Community Nursing Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ): Learning Disability (PGDip)
Course overview
Applications are now open for this course. Application deadline: 31 July 2026 (for September2026 start). Our new PGDip in Community Nursing Learning Disability is a Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) designed for registered nurses who want to specialise in delivering high-quality, inclusive care for children, young people and adults in community settings.
It will be delivered via flexible online learning and supports both full-time and part-time study routes; ideal for professionals balancing clinical practice with professional development. Currently in development, this course is designed to meet the complex and evolving needs of people with learning disabilities. It will support practitioners to develop advanced knowledge, person-centred practice, and leadership skills to work effectively in multi-agency settings.
You will gain the expertise to deliver inclusive care, improve quality of life, and drive forward equity in healthcare. Why Study this Course? Advance your career in learning disability care within community settings Enhance your skills to lead multi-agency teams and provide person-centred, holistic support Support inclusive, rights-based approaches to care and service development Flexible online delivery tailored to fit around your working life and personal commitments.
Study alongside peers from across Wales and the UK, sharing best practice and building professional networks Commissioned places available for staff employed by Welsh Health Boards, supporting professional development within the NHS workforce * This programme leads to a recordable qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in Specialist Practice upon successful completion * This programme reflects current trends in healthcare, where the emphasis is increasingly on enabling people to live well in the community and empowering nurses to lead that change. Is this Course for You? This programme is suitable for registered nurses currently practising in community settings.
You may be: Seeking to progress in your career Interested in improving care outcomes and support integration across services Aiming to develop leadership and innovation in learning disability services. Fees and Funding The SPQ in community nursing for learning disabilities, mental health, and general practice nursing is commissioned and fully-funded by HEIW as a Postgraduate Diploma (part-time), which leads to a recordable Specialist Practitioner Qualification (SPQ) with the NMC. Eligibility for a funded place will be assessed as part of the application process.
Please see Entry Requirements tab to check your eligibility.
Key highlights
- Leads to NMC-recordable Specialist Practice Qualification on completion
- Flexible online learning designed around clinical work
- Develops leadership skills for multi-agency learning disability teams
- Focuses on person-centred, rights-based care in community settings
- Covers care for children, young people and adults
- Study alongside peers from across Wales and the UK
Entry requirements
- Additional condition: professional_registration — Applicants must: Be currently registered with the statutory nursing body (NMC) and for more than one year Normally possess a 2:1 or First in an undergraduate degree.
- Degree: 2:1 — or above
- Degree: 2:2 — considered case by case
Scholarships
Deans Scholarship - Postgraduate Research
20% reduction in the published Postgraduate Research tuition fee for each year of study.
Up to 20% of feesHeads of School Scholarship
10% reduction in the published Postgraduate Research tuition fee for each year of study.
Up to 10% of feesInclusive Bangor Scholarships
Payment towards tuition fees for one-year taught or research postgraduate Masters (or for two years if studying part-time). This will be capped at £9,500.
Refugee Scholarship
Vice-Chancellor Postgraduate Research Scholarships
50% discount on the published International Tuition Fee for each year of study.
Up to 50% of fees
Careers this course leads to
- Community Learning Disability Nurse Specialist Practitioner
- Community Learning Disability Team Lead
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Learning Disabilities
- Learning Disability Liaison Nurse
- Community Nursing Service Manager
Cost of study
International: £21,000 per year
Admission
Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Bangor University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.
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