School of Nursing and Midwifery

BSc (Hons) Urgent and Emergency Care

The increasing pressure to provide urgent and emergency care services requires appropriately qualified clinicians to deliver the right care, in the right place at the right time. Our BSc (Hons) Urgent and Emergency Care programme has been developed for NMC/HCPC registered healthcare professionals who work in urgent and emergency care in a range of settings to enable them to meet this demand.

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Key features

  • Advance your practice in urgent and emergency care, with a programme designed around the person who requires the health intervention and not the place where this is delivered.
  • Focus on the provision of urgent and emergency care across the lifespan, from the young child to the older adult, in both urban and rural locations.
  • A programme that is of value to clinicians practising in a range of locations to include emergency departments, community settings, minor injury units, general practice and acute and specialist services.
  • Develop specialist and transferable competences within an e-portfolio.
  • Learn with and from other healthcare professionals and medical students.
  • Modular design that can be studied full time or part time with the option to complete the award within five years.
  • Opportunity to AP(E)L to a maximum of 60 credits (must be subject related).

Course details

  • Programme overview

  • This programme comprises of three 20 credit core modules and 60 credits in optional modules.

    It may be possible to accredit any previous formal certificated learning and informal non-certificated learning, including e-learning as part of the degree pathway by Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning. Please see the AP(E)L section of our website for further details.

    Please note that if you apply to AP(E)L up to the maximum of 60 credits you will need to achieve the three core modules to be eligible for the award of BSc (Hons) Urgent and Emergency Care.

    Core modules

    • Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making (HEAD360P)

      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.

    • Urgent, Emergency and Critical Care: Leadership and Innovation (UEC607)

      This module will enhance the students' confidence and competence to lead and manage quality improvement and innovation in urgent, emergency and critical care.

    • Evidencing Professional Development in Urgent, Emergency and Critical Care via (e)-Portfolio (UEC608)

      This module will enable the student to develop their professional practice in the provision of urgent, emergency and critical care. Evidence supporting the students' development will be collated in an electronic portfolio (e-portfolio).

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 Urgent and Emergency Care Programme Specification 2022 23 6277

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.

In light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the changeable nature of the situation and any updates to government guidance, we may need to make further, last minute adjustments to how we deliver our teaching and learning on some or all of our programmes, at any time during the academic year. We want to reassure you that even if we do have to adjust the way in which we teach our programmes, we will be working to maintain the quality of the student learning experience and learning outcomes at all times.
Entry requirements

To be eligible for the programme you must be:

  • on a professional register (i.e. NMC, HCPC) and:
  • working in practice in an area that reflects the continuum of provision for critical care to achieve the programme learning outcomes and:
  • in possession of previous study at level 5 (Diploma of Higher Education) or a foundation degree.
You will be considered and advised individually (where required) by the programme team and Professional Development Unit. Please contact the Professional Development Unit or programme lead if you have any queries regarding your situation.

Extended entry requirements

Fees, costs and funding

The fee for this programme is dependent on the modules undertaken. Please see the relevant module web pages for further information.

How to apply
When to apply
Applications for this programme can usually be made throughout the year. Please check the closing date and apply as early as possible as our programmes are popular.
Apply for this programme
To apply for this programme please complete the application form and return via email to:
What happens after I apply?
You will normally receive a decision on your application within four weeks of us receiving your application. You may be asked to provide additional information, to take part in an interview (which in the case if you are an overseas student may be by telephone or video conference) or you will be sent a decision by letter or email.
If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by University of Plymouth, please visit our Disability Services website.
Support is also available from our International Officeif you are an overseas student applying to the University.

Find out more about the modules that make up this course:

Or
Any other module, Partnership module, Mentorship or learning achieved with another HEI in the relevant subject of Urgent and Emergency Care – if you are unsure on whether a module you have passed is relevant, please contact the Programme Lead.
This programme also has an optional module at masters level 'APP738 – Management of children/young people requiring urgent or emergency care’, which offers professional development for graduates working and looking to enhance their clinical and professional practice in this area.
Jason King Student Insight image - Urgent and Emergency Care PD pathway

"The BSc (Hons) Urgent and Emergency Care programme really helped to boost my understanding of current issues within the emergency care specialty. It has made me a more confident and enthusiastic practitioner and I would recommend the course to anyone who wants to gain a deeper insight into this field. There were some truly inspiring sessions in the course. Since undertaking this course, I have worked with other members of staff to improve the care of patients with Sepsis presenting to our ED. The teaching methods are varied and great. It even got me on Twitter- which I thought would never happen!"

Jason Crabtree, registered nurse in the Emergency Department, Treliske Hospital, Truro

If you have previously obtained a health related honours degree at 2:2 or above, you are eligible to access the programme via the Graduate Certificate/Diploma route:

Graduate Certificate: Urgent and Emergency Care (60 credits at degree level)

Graduate Diploma: Urgent and Emergency Care (120 credits at degree level)

Students seeking to achieve either qualification will be required to achieve the two 20 credit core modules, UEC607 and UEC608.

Applications will be considered individually by the programme team and the PDU.

Postgraduate students

Opportunities for postgraduate study in nursing

Be at the forefront of changes to the traditional ways of working and become a Clinical Practitioner (CP) with our MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Clinical Practitioner).

You’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to assess, diagnose, treat and manage patients who present with undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions, across all sectors of healthcare.

Certain clinicians can also exit as a non-medical prescriber, i.e. nurses, pharmacists and optometrists can become independent and/or supplementary prescribers, whilst radiographers, physiotherapists and podiatrists can become supplementary prescribers.

<p> MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Clinical Practitioner) <br></p>
Faculty of Health and Human Sciences

You can contact the Professional Development Unit with any queries

Prospective student enquiries

+44 1752 586951

Current student enquiries

Professional Development Unit, Level 4 Rolle Building, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.

8.30–17.00 (Friday 16.30)