Nursing

Why study Nursing at Dundee?

The School of Nursing and Midwifery is part of the College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing and is one of the largest nursing and midwifery education providers in Scotland. Nursing students come from a wide range of backgrounds and join a large international campus with a reputation for good student facilities and social life.

Our programmes reflect the ever changing face of health care in Scotland and address the political and ethical aspects of heath care provision.

You will gain experience in the clinical skills centres and participate in inter-professional learning with medical and other students.

Professional qualifications

All programmes provide both an academic and professional qualification; registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Teaching locations

The School provides education at campuses in Kirkcaldy (Fife) and in Dundee. Programmes in adult, mental health and child nursing are available in Dundee; only adult nursing is available at the Fife campus.
Find out more about our three campuses »

What's so good about Nursing at Dundee?

Clinical Placements

A wide range of practice placements are available which will provide you with varied clinical experiences.

These include both hospital and community settings, and stretch from inner city to remote and rural locations. This will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to become a registered practitioner.

During practice placements, students are mentored by a registered nurse. Additionally students will experience working alongside colleagues from other health and social care disciplines, such as medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and social work.

Teaching & Assessment

This course is offered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery, which is part of the College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing.

The School of Nursing and Midwifery has a commitment to excellence in Learning and Teaching. Through evidence-based teaching methods, we equip practitioners to become lifelong learners.

Course Length

Degree Courses begin in September each year and last three years. All our Nursing pre-registration courses are full time courses.

Time Commitments and Holidays

Unlike many university courses which have long summer holidays, the academic year for nursing students is 45 weeks in duration and is divided into 50% theory and 50% practice.

On commencement of the programme, nursing students are issued a flowchart detailing the exact pattern of their theory, practice and annual leave.

The theory timetable can vary from week to week. A typical week is made up of time spent in lectures, clinical skills laboratory, small tutorials and private study. Practice time is full-time 37.5 hours a week, note, this includes shift work.

Annual leave is allocated at the commencement of the course (7 weeks per year) and is fixed for the duration of the three year course. Students will have 1 week off at Easter, 4 weeks during the summer period and 2 weeks at Christmas. Taking holidays out with these set times is not possible.

Practice Placements

Half your time at University will be spent in practice placements, and the School has access to the wealth and diversity of NHS Tayside, NHS Fife and Independent Sector practice environments for students. You will have a variety of placements giving you the opportunity to see patients and clients hospital and community settings, from inner city to remote and rural locations. You will work alongside colleagues from other health and social care disciplines. You can expect that you will have to travel to placements in a variety of locations.

Practice time is full-time 37.5 hours a week and includes shift work. Students are expected to undertake the full range of shift patterns from the outset of the course as the NHS and Independent Sector is a 24 hour a day workplace. Students will work early shifts starting at 7 or 7.30am and late shifts starting at 1pm and finishing at 9 or 10pm. Students will also be expected to be on placement at weekends - typically this would be up to 4 weekends in a 10-12 week placement. In second and third years, students will normally undertake a period of night duty.

Travel

Students are responsible for all travel costs to attend any University Campus for theory. While attending practice placements in Fife or Tayside, you are expected to meet up to the first £5 of daily travel expenses. Any travel expenses in excess of £5 will be reimbursed by the government upon submission of a travel expense form.

Shortened Programmes for Graduates

At this moment in time the School does not offer a Shortened Programme for Graduates (SPG).

Campus Options

Adult Nursing and Mental Health Nursing can be studied at our Fife Campus in Kirkcaldy. Adult Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Child Nursing can be studied at our Tayside Campus in Dundee. You can choose which campus to apply for if you wish to study Adult Nursing or Mental Health Nursing. The selection process and course at both campuses are identical.

Accommodation

Nursing students choosing the Tayside Campus are able to apply for university residences in Dundee alongside other University of Dundee students. Find our more information about our residences in Dundee. Applications are made after applicants have firmly accepted an offer.

Nursing students are also able to apply to stay in NHS accommodation at Ninewells Hospsital, Dundee and in Kirkcaldy on the Fife campus. More information about the NHS accommodation will be sent out to applicants once they have firmly accepted our offer.

During periods of practice placement students will be required to commute. Child students undertaking placements in Falkirk and/or Inverness, will be offered temporary accommodation.

Careers

With an academic award and professional registration in your chosen field of nursing, career prospects are good.

Qualified nurses can work in a diverse range of environments and develop their careers in clinical practice, education, research, management and education. Nurses can work in hospital settings or in the community either with the NHS or in the Independent sector.

Alternatively, jobs may be available further afield in the UK or abroad.

Further Study

As well as a fulfilling clinical career, nurses can also extend their academic qualifications through postgraduate study. On successful completion of your degree programme it is possible to undertake further study on a full or part-time basis relevant to your CPD needs.

Entry Requirements

Selection Notes

1. Satisfactory references, interview performance, health screening and criminal record search are part of the selection process for this course.
2. To be eligible to apply for a student bursary, EU applicants must have been 'ordinarily' resident in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for 3 years immediately before the first day of the programme.
3. If you are a non UK / EU applicant, you are required to provide evidence of settled status in the UK, as set out in the Immigration Act 1971, or by Exceptional Leave to Enter or Remain in the UK.
4. The School of Nursing and Midwifery requires that, when applying for a nursing programme, you must inform us if you have a police charge, caution or conviction or if you have any pending charges.

Entry Level

Applicants will generally enter level 1 of our 3 year degree unless:

• They have successfully completed the first year of a nursing programme at another university or
• Are currently working for the NHS and undertaking an endorsed HNC programme

Courses starting September 2013

Minimum Requirements

Qualification	Grade
SQA Higher	CC at Higher and 3 Standard Grades at grade 3 (or Intermediate 2 at grade C) across 5 different subjects to include English and Maths at either level or an accepted equivalent (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
GCE A-Level	DD at A-level and 3 GCSE at C across 5 different subjects to include English and Maths at either level or an accepted equivalent (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
ILC Higher	CC + 4 Ord plus English and Maths, ILC Ord at C, plus combination of 6 different subjects for ILC H/Ord. to include English and Maths at either level or an accepted equivalent (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
IB Diploma	24 points with 4, 4 at HL, plus English and Maths at IB SL at 4 or equivalent (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
European Baccalaureate	50% average including English and Maths at 50% or an accepted equivalent (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
HNC	A HNC, normally with a C in the graded unit plus Standard Grade Maths 3 or an accepted equivalent either as part of the qualification or separate to it (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
EDEXCEL	A relevant BTEC Extended Diploma (MPP) or BTEC Diploma (MM) including Maths at GCSE grade C or an accepted equivalent either as part of the qualification or separate to it (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
FETAC	Complete and pass 8 modules in the Level 5 FETAC Nursing programme with 5 modules at distinction including the three core modules. The three core modules are Anatomy and Physiology D20001, Safety and Health at Work D20165 and Introduction to Nursing D20012.  Applicants must also have C at ILC Ordinary Maths or an accepted equivalent either as part of the qualification or separate to it (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
Scottish Access Programme	A total of 18 credits with 14 at higher level and 4 at Intermediate 2 including achieving 2 external higher courses  at grade C or equivalent.  Applicants must possess English and Maths at Standard Grade 3 or an accepted equivalent either as part of the qualification or separate to it (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
English Access Programme	Complete Access course with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2 and English and Maths at GCSE grade C or an accepted equivalent either as part of the qualification or separate to it (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
Scottish Baccalaureate	Pass to include English and Maths at Standard Grade 3 or above or an accepted equivalent (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
Advanced Diploma	Grade D to include English and Maths at GCSE Grade C or above or an accepted equivalent (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
Welsh Baccalaureate	Pass with A Level at D to include English and Maths at GCSE Grade C or above or an accepted equivalent (see English and Maths accepted qualifications)
University of Dundee Access Programmes (DUAL Summer School and Discover Learning at Dundee) are accepted and available for entry to Adult Nursing and Mental Health Nursing courses. These routes cannot be used to enter Child Nursing. Further information, who to contact and how to apply on our website with the above links.

For applicants who do not speak English as a first language

Applicants who do not speak English as a first language must have academic IELTS 7.0 (with 7.0 in each component of the exam) prior to being considered for interview. Your IELTS exam result must be from within the last two years before the course start date. Applicants who do not have English as their first language but have completed and passed a full 3 year undergraduate degree programme taught only in English do not have to take IELTS.

Applicants should have taken IELTS prior to applying and included this on their UCAS application in the qualification section (including the scores for each component as well as the overall score). However if an applicant has not been able to take an IELTS test prior to the application deadline but have booked an IELTS test they can include this in the pending qualifications section and include the date of their test within the Personal Statement. You would then have to send us your results as soon as possible. Please note you will not be considered for interview without IELTS 7.0, if we receive your IELTS results after the application deadline and all interview slots have been allocated we will not be able to consider your application further. If there are still available interview slots your application will be considered.

Qualifications from Outside the UK and Ireland

For applicants with qualifications outside the UK and Ireland that are not listed above you can find country specific information on our home country webpages (please note if English is not your first language you will have to meet the language criteria as outlined above).

English and Mathematics Accepted Qualifications for Nursing - 2012

English and Mathematics Accepted Qualifications for Nursing - 2013

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

Those applicants who meet the residency criteria and have not previously studied Nursing (or Midwifery) will have the full cost of their tuition fees covered. Applicants do not have to apply to have these tuition fees paid on their behalf unlike other undergraduate degrees.

To be eligible to apply candidates have to have been resident in the United Kingdom or EU for 3 years immediately prior to the start of the Education Programme and they also have to have "Indefinite Leave" to remain in the UK or EU.

If you are not sure of your residency you should contact the Students Awards Agency for Scotland.

Bursaries

Applicants whose ordinary residence has been in the UK (including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) for the three years immediately before their first entry to the course are eligible a non-means tested bursary for living expenses. Bursaries for all UK students are administered through SAAS who have a dedicated Nursing and Midwifery Team. For September 2011 entry the bursary was £6,578.

EU nationals that have lived in the EU for the past 3 years are not eligible for the living costs bursary.

Information from SAAS

Previous Nursing Study

SAAS confirm that they will not fund anyone with a nursing qualification onto a 3 year programme. They will only fund those undertaking the shortened route of the conversion programmes.

For applicants who have studied Nursing previously and have not completed their degree or diploma and would therefore require extra funding the School of Nursing would need to look at each case individually once and applicant has applied through UCAS and submitted all required documentation such as reference from previous institution and transcripts.

Other Funding

SAAS also administer funding for UK students for other costs such as a Childcare Allowance for Parents, a Single Parents' Allowance, Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), and some placement expenses. You should visit the SAAS website for more information.

Living Costs

• Dundee is ranked as one of the most affordable places for students to live in the UK, and the cost of living is around 15% cheaper than the UK average.
• As a student in Scotland, you have free access to the National Health Service. Visits to doctors and hospitals, as well as prescriptions, sight tests and dental checkups, are available free of charge.

Your Application

All applications must be made through UCAS. The deadline for consideration each year is the 15th of January. We will only consider applications after this date if the course still has vacancies.

UCAS Codes

Institution Code: D65

Degree	UCAS Codes	KIS data
BSc Adult Nursing (Tayside campus)	B740	View KIS data for this course
BSc Adult Nursing (Fife campus)	B740	View KIS data for this course
BSc Mental Health Nursing (Tayside campus)	B760	View KIS data for this course
BSc Mental Health Nursing (Fife campus)	B760	View KIS data for this course
BSc Child Nursing	B730	View KIS data for this course

UCAS Application Process

About your application

Selection Notes

1. Satisfactory references, interview performance, health screening and criminal record search are part of the selection process for this course.
2. Non UK / EU applicants are required to provide evidence of settled status in the UK, as set out in the Immigration Act 1971, or by Exceptional Leave to Enter or Remain in the UK.
3. To be eligible to apply for a student bursary, EU applicants must have been 'ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Mann for 3 years immediately before the first day of the programme'.
4. The School of Nursing and Midwifery requires that, when applying for nursing programmes, you must inform us if you have a police charge, caution or conviction or if you have any pending charges. You do not need to declare fixed penalty fines for traffic offences unless they led to a disqualification (ban).

UCAS Personal Statement

The Personal Statement is a deciding factor on which academically qualified applicants are short listed for interview.

Within the Personal Statement we look for good articulation and understanding of the role of the nurse and of the demands of the programme. We expect applicants to have knowledge of the specific field of nursing for which they are applying. It is also important to demonstrate awareness of the challenges facing nurses today. Applicants should highlight the skills, qualities and experience they possess which will assist them in meeting the demands of their chosen area of study.

UCAS Reference

Applications will not be considered without a valid reference. A reference cannot be supplied by a family member or friend. Your reference should comment on your suitability for the course you are applying for.

• If you have been in education in the past three years, we would require an Academic Reference from the last educational institute attended (or the institution you are currently attending).
• If you have been out of education for the past three years, but are working, we would require a reference from your current or previous employer.
• If you have been out of education and out of employment for the past three years we would require a reference from a professional person you may have been in contact with such as a health visitor etc.

Interviews

Interviews are held on the Dundee or Kirkcaldy campus and all applicants wishing to proceed with their application must be interviewed on one of these sites. The interview will be held over a morning or afternoon session.

If invited to interview applicants will log onto MyDundee and book themselves into an available interview slot. Applicants will be sent details of MyDundee once they have applied and are advised to check this site for communications from the University regularly.

We normally interview in February and March. Our interview process consists of "Multiple Mini Interviews". Further information regarding this process will be sent with your "invitation to interview" e-mail to help you to prepare for interview.

Criminal Records Disclosure Check

All Nursing students have to complete a Criminal Records Disclosure check. Admission to the Programme is dependent upon a satisfactory Criminal Records Disclosure check through the government Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG Scheme). The cost of the Criminal Records Disclosure check will be paid by the University and details will be sent to applicants after they have firmly accepted an offer.

Occupational Health Screening

Admission to the Programme is dependent upon a satisfactory Health Check. All Nursing students must therefore undergo an Occupational Health Screening through OHSAS. The cost of the Health check will be paid by the University. Details will be sent to applicants after they have firmly accepted an offer.

Deferred Entry

Applicants must apply within the same time period as applicants applying to start that year. Applicants wishing to defer entry must meet all conditions of a conditional academic offer by 31st August in the year for which they have applied. Health and Criminal Records checks will be completed in the months preceding the start of the course.

International Students outside the EU

Unfortunately due to funding issues set by the Scottish Government we cannot accept applications from international students to study Nursing at this University. To be eligible to apply candidates have to have been resident in the United Kingdom or EU for 3 years immediately prior to the start of the Education Programme and they also have to have "Indefinite Leave" to remain in the UK or EU.

Any questions?

If you have any further questions about the application process, please contact:

Home / EU applicants

Undergraduate Admissions
Admissions & Student Recruitment
University of Dundee
Nethergate
Dundee
DD1 4HN
Scotland

Telephone: 01382 384029/ 388547/ 384697 (from the UK)
Telephone: +44 1382 384029/ 388547/ 384697 (from outside the UK)

Email: ContactUs@dundee.ac.uk