Program Overview

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Key Facts

UCAS Tariff

104 - 96

Course duration

2 years

Course Overview

Our academic staff are registered nurses and allied health professionals, many of whom are also practising clinicians, providing an exceptional combination of theoretical rigour, professional insight and practice-based experiences. In addition, we have strong partnership working arrangements with Welsh Health Boards within the locality, who are able to provide specific expertise for bespoke learning opportunities and specialist input within theory modules.

Students’ clinical and academic skills are developed within a strong and established system of support through personal tutors within the Healthcare Education Centre, enabling students to develop skills such as academic writing, reflection, critical thinking and decision-making. This is complemented by other learning activities within the programme, including sessions in our Clinical Skills Unit, a simulation unit where students can learn and practise clinical skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Modules September start - 2025

Year 1

• Demonstrating Nursing Practice (Part A) * | NU11900
• Developing Nursing Practice | NU10520 | 20
• Introduction to Nursing Practice | NU10020 | 20

Year 2

• Demonstrating Nursing Practice (Part B) * | NU10960 | 60
• Developing knowledge of the human body | NU10720 | 20

• Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

About this course

Course duration

2 years, part time

Credits

120 credits at Level 4

Careers

This programme will give students the experience, skills and qualification to either progress into our part-time pre-registration BSc Nursing programme, commencing in Part 2 (year 2) or progress their clinical roles within the healthcare sector, such as becoming a Band 4 Assistant Practitioner.

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn?

Throughout the Cert HE programme, we will concentrate on introducing students to nursing theory and principles which are complemented by working in professional practice. Cross-field modules, where both adult and mental health field students are taught together, will focus on providing holistic, person-centred care and will develop understanding of human development, factors influencing health and well-being, service delivery, professional nursing practice, human anatomy, physiology and integrated pharmacology. The theory modules will also prepare students to develop their essential care skills by undertaking practical sessions in our state-of-the-art, multi-professional Clinical Skills Unit.

How will I be taught?

We use a variety of teaching methods to deliver the cert HE programme, and our students will benefit from a flexible, blended learning approach.

Students will be released for 15 hours a week from their substantive employment for a 7-week theory module delivery timescale. This will involve participation in learning activities which includes, for example, lead lectures, group work, scenarios, clinical skills sessions, online learning and pre-recorded sessions. In addition, students are also expected to undertake 95 hours of self-directed study per 7-week theory module.

There will be two theory modules delivered in year 1, and one theory module delivered in year 2 of our Cert HE programme.

In addition, whilst continuing to work in their substantive clinical roles, students must complete a total of 800 clinical hours per year via Module 3 and 5, which are the longitudinal practice-based modules and must complete all required elements within the All-Wales Practice Assessment Document [PAD] for Part 1. Whilst the theory module may commence a little later in the Autumn Semester, accrual of clinical practice hours and achievement of competencies can commence from September – August in year 1, and then September to end of March in year 2. Students will submit their PAD around Easter time in Semester 2 in the second year.

Students will be supported and assessed in clinical practice by allocated Practice Supervisors, Practice Assessors and Academic Assessors.

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff

104 - 96

A Levels

BCC-CCC. The Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above)

GCSE requirements

(minimum grade C/4):
English and Mathematics Grade C/4 or above

BTEC National Diploma:

BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM-MMM. BTEC Diploma – D*D-DD

International Baccalaureate:

28-26

European Baccalaureate:

26% overall

Other Requirements

Those without Level 3 qualifications can explore admission to the programme via an APEL pathway. Additional Requirements In addition to academic achievements, in order to comply with professional requirements, the admission criteria also include:

• Mandatory training compliance as stipulated by the applicant’s employer which meets programme skills mapping for Part 1, to include:
  • Basic Life Support
  • Moving and Handling
  • Violence and Aggression
  • Hand Hygiene
  • Welsh Language Awareness
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity
  • Safeguarding (Adults and Children)
  • Infection Prevention and Control
  • Data Governance
• Application and approval for employer study leave, and Line Manager agreement
• Good Health and Good Character assessment (see Fitness to Practise information below)
  • Confirmation/evidence of Occupational Health screening (which is required within the applicant’s post/completed by your employer), providing any relevant information to the Healthcare Education Team, which may require consideration for reasonable adjustment or Fitness to Practise panel
  • Confirmation/evidence of the completion of Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Screening (which is required within the applicant’s post/completed by your employer), with results meeting professional requirements. Relevant information will need to be provided to the Healthcare Education Team, which may require consideration for reasonable adjustment or Fitness to Practise panel

English Language Requirements:

See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:

International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.