Course overview

Our BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Adult Nursing) course aligns to the key principles of the NHS Constitution, derived from extensive discussions with staff, patients and the public. These principles inspire passion in the NHS, and provide a common ground for cooperation in achieving shared aspirations, at all levels of the NHS.

At Aston you’ll learn in an inter-professional way, developing the theoretical and practical skills you'll need to be able to register as a nurse, specialising in adult care. When you successfully complete the course, you will be eligible to register as an adult nurse with the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council).

"In the two weeks I have been on the ward I have learnt so much and have gained more confidence. I am more comfortable approaching patients and asking questions and trying to get to know them as the people they are outside of their condition. My supervisor and the entire team in general have been supportive and welcoming."

Anya Jeffers

BSc Nursing Studies

Discover BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Adult Nursing) at Aston University

Programme Lead Jayne Murphy talks about our new BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Adult Nursing) programme at Aston University.

The Aston University 2030 strategy

What makes us Aston?

Why Nursing at Aston University?

Approved by the NMC

The programme is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Gold standard teaching

Aston University received the highest rating for teaching quality (TEF 2023)

Extensive patient contact

Benefit from extensive patient contact throughout the course through integrated hospital and community placements

Cutting-edge facilities

£1.5m recent investment in our specialist, state-of-the-art clinical skills centre, complete with hospital simulation suites and the latest medical equipment

Career-ready skills

Leads to a professional nursing qualification and eligibility to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Course description

BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Adult Nursing)

Our BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Adult Nursing) degree at Aston will equip you with the skills, insights, and confidence required to become an outstanding adult nurse, well-equipped to be able to keep our communities healthy and safe in a rewarding career.

What we will provide
First-class teaching in the UK's second-largest city, delivered by a diverse array of staff who will inspire and excite you, fantastic facilities that will bring your course to life through hands-on, practical experience; years of close industry collaboration that is harnessed to provide you with learning based on real-world needs.

What you will provide
It is important you learn how to adapt a growth mindset to your studies - understand that intelligence and success come from applying yourself, you must be able to demonstrate critical thinking and have ambition and drive to excel.

What skills we teach
As a student in our BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Adult Nursing) programme, you will study topics that are fundamental to nursing, ensuring you have a solid foundation upon which to build your knowledge and skills over the course of three years

Integrated placements
You will benefit from extensive patient contact throughout the course with practice learning placements forming a large part of your study experience. You will spend 50% of your study time in practice, which will be undertaken in various hospital and community environments.

Career prospects
The field of adult nursing is very diverse so there’s a range of career paths, and with our programme being approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), you’ll have the academic requirements needed to register to work as an adult nurse upon graduation.

How you will learn

A significant portion of your learning will be the application of theory into practice such as delivering care to people and their families at home, in the community, or in the hospital environment. The programme will help you to understand the key health priorities for adults, to consider how you can enable people to live healthily, manage acute illness, and adapt to living with long-term health conditions.

Practice learning placements are a large part of your study experience. You will spend 50% of your study time in practice in various clinical environments. This will support you in gaining experience in different clinical areas in organisations that offer specialist services. You will also have the opportunity to experience a placement in an alternative setting in the UK, or abroad. We also partner with high-level NHS Trust clinical environments in the West Midlands, which provides a collaborative approach to learning, clinical placements and quality assurance.

This three-year course runs over 45 weeks each year. There are three year-long modules, incorporating both theory and practice.

Nursing placements

Placements are an integral part of the Aston University Nursing programme. Learn more about our placements here.

Explore our placements

What you will learn

This course is delivered by seminars, lectures, work-based learning, tutorials, and technology enhanced learning environments such as our new highly advanced clinical simulation suite.

You will study topics that are fundamental to nursing, ensuring you have a solid foundation upon which to build your knowledge and skills over the course of three years. You will develop the skills needed to care compassionately for patients, and explore theories and concepts to boost your understanding of patient nursing needs.

You will be kept up to date with the leading improvements in health and social care which will prepare you for professional practice.

Facilities

Nursing students have access to a range of specialist facilities that reflect the hands-on learning within the field. In these settings, you gain practical experience alongside like-minded students, a multidisciplinary team of lecturers, industry professionals, and expert technicians.

Clinical simulation environments to practise real scenarios on lifelike adult manikins and actors.
Anatomy and physiology anatomical models that help you learn about the structure and function of the human body.
Libraries and study spaces are available 24 hours a day and offer students access to a wide range of resources, including books, journals, databases, and online learning materials.

New Nursing Simulation Ward

An interactive look at some of the brand-new facilities available to Nursing students at Aston University, don't forget to click and drag for an immersive view of the facilities!

Discover more with our campus virtual tour

360° Virtual Tour of Nursing Facilities at Aston University

An interactive look at some of the facilities available to Nursing students at Aston University, don't forget to click and drag for an immersive view of the facilities!

Course objectives

Provides you with the opportunities to realise your academic potential through a range of learning experiences.
Encourages you, through a practical approach, to have a passion for Nursing and an enthusiasm for learning.
Develops you as a competent and confident practitioner who is autonomous, compassionate, skilled and safe to support patients with their physical and mental health needs
Enables you to achieve the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for entry to the NMC Professional Register as an Adult Nurse
Enables you to develop research skills and apply these to nursing practice
Offers you the opportunity to obtain relevant industrial experience by providing integrated placements throughout your educational experience.

Modules

Modules and learning outcomes

Year 1 modules

In your first year, you will study the following core module:

Module Title	Credits
Fundamentals of Adult Nursing Practice - This module gives you the knowledge and competencies needed to deliver safe and effective care. You will get hands-on experience during practice exercises, and we link this to the theories that underpin contemporary nursing.	120
Total	120

Year 1 outcomes

On successful completion of the first year, you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of professionalism in nursing practice and how the NMC Code (2018) provides a framework of the professional standards that nurses, midwives and nursing associates must uphold in order to be registered to practice in the UK
Define health and ill health within current theoretical frameworks and consider health promotion approaches when working with patients and families
Explain how nursing needs are identified and appropriate care is planned. Apply knowledge of health needs to develop nursing care plans appropriate for the patient’s individual situation
Define person-centred care and identify the variety of approaches used to deliver nursing care that promotes dignity, safety and comfort for patients
Demonstrate an understanding of the multi-disciplinary team and how patient care is delivered with the patient at the centre
Explain the processes and policies that monitor and contribute patient safety and service provision within the contemporary healthcare arena
Define care co-ordination and the value of right care, right skills, right time to deliver appropriate nursing care to patients in a variety of environments.
Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of communication methods and approaches to communicate effectively, sensitively and clearly with patients, families, peers, team members, supervisors and tutors
Demonstrate effective use of technology and information technology and perform the defined list of clinical skills and procedures safely

Year 2 modules

In your second year, you will study the following core module:

Module Title	Credits
Developing Adult Nursing Practice - You will build on your knowledge by engaging with research, and explore how it informs nursing practice, applying knowledge in simulated situations, and attending placements in areas that meet the complex needs of patients.	120
Total	120

Year 2 outcomes

On successful completion of the second year, you will be able to:

Understand the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks that inform and influence practice and consider how they might apply in a variety of situations
Compare different principles and approaches to engaging with people in health promotion, protection and improvement initiatives
Apply knowledge of commonly encountered mental and physical health conditions and their treatments when undertaking full and accurate assessments of nursing care needs
Justify the range of knowledge and skills required to provide people, families and carers with a range of interventions and evaluate the outcomes of those interventions.
Compare leadership styles in different situations and demonstrate an ability to guide, support and motivate individuals and interact confidently with other members of the care team
Demonstrate how to use service delivery evaluation and audit findings and compare how findings are used to bring about continuous improvement in health and social care services
Evaluate current health and social care policies, and how to influence local policy to ensure that care delivery is optimised and appropriate for the needs of the community

Year 3 modules

In your third year, you will study the following core module:

Module Title	Credits
Consolidating Adult Nursing Practice - You will build on your knowledge by engaging with research, and explore how it informs nursing practice, applying knowledge in simulated situations, and attending placements in areas that meet the complex needs of patients.	120
Total	120

Year 3 outcomes

On successful completion of the third year, you will be able to:

Adopt a reflective approach to career and professional development, recognise professional responsibility and accountability in nursing practice
Critically analyse the settings, frameworks, systems and culture in which patient care is delivered across the UK
Effectively assess and manage a range of conditions and develop comprehensive plans of nursing care, involving the patient, carers and advocates in management decisions to maximise patient outcomes
Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to provide nursing care to people with a range of conditions, and act as a role model for others in providing high quality nursing interventions to meet people’s needs
Appraise the various roles of health and care professionals at different levels of experience and seniority when managing and prioritising care across a range of settings
Critically analyse research to inform and lead on nursing care and demonstrate knowledge of initiatives to improve service provision and service improvement
Critically appraise the variety of approaches available to co-ordinate safe, effective and person-centred nursing care for people who have multiple co-morbidities and increasingly complex care needs

We regularly review our modules to provide the best possible teaching and learning experience, incorporating academic developments, student feedback and employer feedback.

There may be some change to some of the modules on this course for 2025/26 entry.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any changes to modules at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints may mean it isn’t possible to take some module combinations. The structure of some courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.

Entry requirements

A Levels

BBB in any three A Levels
BCC in any three A Levels for contextual offer students.*

We welcome applications from students who have tried to improve their examination grades by taking resits and only your latest grades will be accepted. We treat these applications in exactly the same way as other applications.

View our Admissions Policy under the 'Respect' tab on our Principles and Policies page.

View our Admissions Policy

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard (however, initial offers will not be lower than stated above).

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here.

The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

GCSE's

Five GCSEs all at grade C/4 or above and must include Maths and English Language/Literature. A Pass in Maths/English Functional skills Level 2 will be accepted in lieu of GCSE Maths/English.

BTEC

BTEC Qualification Name	BTEC grades required	A-Level Requirements
Extended Diploma (QCF) / National Extended Diploma (RQF)	Distinction, Distinction, Distinction (DDD)	The BTEC subject must be Health and Social Care or Science subjects, with which you do not require an additional A Level.
Diploma (QCF) / National Diploma (RQF)	Distinction, Distinction (DD)	The BTEC subject must be Health and Social Care or Science subjects, with which you must also achieve a grade B one A Level subject.
Subsidiary Diploma (QCF) / National Extended Certificate (RQF)	Distinction (D)	The BTEC subject must be Health and Social Care or Science subjects, with which you must also achieve grades BB in two A Level subjects.
90 Credit Diploma (QCF)	Distinction, Distinction (DD)	The BTEC subject must be Health and Social Care or Science subjects, with which you must also achieve grades BB in two A Level subjects.
National Foundation Diploma	Distinction (D)	The BTEC subject must be Health and Social Care or Science subjects, with which you must also achieve grades BB in two A Level subjects.

*Please note that on the UCAS application form QCF BTEC Extended Diploma appears under the name BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) and the RQF BTEC Extended Diploma appears under the name Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (1080) (2016 to Present). If you are unsure of which qualification you are taking, please contact your school or college provider to confirm.

T-Levels

We accept grade Distinction in any of the below subjects:

Health
Healthcare Science
Science

International Baccalaureate Diploma

31 points overall and must include grades 5, 5, 5 in Higher Level subjects. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in both Mathematics and English Language.

Or

29 points overall, three Higher Level subjects at 5 5 4. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in both Maths and English Language for contextual offer students.*

CACHE Qualifications

NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care – Grade B.

Access to Higher Education

Successful completion of the QAA-recognised Access Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 15 distinctions and 30 merits. With this qualification, you must also have GCSE maths and GCSE English Language/Literature at Grade C/4'. A Pass in Maths/English Functional Skills Level 2 will be accepted in lieu of GCSE Maths/English.

External Foundation Programmes from another University

We consider applicants for year 1 entry who are undertaking a foundation programme elsewhere on a case-by-case basis. However, applications will only be considered where you meet the GCSEs and A Level (or equivalent) requirements as listed. Alongside this you must have gained (or be expected to gain) 60% overall and 120 credits with no fails at another recognised university. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications, and this must include an academic reference.

Degree

Year 1:
We consider applicants for year 1 entry who are undertaking a degree elsewhere. You must meet the GCSEs and A Level (or equivalent) requirements as listed. Alongside this you must have gained (or be expected to gain) 60% overall and 120 credits with no fails at another recognised university. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications, and this must include an academic reference.

Year 2:
We consider applicants for transfers to Year 2 on a case by case basis from those who have completed Year 1 of a Nursing degree at other institution. As the process can take up to 12 weeks, we require applications to be made via UCAS before the end of June 2025 to ensure a September 2025 start is possible.

In order to consider an application for Year 2 entry, in addition to a compulsory online interview, we require the following:

A transcript of completed modules for year 1 of their previous Nursing. Any applicant will need to have passed all modules at level 4 to complete the application.
Completed Record of Prior Learning document which maps the completed modules for year 1 to Aston’s learning outcomes for year 1. As part of this document an applicant will need to submit evidence of relevant clinical skills sessions and mandatory training. If an applicant has missed any of these, they would need to be repeated when they commence the programme.
Evidence of placement hours and summative practice assessments for those placements – to show a minimum of 720 hours of clinical practice (this can include any simulation). We will also need a transcript or a report of practice assessments for year 1 – to demonstrate that stage 1 practice was passed.
An academic reference from a personal tutor or an academic member of staff, which should confirm that the applicant was a student on the relevant nursing programme, with start and end dates.
An occupational health screening/clearance and DBS is also required to commence the programme.
If any of the above are missing, we would not be able to consider an applicant for entry to year 2.

Year 3/final year:
We do not accept any transfers into year 3 or final year of this programme

View our Transfers Policy

For further information regarding the transfers policy and Student Transfer Arrangements please see here.

Age of Qualifications

Applicants presenting qualifications between 3 - 10 years will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic Admissions Lead.

Interview

Applicants who meet our minimum requirements will be invited to a small panel interview online via MS Teams. Interviews last 30-45 minutes and typically involve a nursing academic tutor and a practice partner. The interview is a compulsory element of the selection process and we cannot issue offers to applicants who haven’t had a satisfactory interview.

International Applicants

We are accepting a limited amount of international applications for our BSc Nursing Studies (Registered Adult Nurse) programme. If you apply with an unknown fee status and you meet all requirements for an offer, your fee status will be assessed before any offer can be made.

Further Requirements

Due to the nature of this course and in line with national requirements, you will be required to complete a series of checks and screenings, in addition to adhering to a number of regulations and policies. Full details can be found here.

Enhanced Level Criminal Records Bureau check (known as a DBS check) and Fitness to Practise Regulations Health screening assessments: Before starting the nursing programme at Aston, you will be invited to complete an online health questionnaire. This is part of the clearance process, and you will not be allowed to commence your programme if you have not completed your health questionnaire. Following the completion of the questionnaire and the health screening process, we may review students identified as having a long-term health condition during the first term to establish any additional support and/or adjustments both when in theory and also during practice placements. As a nursing student, you must comply with the Department of Health guidelines on immunisations and screening to protect you and your patients during the course of your work. We therefore require you to be vaccinated for some infectious diseases before you commence your practice placement if you do not already have immunity. All accepted candidates to the nursing programme will be required to provide appropriate evidence of immunisation against rubella, measles, tuberculosis, varicella and hepatitis B.

During your time on your programme, there may be a requirement for you to contact occupational health for example if you sustain a needle or splash injury. Some students may experience changes to their health and need to be reviewed by occupational health. As well as supporting you for any health conditions, occupational health will also be able to assess whether any further adjustments are necessary to help support you in your practice placements.

Age Requirement

Clinical placements are a core, mandatory part of the BSc Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Adult Nursing) programme. Placement providers require all students to be at least 18 years old by 1 October of the year of entry.

If you will not meet this age requirement, we will be unable to consider your application for that year or provide a deferral. We encourage you to apply in the admissions cycle when you will meet this age requirement.

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Qualifications in your country

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification.

English language requirements

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Find out more about applying

Pathway Programmes

If you don’t meet our entry requirements, we have a range of pathway programmes offered by our partner, ONCAMPUS Aston, which you can complete to progress onto one of our degrees.

Fees and scholarships

Course fees

UK students
(2026/27)

Annual tuition fees:

£9,790*

International students
(2026/27)

Annual tuition fees:

£22,575

UK students (Home Undergraduate):

On 20 October 2025, the Government announced that tuition fees in England will be increased annually in line with inflation, starting in 2026. The Government have since confirmed that it intends to determine the inflation-linked increase using the Retail Price Index, although this is subject to parliamentary approval.

According to the Department for Education’s Policy Paper published on 26 November, the annual tuition fee for the Programme commencing in the academic year 2026/7 is expected to be £9,790, subject to parliamentary approval. If you are holding an offer at Aston, when the annual tuition fee for your Programme for the 2026/27 academic year has been confirmed, we will write to update you. We will also provide as much information as we can about the inflation-linked increase in tuition fees for future academic years.

The duration of your programme is set out at the top of this webpage and you will be responsible for the payment of an annual tuition fee in each of these years. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually in accordance with its Terms and Conditions and subject at all times to the maximum tuition fee caps set by Government from time to time. This means that your total tuition fee may be higher than stated above. An increase in fees will allow the University to cover the increased costs of delivering the course and ensure it is able to maintain high standards of education and facilities.

International students (Overseas Undergraduate):

The duration of your programme is set out at the top of this course page and you will be responsible for the payment of an annual tuition fee in each of these years. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually in accordance with its Terms and Conditions and subject at all times to the maximum tuition fee caps set by Government from time to time. This means that your total tuition fee may be higher than stated above, but your total tuition fee will never increase by more than 6% year on year. An increase in fees will allow the University to cover the increased costs of delivering the course and ensure it is able to maintain high standards of education and facilities.

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs.

Explore our scholarships

Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs. This includes a training grant of at least £5,000 a year for Nursing students.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a combination of written and oral examinations, class tests, individual and group coursework, projects, presentations, and practical assessments.

The assessment strategy is designed to match the module aims and learning outcomes and will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate practical skills, knowledge, and written and verbal communication skills. Assessments follow the same approach in years 1, 2 and 3 so that you can understand what assessment to expect, and be able to prepare accordingly. Our approach to assessments increases opportunities for employability, as it maximises the opportunity to practise skills that are expected in the working environment, such as presenting information and performing clinical skills competently.

Academic assessment will be completed alongside practice-based proficiencies, in order to achieve the criteria set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, (NMC 2018). Progression will be confirmed by the practice assessor and the assigned academic assessor.

Students must pass all summative assessments and professionalism to pass the course. Professionalism will include assessment of attendance, engagement and professional conduct.

On successful completion of the programme, you will be able to apply for registration with The Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse (Adult). We prepare you to be a confident, autonomous practitioner, driven and committed to advocating and meeting the needs of patients and their families.

Career prospects

The BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse, Adult Nursing) programme is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which means that on successful completion of your studies, you’ll have the academic requirements needed to register to work as an adult nurse.

The field of adult nursing is very diverse so there’s a range of career paths. Adult nurses play a vital role in providing, leading and coordinating care for a variety of patients in different healthcare settings such as in people’s homes, the community, GP surgeries and hospitals. There are also specialist areas that offer opportunities for registered nurses, in social care, schools, mental health agencies, hospices, the military and in industry. You may also want to explore alternative paths, including education, management, and research.

You can also use your qualification to work outside the UK.

To help you continually develop and reflect on your practice, the NMC expects registrants to revalidate every three years. Revalidation is about promoting good practice, as well as strengthening public confidence in the nursing and midwifery professions. It helps to encourage a culture of sharing, reflection and improvement. As part of this process, all registered nurses in the UK are encouraged to engage in continuous professional development to maintain their registration and keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date, ensuring safe and effective practice.

Be part of our community

Once you have joined us at Aston University, you’ll always be part of our community, even beyond graduation.

Alumni services

Frequently asked questions

Why study Nursing at Aston?

You will learn from a multidisciplinary team of lecturers, who are all healthcare professionals with experience of working in the NHS. You will study a hands-on, clinical curriculum, where you’ll learn to meet the diverse needs of people and you will have access to our clinical simulation environments to practise real scenarios on lifelike adult manikins and actors.

We prepare you to apply for registration as an adult nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to work as an adult nurse once you’ve graduated.

What is covered during placement?

You will spend 50 per cent of your time on placement in the community, in hospitals, and in our skills and simulation areas developing valuable hands-on skills. You will work with patients, carers and other healthcare students and healthcare professionals. Placement opportunities include district nursing, GP practice nursing, integrated community teams, medical and surgical wards, oncology, Intensive Care Unit, Accident and Emergency, coronary care and operating theatres.

Will I learn with students from other health care programmes within Aston?

As Aston offers a range of health care programmes including medicine, pharmacy, optometry, audiology and biomedical sciences, you have the opportunity to learn alongside other health students. This enhances your understanding of holistic care, the importance of communication and recognition of how different professional roles contribute to the individual patient/client experience.

Why should international students choose Aston University?

Study at Aston University and you will be part of a multi-cultural community located at the heart of the dynamic city of Birmingham. Our courses are practical, inspired by industry and many have internationally recognised accreditations. Renowned for our employability prospects and connections to business and industry, we provide outstanding career support, advice and placement opportunities.

For those interested in working in the UK after they have graduated, the UK Government has created a new post-study work visa.