Nursing degree (BN)

• The entry requirements below outline the minimum educational requirements. Applicants will be expected to attend for an interview if selected, and undergo further screening for entry into nursing. See below for details.
• All applicants to the BN leading to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) must satisfy a range of entry criteria, as outlined in the prospectus. The NMC’s Standards for pre-registration nursing education sets out the standards for admission; applicants should consult this or contact admissions.health@bangor.ac.uk for further advice.
• Recruitment to pre-registration education for nursing in Wales will enable students to gain an academic award at degree level in addition to gaining entry on to the professional register upon successful completion of this course.
• The Nursing and Midwifery Council identify the general entry requirements for admission and state that all applicants must demonstrate that they have good health and good character. The School will require candidates to undertake a criminal record check and other requirements for demonstrating good character;the local Health Board will be responsible for setting the requirement for good health.
• All applicants must meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council's entry requirements for literacy and numeracy.  This would normally be demonstrated through having achieved GCSE Mathematics and Welsh or English (minimum grades A to C) or the equivalent in numeracy and communication Key Skills (level 3 recommended). Where the IELTS is offered as evidence of literacy and communication, the NMC accepts the IELTS examination. Applicants should seek guidance from the School’s Admissions Office or alternatively from the NMC in relation to the scores required in this examination. Advice on educational entry criteria can be provided on an individual basis following application.

Academic Requirements

• GCSE Mathematics and Welsh or English (minimum grades A-C)
• Access courses (Nursing or Health related)
• Curriculum 2000: typical offer 300 points (to include a minimum of 2 A2 papers)
• Equivalent qualifications will be considered on an individual basis (see www.ucas.ac.uk for latest information)
• Candidates must be able to demonstrate ability to study to the required level
• Candidates with entry qualifications older than 5 years must demonstrate evidence of recent study at an appropriate level.
• Information on the NMC’s Standards for pre-registration nursing, on the standards required for admission (literacy, numeracy and communication) and the requirements in relation to good health and good character may be found at the NMC's website: www.nmc-uk.org

Good Health & Good Character

• Good health will be assessed through health screening including, for example, your immunisation history, as a condition of acceptance onto the course.
• You will be asked to provide a reference included in your UCAS application and we also ask for a Caring Reference in accordance with the Welsh Chief Nursing Officer initiative. This should be from an employer or manager form any caring experience you have gained in either a voluntary or paid capacity. If in employment, we will need a reference from your current employer with a full employment history.
• Criminal record check - you must indicate correctly on your UCAS form any cautions, convictions, reprimands or warnings as these are not regarded as spent when applying for a health related course. Information about cautions, convictions, reprimands or warnings will be requested with your application which will include a self- declaration form. A condition of any offer of a place on the programme will be provision by the candidate and clearance of a full enhanced criminal record check (or EU or international equivalent).

Please also read our Entry Requirements section.

For joint honours degrees you should also look at the entry requirements for your other chosen subject.

• Students indicate 90% overall satisfaction with the course and 98% go on to further work or study (Unistats Key Information Set).
• Opportunity to experience and participate in bilingual learning and clinical practice - scholarships to study in the medium of Welsh are available from Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Please also see this page for information on the School's bilingual provision.
• We have positive links with the local University Health Board and care providers in north Wales and our courses respond to the changing workplace environment.
• Course fees paid by the NHS along with access to the NHS Wales bursary scheme - information regarding qualification may be found at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/829/page/36092

This section provides an outline of the content of this Nursing BN (Hons) course. Each year you'll study a series of modules, some of these are compulsory and others can be selected from a range of optional modules.

Studying to be a nurse is a practice based activity with 50% of the course spent in clinical practice and developing competence that will enable the student to enter the NMC’s register. Nursing students can, in the UK, study in one of four areas or ‘fields’ of practice: adult nursing, mental health nursing, learning disabilities nursing or  children’s nursing; applicants willneed to apply for a specific nursing field when applying to UCAS. Nursing students will be required to demonstrate their achievement in practice within the following four domains: professional values; communication and interpersonal skills; nursing practice and decision making; leadership, management and team working.

Course modules will inform and underpin the four domains in order  to demonstrate in the first year ofthe course the skills and relevant professional behaviours that ensure the safety and protection of people of all ages, their carers and families, along with relevant professional values and attitudes expected of a nurse. In the second year you are expected to work more independently, in a safe and increasingly confident manner, making the most of opportunities to extend knowledge, skills and practice. By the end of the third year, you will have had to achieve both generic and field specific competencies required for entry to the register.

For further information on what you will study on this course, please visit the School's website.

Modules our students are currently studying...

If you'd like a closer look at the content of the modules our current students are studying this year please click on the links below;

* Please note that due to the dynamic nature of our degree programmes specific topics of study/modules are occasionally subject to change.

For more on studying degree courses see our Study at Bangor section.

You will have School-based study and periods on placement gaining practical experience - both are compulsory. You will undertake a variety of placements, in hospitals, community and/or residential settings in the north Wales area. You will begin by observing professionals at work and you will be expected to participate in the delivery of nursing care from very early on in the course, under supervision, in order to develop your own skills and competence. You will also be supported during the Nursing degree by a personal tutor who is a registered nurse and an academic member of staff, in addition to the mentorship supervision provided by a registered practising nurse when on placement.

Theoretical and practical work will be assessed in various ways, including assignments, examinations and presentations. Your placements will also be assessed with a strong emphasis on the development of your proficiency in nursing skills.

For further information about how you will learn on this course, please see the School's website.

Why Bangor?

I chose Bangor as it had an excellent reputation for training Nurses.

About the course…

The course is very hard going but very rewarding. Not only are you gaining a profession – you grow as a person…There is excellent support available from lecturers and admin staff. The library facilities are great with on-hand support if needed.

The best thing about living in Bangor…

The beauty and social activities. When I leave Bangor I will miss the people and the scenery.

Clubs and Societies…

I Peer Guide – which is helping new students to settle and get familiar with what Bangor has to offer.

MICHELLE ROBERTS, from Conwy

Qualifying as a registered nurse in Wales provides you with an initial degree as well as registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Careers may be with large employers such as NHS Trusts or working for smaller independent sector organisations. Either way, a career in nursing is rewarding and satisfying and can lead to opportunities in advanced clinical specialism, senior management, research or education.

• Diagnostic Radiography BSc (Hons)
• Health Studies (Nursing) BSc (Hons)
• Midwifery BM (Hons)
• Nursing BN (Hons)