Adult Critical Care - BSc (Hons) / GradCert / MSc / PgCert / PgDip / Module
Currently viewing course to start in 2026/27 Entry.
This Adult Critical Care course is a nationally recognised programme designed for Registered Nurses working in adult critical care units. The course provides a clear pathway aligned to national frameworks and professional standards, enabling nurses to achieve a named, post-registration award in Adult Critical Care that is recognised across the UK....
- Level Top-Up Pathways
- Study mode Part Time
- Award BSc (Hons) / GradCert / MSc / PgCert / PgDip / Module
- Start date September 2026, January 2027
- Fees View course fees
- Subject
- Location City South
This course is:
Overview
This Adult Critical Care course is a nationally recognised programme designed for Registered Nurses working in adult critical care units. The course provides a clear pathway aligned to national frameworks and professional standards, enabling nurses to achieve a named, post-registration award in Adult Critical Care that is recognised across the UK.
Completion of the core 60-credit modules including the National Competency Framework for Registered Nurses in Adult Critical Care (CC3N, 2023), ensures that the qualification meets the National Standards for Critical Care Nurse Education (CC3N, 2023). Nurses can go on to complete a named qualification in Adult Critical Care.
Students may choose to exit with the Graduate Certificate and return later via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to continue their studies.
What's covered in this course?
- A nationally recognised qualification in Adult Critical Care Nursing mapped to the CC3N National Standards for Critical Care Nurse Education
- A flexible learning model supporting nurses across the NHS, Defence and Independent sectors.
- A strong focus on critical appraisal, evidence-based practice, research and service improvement.
- Professional development opportunities that support progression from intermediate to advanced levels of critical care nursing practice.
- Greater understanding of the complex needs for critical care patients and their families from the identification for the need for critical care, admission, ongoing care, discharge and rehabilitation phases.
- A response to local, regional and national requirements for critical care provision, recognising the multi-professional disciplinary nature of critical care.
Why Choose Us?
- The course is designed to be relevant to Registered Nurses working in level two and level three areas.
- Our staff are experts in their field; the course leader has substantial experience in critical care research, education and clinical practice.
- The course has a strong focus on current issues within the speciality
- The course has an emphasis on clinical practice with national proficiencies as an integral component of the programme.
- The course uses innovative, interactive teaching approaches with documentation for each module including handouts, links to key documents and supplementary articles of interest accessible online.
- The course will equip you with life-long learning skills, promoting your ability to learn independently after the course has finished.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway:
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 2 years
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway:
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 2 years
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: GradCert
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway:
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 1 year
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: GradCert
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway:
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 1 year
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway:
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 3 years
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: MSc
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway:
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 3 years
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: PgCert
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway:
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 1 year
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: PgCert
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway:
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 1 year
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: PgDip
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway:
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 2 years
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: PgDip
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway:
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 2 years
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: Module
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway: Module only Level 6
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- TBC
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: Module
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway: Module only Level 6
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- TBC
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: Module
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway: Module only Level 7
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- TBC
- £900 per 20 credit module
Award: Module
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway: Module only Level 7
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- TBC
- £900 per 20 credit module
International students
Sorry, this course is not available to International students.
Entry requirements
Level 6 study
For entry onto the BSc / BSc (Hons) students must have a relevant Diploma In Higher Education or 240 credits of which at least 120 credits are at level 5.
Students who have a Dip HE or equivalent but do not have any previous BCU credits will need to complete three modules at Level 6.
For entry onto the Graduate Certificate award, students must have a relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent or a 60 credit Level 6 award in an appropriate subject area.
Level 7 study
For entry into the Post Graduate Certificate/Post Graduate Diploma/MSc award students must have a relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent or a 60 credit Level 6 award in an appropriate subject area. Applicants with evidence of successfully completed Level 6 study within the preceding 2 years.
Where appropriate and on an individual basis students may be required to undertake a pre-course assessment to enable the course team to support students study skills. We will use this to navigate your appropriate pathway assessment.
To prevent duplication of study, a student that has previously completed a Level 6 module or pathway award within the last 5 years cannot access the equivalent pathway award at Level 7.
Recognition of Prior Learning – RPL
If students have gained Level 6 or 7 credits either at Birmingham City University or elsewhere in the last 5 years, it may be possible to use them towards an award. The amount of RPL is stipulated by the regulations that apply at the time of enrolment.
Access
Diploma HE in nursing or equivalent appropriate for level 6 study
EU/International students
IELTs of 6 with no element below 5.5.
Course in Depth
Degree (Level 6)
In order to complete this route a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Year 1 Pathway Award – Exit Award: Grad Cert
This module aims to enhance your knowledge base of applied anatomy and physiology, in relation to body systems and explore the pathophysiological processes that may affect these systems. This module aims to provide you with the skills, in-depth applied physiology, and knowledge required to apply safe high quality bedside care to the critically ill patient and their family. The focus of the module is to provide opportunities for you to interpret the significance of altered pathophysiological mechanisms, pathophysiology of critical illness and its implications will be explored within the context of patient assessment and interpretation of clinical symptoms.
The ‘Core Concepts in Nursing the Critical Ill Adult’ module is one of two core modules of the Adult Critical Care Pathway. Completion of the core 60-credits at level 6, will enable you to achieve a named award in Adult Critical Care and result in you achieving a standardised and transferable critical care post registration academic award (CC3N, 2015). The module content has been aligned to the National Standards for Critical Care Nurse Education (CC3N, 2016), the National Competency Framework for Registered Nurses in Adult Critical Care (CC3N, 2015) and the General Provision of Intensive Care standards (FICM, 2022).
Year 2 Pathway Award – Exit Award: BSc (Hons)
This module is for all healthcare practitioners if you want to enhance your understanding of evidence based practice to help improve your patient/client/service-user care. The aims of the module are to develop both your understanding of the importance of best evidence in practice, and your ability to locate, evaluate, and use best evidence in developing aspects of practice.
In order to complete this route a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from ‘Appendix A. List of Additional Optional Modules’ * for Year 2.
*Any appropriate module (relevant to Pathway / Speciality) from University / Faculty portfolio as agreed with the Pathway Leader.
Modules run subject to appropriate student numbers to ensure the best student experience. It may therefore be necessary to suspend a particular entry point for a module. If this happens, any applications will be transferred to the next start date for the course.
Postgraduate (Level 7)
In order to complete this route a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
Year 1 Pathway Award – Exit Award: PgCert
This module aims to enhance your knowledge base of applied anatomy and physiology, in relation to body systems and explore the pathophysiological processes that may affect these systems. This module aims to provide you with the skills, in-depth applied physiology, and knowledge required to apply safe high quality bedside care to the critically ill patient and their family. The focus of the module is to provide opportunities for you to interpret the significance of altered pathophysiological mechanisms, pathophysiology of critical illness and its implications will be explored within the context of patient assessment and interpretation of clinical symptoms.
The ‘Core Concepts in Nursing the Critical Ill Adult’ module is one of two core modules of the Adult Critical Care Pathway. Completion of the core 60-credits at level 7, will enable you to achieve a named award in Adult Critical Care and result in you achieving a standardised and transferable critical care post registration academic award (CC3N, 2015). The module content has been aligned to the National Standards for Critical Care Nurse Education (CC3N, 2016), the National Competency Framework for Registered Nurses in Adult Critical Care (CC3N, 2015) and the General Provision of Intensive Care standards (FICM, 2022).
Year 2 Pathway Award - Exit Award: PgDip
This module explicitly addresses students’ personal and/or professional development with a view to enhancing competence for service improvement in a rapidly changing health and healthcare environment. Through a flexible provision, students are inspired to reflect critically upon their individual learning needs as well as their organisations’ practices, to appraise and apply concepts from the literature on leadership, to issues of relevance for their role, organisation and overall programme of study.
This module specifically addresses the broader programme aims related to “pursuing excellence” and “practice-led, knowledge applied” through a flexible provision that encourages students to develop their research ideas, enabling those on various Health MSc programmes to satisfy their individual learning needs, whilst contributing to their area of study.
In order to complete this route a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from ‘Appendix A. List of Additional Optional Modules’ * for Year 2.
*Any appropriate module (relevant to Pathway / Speciality) from University / Faculty portfolio as agreed with the Pathway Leader.
Modules run subject to appropriate student numbers to ensure the best student experience. It may therefore be necessary to suspend a particular entry point for a module. If this happens, any applications will be transferred to the next start date for the course.
MSc
Year 3 Pathway Award – Exit Award: MSc
Option 1
This triple module forms the final bridge between the award of a Postgraduate Diploma and a Health MSc related to a named award. It provides the student with the opportunity to complete a piece of work around a chosen topic in order to demonstrate competence in the planning, execution, analysis and evaluation of a Research Project, a Systematic Review or Project Management. It involves 600 hours of study. The focus is on facilitating the student's independent, critical study in their academic discipline or area of professional practice. It will also serve those who wish to embark on Doctoral studies in the future.
Option 2
This double module provides the student with the opportunity to complete a piece of work around a chosen topic in order to demonstrate competence in the planning, execution, analysis and evaluation of a Research Project, a Systematic Review or Project Management. It involves 400 hours of study. The focus is on facilitating the student's independent, critical study in their academic discipline or area of professional practice. It will also serve those who wish to embark on Doctoral studies in the future.
This module seeks to support people new to academic publishing in developing an article for publication. Writing for Academic Publication is a cross between a module and a boot camp, providing the space, time, support and guidance to develop ideas and data into a draft article ready for submission. Taking a hands on and nurturing approach, the module will demystify the academic publication process, develop your confidence and hone your skills in writing for publication. The module is well-suited to those taking their first steps in academic publishing, whether academic staff, doctoral researchers, Master’s students or CPD students.
In order to complete this route a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from ‘Appendix A. List of Additional Optional Modules’ * for Year 2.
*Any appropriate module (relevant to Pathway / Speciality) from University / Faculty portfolio as agreed with the Pathway Leader.
Modules run subject to appropriate student numbers to ensure the best student experience. It may therefore be necessary to suspend a particular entry point for a module. If this happens, any applications will be transferred to the next start date for the course.
How you learn
Our Adult Critical Care course has been designed to build upon your prior knowledge and expertise to give you the confidence to consolidate new theory into your practice. Working with our experienced teaching team with their strong clinical links, will enable you to directly apply the theoretical concepts to your practice.
The underlying principle and aim of the learning, teaching and assessment strategy for the course focuses on the relationship between theory and practice, highlighting the importance of relevant, contemporary evidence-based theory and practice.
Teaching
A varied range of online learning and teaching approached are used throughout the module(s) for example:
- Asynchronous / Synchronous learning
- Lectures
- Simulation
- Case Study
- Group Work
- Discussions
- Forums
- Quizzes
- Workshops
A varied range of assessment approached are used through the module(s), for example:
- Written essay
- Case Study
- Portfolio of evidence
- Oral presentation
- Viva
- Online written examination
- Podcast
- Poster / infographics
Student support
There are numerous opportunities to access student support online, for example:
- Personal Academic Tutoring
- Group tutorials
- 1:1 tutorial
- Module tutors
- Course team
- Professional Navigator
- Librarians
- Student Services
- Student Union
Facilities & Staff
Nursing and Midwifery facilities
Take a look around the facilities available to you as a Nursing and Midwifery student at BCU.
Our staff
Chris Carter
Associate Professor
Chris is a Senior Lecturer, an experienced critical care nurse and leader and during the first wave of the Covid-19 was seconded as Matron for Critical Care in a London Hospital.
More about ChrisHannah Mosley
Senior Lecturer
Hannah currently teaches on 3rd Year BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing modules, and Neuroscience related topics on post qualification modules
More about HannahProfessor Joy Notter
Professor of Community Healthcare Studies
Professor Joy Notter is Professor of Community Health Care at Birmingham City University. She trained as a nurse in the Nightingale Training School, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, her final post there being charge nurse in medical cardiology she then trained as a health visitor and worked in Stockwell and Brixton. She gained a Master’s degree from...
More about JoyEnquiries
For any enquiries about this course please contact the course leader, Chris Carter, on:
- Email: Chris.Carter@bcu.ac.uk