Professional Nursing Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc

This three-year full-time undergraduate professional degree programme integrates theory and practice, preparing our students to be world-class practitioners in Learning Disabilities Nursing. Students in this programme will begin in September 2027. Our highly-trained lecturing staff are actively engaged in areas of speciality practice.

Our personal tutor system for student support is very well regarded, and we were awarded the Best Student Experience award in the 2021 Student Nursing Times Awards. In 2024/2025 our Professional Learning Disabilities Nursing programme was ranked 3rd highest in the United Kingdom for Learning Disabilities Nursing. Our programme was also ranked 1st in Queen’s University Belfast with a 100% satisfaction rate reported by our nursing students.

On completion of your BSc Professional Learning Disabilities Nursing programme, you will be awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree and you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Nurse Learning Disabilities (RNLD). Learning Disabilities Nursing is a rewarding, dynamic and highly skilled profession where you can make a positive and meaningful difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities and their families. Upon registration our students are highly valued professionals who progress well across their career trajectory.

As a Learning Disabilities Nursing student, you will expect to spend 50 per cent of your time in University learning the latest nursing theory and clinical skills, and 50 per cent of your time with one of our internationally-recognised training partners in a wide variety of clinical and community settings throughout Northern Ireland. As you will work with and support children, young people, adults and older adults with learning disabilities and their families, this professional nursing programme will equip you with the knowledge, skills and attributes to deliver person-centred, team-based, safe, effective care in today’s fast-paced, dynamic health service. On successful completion of this professional programme of study, you will become a Registered Nurse in Learning Disabilities (RNLD) possessing a distinct set of knowledge, skills and expertise of the health and wider education and social care needs of people with learning disabilities and their families and carers that promotes and maintains health and well-being across the life-span.

As a Registered Nurse in Learning Disabilities (RNLD) you will adopt a life span approach to person-centred care, nursing assessment, treatments, interventions, education and care and support across a diverse range of settings. These settings include home, residential, in-patient assessment and treatment units, nursing homes, secure settings, forensic and justice settings, schools, day care, residential care homes and community-based teams to contribute to meeting the care needs of people with learning disabilities and their families and carers. On successful completion of this programme of study and as respectful, kind, caring, compassionate knowledgeable and skilled nurse practitioners, you will be able to: o Provide person centred care for people with Learning Disability and their families across the lifespan. o Deliver safe and effective care to people with learning disabilities who may have multiple health morbidities and additional interrelated physical, psychological, emotional, social, and educational needs. o Be effective communicators o Advocate for people with learning disabilities their families, health care professionals and other stakeholders within dynamic health and social care contexts For those applicants applying from NI/ROI who meet the relevant criteria the programme is funded by the Department of Health to include full tuition fees and bursary.

These students are referred to as commissioned students. Students on this programme are ineligible to apply for funding from the Student Loans Company. It is not available as a part time…