Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: See fees section below
International/EU: £19,155 per year -
How long will I study?
3 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
B761
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When do I start?
September 2025
Course summary
- Understand contemporary nursing and social work practice.
- Transform the lives of people who have learning disabilities.
- Spend 50% of your course on placement — enhancing your employability.
- Collaborate with other professional groups within health and social care.
- Gain real-world experience and sought-after credentials — qualifying as a social worker in England and a Learning Disabilities Nurse.
On this course, you’ll gain the skills and experience you need to provide exceptional care to people with learning disabilities. You’ll tailor your studies, and learn from other practitioners and students — understanding where your specialism fits into the wider sphere of healthcare. You’ll graduate with the qualifications and credentials you need to enter practice.
Accredited by
This course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Graduates are eligible to apply to register with them. You must be registered with the NMC in order to practise as a nurse in the UK.
This course was approved by the previous social work regulator, the Health and Care Professions Council. From 2 December 2019, responsibility for the approval of courses transferred to Social Work England. This course remains approved by Social Work England. This means that people qualifying from this course can apply to become a registered social worker.
Employability
94% of our graduates are in highly skilled employment or further study fifteen months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey).

Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
How you learn
Your lecturer's view
The course is comprised of integrated health and social care modules, based around the central theme of learning disabilities which explore and develop your nursing and social work practice. There is also a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary collaborative teaching and learning throughout the programme.
You’ll be equipped with the knowledge, skills and values that enhance your employment opportunities, give you a strong professional identity as well as confidence in working with different professional groups and agencies to develop solutions to real world practice issues.
- Practice-based learning
- Lectures, seminars and workshops
- Simulations
- Online learning
Course leaders and tutors

Sarah Burns
Lecturer In Learning Disability NursingSarah Burns is a Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery
Student View
Hear our BSc (Hons) Nursing (Learning Disabilities) and Social Work student Stacey, talk about how she makes a difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities.
Applied learning
Theory will prepare you for practice learning experiences are designed to help you not only to apply theory to practice, but to develop critical and ethical approaches to your practice in order to become life-long, competent professionals. You are required to attend the practice learning experiences provided on the course to achieve the course practice learning outcomes.
You’ll undertake a range of practice learning experiences, helping you to build your skills, confidence, creativity, resilience, integrity and curiosity. This will take place in different practice learning environments, reflecting the range of ways in which services are currently delivered. This might include simulated learning and virtual placements alongside real world experience of services delivered face to face to service users.
The university will ensure that the practice learning element of your course will be compliant with the requirements of the Professional and Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) governing your chosen profession. This is so that by the end of your course, you will have been provided with the opportunity to demonstrate attainment of the requirements to register as a professional with your chosen profession.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
learning disability nursing and social work
teaching and academia
senior management in health and social care
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for
- NHS
- Local authorities
- Private and voluntary sector health and social care organisations
- Higher education institutes
- Government
- Schools
- Prison services
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour

Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- Clinical skills suites
- A moot court
- Simulated community environments
- Technology enhanced learning tools
- Simulation equipment
- Oxford Medical Simulation - Virtual Reality software
360 tour - nursing and midwifery facilities
Media Gallery
Learn more about your department
Health and Social Care Facilities Tour
Learn what it's like to study health and social care at our Collegiate Campus from our adult nursing student Alex.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
120
This must include at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC or T level qualifications. We do not accept AS levels. For example:
- BBB at A Level
- DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma
- Merit overall from a T level qualification including a C from Core.
- A combination of qualifications, which may include general studies.
- Other Level 3 qualifications equivalent to GCE A level are also considered including CACHE.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- Maths at grade D or 4 or equivalents
- English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents
- Level 2 Key Skills/Application of Number/ Grade D at GSCE Maths/ Level 2 Maths credits from an Access course
- Equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
- Level 2 Literacy
- Level 2 Key Skills
Other qualifications
Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course in health studies, health science, social sciences or nursing. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3 of which at least 15 level 3 credits should be graded at distinction level.
FdSc Professional Practice in Health & Social Care - If you are in the process of completing or have successfully completed the above programme at one of our partner colleges (Sheffield College, Barnsley College, Chesterfield College, North Lindsey College, Dearne Valley College, Manchester College, Stockport College and Doncaster College) and are looking to progress your career as a registered professional within the Health & Social Care sector, we would welcome an application from you via UCAS to start in Year 1.
Successful completion of our Foundation Year in Health, Sport & Social Care.
Other equivalent qualifications are considered individually, and include previous degrees that are grade 2.2 or above
IELTS
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent. If your level of English language is currently below IELTS 7.0 we recommend you consider an appropriate Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve the required level of English
Helping your application succeed
Experience
Experience of interacting with members of the public from a range of backgrounds in different settings is essential when applying to a health or social care course. This is so you will have an understanding of the diversity of the population who access health and social care. It is important to be able to understand and explain how your experiences relate to the activities and qualities which are required for the profession at your interview.
Reference
You must provide a reference from a current or recent employer or educational institution with your UCAS application.
Interview
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to an online interview. To confirm your identity on the day please bring a valid form of photo ID with you, preferably a passport or photo driving licence.
View our interview guidance to ensure you understand the interviews process and how you can prepare for this.
Course enrolment - professional requirements
Before enrolling you must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission declaration forms provided during the admissions process:
- unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
- involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments
- involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations
- enrolment on a health or social work professional course at another University
In addition
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check
- you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
- you will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) (PDF, 38.1KB) as part of the application process
- if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
- where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Professional Issues Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.
Occupational Health Screening
You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.
Immunisations
You must undertake a programme of immunisations as required by the Department of Health and meet the immunisation and immunity requirements of placement providers. This will be provided by the University free of charge. Please obtain details of your immunisation history from your doctor so you can submit this during your Occupational Health Screening.
Pre-course Day
After completing the above professional checks, if you reside in the UK it is important for you to make every reasonable attempt to attend a Pre-Course Day event to undertake the next stage of the professional requirements for your course. The pre-course day is also a good opportunity to meet fellow applicants on the health & social care courses who will be starting their studies at the same time as you, as well as some current students and teaching staff. We will look forward to welcoming you on the day.
Other professional suitability information
Your full enrolment on your course will be confirmed when the Professional Issues Team have verified that your Enhanced DBS Disclosure (and overseas criminal record check where relevant) indicates that you are suitable to work with vulnerable groups including children and clearance from your health screening has been received.
If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please tell the Professional Issues team immediately by calling 0114 225 5637 or emailing HWB-Professional-Issues@shu.ac.uk.
Disability support
We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions, learning difficulty or disability you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can meet the Health and Care Professions Council standards of proficiency and take part without disadvantage both in University and on placement.
You can contact our University student support staff and explore any issues you may have.
The Disability Disclosure booklet provides information for students on health and social care courses and will help you understand the importance of disclosing your disability at the earliest possible stage. This is so you can be assessed for the support you may require to succeed on the course.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
This module introduces you to the biopsychosocial, cognitive, political, economic, and medical factors which influence the health and wellbeing of individuals, diverse populations and communities. You’ll work with peers from other professions to consider how collaborative practice impacts on health and wellbeing outcomes, and helps you thrive in your own professional practice.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Models of care, support and empowerment
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Social capital and cultural humility
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Social accountability and determinants of health
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Safeguarding practice
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Public health agendas, inquiries and evidence-based reports
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Building effective, trusting relationships
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Community profiles and place-based care systems
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Person-centred service delivery
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Behaviour change and microaggressions
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Diversity and inclusion
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The effects of planetary health on wellbeing
This module develops your ability to define nursing and social work roles in society, challenging perceptions of learning disability practice. You’ll explore the distinctive values, theory and skills underpinning your profession and the legal context of health and social care practice and policy – including creation and enforcement of statute law, and engaging with core processes within a framework of rights, duties, responsibilities and powers.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Values and ethical base of nursing and social work
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Critical writing, reflective practice and digital capabilities
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Person-centred practice and service user perspectives
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Therapeutic relationships, advocacy and empowerment
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Anti-oppression and developing inclusive practice
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Legislation, policy, welfare rights and benefits
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Mobility, safety, human factors and dignity
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Nutrition and hydration
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Vital signs and symptoms
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Prevention and care
This module consolidates your progression to graduate-level study and professional practice, reflecting on your role as a professional who delivers safe and effective person-centred care. You’ll be supported to identify influencing factors on your professional practice – developing strategies which support you to thrive personally, professionally and academically.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Reflective practice and writing skills
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Personal and professional development and identity
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Emotional intelligence
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Self-perception, privilege and introduction intersectionality and allyship
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Self-management, feedback and leadership
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Ethics in professional practice
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Communication methods and techniques
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Contemporary policy for professional practice
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Teamwork and collaborating across professional boundaries
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Personal behaviour and self-assessment techniques
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The impact of behaviours, values, research and anti-oppressive and inclusive practice
This module spans year one of the undergraduate, pre-registration programme for Learning Disabilities nursing and social work – encompassing core and field-specific learning with professional values. You’ll have learning opportunities to achieve of part one of the programme through completion of the PAN Midlands Yorkshire and East Practice Assessment Document (MYEPAD) – Also preparing you for your first social work placement in line with the PCF SWE (2019).
You’ll apply learning and skills such as:
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Preparing for placement
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Prevention and management of violence and aggression
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Moving and handling
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Basic life support
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Five social work skills days
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Practice learning experiences
This module enables you to understand the key bio, psycho, social principles that underpin person-centred care and healthcare practice across the life span.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Anatomy, physiology, microbiology and genomics
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Psychological development across the lifespan
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Sociology and public health
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Adult positive ageing
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Children’s attachment
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Mental health assessment and treatment
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Life course models
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Models of disability: social vs medical
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Ecological and systems approaches
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Understanding human development
Year 2
Compulsory modules
This module applies and evaluates key biological, psychological and sociological perspectives that are underpinned by legislative frameworks and policy informing nursing and social work practice. You’ll be challenged by ethical dilemmas and collaborate with other students to explore and resolve them.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Bio, psycho, social theories of intervention
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Relationship-based approaches and Co-production with service users/families/carers
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Research-informed practice with children, adults and families
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Strengths based and relational approaches
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Mental capacity, care and support, and adult safeguarding
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Personalisation in health and social care
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Learning disability and healthy aging
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Neurodiversity and Autism
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Working with vulnerable groups
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Permanency planning, adoption and fostering
This module is your chance to apply your professional knowledge, skills and values in an integrated manner. You’ll work collaboratively with peers from other disciplines to assess, intervene and overcome the challenges of complex health and social care situations – supporting individuals, groups and communities.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Drivers for integrated and person-centred health and social care
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Inter-professional teamworking across multiple service interfaces
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Shared ethical decision-making, collaboration and co-production
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Assessment, treatment planning, evaluation and risk management
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The realities of living with long-term conditions and multi-morbidities
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Mental capacity, best interest assessment, equality and reasonable adjustments
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Resilience, communication, breaking bad news, difficult conversations
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Interpersonal and systemic discrimination in health and social care
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Inclusive language and terminology including challenging microaggressions
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Technology-enabled care and digitalisation within integrated care systems
This module spans year two and supports your achievement of part two of the programme, through completion of the PAN Midlands Yorkshire and East Practice Assessment Document (MYEPAD). You’ll further develop your knowledge, skills and practice in preparation for registration with the NMC and SWE to demonstrate capability against the PCF domains for practice by the end of the first social work placement.
You’ll apply your learning and skills to:
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Anti-oppressive practice
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Ethics and values as applied to practice
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Critical reflection
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Supervised Nursing placement and an 80-day social work placement
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Work with individuals, families and communities
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Mandatory training
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Prevention and management of violence and aggression
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Basic life support
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Three social work skills days
This module introduces you to research and enquiry design and methods. You’ll be able to apply them to an area of investigation – considering factors that impact on literature appraisal – preparing you to undertake and manage an investigation as a professional practitioner.
You’ll study topics such as:
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What makes a good question
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Research design, types of evidence and suitability of methods
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Co-production – patient and public involvement
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Inclusive perspectives of research
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Data collection methods, strengths and weaknesses
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Analysis techniques
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Usefulness/impact and implications for practice
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Ethics and governance
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Sample of existing appraisal tools
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Searching and critically reviewing the literature
This module spans year two and supports your achievement of part two of the programme, through completion of the PAN Midlands Yorkshire and East Practice Assessment Document (MYEPAD). You’ll further develop your knowledge, skills and practice in preparation for registration with the NMC – able to demonstrate capability against the PCF domains for practice by the end of the first social work placement.
You’ll apply your learning and skills to:
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Anti-oppressive practice
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Ethics and values as applied to practice
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Critical reflection
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Supervised 80-day social work placement
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Work with individuals, families and communities
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Mandatory training
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Prevention and management of violence and aggression
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Basic life support
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Three social work skills days
Final year
Compulsory modules
Module Aim:
This module allows students to demonstrate they have met the requirements for registration with the PSRB - the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and Social Work England(SWE).
Indicative content:
Completion of the requirements for this module will be achieved throughout the course, mainly in practice placements, of which there are 60 weeks over the three years.
Requirements for completion are:
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Completion of a self-declaration of good health and good character on completion of the course.
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Achievement of a full and final set of clinical professional values
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Achievement of 2300 hours in practice placements. Included in these hours are the SWE requirements of 200 days of practice learning.
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Achievement of 2300 hours theory.
This module enables you to progress confidently and competently into professional practice for nursing (learning disabilities) and social work. You’ll develop your skills as a future leader and collaborative change agent in health and social care practice.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Transitioning to practice: preceptorships and AYSE
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Accountability vs responsibility
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Leadership and teamwork across roles and boundaries
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Risk assessment: self-harm, suicidal Ideation and inequalities
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Managing merge service resources, prioritising care
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Education standards, practice assessment and education
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Responding to constructive feedback appropriately
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Diversity and promoting health locally and globally
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Improving the safety and quality of care
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Continuous professional development
This module develops your systematic understanding of leadership and education concepts in practice. You’ll critically reflect on these in the context of collaboration within health and social care practice – considering how you can effectively support people who use services, their carers and families, and communities who have complex health and care needs to thrive.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Differences between management, leadership and the role of the critical follower
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Leadership theories, models and styles most relevant to health and social care
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Self-awareness and seeing ourselves as leaders
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Recognising our own personal impact, rank, power and privilege
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Professional cultures, traditional hierarchies and becoming an agent of change
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Leading psychologically safe, anti-racist and inclusive teams
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Resilience, volatility and acknowledging the wellbeing needs of the workforce
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Sustainable practice, quality improvement and leadership
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Tackling inequalities in health and social care through advocacy and education
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Technology-enabled care and digitalisation within integrated care systems
This module enables you to apply your learning disability knowledge and skills to lead holistic care for people across the lifespan, in a variety of settings. You’ll engage with core theories, considering how you can collaborate and thrive as a leader to challenge and improve practice.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Bio psycho-social theories and methods of intervention
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Critical reflection on ethics and values
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Developing increased autonomy and professional authority
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Professional judgement and decision-making
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Clinical decision making and diagnostics
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Managing increased levels of uncertainty, complexity and risk
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Conflict resolution and managing behaviour
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Motivational theories
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Person-centred approaches
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The role of the nurse in prescribing
This module spans year three and supports achievement of part three of the programme by completing the PAN Midlands Yorkshire and East Practice Assessment Document (MYEPAD). You’ll further develop your knowledge, skills and practice in preparation for registration with the NMC and SWE – including skills of leading, co-ordinating care working towards and responding flexibly to a range of complex situations.
You’ll apply your learning and skills to:
- Supervised assessed practice of 100 days
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Meeting NMC, SWE and PCF requirements
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Demonstrating a range of communication skills
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Working towards becoming an autonomous practitioner
This module enables you to undertake a sustained, in-depth piece of independent learning, demonstrating a critical understanding and applying appropriate research methods within a piece of work. This work will challenge and contribute to improvements in areas of practice through the dissemination of findings to professional communities.
You’ll apply learning and skills such as:
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An individual independent project/dissertation
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Creating and contributing to research and evaluation for practice
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Application of approaches to research
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Research, improvement and evaluation methodologies
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Addressing inclusivity in your research process
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Dissemination of project outcomes
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Challenges in applying research outcomes to practice
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £19,155, which includes an annual placement supplement of £2,000.

Health and social care funding
Home fee-paying students can access a non-repayable maintenance grant of at least £5,000 per year. You may also be eligible for additional financial support based on your circumstances.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 165.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

Health and social care funding
Home fee-paying students can access a non-repayable maintenance grant of at least £5,000 per year. You may also be eligible for additional financial support based on your circumstances.