Studying nursing
From the application process to your reading list: everything you need to know about applying for and studying Nursing at the University of Stirling.
Applicant event for Nursing
Watch the recording of our applicant event which took place on the 9th March 2022.
Take a virtual tour
Our virtual tour is the perfect way to see what the University of Stirling has to offer.
Compulsory admission criteria
Information on compulsory admission criteria and how to upload documents to our applicant portal.
Your interview
As part of your application you will be required to attend an interview, which will take place virtually on Microsoft Teams.
Recommended reading
Find out more about our recommended reading for Nursing students.
Our graduates, our philisophy
Our graduates will be dynamic, future-focused leaders in health and social care. Through a collaborative, student centred and contemporary model of education, our students will meet their intellectual, emotional and creative potential.
Exploring health care evidence and the lived experience of people, our graduates will develop values, integrity and resilience to become socially responsible reflective practitioners who meet the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Code.
This ethos will enable our graduates to build effective relationships with others in order to meet the health and social care needs of people within communities.’
Programme information
We offer four programmes at undergraduate level:
- BSc Nursing (Adult) – 3-year programme
- BSc Nursing (Mental Health) – 3-year programme
- BSc Nursing with Honours (Adult) – 4-year programme
- BSc Nursing with Honours (Mental Health) – 4-year programme
Our four year route provides you with an Honours degree. This will allow you to demonstrate your ability to write and learn at a higher level than the ordinary degree. The Honours route is advantageous for those who intend to progress to Masters and Advance Practice levels of study beyond registration.
Conditional and unconditional places
Conditional places mean that you have yet to meet the academic requirements for entry to the course. You will need to upload a copy of your qualification certificate(s) to the Applicant Portal once received for our consideration. We also require you to pass compulsory checks including Disclosure Scotland Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme (any applicant resident outside the UK within the last 5 years will also have to obtain criminal records clearance from their countries of residence). Applicants must also be passed as fit by Occupational health before we can finally confirm your place on the course.
Unconditional places mean that you have met the academic requirements for entry to the course. However, this is still subject to you passing further compulsory checks including Disclosure Scotland Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme (any applicant resident outside the UK within the last 5 years will also have to obtain criminal records clearance from their countries of residence). Applicants must also be passed as fit by Occupational health before we can finally confirm your place on the course.
Programme details
The NMC requires that students complete all theory and practice modules. You are required to attend all theory and placement learning related sessions to meet the HCPC requirements to register as a nurse.
The NMC requires that students complete 2,300 hours clinical practice and 2,300 hours theory.
There is a 50:50 split between placement time and theory. All students will be provided with a programme flowchart (timetable) for the length of their study.
Leave and holidays
Nursing students can expect a total of 7 weeks of annual leave during each year of the course. This differs from the wider university community due to the HCPC course requirements for theory and practice hours.
Exact dates will be confirmed at the start of the programme on your flowchart (timetable). Students must be aware that they are not allowed to take holidays outside of the allocated periods.
Please do not book any travel prior to seeing your timetable.
Placements
Most placements will be within NHS Forth Valley. Please be aware of the geographic area.
You will need to familiarise yourself with travel options prior to commencing your placements. Travel arrangements will differ from placement to placement.
Support for you
There is a University accessibility and inclusion service for all students.
Once, students have registered with the university accessibility and inclusion service students will gain support from the Faculty. Within the Faculty, there is a named accessibility and inclusion officer who provides support for students whilst on campus and when attending placement.
Transport and parking
Most placement areas can be reached by public transport. However, in some cases, students will need to drive to certain practice learning placements and so those students with cars will be asked to share this information at the beginning of their programme. It may be possible to car share with other students with negotiation at practice placement areas.
Watch our students
Student nurses and student mental health nurses talk about what it's like to study at Stirling.