2 Maths and English will only be accepted if the qualification and awarding organisation is regulated by Ofqual.
Plus one of the following:
A Level
- A minimum of 112 UCAS points from 2 or more A levels, including at least two subjects at C or above. We do not accept General Studies or UCAS points achieved through music exams.
T Levels
- Merit in Health overall
BTEC
- BTEC National Diploma - normally in Health and Social Care or Applied Science at DMM
- BTEC Extended Diploma - normally in Health and Social Care or Applied Science at DMM
Access course
- AHE (Nursing and Midwifery)
- AHE (Science)
- AHE (Health Professions)
Pass in the QAA Access to HE with a minimum of 96 UCAS points
GCSE English and Maths or functional skills level 2 qualifications in English and Maths are required.
We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.
International Baccalaureate 26+ points
English language requirements
If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 7 overall when you start the course is essential, with a 7.0 in all components except writing which should be at least 6.5.
English language tuition, delivered by our British Council accreditedCentre for English Language Learning(CELL), is available both before and during the course.
Interview requirements
Interview: Yes
Professional conduct during the event will also contribute to the decision-making regarding an applicant’s application.
The recruitment process for this course includes assessing applicants by the content of their personal statement and interview for the core values of the NHS constitution.
Interviews will be delivered via Microsoft Teams.
Work experience requirements
Work experience: Desirable
Although not essential, some relevant experience – paid or voluntary, is desirable and can strengthen your application with us. Please tell us in your personal statement, and at interview details of the length of time spent gaining relevant experience and the type of experience you have. You should also clearly demonstrate your motivations and suitability to study and train as a nurse and how your experience relates to the role.
Non-academic requirements
As well as academic requirements, you will also be required to meet and fulfil non-academic requirements which are stated below:
- Self-Declaration Form clearance
- Occupational Health clearance
- Enhanced DBS disclosure clearance
You submit an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure application form before starting the course (if you are overseas you will also need to submit a criminal records certificate from your home country), which needs to be cleared in accordance with DMU’s admissions policy. Contact us for up-to-date information.
We strongly advise that you opt for the DBS update service as it is possible that future placement providers may request a recent DBS and not one from the start of the programme. If you decide not to opt for this service then you will have to pay for the DBS again if requested by your placement provided – the university will not cover this cost.
You must meet and fulfil all non-academic requirements before 18 July 2025. Failure to meet this deadline may result in your offer being withdrawn.
UCAS tariff information
Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on thelatest UCAS Tariff.
Availability:This course has a limited number of places so that we can ensure a good quality placement experience. In exceptional circumstances this may result in the course becoming full before you have completed the admissions process. In this situation we will offer you the opportunity to be considered for a place on an alternative course.
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