Special Features

• Bradford is one of the Top 20 Universities in the UK for Nursing in the Guardian Good University Guide 2013
• Our courses offer 50% theory and 50% clinical practice
• Students are eligible to receive an NHS grant and income assessed bursary
• The Division is committed to research focused on nursing practice
• In the latest Research Assessment Exercise, 2008, 75% of our research was recognised as of international quality, with 10% being world-leading

Course Information

The BSc (Hons) in Nursing at Bradford is a practical, patient centred course with 50% theory and 50% clinical practice. You can choose to study one of the following branches of nursing, Adult, Mental Health or Child.

Adult Nursing

The programme prepares students to practice effectively in a variety of professional adult nursing settings. Emphasis is placed on the importance of competence in clinical nursing practice combined with in-depth knowledge and evidence-based decision making skills. Your experience on the course will help you to decide on an area that you wish to specialise in once you start employment.

Mental Health Nursing

The Mental Health nursing pathway will prepare students to work as Mental Health nurses in a variety of different settings, including hospitals wards, community teams, the independent and voluntary sector and specialist mental health services.

During the course, students will be able to learn to engage and work therapeutically with people of all ages experiencing mental health difficulties including children, young people, working age adults and older people.

Learning to communicate and work in partnership with individuals experiencing mental distress is a key aspect of the course content, as is the promotion of mental well being. Mental health course content is delivered by lecturers who are all experienced mental health nurses with additional input from local mental health practitioners and service users and carers.

Child Nursing

Students choosing Child nursing will be prepared to work as children's nurses, providing holistic care to children and their families. Students will be given the opportunity to work in a number of different settings during the course which may include a community placement, accident and emergency, several children's wards and a neo-natal, high dependency or paediatric intensive care unit.

You will need to select your branch of nursing prior to application onto the BSc (Hons) Nursing programme.

Course Booklet

Course Booklet - BSc (Hons) Nursing

When is the start date?

This course starts in September each year.

What are the entry requirements?

2013 Standard Entry

Our standard offer is:

A minimum of 5 GCSE's at grade C or above to include:

• English Language (Key Skills Level 2 in Literacy is accepted)
• Mathematics (Key Skills Level 2 Numeracy is accepted)
• Biology or Combined Science

AND

280 UCAS Points to include:

• At least one full A Level (or equivalent)

OR

• A relevant BTEC qualification (Distinction, Merit, Merit). This is can be a stand alone qualification or in combination with GCE A Levels and AS Levels

2013 Non-standard Offer

Our non-standard offer is:

• An Access to Higher Education Diploma in Health Professions or Science. Those studying on Access Programmes will be asked to obtain 75% of level 3 credits at merit level or above

OR

• Attainment of 60% or above in the University of Bradford Foundation Year or appropriate Science Foundation Year

Applicants will also need to have GCSE grade c or above in English Language and Maths (or the Key Skills Level 2 equivalent) and GCSE grade C or above in Science.

There are other qualifications which can satisfy our entry requirements. We aim to be as flexible as possible in order to widen access, and can consider a combination of qualifications. If you have any queries regarding eligibility for the course please contact us for advice. 

• Where English is not the first language a score of 7.0 in the IELTS is required with a minimum of 7 in each section.
• All applicants must provide evidence of study in the last five years.

Experience of working in a care setting is preferred but, if not possible, applicants must demonstrate in their application that they have researched the course and branch of choice.

How will I be assessed?

Throughout your studies you will be taught by a team of professional nurses supported by other staff at the School of Health Studies from a number of different clinical areas. you will be taught in lectures, seminars, tutorials and in small groups.

Modules are assessed using a range of different methods including written examinations, practical assessments, post presentations and case studies. The assessment of clinical practice takes place in the clinical environment by clinical staff and University tutors.

Placements

The development and assessment of nursing competencies in clinical practice is a key feature and requirement of the programme. Throughout the programme students learn what it is like to work within the modern NHS, developing clinical knowledge, skills and confidence as key members of the professional healthcare team.

50% of the programme is undertaken in a clinical practice and students are required to follow shift patterns in clinical placement areas where they are working. This will include early shifts starting from 7.00am and late shifts, sometimes finishing at 9.30pm. Students are also required to work some weekends and night duty during the 3 years. Annual leave entitlement is set in advance by the University and is non-negotiable.

During clinical placements students are supervised by qualified health professionals and are allocated a named mentor. Their role is to support students in practice-based learning and to assess developing knowledge and skills against required competencies.

Students will experience two placements each year. The first placement in year one will be after nine weeks of theory classes. In their first year students will also be able to undertake taster placements in the two branches that they have not chosen to specialise in.

Nursing students are usually allocated placements in trusts or other placement settings within the Bradford and Airedale area and will be required to move from one setting to another throughout their course. A small number of placements may be allocated outside of this geographical area. We will wherever possible take into account personal circumstances when allocating placements, but this cannot be guaranteed.

What are the course fees?

Please visit our fees page for details of the current fees for this course.

How do I apply?

Applications need to be made via UCAS between September and 15 January for consideration for the following September.

The UCAS codes are:

• B740 - BSc (Hons) Nursing Adult Branch
• B730 - BSc (Hons) Nursing Child Branch
• B760 - BSc (Hons) Nursing Mental Health Branch

If it is past the 15 January deadline please contact the Recruitment Office who will be able to advise if late applications are being accepted.

Selection

Selection is by interview. When shortlisting applicants we pay particular attention to information given in the personal statement on the application form. You should include details of any paid or voluntary work in care settings relevant to your chosen branch of nursing. You will also need to provide two good references, preferably from employment and academic sources.

Nursing is a physically demanding profession. You will need to be generally fit and capable of performing all professional skills required for qualification. All offers are made subject to medical screening. You must also be willing to undergo a check by the Criminal Records Bureau.

For further and more detailed information on application and admission, contact the Student Recruitment Team direct via email soh-recruitment@bradford.ac.uk or telephone on 01274 236367