MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities)

Why choose Herts?

NMC Accreditation: You will be eligible to enter the Nursing and Midwifery Council Professional Register to legally practice as a Learning Disability Nurse.

Work-Related Learning: Gain nursing care work experience! Students have had placements within social and independent sectors working with children and young people, adults, and older people.

Sector-Specific Course Content: You will develop essential skills and knowledge in nursing care for people with learning disabilities.

This course is up for review
To ensure this course continues to be cutting-edge and enables you to be ready for the modern workplace, it is due to be reviewed by March 2025.

Our website will typically be updated within a month of the review confirming any enhancements, including:
- module titles (and whether they are core or optional)
- expected contact hours
- assessment methods
- staff teaching on the course

A first degree at Honours level, normally, in a related discipline (life sciences, psychology or the social/ behavioural sciences). Graduate attributes associated with learning and research skills will normally be expected.
GCSE mathematics and English at grade C or above (or equivalent).

All offers will be subject to the applicants demonstration of the NHS constitution’s “Values and Behaviours”, satisfactory interviews, numeracy and literacy test, health screening and the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks. You can view the full NHS Constitution for England on the Government website.

English language requirements

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency.

IELTS (with no less than 7 in any band)

If you do not have the required level of English for entry, our academic English courses can help you to achieve this level.


Institution code	H36
School of study	School of Health and Social Work
Course length	Full Time, 2 Years
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Employability
Careers

Following successful completion of the Learning Disability Nursing programme you will be entitled to apply for registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council UK. This registration will enable you to take advantage of the varied opportunities available to you, to put into practice all you have learned and make a positive contribution to the lives of people with learning disabilities and their families.

You will be able to seek employment in a wide range of organisations including NHS, social services and private and voluntary organisations. You will meet many interesting people throughout your career and each day will be different. You will always be learning, and developing new and innovative skills through experience and education that will enable you to diversify or specialise in a particular area of Learning Disability Nursing, giving opportunity for promotion and job satisfaction.

Following qualification there are many opportunities to further your professional studies with courses, available at graduate level and above, to help develop your knowledge and practice.

Work placement

Our practice experience may involve working with a broad range of health and social care professionals and carers who support children, adults and older people who have special needs/ disabilities.

Practice learning experiences during the two year course include:
- Community Learning Disability Nursing teams
- Assessment and treatment services
- Forensic services
- Educational services.
- A range of residential services in health, social, and independent settings
- Health liaison experience
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Teams
- Short Term Break and Respite Services.
- Intensive Support Services

Professional Accreditations

Successful completion of the programme will lead to entitlement to apply to enter the professional register of the Nursing and Midwifery Council UK for Learning Disabilities Nursing.

About the course

The pre-registration Learning Disability Nursing course provides a carefully integrated balance of theory and practice that will enable students to confidently take on the role of a registered nurse for people with a learning disability within a changing health and social care arena. The programme will benefit those who have an interest or experience in supporting people with a learning disability. During the programme you will:

Acquire and become equipped with the current knowledge and skills required for this challenging and yet highly rewarding nursing role
Be part of a friendly, dedicated and highly experienced team of lecturers and practitioners within the School of Health and Social Work
Be taught in small class sizes during the field programme
Be provided with a range of practice placement opportunities within health, social and independent sectors, these may include working directly with children and young people, adults and older people.
Be provided with excellent pastoral and academic support during the course of your studies
Be provided with excellent teaching and learning opportunities
Be provided with the best possible opportunities to develop the academic, personal, professional and clinical skills required to be a confident, competent and professional practitioner

Why choose this course?

The Learning Disability Nursing degree pathway offers students the opportunity to take up the challenge of ensuring that the health care needs of people with learning disabilities are addressed using using a holistic approach, both within mainstream and specialist services.

Enhance the person's health and well-being.
Improve or maintain a range of complex developmental, physical, psychological and mental health needs.
Work in partnership with people with a learning disability, their families/carers and other health and social care professionals.
Reduce barriers to disability and promote social inclusion.
Support people with a learning disability to achieve a life which is as fulfilling as possible by maintaining their rights, choice and independence.
2nd in the East of England for Nursing (2023 Complete University Guide).
92% overall satisfaction for medicine and dentistry in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES, 2024).

What will I study?

This programme comprises both of theory and practice in a range of service-user contact experiences in a diversity of settings. The aim is to enable you to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to assess, plan, implement and evaluate the total nursing care of service-users who have learning disabilities in partnership with their families / carers and other professionals.

A range of teaching and learning approaches will be used. Teaching approaches will include; lectures, seminars, group work/projects, role play, tutorials, practice experience / fieldwork, course work, problem based learning, internet technologies and reflection as an integrating technique between theory and practice.

Level 6

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Understanding the Lived Experience and the Role of the RNLD	30 Credits	Compulsory
This 30-credit level 6 module is designed to introduce preregistration nursing students to the fundamental concepts and knowledge which underpin the role of the learning disability nurse. There will be a focus on understanding health inequalities and how this may impact on a person's life and wellbeing.

Level 7

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Enhancing Health & Social Care through Inter-professional Education	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module is designed to give students further opportunities of working in multi-professional groups in order to improve understanding across professional boundaries and encourage collaborative learning and working that will benefit patient/service users. The justification for inclusion of inter-professional working within health care will be addressed. The module requires students to bring specialist in depth knowledge of their profession and professional codes of conduct to a group setting so that health and social care pathways are critically reviewed in the context of professional practice.
Nursing Art and Science	30 Credits	Compulsory
Using a range of approaches, including simulated practice learning for the achievement of Part 2 ePAD proficiencies, this module is designed to introduce the student to the societal, economic, and political determinants of health and health behaviours. Attention will be paid to the role of health policy and research underpinning public health interventions. The tenets of safe drug administration will also be explored.
People with Learning Disabilities who Experience Mental-ill Health	15 Credits	Compulsory
This 30-credit level 7 module enables students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the mental health needs of people with a learning disability. This module will give students the opportunity to explore best practice approaches, to enhance the mental health/psychological wellbeing outcomes for people with learning disabilities.
Leading and Managing Learning Disability Nursing Practice	30 Credits	Compulsory
This 30 credit level 7 module is designed to give student nurses the opportunity to develop their leadership skills. Students will engage in a range of learning activities including taught content, group discussions and critical appraisal of current research and best practice guidance to inform their clinical practice in relation to the learning outcomes for this module.
Planning Care in Learning Disability Nursing Practice 3	30 Credits	Compulsory
This 30-credit level 7 module is an interactive and practical based module that has a strong emphasis on simulation and practical skills, including 50 hours of Simulated Practice Learning (SPL). Students will use consolidate their learning in order to develop their skills to be able to work autonomously in practice.
Imagination and Innovation in Evidence Based Nursing Practice	30 Credits	Compulsory
Students will be supported to create an evidence-based proposal to effect positive change in service delivery. The module will ask students to develop and employ their knowledge of evidence-based practice, their skills of research and inquiry, and project management in adopting a rigorous approach to the project design and organisation.
Final Numeracy Exam	0 Credits	Compulsory
This 0-credit level 7 cross field module will use online based teaching to enable the student to develop knowledge of the formulae used for calculating medication dosages for both enteral and parenteral medicine administration and to demonstrate their skills of arithmetic fundamental to safe nursing care and practice.
Complex Healthcare Needs	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module builds on learning from the 'Understanding the Lived Experience and the Role of the RNLD' module. Advancements in medicine and health interventions means the prevalence of people with complex healthcare needs is increasing. This module provides students with the knowledge to support people with these complex needs.
Fundamentals of Nursing Practice	30 Credits	Compulsory
The module enhances the students' abilities to respond to many care needs using appropriate assessment tools and simulated practice learning (SPL). Current evidence and research underpinning risk assessment strategies for promoting patient safety will be used to explore both the value of risk assessment tools and their underline evidence base.

Further course information

Course fact sheets
MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities)	Download
MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities)	Download

Programme specifications
MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities)	Download
MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities)	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	n/a
Applications open to international and EU students	No

Student experience

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.

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Funding and fees
Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Fees 2025
UK Students
Full time
- £9535 for the 2025/2026 academic year
*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University's Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed "When tuition fees change"), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

View detailed information about tuition fees

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

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Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet
How to apply

2025
Start Date End Date Year Location Link
09/09/2025 30/09/2026 1 UH Hatfield Campus Apply online (Full Time)
2026
Start Date End Date Year Location Link
09/09/2026 30/09/2027 1 UH Hatfield Campus Apply online (Full Time)

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MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities)

NHS Learning Support Fund

Why choose Herts?

English language requirements

Careers

Work placement

Professional Accreditations

About the course

Why choose this course?

What will I study?

Further course information

Student experience

Other financial support

Fees 2025

UK Students

Full time

Living costs / accommodation

2025

2026