Year of entry
- 2027
Duration of study
- 1 to 5 years
Nursing Studies | Top-up - BSc (Hons)
Course summary
Nursing Studies BSc (Hons) at Keele University offers health and social care professionals the opportunity to enhance their clinical expertise and academic achievements. We provide six distinctive clinical pathway options in: Critical Care, Fundamentals in General Practice Nursing, Neonatal, Generic and International.
Why study Nursing Studies | Top-up at Keele University?
Top 10 in England for Nursing (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2026)
Benefit from our specialist Health Library at the Clinical Education Centre
Top 10 in England for Nursing and Midwifery (Daily Mail University Guide, 2026)
No.1 in the West Midlands and Top 10 in England for Nursing and Midwifery (Complete University Guide, 2026)
Course overview
Nursing Studies
Our BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies curriculum reflects contemporary clinical practice and recognises that the health and social care needs of patients and clients are changing. It aims to future proof your career by building on your existing professional experience, enabling you to progress in your chosen field.
As a registered clinical practitioner you will strengthen your competencies in areas such as critical reflection on clinical practice, clinical reasoning and ethical conduct, theoretical knowledge and practical abilities, to enable you to improve your practice to confidently manage and coordinate the evolving provision of clinical care.
Nursing Studies expertise
Our academic staff and pathway leads come from a range of clinical backgrounds and have a wealth of knowledge and relevant experience to support you throughout this Nursing Studies programme. Many of our staff are research active and all are registered with the appropriate professional body, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Nursing Studies pathways
You can select one of the following pathways:
International
You will be required to complete the following core modules:
- NUR-30233: Research Application in Clinical Practice (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30245: Applied Advanced Healthcare Leadership and Management (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30171: Independent Professional Practice Development (30 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30234: Dissertation (30 level 6 credits)
Successful completion of the core modules will total 90 credits. You must choose online optional modules to a total of 30 credits. This enables you to reach the 120 credits required for the BSc to be awarded.
Apply Now - International Pathway
You have the option to gain an intermediate Graduate Certificate which is the equivalent to the first year of study towards the full Nursing Studies BSc.
Critical Care
You will be required to complete the following core modules:
- NUR-30158: Critical Care (30 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30163: Clinical Practice (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30233: Research Application in Clinical Practice (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30245: Applied Advanced Healthcare Leadership and Management (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30234: Dissertation (30 level 6 credits)
Successful completion of the core modules will total 105 credits. You must choose a 15 credit option module. This enables you to reach the 120 credits required for the BSc to be awarded.
This Critical Care Pathway is currently only available for students who hold post-registration qualifications and would like to integrate RPL (recognition of prior learning) into this pathway.
Apply Now - Critical Care Pathway
Fundamentals in General Practice Nursing
You will be required to complete the following core modules:
- NUR-30204: Fundamentals in General Practice Nursing (30 level 6 Credits)
- NUR-30163: Clinical Practice (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30233: Research Application in Clinical Practice (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30245: Applied Advanced Healthcare Leadership and Management (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30234: Dissertation (30 level 6 credits)
Successful completion of the core modules will total 105 credits. You must choose a 15 credit option module. This enables you to reach the 120 credits required for the BSc to be awarded.
Apply Now - Fundamentals in General Practice Nursing Pathway
Neonatal
You will be required to complete the following core modules:
- NUR-30148: Practice Focused Neonatal Intensive Care (45 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30233: Research Application in Clinical Practice (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30245: Applied Advanced Healthcare Leadership and Management (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30234: Dissertation (30 level 6 credits)
Successful completion of the core modules will total 105 credits. You must choose a 15 credit option module. This enables you to reach the 120 credits required for the BSc to be awarded.
Nursing Studies (Generic Route)
You will be required to complete the following core modules:
- NUR-30163: Clinical Practice (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30245: Applied Advanced Healthcare Leadership and Management (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30233: Research Application in Clinical Practice (15 level 6 credits)
- NUR-30234: Dissertation (30 level 6 credits)
Successful completion of the core modules will total 75 credits. You must choose option modules to a total of 45 credits. This enables you to reach the 120 level 6 credits required for the BSc to be awarded.
Course structure
Double Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework
Keele is one of only 15 broad-based universities in England - out of over 100 - to have been awarded Gold in both the 2017 and 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) exercises, demonstrating our consistent teaching excellence.
Additional opportunities
There are a range of additional opportunities for this course.
Please note that undertaking one may impact the availability of another.
Entry requirements
These are the typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If your qualifications aren't listed, please contact us to check if we can accept them. If you don't think you'll meet the stated requirements, you may be able to access this course via a Foundation Year.
Additional information
Entry requirements
- Current registration with a relevant regulatory body
- Working in practice where pathway specific care is delivered
- Hold a Diploma in Higher Education in a related subject or equivalent
- Recognition of Prior Learning considered
- International candidates should have an English Language qualification in written and spoken English. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) minimum 600 score or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 7 score.
- International candidates who meet residency/academic requirements of UK students but whose first language is not English will need to hold IELTS with an overall score of 7.
- Keele University currently accepts Tofel iBT tests that have been taken outside of the United Kingdom. All Tofel iBT tests will need to be taken no longer than two years prior to your start date at Keele and must be verifiable with ETS. If you have taken your Tofel iBT test in the UK please contact the admissions team for more information.
English language requirements
All our courses require an English language qualification or test. Most students meet this through a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please visit our English Language pages for details, including test information for international students. For students who require a test, this course requires a result from .
Alternative and contextual offers
We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. We offer alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying in the Keele region, and recognition of a range of additional qualifications.
General information
The entry grades outlined indicate the typical offer, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary conditions based upon a candidate's application. For international students, find out how we work with approved agents as part of our admissions process.
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Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2027/28 2026/27 academic year
- The tuition fee for UK Home students starting in 2027/282026/27 is set by the UK Government and will be £10,050£9,790.
- International:
International fees for 2027/28 entry have not yet been confirmed. We review all tuition fees annually and will update this page once they are finalised.
In subsequent years of your course, UK Home fees may change in line with government policy or legislative requirements. For continuing international students, fees will increase each year in line with RPI, capped at a maximum of 5% per year.
For details of our international fee bands visit our Undergraduate tuition fees page.
For 2026/27 entry, fees are as follows:
Home (UK)
- £1,100 per 15 credit module
- £2,200 per 30 credit module
Note: There are exceptional module fees for NUR-30171 Independent Professional Practice Development (30 level 6 credits), which is charged at £1900, and NUR-30239 Independent Professional Practice Development (15 level 6 credits), which is charged at £950.
International
- £1,100 per 15 credit module
- £2,200 per 30 credit module
Financial support
Going to university can be daunting as well as exciting. It's important to understand the costs and financial support available.
Our Student Financial Support team offers confidential advice and guidance to help you manage your money, resolve issues with Student Finance, create a budget, explore your options if you're facing financial hardship, and access any funding you are eligible for, such as bursaries and scholarships.
For more information visit our undergraduate fees and funding pages.
Additional costs
The additional costs listed below apply to the 2026/27 academic year. Costs for 2027/28 entry will be confirmed closer to the time, so the information below should be used as a guide only.
There are no additional costs for this course. However, students may incur general expenses related to university study, such as for printing, textbooks and other materials. Students who undertake a placement may be responsible for additional costs, such as travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs. For further information, please refer to the additional costs information.
Your future career
Previous Nursing Studies graduates have gone on to pursue specialist and advanced practice roles or continued their studies on other programmes.
Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.
Teaching, learning and assessment
The International Pathway has been developed and is delivered as distance learning only to support our non-UK based students to achieve BSc (hons) Nursing Studies.
We use various learning and teaching methods in recognition of the varied nature of nursing studies. The course is delivered through a range of blended learning approaches including online synchronous and asynchronous teaching. The Keele Virtual Learning Environment (KLE) supports and complements this approach which reduces the emphasis on traditional, classroom based learning.
Learning and teaching methods may also include:
- Lead lectures
- Tutor and student led tutorials
- Problem solving scenarios
- Case study presentations
- Small group work
- Experiential learning - where you will reflect and critically appraise your practice experiences
- Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE): you will participate in structured, simulated clinical scenarios to further enhance your existing skills.
- Independent study
Assessment
We utilise a variety of assessment methods on this programme which may include:
- Essays
- Reflective analysis/accounts
- Portfolios
- Presentations
- Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE)
- Clinical assessment of competence in practice
Successful completion of the course requires achievement of 120 credits at Level 6 for BSc (Hons).
Student life at Keele is vibrant, diverse, and packed with opportunities to make the most of your time at university.
We help students manage their money and ensure that they receive any funding for which they may be eligible.
Make yourself more employable after graduation by taking advantage of the whole host of additional opportunities.
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