School of Nursing and Midwifery

BSc (Hons) Professional Development in Nursing

Specifically designed for international nurses wishing to study at degree level. Our course has been created with input from colleagues working in the health sector and the School of Nursing and Midwifery. The course will build on your current experience and skills enabling you to earn a degree in just one year. You’ll also gain the confidence and expertise to enhance your professional nursing practice and move your career forward.

This course is available to applicants who have previously studied their nursing qualification outside the United Kingdom.

Careers with this subject

Whatever your professional background the course modules are designed to suit your particular interest, whether oncology, critical care, paediatrics, obstetrics or psychiatry. 

All modules have a strong practice focus, which will enhance employability and career progression in the future.

Key features

  • Focus on professional issues and development in your own field of practice, on a course that acknowledges the diversity in the work settings of registered nurses and provides educational opportunities for adult, child, learning disability and mental health nurses.
  • Undertake a course developed alongside contemporary concerns about nursing which focuses on compassion, fundamental care skills and recognition of the standards of care and practice to ensure patients receive the highest level of care.
  • Examine your own practice area, reflect on your own practice and have the chance to discuss and network with your peers, helping you to build professional networks and support whilst undertaking further study.
  • Build your own self-esteem, motivation for learning and clinical decision-making skills and have the chance to improve your professional practice through critical analysis.
  • Make the most of the various opportunities for inter-professional learning as part of the course delivery.
  • Underpin your interventions with the best available evidence, contemporary knowledge and high-level clinical decision-making skills.
  • Develop confidence, competence and emotional resilience to consistently exercise personal responsibility and professional accountability for decision making and the provision of high-quality safe care.

Please note that upon completion of this course you will not be able to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Course details

  • Course overview

  • This course offers the award of BSc (Hons). To achieve this award you’ll need to earn 120 credits by undertaking five modules – four 20 credit modules and one 40 credit module.

    Core modules

    • HEAD360P Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making

      The module is designed to extend students' knowledge around evidence-informed decision making. This will be achieved through students identifying and evaluating a body of research-based evidence relevant to clinical practice.

    • HEAD361 Independent Study

      This module extends knowledge of primary and secondary research and develops critical appraisal skills. Students construct an 8000 word integrative literature review of a practice focused research topic.

    • HEAD362 Clinical Decision Making in Healthcare Practice

      This module draws on knowledge, skills and experiences gained through work as a registered healthcare professional and further develops clinical reasoning ability.

    • HEAD363 Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare Practice

      This module builds on existing knowledge of legal and ethical frameworks. Students explore and debate ethical and legal concepts, issues and theories relating to health and social care.

    Optional modules

    • HEAD370 Study Skills and Professional Values

      This module enables the student returning to study to develop further academic skills while examining values, accountability and responsibility relating to their professional practice.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc Hons Professional Development in Nursing pathway specification 6366

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Entry requirements

You’ll normally be a registered health and social care professional in possession of international equivalent previous study at level 5 (i.e. foundation degree/diploma of higher education). 

Applicants whose first language is not English must also provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English in accordance with the University’s Admissions Code of Practice – minimum overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of 6.5 average with a minimum 5.5 in each category.

AP(E)L:

Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential are accepted and will be assessed following University regulations and faculty procedures.


Extended entry requirements

Fees, costs and funding

EU applicants should refer to our dedicated Brexit webpage for details of the implications of the UK’s plans to leave the European Union.

New Student 2018
EU £4,920
International £13,000
Part time N/A
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per a number of credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances.

Undergraduate Merit Scholarship for international students

Scholarship value: £2000 off your tuition fees in year one.
To recognise continued academic achievement, you may also receive:

  • 10% off the successive years tuition fee if an overall grade of 60% or above is maintained
  • 20% off the successive years tuition fee if an overall grade of 70% or above is maintained.
To be eligible you must:
  • achieve one grade above your academic offer.
  • meet our standard English Language requirements.

This scholarship will be offered automatically, providing you meet the eligibility criteria. A separate application will not be required.

Further information about Scholarships for international students

How to apply

When to apply 

Applications can usually be made throughout the year. Please check the closing date with international-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk and apply as early as possible as our courses are popular. 

Apply for this course 

To apply and for further information please contact the International Office via our how to apply webpage or email international-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk. 

If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by University of Plymouth, please visit our Disability Services website.

Please note that the next intake of students would be in academic year 2019/2020.

Support for international students

With students studying at Plymouth from over 100 countries, the University of Plymouth has a range of services and support for our international students.

We have an English Language Centre (ELC) that offers a range of courses to help you develop your academic English language skills. Continued support is available throughout your studies through workshops, drop-in sessions and our Writing Café.

We also have our International Student Advice team who will help you get the most from your studies and your time in the UK. There is an International Student Orientation programme and we can advise on immigration and visas through to living and studying in the UK.

For more details of support on offer, please visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/international.

Opportunities for postgraduate study in nursing

Become an advanced practitioner with our MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Nursing and Midwifery Professions). Our master enables you to build your qualification around your personal professional needs by choosing optional modules relevant to your area of practice – including prescribing modules.

Whichever field you work in, you will be equipped to advance your practice and service delivery, as well as improve the care and experiences of patients and service users. You can also become a non-medical consultant or clinical specialist and can move into managerial, academic or research posts.

Develop significant expertise in your chosen area with our specialist routes:

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