Nursing (Adult)

Course information
Choose a career where you can make a difference every day. Nursing is challenging, satisfying and life changing. This highly respected course represents your first step into a profession that is a privilege to join.

Why choose this course
We are accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which means when you graduate, you will be eligible to register and practise as a nurse. We will equip you to deliver exceptional care as a confident, capable and compassionate adult nurse. Learn from a highly experienced and enthusiastic teaching team who provide full support to help you achieve your ambitions.

We’re recognised for what we do
Top 10 for student satisfaction – Complete University Guide 2026 (Nursing subject area)
Top 10 for learning opportunities – National Student Survey 2025 (Nursing subject area)
Top 15 for teaching – National Student Survey 2025 (Nursing subject area)

How will you learn
We help you develop an in-depth understanding of the demands and rewards of the role so that you are fully prepared to work with adult patients who have diverse, acute and chronic conditions. Our outstanding facilities include replica wards, counselling rooms and treatment rooms fully equipped with the latest clinical resources. This programme is a holistic learning experience, enabling students to become emotionally resilient and transformational Registered Nurses of the future. This is a full-time 3 -year course and students will complete a range of modules to develop the fundamental knowledge and skills for safe effective nursing practice where the interests of people using or needing nursing services are put first.

Opportunities and experiences
A compulsory part of the course is practice learning which equates to 50% of the overall programme in line with the NMC standards (NMC, 2018). Students must complete at least 2,300 hours of practice learning to support the application of theory to practice. Practice learning is achieved through a variety of placement experiences to enable you to gain essential practical experience by participating in 24-hour care. Throughout, you will benefit from the support of Practice Assessors and Practice Supervisors who will help you make the most of your experience.

Careers and employability
On successful completion of this degree, you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and go into practice as a nurse, if you meet the NMC’s requirements. Our graduates have gone into hospital-based roles on a variety of wards, intensive care units, coronary care units, theatres and A&E departments. Others have secured posts within community teams, private hospitals, nursing homes, health and social care settings and the voluntary sector. Many take up roles in settings where they gained experience on placement. As a registered nurse, you could also pursue career opportunities in the armed services, prisons, travel companies and charitable organisations, to name but a few. Some of our graduates have even gone on to work overseas.

Based solely on more than 24,000 student reviews, we were named Uni Compare's University of the Year 2027, and voted 1st in the UK for employability and 2nd in the UK for course quality. Not only that, but 97% of students would recommend the University of Derby*, which we can offer you industry-relevant teaching, state-of-the-art study spaces, multi-award-winning accommodation, and a welcoming, inclusive community.

*Uni Compare 2027