Nursing (Adult)BNurs

Nursing is a career where your care and clinical leadership expertise can transform lives daily. Through a research-informed curriculum, delivered by leading subject experts, you will develop specialised skills to care for adult patients. Transform into a highly skilled, confident nurse, ready to excel in a healthcare environment. 

• Our nursing simulation facilities will allow you to develop your clinical skills in a safe environment before using them in practice.
• Immerse yourself in real-world nursing during local clinical placements working across various client groups under skilled clinicians' guidance.
• Our shared first year enhances your holistic nursing education, providing exposure to various healthcare, social care and education environments.
• Make a meaningful impact in diverse communities with the opportunity to undertake civic engagement activities on a local, national, or even international scale. 
• Our integrated master's study option allows you to choose to study for an extra year enhancing your skills in leadership, research, and critical engagement.

Gain real-world experience through local clinical placements

Dive into diverse and exciting clinical placements in the field of adult nursing. Our strong placement partnerships with local acute NHS trusts, community NHS trusts and multiple private and voluntary organisations provide exceptional clinical training opportunities. Combined with our teaching and simulated practice, you'll be fully prepared to make the most of your placements. All clinical placements are within the local community, within 90 minutes of travel time on public transport. 

• Varied teaching methods - Teaching is led by experts in the field, combining lectures, small group teaching, e-learning self-study and peer group learning.
• Practical based learning - Undertake simulated practice in top clinical skills facilities preparing you for your placements.
• Clinical placements - You'll divide your time equally between study and practice placements, blending practical and academic learning to develop essential professional skills.

Support during your studies

You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham:

Personal academic tutors – Your personal tutor will be an academic staff member that teaches on the Nursing course. They will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.

Student Services Centre - Based within the Medical School, access many services from drop in sessions for advice and guidance, referral to internal and external services to support regarding extenuating circumstances. Here you will find our Wellbeing Officers. They provide professional support, advice and guidance across a range of issues.

Academic Skills Centre - The centre is a place where you can develop your mathematical, academic writing and general academic skills. Become an effective and independent learner through the use of a range of high-quality and appropriate learning support services.

Our student experience team will help you get the most out of your academic experience. They offer research opportunities, placement support, and help you prepare for your post-university career. They also organise social events to help you meet fellow students from your course.

Assessment methods

You will be assessed in a variety of ways to help you transition to a new style of learning. At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed. You’ll receive feedback on each assessment within four weeks, so that you can learn from and build on what you have done. Assessments methods will vary with each module and could include:

• Examinations
• Coursework assignments
• Placements
• Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)

Contact hours

• Year 1: Approximately 30% in scheduled teaching (lectures, small group tutorials and lab practice), 20% on independent study and 50% on placement.
  
  
• Year 2: Approximately 25% in scheduled teaching (lectures, small group tutorials and lab practice), 25% on independent study and 50% on placement.
  
  
• Year 3: Approximately 20% in scheduled teaching (lectures, small group tutorials and lab practice), 30% on independent study and 50% on placement.

Number of A levels required: 3

Preferred subjects and grades

Biology, Psychology or Sociology A level, and two others. Welsh Baccalaureate at grade B can substitute one of the A Levels. General Studies not accepted, but a good performance may be taken into account if you fail to meet the conditions of your offer.

Edexcel Level 3 extended project

Grade A in the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is accepted in addition to three A Levels (of equivalent level 3 qualifications). You would be made a variable offer e.g. BBB or BBC plus A in the EPQ (subject to conditions)

GCSE requirements

Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above which must include English, Mathematics and a Science subject. We do not accept level 2 equivalents e.g. BTEC, Key skills. You must meet in full both the GCSE and Level 3/higher qualification entry requirements. The only exception to meeting the GCSE requirements in full applies to some Access applicants.

T Levels

You must also meet in full the GCSE entry requirements and achieve merit overall with B in the Core in the below T Levels.

• Health
• Healthcare Science
• Science

BTEC qualifications

• BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care or Applied Science accepted at grades DDD
• BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Health and Social Care or Applied Science considered on a case by case basis when combined with an A level (typical offer DD plus B)
• BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate considered on a case by case basis when combined with an A level (typical offer D plus BB)

CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma

A CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care is accepted with a minimum of grade B overall. You must offer a minimum of grade B in each of the mandatory units: Anatomy and Physiology for health and social care and research skills for health and social care as well as a minimum of grade B in pharmacology (optional unit).

International Baccalaureate Diploma

32 points with 3 subjects at higher level graded 5, 5, 5. You must also meet in full the GCSE entry requirements. 

Access to Higher Education (Health or Science)

60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 including 30 at distinction, 15 at merit (to include study of Physiology or Biology) and 15 credits at level 2. Access courses must have been completed within the last two years to be valid. You must also meet the GCSE entry requirements in full. However, if it is more than five years since you took your GCSE’s and you also have two years full time paid work experience in health and social care, you are only required to have GCSE English, Mathematics and Science at grade C or above.

Graduate entry requirements

Bachelor degree minimum 2:2 or Masters or PhD. You must also meet in full the GCSE entry requirements.

Minimum age requirement

As this programme has a mandatory clinical placement, every applicant for admission to the University must have reached the age of 18 years on 1 October of the year of entry.

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.

• TOEFL: 95 overall with no less than 23 in any band.
• IELTS*: 7.0 overall with no less than 7.0 in any band.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE 67 in all four skills.
• Cambridge English(exams taken from 2015)***: Cambridge English: Advanced or Cambridge English: Proficiency Minimum overall score of 185, with no less than 185 in any component.
• Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI): Not applicable.
• Trinity ISE II: Not applicable.
• Trinity ISE III: ISE IV: Pass in each Skill.

*Further information on can be found at the IELTS website. IELTS tests must be the Academic version, we cannot accept the General test.

** For more information on the Pearson Test of English visit their website.

*** For more information on Cambridge English exams, please visit their website. For Cambridge English exams taken before 2015, please see under Alternative Qualifications for the accepted grades.

**** Business School programmes require one of the following scores: A TOEFL score of 88 overall with a minimum of 22 in Writing and Speaking, an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with minimum of 6.5 in Writing and Speaking, a Pearson Test of English score of 67 overall, with 67 in Writing and Speaking, a Cambridge English score of 176 overall with 176 in Writing and Speaking, a Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI) score of B2 ‘Communicator’ with no less than 33 in Listening and Reading and 38 in Speaking and Writing, or a Trinity ISE III score of Merit in Speaking and Writing, Pass in other skills.

Presessional English courses

If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535 for UK students.  If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay.  If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time.

Undergraduate loans

To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.

Scholarships, grants and bursaries

At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.

The NHS Learning Support Fund

The NHS Learning Support Fund offers nursing students at least £5,000 a year in financial aid whilst you train and gain professional registration. Check out their website for eligibility criteria and further information.

View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.

Applying to Nursing

Following the submission of your UCAS application, your application will be considered, and all suitable candidates are shortlisted and invited to interview. If you do decide to accept a place you are required to comply with some non-academic conditions. Visit our dedicated applying to Nursing webpages for interview preparation tips and information on offer conditions for successful applicants.

Our graduates are highly valued and the majority seeking nursing positions have secured employment or pursued further career-related training on completing the programme. Many of our graduates stay in the Birmingham area and work in the NHS, others move on to take up appointments in the UK and overseas. There are many varied career opportunities for nursing in clinical practice, management, research and education.

Careers Network

Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.