The course
Most students choose to start their nursing course on a common entry programme, the Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing.
The diploma offers the option of transferring to the degree route in the final year, depending on your grades. Direct entry on to the degree programme is also available, but the funding arrangements are different, details of which can be found in the Money Matters section.
The courses also have different entry requirements and your educational qualifications, academic ability and personal aspirations will determine which route is right for you.
Both courses take three years to complete (or at least four years for the part-time course) and lead to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, enabling you to practise nursing in the UK.
The degree is of a higher academic standard and could help you progress within your chosen career path more quickly, however, you should have opportunities throughout your working life to undertake top-up degrees and further study.
From Septemer 2011 the diploma programme will be withdrawn and nursing will only be offered at degree level.
What hours will I do?
Full-time
During your academic period at Bucks you will be timetables between 15-20 taught hours per week. You are then required to make this time up to 37.5 hours per week by reading and preparation via self-directed study. During your placement period, you are required to carry out 37.5 hours a week in practice. Practice hours operate on a shift basis.
Part-time
We offer a part-time adult branch course which is run over a minimum of four years. This means that the time you spend at the University will be structured over three days a week (with additional hours of self-directed study, making the time up to 37.5 hours per week). The time in clinical practice will be 24-30 hours a week, rather than 37.5 hours a week for full-time students.
The theory part for the first year of the course is currently delivered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10am – 3pm. You may be asked to sit for examinations outside of these hours and days.