Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc (Hons)
Subject and course type
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Undergraduate
Studying Learning Disabilities Nursing at Ji8¸£ÀûÍø is your chance to help others. Take the first step towards improving health outcomes for children and adults with a range of mental and physical needs.
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Provide life-changing care
Ready to make a positive difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities?
You’ll be part of a small, enthusiastic cohort, learning from a dynamic teaching team. You’ll learn from researchers and experts, from practice and the Department of Health.
Studying Learning Disabilities Nursing at Kingston will give you a strong foundation for a career with real, life-enhancing impact. Graduates from this course are highly sought after, with previous students working as specialist nurses, nurse therapists, community nurses and in senior management.
During the course, you’ll learn about the factors affecting people's health and wellbeing. You’ll explore the health inequalities in society. And, importantly, you’ll consider how we can improve outcomes for people with learning disabilities.
Your course will combine placements, simulated learning and classroom teaching. In doing so, you’ll develop the skills, values and knowledge you need to manage complex conditions effectively.
When you graduate, you’ll be a registered learning disabilities nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You’ll even receive a £5,000 per year, non-repayable NHS Training Grant to support your studies. Check out the to find out more.
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at Ji8¸£ÀûÍø. Not only are we ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, we’re also top in London for Nursing (The Times Good University Guide 2025).
A portion of your learning will take place at our award-winning simulation suite. These facilities create realistic environments to help you develop skills in clinical, community and practice health settings.
Innovative simulations, with role players and full-body manikins, will offer unique opportunities to learn how to manage conditions across the lifespan. Our training will prepare you to care for everyone, from children to older people, including those with dementia.
Outside of the University, you’ll spend time on placement with one of our partner providers.
You’ll also have opportunities to work with renowned organisations beyond the medical setting. Our students work with the famous Baked Bean Theatre Company. You’ll also have the chance to join the Learning Disability Nursing UK and Ireland network, and attend the Positive Choices Learning Disability Conference.
Kingston is ranked No.1 in London for Nursing (The Times Good University Guide 2025).
Accreditation
This degree confers both an academic award and a professional qualification in nursing. On completion of the programme, students are recommended to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for professional registration.
Course content
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.
Year 1
You will develop your skills in caring for people with a learning disability, learning alongside students of adult, child and mental health nursing.
Core modules
Non-credit bearing credits
This module is the Practice Assessment Module which is designed to support you with the achievement of the NMC proficiencies and practice assessment requirements. The module focuses on practice preparation, reflection following practice experiences and the development of your numeracy skills.
60 credits
This module introduces you to the context of learning disability nursing practice across a range of care settings. You will be introduced to The Code (NMC, 2018) to gain knowledge and understanding of its importance in guiding the learning disability nurse to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care in partnership with families, carers and other healthcare professionals. You will explore the skills and knowledge needed to safeguard vulnerable people, optimise the quality of care and enhance the experience of people accessing healthcare.
30 credits
This module is designed to help you develop your knowledge and understanding of human anatomy and physiology across the lifespan in relation to nursing, which is an essential element of nursing proficiency.
Pathophysiology will be explored in relation to common conditions and you will also begin to develop your knowledge of pharmacological concepts in preparation for therapeutic interventions explored in Year 2.
The main features of the module are to enable you to apply scientific principles to nursing care. It will also support you to identify and understand current nursing practices underpinned by scientific theory.
30 credits
This module is a core requirement for all students across all fields of the BSc/MSci Nursing programmes. As an introductory module, it will enable you to develop knowledge and understanding of the principles of public health and health promotion. You will explore the global, social, political, economic and psycho-social forces on the population's health and well-being. In addition, you will explore the evolution of public health, the determinants of health and health inequalities.
Year 2
Year 2 examines evidence-based person-centred care for people with learning disabilities, and how to support their health and wellbeing. At the end of Year 2, you will have the opportunity to undertake an optional national or international placement.
Core modules
30 credits
This module explores some of the most common health needs that impact people with a learning disability. It considers how we define health and wellbeing, and how learning disabilities nurses can support people who use services to maintain good wellbeing. It considers health across the life span, and across a spectrum of conditions of which learning disability is part. You will learn about digital safety, and how this contributes to wellbeing. You will practise applying the social determinants of health to case studies and vignettes of people with a learning disability, based on contributions from experts by experience. You will also learn about the health inequalities that people with a learning disability experience. You will also begin to consider the intersectionality between learning disability and the social determinants of health. This will enable you to plan care in inclusive, co-produced ways.
30 credits
This module will provide you with the requisite skills and knowledge to understand the principles of evidence-based healthcare and how to apply them effectively to your clinical practice. The concepts and skills you will learn include those used to search for, review and critique evidence. You will also develop the clinical skills and proficiencies required for Part 2 of your programme, through skills and simulated practice learning activities. A key element of this will be developing an understanding of the digital technologies used for enhancing care in line with contemporary healthcare policy.
30 credits
This module focuses on assessment and care planning as part of the nursing process. You will explore health inequalities and the impact on people with a learning disability across the lifespan. You will apply person-centred inclusive approaches to assess and plan care with people with learning disabilities, and their families and care workers, within legal and ethical frameworks. The skills and knowledge for assessment and planning will be explored within a framework of work place culture, using evidence-based models.
15 credits
This module will provide you with the foundational pharmacological and medicines management knowledge to enable you to safely develop your skills and knowledge in the administration of medicines to clients, patients and service users. You will develop your understanding of the regulatory, legal, and ethical frameworks that influence medicines management and the underlying pharmacological science. Issues such as concordance will be explored, and the skills required to access resources to support medicines management practice. Embedded within the module is simulated practice learning that will support the development of your clinical skills related to medicines management.
Optional module
15 credits
In Year 2 of the course, you will have the opportunity to undertake an option module. Examples of modules available include: Global Health, Wound Management, Child and Adolescent Mental Health. You will be provided with details of all modules available at the beginning of Year 2 so you can make your decision.
Year 3
In Year 3 you will explore the management of complex conditions across the lifespan (e.g. children, transition, adulthood, the older person and those with dementia or other mental or physical health needs). You will be prepared for the transition to professional practice and employability. You will develop skills in management, leadership, team working and teaching and supporting learners. You will learn how to critically appraise evidence to support future practice and explore complexities of nursing and service provision across health and social care organisations.
Core modules
30 credits
This module focuses on the collaborative learning and teaching of peers, people and families/carers. You will integrate your knowledge of learning theories, communication and relational skills to enable you to work collaboratively with others, critically reflecting on the challenges this can pose. You will also develop the clinical skills and proficiencies required for Part 3 of your programme through skills and simulated practice learning activities. You will have the opportunity to critically discuss inter and intra professional working alongside developing strategies for managing challenging communication. Your clinical communication skills will be refined building on your learning from previous modules, and you will have the opportunity to explore best practice approaches to communication for supporting people their families and carers in preventing ill health and managing their care.
60 credits
This module aims to explore the key areas that will enable you to transition and fulfil the role of a registered nurse. The module is designed to prepare you for professional nursing practice by further developing your knowledge and skills to enable you to be an accountable and compassionate registrant within the health and social care system. It focuses on the mechanisms that underpin care organisation and delivery, how nurses are integral to and can influence this and aims to develop your critical understanding of the factors influencing the environment in which you will be working. The role of politics in health and social care policy is critically explored and the module will provide you with the opportunities to explore these issues through a social justice lens.
30 credits
Navigating the transition from student to a professional practitioner who is skilled at leading teams is critically important to the delivery of safe, effective and high quality health care. This module will prepare you for professional nursing practice by expanding your knowledge and skills to enable you to be an accountable and compassionate leader within the health and social care system. It focuses on leadership, team working, and performance management and enables learning disability nursing students to reflect on their transition to registered practice and build the evidence base for a career development portfolio.
Some sessions will be shared across fields as they are core for all fields.
30 credits
This module will provide you with the underpinning knowledge and skills required for their future leadership role in coordinating and managing the complex needs of people with a learning disability across a range of organisations and settings. The module explores the complex role of the learning disability nurse, working as a specialist, to enrich the quality of life of people with learning disabilities. Experts from lived experience will be involved in the learning and teaching, supporting students through a range of complex case studies and current socio economical and workforce challenges. You will build on their knowledge of partnership and collaborative working and examine the cultural, political, psychosocial and technological influences on nursing care, resource management and finances.
Non-credit bearing credits
This module is the Practice Assessment Module which is designed to support you with the achievement of the NMC proficiencies and practice assessment requirements. The module focuses on practice preparation, reflection following practice experiences and the development of your numeracy skills.
Nursing Foundation Year
If you would like to study one of our Nursing degrees at Ji8¸£ÀûÍø but are not yet ready to join the first year of a BSc (Hons) course, you can include an extra foundation year within your chosen field. Please see the Nursing Foundation Year course page for details of modules.
Future Skills and careers opportunities
Boost your employability
Every course at Ji8¸£ÀûÍø teaches a range of Future Skills. From problem-solving and adaptability to digital competency, these are the attributes you’ll need to get the edge in the job market. Future Skills is designed to give you a head start on your career.
After you graduate
Recent Kingston graduates have gone on to work as staff nurses, community nurses and in clinical health teams for people with learning disabilities. Potential organisations include everywhere from the Children’s Trust and Your Healthcare, to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in Putney and more.
Links with the health sector
We have a range of practice partners for learning disability nursing from the NHS, private, independent and voluntary sector including:
- The Children's Trust
- Great Ormond Street
- London Boroughs of Croydon, Haringey, Hounslow, Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth
- Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability
- South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust
- Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Your Healthcare
At Ji8¸£ÀûÍø, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it
For more information on how Kingston prepares you for the future job market, visit our Future Skills page.
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.
It may also include placements, project work, practical sessions, workshops, conferences and field trips.
Outside the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.
Our academic support team here at Ji8¸£ÀûÍø provides help in a range of areas.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, support you throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Ji8¸£ÀûÍø.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- Year 1: 53% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 2: 79% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 3: 62% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Types of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 50%; exams 25%; practical exam 25%
- Year 2: Coursework 50%; exams 25%; practical exam 25%
- Year 3: Coursework 75%; practical exam 25%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
We aim to provide feedback to you on your assessments within 20 working days.
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £9,535* |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2025/26): | £18,800 |
| Year 2 (2026/27): | £19,600 |
| Year 3 (2027/28): | £20,400 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2025/26 the fees for this course are above.
Please visit the Fees and Funding page for more information.
* For full-time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.
NHS Training Grant
Nursing students on pre-registration courses will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which doesn’t need to be paid back, subject to eligibility criteria. Please note, this is not available during the foundation year. For more information, please visit the NHS Business Service Authority.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying this course at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Ji8¸£ÀûÍø will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
Placements
Placement expenses for travel and accommodation may be reimbursed by NHS Bursaries where, for example, the requirement exceeds that of attending university; or requires additional accommodation to that of the usual term time location. These expenses may need to be covered initially by the student before any applicable reimbursement is received. Please note: EU and international students may not be eligible for support for travel and accommodation.
The University will pay for your application to be processed, but you’ll need to subscribe to the Update Service for £16 per year. This allows universities and potential employers to view any changes to your DBS.
We provide you with a uniform. You will need to purchase appropriate shoes (£20-£60) and a fob watch (£5-£20) for practice. Additional uniform items will be available for purchase if you want them.
You should arrange your own elective clinical placements in the UK or overseas. Kingston does not cover the practice costs of placements, which means you’ll need to cover things like travel, accommodation, visas and additional vaccinations.
Student membership with the is recommended; this is £10 for student nurses. Membership is required for undertaking an elective placement. When you qualify, it costs £120 to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council for a year.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
Key information
The scrolling banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
