Program Overview

Nursing (Top-Up) BSc (Hons)

Overview

This course is designed to top-up a registered nursing qualification. You’ll be taught by an enthusiastic team of skilled professionals, and all members of the team have at least one specialist area of both clinical and teaching expertise. They're also actively involved in healthcare research and consultancy work.

All learning on the Nursing (Top-Up) course is underpinned by evidence-based practice that promotes the development of high-quality healthcare provision. There's a strong emphasis on relating nursing theory to clinical practice.

The course is carefully structured to enhance skills that allow you to meet a wider range of challenges. We work hard to ensure you have all the support that you need to build your confidence and professionalism.

Places are available to study this course at our London campus on several dates throughout the year.

Why us?

• Our Nursing and Midwifery courses are in the UK top 30 for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025)
• ‘Top-up’ to a registered nursing qualification to a full honours degree in one year of study
• Benefit from our state-of-the-art nursing and healthcare facilities at the Sciences Complex
• Gain more flexibility to move between different types of nursing roles
• Learn from a highly experienced teaching team of skilled professionals

Course structure

We use various methods of teaching including lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, independent learning and group work.

Each module involves an element of assessment using methods designed (where appropriate) to support professional development in clinical practice.

Course modules

National level 6:

• Research Proposal (40 credits)
  • Undertake a research proposal for an area of contemporary nursing practice, including an introduction to your topic area, a structured systematic literature review and a detailed methods section. Produce associated documentation that's dependent on the proposed project, for example, participant information leaflets, questionnaires, interview schedules etc.
• Facilitating Learning and Development in Practice (20 credits)
  • Develop your skills in clinical supervision and teaching and learning development. Facilitate learning within the practice setting and develop your ability to help those learning within a work-based setting. Produce a rationale for an episode of learning for a member of staff/student within a clinical setting.
• Evidence Based Practice in Healthcare (20 credits)
  • Learn the importance of collecting, using and interpreting data from published literature. Gain an introduction to methodological concepts that will allow you to interpret quantitative, qualitative, and secondary research. Analyse data from all aspects of the research continuum. Explore theoretical research models that underpin both qualitative and quantitative research. Examine the critical appraisal of research and develop your study skills and academic writing.
• Equality, Diversity, Ethics and the Law in Healthcare (20 credits)
  • Critically examine legal and ethical principles and constructs which impact upon healthcare practice and delivery. Explore the theoretical underpinning of ethical frameworks and legal constructs around patients’ rights and responsibilities. Scrutinise current legislation around human rights, equality and diversity, discrimination, and protected characteristics of patients. Reflect on the contradiction of personal values and ethics versus professional duty, responsibility, and regulation within contemporary practice. Investigate commonly reported ethical and legal dilemmas within healthcare.
• Managing and Effecting Change in Healthcare (20 credits)
  • Explore concepts around leadership, management, and theory, considering how contemporary issues in healthcare delivery impact on the patient and their journey. Apply these concepts to working as a professional and reflective practitioner within a practice setting.

Facilities

The University of Sunderland offers modern and well-equipped facilities at our Sciences Complex.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

• Qualification | Minimum grade
  • You will be required to be a registered nurse with the appropriate country regulatory body and hold a Nursing Diploma qualification, equivalent to Level 5 in the UK.
  • For international applicants, we accept Registered Nurses who also hold a Licence to Practice.

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland.

Fees and finance

• 2025/26 fees are:
  • The annual, full-time fee for this course is:
    • £9,535 if you are from the UK/Europe
    • £16,500 if you are an international student
    • £7,145 per 90 credits for part-time study

Career ready

Given the increasing emphasis on degree level qualifications for nurses, this Nursing (Top-Up) course is a valuable stepping stone towards more senior roles and greater responsibility.

Recent graduates from this course have gone on to develop their nursing careers both within the UK and in other countries.

Employability

This nursing course gives you more flexibility to move between different types of nursing jobs. Interests can and do change over time. This qualification helps ensure that you're always in demand and can work where you like.

Like all our courses, this nursing degree has a strong emphasis on real-world learning that equips you to deliver and achieve more in the workplace.

International applicants

If you're an international student, please be aware that successful completion of this Nursing (Top-Up) course will not make you eligible to work as a nurse in the UK.

In order for you to work as a nurse in the UK, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Our course does not lead to professional registration with the NMC.