Nursing (Professional Practice) - BSc (Hons)
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry.
The Professional Practice Course is flexible, practice-led, responsive and aims to foster excellence. This course will develop knowledgeable, critical thinking, proactive, professional practitioners who are fit to meet the changing demands of modern healthcare provision in the global arena....
- Level Top-Up Pathways
- Study mode Blended Learning
- Award BSc (Hons)
- Start date September 2024
- School School of Nursing and Midwifery
- Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
The Professional Practice Course is flexible, practice-led, responsive and aims to foster excellence. This course will develop knowledgeable, critical thinking, proactive, professional practitioners who are fit to meet the changing demands of modern healthcare provision in the global arena.
The Professional Practice Course consists of a selection of modules that can be studied on their own or as part of an BSc/BSc (Hons) undergraduate or PG Cert/PG dip/ MSc postgraduate award. For help in deciding which modules to study or your outcome award please contact our Professional Navigators on navigator@bcu.ac.uk or potential Route Lead.
Why Choose Us?
- Clinically focused content
- An opportunity to examine your practice critically
- A strong focus on current issues and an emphasis on the practical application of knowledge
- Flexible study options – chose to study over one or more academic years
- Each module has a bespoke "Moodle" based website which contains all module documentation, handouts, links to key documents and supplementary articles of interest
- Ongoing support from staff both academically whilst in university to facilitate your development as a learner
- Excellence in delivering high quality standards of flexible and bespoke academic provision for post qualifying practitioners
- Links with healthcare providers
- State-of-the-art facilities.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Sorry, this course is not available to UK students.
International 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 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Blended Learning
- 18 months
-
TBC
The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Entry requirements
Level 6 study
For entry onto the BSc/ BSc (Hons) students must have a relevant DIP 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.
- Five 20 credit modules at Level 6 Or
- Complete three modules at Level 6 plus a 40 credit Level 5 portfolio module.
For entry into 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 induvial 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.
Please read the 'Online application and enrolment process' and 'Method of payment' information below before making your application.
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our pdf application form instead.
Online application and enrolment process
- Complete an online application form via the link. The form requires you to submit a completed authorised funding form which must be uploaded with the application. Alternatively, you can download a hard copy application form.
- When your submitted application form has been processed and approved, details of the module and enrolment details will be sent to the email address stated on your application form.
- You will be sent an email asking you to complete your online pre-enrolment. This must be completed before you enrol.
- Without proof of funding, you will not be able to complete your enrolment/receive online pre-enrolment email. The funding form must be received within four weeks of the enrolment date; otherwise you will be withdrawn from the course.
Please submit your application as early as possible. We aim to give you a decision within two weeks of receiving your application. Please note that NHS Trust application deadlines may differ from our own and you should check with your NHS Trust training/education contact for confirmation of their deadlines.
Please ensure that you include full details of your qualifications and relevant work experience as part of your application.
Method of payment
The method of payment of your course fees will differ depending on whether you are a self-funding, sponsored or contracted/commissioned applicant. Definitions are provided below and you must choose the appropriate Apply online application button. If you are unsure which funding method applies to you please consult your training/education contact in your NHS Trust prior to applying:
1) Self-funding
You are paying for the course and responsible for the fees.
Select 'Self Funded' when making your application.
2) Sponsored
Course fees are paid directly by the employer/NHS Trust which means we invoice your employer/NHS Trust to obtain payment.
To apply for this course you must download and complete the CPD Sponsorship Agreement Form, and submit it with your application. The upload facility is available in Section 3 of the application form: Fees and Sponsorship.
Select 'NHS Funded' when making your application.
Download Financial Support Form Instructions
3) Contracted/Commissioned
The NHS Trust agrees with HE West Midlands for your course fees to be paid directly to the University from funds managed by HE West Midlands for pre-agreed programmes.
To apply for this course you must obtain a contracted/commissioned financial support form from your Trust contact and upload the completed form and submit it with your application. The upload facility is available in Section 3 of the application form: Fees and Sponsorship.
Select 'NHS Funded' when making your application.
Course in Depth
Degree (Level 6)
To complete this route a student must successfully complete all the following modules (totalling 120 credits):
Academic skills are the foundational building blocks we use to successfully communicate our knowledge, demonstrate our understanding, and advance our thinking on any topic. This module is aimed at students who wish to develop these essential skills in order to improve their capabilities and excel at degree level study. You will be facilitated to develop the independent learning and academic scholarship required to support your continuing personal and professional development. This module is tailored to your needs and delivered by nurturing and caring experts in academic skills.
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.
This module is aimed at healthcare practitioners who wish to negotiate learning of a bespoke topic. Under the guidance of facilitators, you will be able to direct your learning and identify relevant learning opportunities that you feel enable you to learn more about a specific field of study.
Reflection and reflective practice continue to be an integral part of health, education and life science (HELS) undergraduate curriculum and subsequent professional practice. Reflection is perceived as integral to the development of the self within the HELS professions, and a notion that is fundamental to the development of emotional intelligence in nurses, allied healthcare and education practitioners. Therefore in-line with the Professional Practice framework philosophy this module through a mode of reflection is an optional module, situated within a flexible pathway that aims to meet the specific academic needs of individual practitioners.
This module quality, how to measure, maintain and assess it, in relation to patient care and healthcare service provision. You will critically review theories, roles and responsibilities, and different methods while drawing on key learning from research and literature, whilst considering how these relate and apply to your practice.
This module is part of the Professional Practice Programme. The module is intended for practitioners working in healthcare. The module aims to enhance the student’s knowledge and understanding of the key underpinning principles and practice of infection prevention and control, utilising legislative frameworks, national and local evidence based literature to enhance clinical practice and reduce healthcare associated infections, in an inter-professional healthcare climate.
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.
Download course specification
Download nowInternational
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
Our School of Nursing and Midwifery is based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.
We’ve spent £41million expanding our facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice.
In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that you learn using the most up-to-date equipment available. Alongside physical spaces such as a mock operating theatre and wards, we also make use of online and virtual technology, such as our virtual ward and virtual case creator.
See more of our skills facilities at City South
Centre for Skills and Simulation
The Centre for Skills and Simulation offers a range of different spaces which replicate situations that you will encounter in practice. These include hospital wards, an operating theatre and a home environment room.
Our mock wards enable you to get a feel of what a ward is really like before you head out for your first placement. The hospital wards can be adapted from low care to high dependency care environment with the necessary monitoring equipment.
The home environment room is the perfect space for teaching communications skills and allows us to simulate a community setting for our students. It is particularly useful for mental health nurses, learning disability nurses and midwives.
Simulation Manikins
We have several Simulation men (SIM men) and simulation babies (SIM babies) which are anatomically correct manikins used for teaching specific techniques such as advanced adult and paediatric life support skills, acute and high dependency clinical skills, first aid and communication skills. The manikins contain software which replicates real symptoms, and can manipulate indicators such as blood pressure, pulse and heart rate for extra realism. SIM man can even ‘talk’ to the students as they are treating him, to add another dimension to learning.
Computer Facilities
The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.
Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:
- Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
- Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
- Microsoft Office software
- Research and statistical software
- Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home
Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.
In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.
Our staff
Alison Simons
Senior Lecturer of Nursing & Midwifery
Alison was a cancer nurse for 18 years looking after patients with a variety of cancer and receiving a variety of treatments. She was the junior sister of a mixed oncology ward within a large teaching hospital. Alison then went on to become a professional development sister responsible for the educational needs of 200 oncology and haematology...
More about AlisonEnquiries
Enquiries
For any enquiries about this course please contact us on:
- Route Leader - Jane.Leaver@bcu.ac.uk
- Course Leader: Alison.Simons@bcu.ac.uk