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Contact: College of Humanities & Social Science Undergraduate Admissions Office

Email: hssug@ed.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3565

Web: www.ed.ac.uk/health-social-science/nursing-studies

Introduction

Nursing Studies at the University of Edinburgh prepares you for a challenging, rewarding and varied career in nursing. The practical and academic elements of the course will develop your communication, leadership and analytical skills and prepare you for working in a variety of hospital and community healthcare settings. Completing the Bachelor of Nursing Studies with Honours enables you to register as an adult nurse.

Edinburgh was the first university in the UK to offer a nursing studies degree. This diverse programme provides a sound knowledge-base for nursing, health and social care, and also offers opportunities to study courses in other academic areas including social work, social anthropology and languages. Small class sizes provide a supportive learning environment.

In 2012 we are offering a newly re-validated programme in line with the UK move to an all-graduate nursing profession. Our programme offers the same high quality of excellent, clinically based knowledge and practical skills enhancement, balanced with evidence-based research element, ensuring our graduates are highly successful practitioners by the end of their four-year degree.

What you'll study

Year 1

The first two years provide an introduction to nursing care and theory, and to the sociological and psychological aspects of healthcare. You will study the core courses Life Sciences (anatomy and physiology based), Healthy Communities (investigating the impact of society on health) and Evidence-Based Nursing. You will also choose an outside course from a range of subjects offered by the University.

You will gain clinical experience in your first year through community and medical ward placements. In second year you will build on this experience with mental health placements and surgical/outpatient experience.

Year 2

As Year 1.

Year 3

You will study two core courses and two optional courses related to clinical practice. Clinical experience includes care of the chronically ill, intensive support and a community care placement. You will also choose a clinical elective in the UK or abroad.

Year 4

In your fourth year you will study two core courses and two optional courses and complete your dissertation. Your clinical practice will include care of older people, an honours-linked placement and a 12-week placement consolidating all your clinical practice. This degree has progression points at the end of each academic year where students must demonstrate clinical competence as well as academic excellence. This is in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Standards for Nurse Education 2010.

Learning and assessment

Courses are taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, clinical skills sessions, problem-based learning, reflective diaries, group work and computer-assisted learning.

The course is assessed by coursework, exams and clinical practice profiles.

Careers

Career prospects are excellent for graduates of Nursing Studies from the University of Edinburgh. Most graduates start their career in clinical nursing before choosing to specialise in areas such as intensive care, oncology, theatres or accident and emergency. Some choose to work abroad in developed and developing countries. The course also prepares you for a career in nurse education, research or management.

Our facilities

Teaching takes place at the University's Old Medical School premises, located within the University’s Central Area. You will have access to teaching and learning facilities including libraries, computer labs and clinical skills facilities. Clinical placements are offered with mentors across the Edinburgh and Lothian healthcare setting.

Study abroad

Opportunities to study abroad are available in this subject area.