The Exeter School of Nursing
Delivering BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health), BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health), and MNurs (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health and Mental Health) in Exeter
The University of Plymouth Exeter School of Nursing delivers the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health), BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) and MNurs (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health and Mental Health) courses at the WESC Foundation, based in Countess Wear, a short distance from central Exeter. This school enables students who are beyond commuting distance from the Plymouth or Truro campuses to enter onto selected nursing courses, without having to commit to long travel times.
The University of Plymouth has a long history in educating health professionals, having run Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) accredited nursing programmes for more than 20 years. The Exeter School of Nursing will deliver the same high-quality curriculum as taught at both Plymouth and Truro by the University.
Entrants to the Exeter school will receive the same high quality teaching in nursing as those students based in Plymouth, but with the benefit of being part of a smaller cohort of circa 100 students in total. The smaller cohort allows students the chance to be part of a potentially far more close-knit community than might be the case with the larger cohort in Plymouth.
Our placement partners in the local trusts are very keen to recruit local student nurses for their Band 5 staff nurse posts when they qualify. Educating more students locally is of great benefit to those trusts in future years and, of course, to the students themselves - currently 95% of our graduating cohort find work within six months of graduation, at an NHS Band 5 (present salary band: £21,909 - £28,462) in the majority of cases (NSS 2018).
The WESC Foundation
The University of Plymouth, in partnership with the WESC Foundation, is committed to providing high quality teaching and facilities to adult nursing students who are unable to commute or relocate to Plymouth or Truro.
The WESC Foundation itself is a specialist day and residential centre offering a unique experience for young people and adults with visual impairment including complex needs. Their commitment is to excellence and innovation at a national and international level. They provide high-quality education and care that increases their learners’ opportunities and raises their expectations.
The University of Plymouth is proud to be working in partnership with the WESC Foundation.
Where to find the WESC campus:
WESC Foundation
Topsham Road
Countess Wear
Exeter
Devon
EX2 6HA
Transport links
The WESC campus has a bus stop a directly outside the facility, perhaps a hundred yards from the Countess Wear roundabout.The nearest rail links are Topsham and Exeter St. Thomas.
Photo below: Professor Bridie Kent, the University of Plymouth's Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, with student nurses outside the WESC reception area.
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health)
“The BSc (Hons) Nursing course with the University of Plymouth really prepares you for life as a qualified nurse...it ingrained the importance of being the best that you can be and has emphasised the diversity of nursing as a profession.”
Learn more about the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health) course (full time or part time), including:
- Course details
- Entry requirements
- Fees, costs and funding
- How to apply.
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health)
"The University of Plymouth offers a wide range of placement areas that can help broaden your choice of jobs if you are unsure what area to work in, as mental health offers a wide variety of employments." Laura Jackson
Fine our more about BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) course (full time or part time)
MNurs (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health and Mental Health)
Our four year dual field course offers the opportunity for students to be recognised in two of the three fields of nursing we offer while achieving an undergraduate master’s degree
As well as preparing students for a clinical role, in a range of healthcare settings nationally or internationally, the course is an excellent choice for those considering a career in research and nurse education, that is to say, it is a challenging option for those looking for a fast tracked career.
Learn more about the MNurs (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health and Mental Health) course
Complimentary educational resources
To help, financially, with your transition into life as a student of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Plymouth, the University provides the following:
- we bear the cost for Occupational Health clearance and for Disclosure and Barring Service checks, which are a condition of any offer of a place on the programme. This potentially saves applicants in the region of £195–£245 (circa £45 for DBS checks, and £150–£200 for Occupational Health) although in some cases the costs can be much higher
- we supply e-learning resources to all students on the programme
- we supply three tunics and three pairs of trousers, for use in the clinical environment, worth circa £60
- the ‘Medincle’ medical spellchecker software is provided free of charge
- books from the Skills for Health Training Package are provided for each student.
Student journeys at the Exeter School of Nursing
Ben Dobson – BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health)
"When you see someone making steps in their recovery it’s so rewarding. It could be witnessing someone cracking a joke for the first time after months of depression, or someone being able to make personal re-connections that make an improvement in the quality of their life. In these moments you know that you are making a difference to the people’s lives and it is all worthwhile."
Find out more about Ben's experience studying BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health)