Learning Disabilities Nursing BSc (Hons)
- Nursing and midwifery
- Undergraduate
Studying Learning Disabilities Nursing at Kingston University is your chance to help others. Take the first step towards improving health outcomes for children and adults with a range of mental and physical needs.
Provide life-changing care
Ready to make a positive difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities?
You’ll be part of a small, enthusiastic cohort, learning from a dynamic teaching team. You’ll learn from researchers and experts, from practice and the Department of Health.
Studying Learning Disabilities Nursing at Kingston will give you a strong foundation for a career with real, life-enhancing impact. Graduates from this course are highly sought after, with previous students working as specialist nurses, nurse therapists, community nurses and in senior management.
During the course, you’ll learn about the factors affecting people's health and wellbeing. You’ll explore the health inequalities in society. And, importantly, you’ll consider how we can improve outcomes for people with learning disabilities.
Your course will combine placements, simulated learning and classroom teaching. In doing so, you’ll develop the skills, values and knowledge you need to manage complex conditions effectively.
When you graduate, you’ll be a registered learning disabilities nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You’ll even receive a £5,000 per year, non-repayable NHS Training Grant to support your studies. Check out the NHS Business Service Authority website to find out more.
Nursing at Kingston University
Change lives for the better with a degree in nursing. Discover where our award-winning teaching and facilities could take you in your career.
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at Kingston University. Not only are we ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, we’re also top in London for Nursing and Midwifery (The Complete University Guide 2026).
A portion of your learning will take place at our award-winning simulation suite. These facilities create realistic environments to help you develop skills in clinical, community and practice health settings.
Innovative simulations, with role players and full-body manikins, will offer unique opportunities to learn how to manage conditions across the lifespan. Our training will prepare you to care for everyone, from children to older people, including those with dementia.
Outside of the University, you’ll spend time on placement with one of our partner providers.
You’ll also have opportunities to work with renowned organisations beyond the medical setting. Our students work with the famous Baked Bean Theatre Company. You’ll also have the chance to join the Learning Disability Nursing UK and Ireland network, and attend the Positive Choices Learning Disability Conference.
Kingston University is top in London for Nursing and Midwifery (The Complete University Guide 2026).
Top University in London for General Nursing, The Guardian University Guide 2026.
100% of students are satisfied with the learning opportunities the course provides (NSS 2025).
Accreditation
This degree confers both an academic award and a professional qualification in nursing. On completion of the programme, students are recommended to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for professional registration.
Course content
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.
Year 1
You will develop your skills in caring for people with a learning disability, learning alongside students of adult, child and mental health nursing.
Core modules
Year 2
Year 2 examines evidence-based person-centred care for people with learning disabilities, and how to support their health and wellbeing. At the end of Year 2, you will have the opportunity to undertake an optional national or international placement.
Core modules
Optional module
Year 3
In Year 3 you will explore the management of complex conditions across the lifespan (e.g. children, transition, adulthood, the older person and those with dementia or other mental or physical health needs). You will be prepared for the transition to professional practice and employability. You will develop skills in management, leadership, team working and teaching and supporting learners. You will learn how to critically appraise evidence to support future practice and explore complexities of nursing and service provision across health and social care organisations.
Core modules
Nursing Foundation Year
If you would like to study one of our Nursing degrees at Kingston University but are not yet ready to join the first year of a BSc (Hons) course, you can include an extra foundation year within your chosen field. Please see the Nursing Foundation Year course page for details of modules.
What career opportunities does this course offer?
Recent Kingston graduates have gone on to work as staff nurses, community nurses and in clinical health teams for people with learning disabilities. Potential organisations include everywhere from the Children’s Trust and Your Healthcare, to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in Putney and more.
Links with the health sector
We have a range of practice partners for learning disability nursing from the NHS, private, independent and voluntary sector including:
- Achieve Together
- Barts Health (CTPLD)
- The Children’s Trust
- Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability (Putney)
- Prison Placements (Oxleas / West London NHS Trusts)
- Priory Group
- Special Educational Needs (SEN) Schools
- South West London St. George’s Mental Health Trust
- Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust
- West London NHS Trust
- Your Healthcare
Future Skills
Our Future Skills programme is embedded within all our undergraduate courses and throughout the whole Kingston experience. These skills will help you to become a future-proof graduate by equipping you with the skills most valued by employers, such as problem-solving, digital competency and adaptability.
As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills. You’ll also understand how to demonstrate and articulate to employers how these future skills give you the edge.
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.
It may also include placements, project work, practical sessions, workshops, conferences and field trips.
Fees and funding
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
NHS Training Grant
Nursing students on pre-registration courses will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which doesn’t need to be paid back, subject to eligibility criteria. Please note, this is not available during the foundation year. For more information, please visit the NHS Business Service Authority.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying this course at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
What are the facilities like?
When you join Kingston University, you will have access to a wide range of facilities and resources designed to support your studies. Use the virtual tour below to explore some of the facilities and learning environments that students within this subject area may experience during their studies.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
Key information
The scrolling banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).