Undergraduate Degrees

MSci Nursing (Adult or combined Adult and Mental Health)

Please note: This page is for 2027 entry. Click here for 2026 entry.

UCAS code B700
Duration 4 years
Entry year 2027
Campus St Luke's Campus
Typical offer

View full entry requirements

A-Level: BBB
IB: 30/555
BTEC: DDM

Contextual offers

A-Level: BCC
IB: 28/554
BTEC: DMM

Why study MSci Nursing (Adult or combined Adult and Mental Health) at Exeter?

  • Harness your passion for helping people and gain the expertise you need for a rewarding career in nursing
  • Receive a non-repayable maintenance grant between £5,000-8,000 per year through the NHS Learning Support Fund, plus additional financial support for placement travel and dual accommodation costs*
  • Enjoy a wide range of career options and gain access to fast-track careers within the NHS and beyond
  • Experience a multi-disciplinary approach, learning alongside other disciplines and in clinical placements as you develop your leadership, problem-solving and communication skills
  • Options to graduate in Adult Nursing or achieve a dual qualification as an Adult Nurse and Mental Health Nurse

*Limited to UK applicants eligible for support from the Student Loans Company

View 2026 Entry

Request a prospectus

Open Days

How to apply

Contact

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

MSci Nursing student Jennie talks about studying for her degree and student life at Exeter.

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11th in the UK for Nursing and Midwifery

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Develop practical skills in simulation environments and in a range of care contexts

including elective placement opportunities in the UK and overseas

Number One icon

First for student satisfaction with mental wellbeing services

The Academy of Nursing is 1st for student satisfaction with Mental Wellbeing Services (National Student Survey 2025)

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Top 150 in the world for Nursing

QS World University Subject Rankings 2026

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Graduates from this course are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and gain employment as a registered nurse in health provider organisations such as NHS Trusts.

Entry requirements (typical offer)

Qualification Typical offer Required subjects
A-Level BBB n/a
IB 30/555 n/a
BTEC DDM n/a
GCSE C or 4 GCSE Maths and English Language at grade C or 4, or above.

Applicants who have achieved GCSE Maths one grade below the specified requirement will be considered. These applicants may be invited to complete the Maths Transition Course and receive a conditional offer on the basis of successful course completion.
Access to HE 24 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade N/A
T-Level Merit grade overall T-levels in Health or Healthcare Science only
Contextual Offer

A-Level: BCC
IB: 28/554
BTEC: DMM

Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers.

Other accepted qualifications

View other accepted qualifications

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile F. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

NB General Studies is not included in any offer.

Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply

Please see the MSci Nursing Admissions Process Policy‌ for full details on our admissions selection process.  

Will there be an interview?

All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview between January and March.

The interview will be in the multiple mini interview format. This will consist of three stations which will assess your suitability for our programme.

Where an in-person interview takes place, you’ll also be able to take a campus tour. For virtual interviews please visit our virtual tours.

All applications are considered on an individual basis and we’ll make offers shortly after an interview has taken place. A place on the programme will not be offered to those who do not attend an interview.

Are there any non-academic requirements? 

All successful applicants after interview will be required to complete a health questionnaire and those accepting an offer will be screened by our Occupational Health Department. 

You may be required to attend a medical examination as part of the admissions process. You will be required to have up to date vaccination records for relevant inoculations in line with University requirements and those of your placement providers.

We require all nursing students to be immunised against certain infectious diseases to meet health and safety standards required to work with patients. We will require students to provide evidence of two MMR jabs, and in addition undergo tests to determine their Hepatitis B surface antigen, TB and HIV status.

Enrolled nursing students will be unable to undertake their studies without evidence of completion of the vaccination process.

As you may be working with vulnerable people in a variety of clinical settings throughout the degree programme, all offers are conditional upon a Criminal Conviction Self Declaration and an enhanced disclosure check via the Disclosure & Barring Service (formerly the Criminal Records Bureau). We will review all significant reports of convictions, cautions and verbal warnings and decide on a candidate’s suitability to enter the programme.

All successful applicants will be required to sign the appropriate student agreement.

Read more

“Starting my course I felt at home really quickly. They don’t throw you in the deep end, they ease you into it which is nice. A lot of work got put into this course – the teachers want to teach us how to become nurses, how they wanted to be taught themselves. I was pretty impressed by that. I was instantly hooked into Exeter as well, as a place, I love it.”

Harry

studying MSci Nursing

Harry

Course content

Our MSci Nursing programme is a four-year course leading to eligibility for registration as an Adult nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), with the option to achieve a dual registration in Adult and Mental Health nursing.

Develop nursing skills for the future

Nurses play a vital role in healthcare. As healthcare is changing in the UK and around the world, the role of nurses is changing too. Nurses are occupying more and more senior positions across the healthcare sector – in management, policy-making, research and education. Nurses are also at the heart of patient care everywhere, from ultra-modern super hospitals, to caring for the vulnerable at home, to providing critical support in refugee camps or countries affected by the consequences of climate change.

Our aim is for Exeter Nurses to be outstanding in all areas of nursing, and health and social care more widely. The University of Exeter is committed to developing the future of nursing, and our vision is reflected in the structure and content of our pioneering programme.

Become an exceptional Exeter Nurse

The programme is structured around Exeter’s unique ‘seven pillars’ of nursing:

  1. Patient and public involvement;
  2. Fundamental essentials of nursing care;
  3. Evidence for practice;
  4. No health without mental health;
  5. Leadership and management of healthcare;
  6. Global health;
  7. Ethics and professionalism. 

After graduation you’ll be able to start your journey anywhere as a highly professional nurse capable of leading exceptional, comprehensive, person-centred and evidence-based care in a true partnership with the people you are caring for.

Modules

You may notice changes to some of our modules over the coming months. This is because we are making space for the following:

  • Minors: Future Skills Pathways - Alongside your main degree you may be eligible (depending on your course) to choose modules from another subject to broaden your skills and interests.
  • Skills to Thrive built into every degree - Essential skills for your future, including communication, problem-solving, teamwork and digital confidence.
  • Increased innovation and wellbeing - More room for creative learning, real-world projects and a healthier study rhythm.

The modules below provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.

The first year of your MSci is an exciting introduction to the world of modern nursing. You will study and get hands-on experience across Our Pillars of Learningdeveloping the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that will be the foundation for the rest of your working life as a registered nurse.  

120 credits of compulsory, non-condonable modules.

Compulsory modules

CodeModuleCredits
Compulsory 1
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology15
Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice15
Nursing Theory into Practice 130
Simulated Practice Learning 115
Clinical Immersion 145

NUR1001: Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology

This module aims to introduce you to the structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) of the major systems of the human body and support you in understanding how anatomical and physiological knowledge can be applied in nursing and healthcare.

This module aims to prepare you with a robust understanding of human development across the life span. It will further support you in understanding the relationship between anatomical structures and their specific role and facilitate the learning in common clinical conditions that affect normal anatomy and physiology, enabling you to understand deviations from normal structure and functions.

Within this module you will continue to work across the seven pillars of nursing; patient and public involvement, fundamental essentials of nursing care, evidence for practice, no health without mental health, leadership and management of healthcare, global health and ethics and professionalism.

Academy of Nursing | Health and Care Professions | University of Exeter

Further to this you will continue to demonstrate proficiency against the NMC standards of education ( https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/education-standards/future-nurse-proficiencies.pdf )

View an example full module specification

NUR1002: Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice

The module introduces you to the importance and meaning of 'evidence' for informing your nursing practice. You will be supported in developing problem-solving and reasoning skills to guide you in finding, reading and applying relevant evidence for best care practices. Through the support in developing these skills, you will also be able to shape the module based on your own learning and how you perceive the module may evolve to more closely meet your needs.

Through undertaking this module, you will develop skills and understanding to find, read and critically evaluate what can be discerned as useful evidence to inform quality nursing care. As a result, the module aims for you to begin understanding the importance of becoming an evidence-based practitioner. You will integrate Exeter's seven pillars of nursing with your theoretical and practical knowledge of nursing science in to explore evidence and learn how to manage uncertainty in nursing knowledge and practice, as indicated below:

Within this module you will continue to work across the seven pillars of nursing; patient and public involvement, fundamental essentials of nursing care, evidence for practice; no health without mental health, leadership and management of healthcare, global health and ethics and professionalism.

View an example full module specification

NUR1003: Nursing Theory into Practice 1

Module Overview

This module introduces you to nursing practice and education. You will explore theories and models of nursing, while learning about situations likely seen in practice to prepare you for clinical placements, including how to support your own health and wellbeing as a healthcare professional. Biopsychosocial, philosophical, and sociological theories informing how we understand health and mental health will be investigated, alongside care practices linked to these theories. The aim is for you to develop knowledge that is adaptable to patient needs, and the needs of their significant others, such as carers and family members.

Module Aims

This module offers an exciting introduction to the world of modern nursing and will develop your skills, attitudes and behaviours which underpin the rest of your professional life as a nurse.

The overall aim is to introduce the core concepts of nursing and will work to build links across the other modules of this year. This will occur across numerous exciting learning and teaching opportunities including lectures, seminars, small group work and clinical skills.

View an example full module specification

NUR1004: Simulated Practice Learning 1

This simulation module will help you to develop essential clinical skills, clinical judgment, and professional confidence. Using a blend of immersive modalities—including drama, role-play, high-fidelity simulation, and virtual reality—you'll encounter realistic clinical scenarios that mirror diverse healthcare settings and will create opportunities for reflection and learning. These experiential learning opportunities will allow you to practice patient interactions, decision-making, and teamwork in a safe, supportive learning environment. By engaging deeply with these simulations, you will enhance your ability to think critically under pressure, improve your communication, and refine your clinical practice preparing you for real-world nursing challenges.

We pledge to deliver learning activities in line with ASPiH Standards ASPiH Standards 2023 ( Diaz-Navarro C, Laws-Chapman C, Moneypenny M, Purva M.

The ASPiH Standards - 2023: guiding simulation-based practice in health and care. Available from https://aspih.org.uk )

Within this module you will continue to work across the seven pillars of nursing; patient and public involvement, fundamental essentials of nursing care, evidence for practice; no health without mental health, leadership and management of healthcare, global health and ethics and professionalism

View an example full module specification

NUR1008: Clinical Immersion 1

This clinical immersion module provides opportunities for you to demonstrate achievement of specified NMC (2018) Standards of Proficiency for registered nurses as well as adherence to the Code (NMC, 2018).

Subject to the availability of clinical placements, your clinical immersion this year may incorporate both adult and mental health settings.

During the clinical immersion you will participate in the usual full-time working pattern for the service in which you are based, this could include shifts, weekends and nights.

Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors will support, assess and provide feedback and feed forward, recording your progress in your Practice Assessment Document (PAD) and Ongoing Achievement Record (OAR). All areas will meet educational learning audit requirements through the shared quality assurance framework - Educational Audit Process. Mandatory year one proficiencies are specified in your PAD and Ongoing Achievement Record (OAR).

View an example full module specification

Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.

120 credits of compulsory, non-condonable modules.

Compulsory modules

CodeModuleCredits
Compulsory 1
Nursing Theory into Practice 215
Evaluation, Improvement and Research Approaches in Nursing15
Simulated Practice Learning 215
Public, Population and Planetary Health30
Clinical Immersion 245

NUR2002: Nursing Theory into Practice 2

This module will explore disease processes and treatments associated with commonly occurring conditions. You will continue to develop your professional identity and explore clinical presentations supported with guidelines and best practice. Communication and advocacy will be a key focus of the module. You will consider health across the lifespan.

This module continues to develop your understanding of modern nursing and develop knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that will underpin your growing professionalism and competency as a nurse.

The module supports your academic and professional development as a nurse with its various forms of assessment: essays, reflection, case study and practical examinations which tap into and develop distinct transferable skills: academic writing, identifying and reviewing relevant literature; e-learning; IT proficiency and digital skills, extracting relevant content and summarising it, working as part of a group, communicating complex data to an audience in an accessible form and taking independent responsibility for your lifelong learning and professionalism.

You will develop and apply knowledge and skills in best practice, National guidelines and advocacy into your nursing practice and consider patient and wider network outcomes.

You will explore cultural competency, inclusivity and healthcare organisation and consider a range of communication tools and skills.

View an example full module specification

NUR2003: Evaluation, Improvement and Research Approaches in Nursing

This module will further develop your knowledge of different forms of evidence and further explore how your role within healthcare aligns with evidence-based practice - through combining research evidence, patient preferences, and clinical expertise to inform your nursing care. You will develop critical thinking skills in terms of understanding the value of different research methodologies for answering different research questions, and how to appraise the quality and relevance of different research methodologies to inform your nursing practice. This module also provides opportunities to consider patients’ quality of care as part of understanding quality improvement approaches, clinical audit and evaluating outcomes.

This module continues to develop your understanding of evidence-based practice and your knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that will underpin your growing professionalism and competency as an evidence-based practitioner. You will develop the skills to critically evaluate a range of research approaches to apply the most relevant and high-quality evidence with patients. This module also develops transferable skills: identifying, reading and interpreting sources of evidence; IT proficiency and digital skills; critiquing and summarising relevant data; communicating complex information; and taking independent responsibility for your lifelong learning and professionalism.

View an example full module specification

NUR2004: Simulated Practice Learning 2

This simulation module builds on Simulated Practice Learning 1 and it will help you to further develop essential clinical skills, clinical judgment, and professional confidence. Using a blend of immersive modalities—including high-fidelity simulation, task simulation, virtual reality and Simulated patient you'll encounter realistic clinical scenarios that mirror diverse healthcare settings and will create opportunities for reflection and learning. These experiential learning opportunities will allow you to practice patient interactions, decision-making, and teamwork in a safe, supportive learning environment. By engaging deeply with these simulations, you will enhance your ability to think critically under pressure, improve your communication, and refine your clinical practice preparing you for real-world nursing challenges.

We pledge to deliver learning activities in line with ASPiH Standards ASPiH Standards 2023 (Diaz-Navarro C, Laws-Chapman C, Moneypenny M, Purva M. The ASPiH Standards - 2023: guiding simulation-based practice in health and care. Available from https://aspih.org.uk)

Within this module you will continue to work across the seven pillars of nursing; patient and public involvement, fundamental essentials of nursing care, evidence for practice; no health without mental health, leadership and management of healthcare, global health and ethics and professionalism.

View an example full module specification

NUR2005: Public, Population and Planetary Health

This module will develop your understanding of public, population and planetary health. Aligning to Exeter’s seven pillars of nursing, this module will equip you with the knowledge, skills and experience to adopt a proactive approach in your nursing practice towards promoting health and preventing ill health. You will examine diverse perspectives that support your development as a global citizen through participation in an elective placement opportunity.

You will develop your understanding of the wider determinants of health, including socioeconomic, structural, commercial and environmental factors that influence global health outcomes. You will explore opportunities to promote health and prevent ill health within your nursing practice. You will develop your cultural competency by critically reflecting on diverse worldwide perspectives on health and wellbeing. You will have the opportunity to undertake an elective placement, either in the UK or abroad, which will enable comparison of healthcare systems and healthcare practices globally.

Within this module you will continue to work across the seven pillars of nursing; patient and public involvement, fundamental essentials of nursing care, evidence for practice; no health without mental health, leadership and management of healthcare, global health and ethics and professionalism

View an example full module specification

NUR2008: Clinical Immersion 2

In this module you further develop your clinical practice to demonstrate achievement of specified NMC (2018) Standards of proficiency for registered nurses and adherence to the Code (NMC, 2018). Your clinical immersion this year is split into three parts and, subject to the availability of clinical placements, your clinical immersion this year may incorporate both adult and mental health settings. During the clinical immersion you will participate in the usual working pattern for the service in which you are based, including shifts, weekends and nights.

Practice supervisors and practice assessors will support, assess and provide feedback and feed forward, recording your progress in your Practice Assessment Document (PAD) and Ongoing Achievement Record (OAR). All areas will meet educational learning audit requirements through the shared quality assurance framework - Educational Audit Process. Mandatory year two standards of proficiency are specified in your PAD and OAR.

The main objective of the module is that you will demonstrate increasing proficiency in planning, organising and delivering safe and effective nursing care.

You will adopt a proactive approach in your everyday nursing practice toward promoting health and preventing ill health.

You will demonstrate development of management and leadership skills in the provision of care in a range of clinical settings.

View an example full module specification

Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.

120 credits of compulsory, non-condonable modules.

You must choose either NUR3002 or NUR3010.

Compulsory modules

CodeModuleCredits
Compulsory 1
Simulated Practice Learning 315
Innovation in Nursing Leadership and Management15
Clinical Immersion 345
Developing Professional Identity: The Art and History of Nursing15
Compulsory Choice 2
Nursing Theory into Practice 3 (Adult)30
Nursing Theory into Practice 3 (Adult and Mental Health)30

NUR3003: Simulated Practice Learning 3

This simulation module builds on Simulated Practice 2 to consolidate your clinical skills, hone your clinical judgement, and further build your confidence to prepare you for practice as a Registered Nurse. Using a blend of immersive modalities—including drama, role-play, high-fidelity simulation, and virtual reality—you'll encounter realistic clinical scenarios that mirror diverse healthcare settings and will create opportunities for reflection and learning. These experiential learning opportunities will allow you to practice patient interactions, decision-making, and teamwork in a safe, supportive learning environment. By engaging deeply with these simulations, you will enhance your ability to think critically under pressure, improve your communication, and refine your clinical practice preparing you for real-world nursing challenges.

We pledge to deliver learning activities in line with ASPiH Standards ASPiH Standards 2023 ( Diaz-Navarro C, Laws-Chapman C, Moneypenny M, Purva M.

The ASPiH Standards - 2023: guiding simulation-based practice in health and care. Available from https://aspih.org.uk)

Within this module you will continue to work across the seven pillars of nursing; patient and public involvement, fundamental essentials of nursing care, evidence for practice; no health without mental health, leadership and management of healthcare, global health and ethics and professionalism

View an example full module specification

NUR3004: Innovation in Nursing Leadership and Management

In this module, you will build on your experiences as a leader in health and social care to hone critical understanding of the models and approaches that underpin effective management, leadership, coaching and mentorship. You will be equipped to tackle challenges in teams and organisations using compassionate, creative and reflective approaches that start with self-awareness of your own unique strengths and limitations as a leader and use this awareness to develop your own authentic leadership style linked to clinical practice. You will build upon learned quality improvement strategies and apply this to building a business case for service redesign.

The module aims to support your professional development as a leader of health and social care teams and organisations, and yourself.  Through the module you will develop critical insight into existing models of leaderships, with a particular focus on compassionate and creative leadership approaches, that centre relationships with and between the people you lead.  You will also enhance your communication skills to ensure effective interprofessional and interagency working in increasing integrated health and social care settings.

View an example full module specification

NUR3008: Clinical Immersion 3

This immersion focuses on your transition from student to registered nurse, culminating in achievement of the NMC’s (2018) Standards of proficiency for registered nurses and adherence to the Code (NMC, 2018) in the adult field.

Your transition themes include teaching, supervision, leading, clinical governance, and decision-making. You will advance your leadership skills, demonstrating the ability to respond to the challenges of providing and evaluating safe nursing care for people with complex co-morbidities and multiple care needs.

Practice supervisors and practice assessors will support, assess and provide feedback and feed forward, recording your progress in your Practice Assessment Document (PAD) and Ongoing Achievement Record (OAR). All areas will meet educational learning audit requirements through the shared quality assurance framework - Educational Audit Process.

View an example full module specification

NUR3009: Developing Professional Identity: The Art and History of Nursing

***This module is under development***

This module explores literary and creative arts and their relationship to medicine, nursing and health. The module will use existing mediums such as historical artefacts, literary text and chapter, poetry and visual arts. You will be taken through each of these liberal art mediums with examples and aspects to reflect upon, such as nursing leaders of the past, creative works developed by patients, family members and health care professionals. Further to this you will be asked to create your own works when reflecting on and learning from others’ creative works. For example, you may choose a poem to reflect upon and may then wish to create your own poetry or you may explore a historic nursing leader and then create an image of them in paint or collage to be included in an end of module exhibition. During this module you will be encouraged to develop new skills in observation, analysis and understanding of others’ perspectives with the aim of improving insight and empathy to provide truly holistic nursing care and supporting development of your professional identity as a nurse.

View an example full module specification

NUR3002: Nursing Theory into Practice 3 (Adult)

This module focuses on the delivery of dependent, interdependent and independent complex nursing care to individuals with a range of conditions. You will embody excellence in the fundamentals of nursing care as you develop further depth of understanding in helping adults manage a range of conditions, teaching others and in your overall professional development as a registered nurse.

,
  • You will demonstrate and embody excellence in nursing knowledge and care in complex situations.
  • Within this module you will continue to work across the seven pillars of nursing; patient and public involvement, fundamental essentials of nursing care, evidence for practice; no health without mental health, leadership and management of healthcare, global health and ethics and professionalism
  • Academy of Nursing | Health and Care Professions | University of Exeter
  • Further to this you will continue to demonstrate proficiency against the NMC standards of education (https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/education-standards/future-nurse-proficiencies.pdf)
  • You will become a proactive teacher of others.
  • You will apply theory to your practice to ensure patient safety.
  • You will critically evaluate and apply contemporary research findings which inform evidenced based clinical care.

View an example full module specification

NUR3010: Nursing Theory into Practice 3 (Adult and Mental Health)

This module is underpinned by NMC standards of proficiency, Exeter’s 7 Pillars of Nursing and by relevant evidence and discussions of values-based practice. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of: the role of the Mental Health Nurse in the 21st Century, the evidence base for recovery orientated practices, psychosocial interventions, assessment, communication, care planning, co-ordination, harm reduction, violence prevention, risk assessment and management, crisis care and carer support.

Module aims - intentions of the module:

View an example full module specification

Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.

90 credits of compulsory modules, 30 credits of optional modules.

You must choose either NURM119 or NURM120.

Compulsory modules

CodeModuleCredits
Compulsory 1
Clinical Academic Internship30
Clinical Immersion 415
Simulated Practice Learning 415
Compulsory Choice 2
Nursing Theory into Practice 4: Enhancing Clinical Judgement and Decision Making30
Nursing Theory into Practice 4: Using Evidence-Based Practice for Quality in Mental Health30

NURM115: Clinical Academic Internship

Your Clinical Academic Internship is a 30 credit compulsory module in the final year of your MSci Nursing programme (Single Registration Pathway). Internships may be available in academic or clinical departments but should have a nursing focus. You will identify an internship 'project' in conjunction with the host and your academic team. The module is designed to enable the supervised application of your enhanced knowledge and skills in clinical areas, research, education, leadership, management, and/or global health, in a professional working environment. It offers a flexible approach whereby you can focus on a specific area of nursing interest (e.g. acute care, community, primary care, palliative care).

The aim of this module is to enhance your skills, employability and career development. Your internship will be negotiated by you in an area where you may in the future wish to work as a registered nurse. The nursing team will support you in this process.

View an example full module specification

NURM116: Clinical Immersion 4

This immersion focuses on your transition from student to registered nurse. Your transition themes include applied management, leadership, teaching, supervision, clinical governance and decision-making. You will advance your leadership skills within the interdisciplinary team and will work as an equal partner to deliver safe nursing care for people with complex co-morbidities and multiple care needs. You will build on your existing clinical skills and will apply theoretical knowledge of mental health nursing and therapy to people with serious and enduring mental health problems. You will manage and lead the provision of safe, quality, recovery-orientated care for people with complex, comorbid health and social care needs within the mental health legal framework.

View an example full module specification

NURM117: Simulated Practice Learning 4

This simulation module builds on Simulated Practice Learning 3 to support your continued professional development and enhancement of your clinical skills, clinical judgement in complex healthcare scenarios, and confidence to practice autonomously in a range of hospital- and community-based health and social care settings.  Using a blend of immersive modalities—including drama, role-play, high-fidelity simulation, and virtual reality—you'll encounter realistic clinical scenarios that mirror diverse healthcare settings. These experiential learning opportunities will allow you to practice patient interactions, decision-making, and teamwork in a safe, supportive learning environment. By engaging deeply with these simulations, you will enhance your ability to think critically under pressure, improve your communication, and refine your clinical practice preparing you for real-world nursing challenges.

We pledge to deliver learning activities in line with ASPiH Standards ASPiH Standards 2023 ( Diaz-Navarro C, Laws-Chapman C, Moneypenny M, Purva M.

The ASPiH Standards - 2023: guiding simulation-based practice in health and care. Available from https://aspih.org.uk)

View an example full module specification

NURM119: Nursing Theory into Practice 4: Enhancing Clinical Judgement and Decision Making

This module is designed to enhance your knowledge and skills related to the care, assessment and management of the adults and older person. You will learn the assessment, diagnosis and management of the unwell adult or older person (critically or acutely ill, or who have long term conditions) with a specific focus on systems such as cardiovascular and respiratory, and relevant issues such as ageing, infection, wound healing, diabetes and long-term conditions. You will continue to work within Exeter’s seven pillars. Your module will explore epidemiology, policy, assessment, diagnostic management and evaluation of the adult person. You will also focus on the evidence for nursing and managing care.

The module aims for you to:

  • Enhance your adult nursing knowledge and skills of assessment and examination to support your clinical judgement and decision making
  • Use person-centred approaches to taking an individual’s detailed history and examine body systems to help you make a potential diagnosis.
  • Develop your understanding of epidemiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, policy, assessment, diagnostic management and evaluation of the adult person.

Academy of Nursing | Health and Care Professions | University of Exeter

View an example full module specification

NURM120: Nursing Theory into Practice 4: Using Evidence-Based Practice for Quality in Mental Health

This module will prepare you for mental health nurse registration caring for people who require specialist mental health care. Grounded in your adult nursing practice and your previous specialist mental health modules, underpinned by the NMC platforms, the NICE guidelines for severe mental health disorders and Exeter’s seven pillars of nursing, this module builds on your understanding and therapeutic skills for people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties. You will critically apply knowledge and skills in recovery orientated practices, evidence-based psychosocial interventions, communication, care planning, co-ordination, harm reduction, violence prevention, risk assessment and management, crisis care and supporting carers.

View an example full module specification

Optional modules

CodeModuleCredits
Optional 1
Care of the Older Adult15
Fundamentals of Research Design15
Education Essentials15
Principles of Advanced Clinical Practice30
Principles of Supervision, Mentoring and Coaching15
Child and Adolescent Mental Health15
Public Mental Health15
Integrative Talking Therapy for Mental Health15

HPDM065: Care of the Older Adult

Life expectancy has been steadily increasing. This has led to a population that is ageing. An ageing population has unique needs. This module will cover the relevant biopsychosocial factors of ageing and disease in this demographic group of patients. Knowledge and skills will be developed by reference to suitable learning material, learning activities and skills-based training. You will be encouraged to integrate your clinical experience into your learning.

This module is suitable for healthcare practitioners who wish to develop their skills in delivering holistic healthcare to the older adult patient.

By virtue of the physiology of ageing and the increasing chance of having multi-system disease, the ageing population may have complex needs. This module is intended to develop your knowledge of degenerative disease, their effects and management options. In addition, you will further your skills in thinking broadly, assessing patients holistically and considering the risks and benefits of interventions. You will be expected to consider the ethical and social issues relevant to this age group.

View an example full module specification

HPDM092: Fundamentals of Research Design

In this compulsory introductory module, you will critically examine and apply the core concepts and perspectives at the heart of applied health and care research, and the main methods and elements of study design that underpin this multidisciplinary and highly applied area of social science. It seeks balanced coverage of: quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods; a wide range of disciplinary perspectives; appreciation of the full range of health service and health policy goals (e.g. effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability, accessibility, equity, and understanding the perspectives of different stakeholders); and is based around the key study design choices which all applied social science studies face. It will also cover fundamental considerations in all high quality applied health research, such as: the role of theory; patient and public involvement; data processing and management, and research ethics.

View an example full module specification

HPDM105: Education Essentials

In this module we introduce you to the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes required of all healthcare professionals who educate - both in the workplace and in more formal situations such as lectures, tutorials and small groups. Through critical appraisal of learning theories and models of delivery, the module explores the practicalities of delivering high quality education in busy healthcare environments.

Teaching is a practical skill that uses complex ideas about how people learn. As a clinical educator, you will increasingly need to demonstrate appropriate knowledge and application of learning and skills in teaching.

In the module, you will explore how to apply educational theory and teaching models to develop your teaching and support learners in the workplace. Through observed teaching, and evaluation of a session that you deliver in your workplace, you will design an evidence-based action plan for improving your practice as a clinical educator.

Teaching observations, peer review, and other activities such as the microteaching you'll be expected to undertake as part of this module, provide evidence to draw upon should you decide to apply for professional recognition with Advance HE, the Academy of Medical Educators, or other relevant organisations.

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HPDM128: Principles of Advanced Clinical Practice

This module will develop your knowledge base and your understanding and appreciation of the impact of advanced practice on your own professional development and within the wider community. You will be able to critically evaluate your own practice and to reflect on the extended role of the advanced practitioner in the wider context of healthcare policy and provision. You will explore the four pillars of advanced practice, which in addition to your own clinical specialty will also encompass leadership and management, education and research and how these elements blend with your own profession and clinical role.

This module will allow you to gain an introduction to the 4 pillars of advanced practice. The learning and teaching will support you in the consideration of current legislation and in your understanding of relevant research and theory in the context of advanced practice. There will be opportunity for collaborative learning and engagement with other allied and health care professionals in a multidisciplinary setting.

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HPDM142: Principles of Supervision, Mentoring and Coaching

In this module you will explore the important part supervision, mentoring and coaching plays in the learning process. You will learn about Pendleton's Rules, Agenda Led, Outcomes-based Analysis (ALOBA), Set-Go and have the opportunity to put your feedback skills into practice.

Educators need to encourage all learners to improve and to identify those who need particular support and guidance. They also need feedback and opportunities to reflect on their own performance. This module will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to give effective feedback, supervise learners, identify learners in difficulty and explore this important aspect of your role as an educator based in a clinical/healthcare education setting. In a similar manner to other modules, there is an emphasis on developing both in-depth knowledge and practical experience.

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HPDM173: Child and Adolescent Mental Health

This module outlines key concepts and evidence relating to child and adolescent ('young people's') mental health, paying particular attention to approaches relevant to public health. You will gain an understanding of a range of mental health challenges in childhood and adolescence, including population trends over time and the impacts of both good and poor mental-health during development on lifecourse trajectories. We will cover key areas of focus relevant to child and adolescent mental health, including epidemiology, factors that put a young person at risk of mental ill-health, mentally healthy systems and communities, and public health approaches to supporting, preventing and treating mental health problems.

Delivery will be a combination of recorded lectures and focussed examples, with self-directed learning tasks, as well as synchronous sessions to problem solve and consolidate knowledge.

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HPDM174: Public Mental Health

This module will provide you with a focused introduction to public mental health, taking a population based approach to the understanding of mental health, including prevention of mental ill-health, promotion of good mental health and treatment of mental health disorders.

This module will cover key areas relevant to global public mental health, including what causes and maintains mental health problems, things that put individuals at risk for mental ill-health, specific mental health challenges or disorders relevant to public health, and approaches to prevention, promotion, intervention and treatment. We will cover key mental health challenges at different parts of the life course, how to create and maintain mental-health promoting systems and environments, and discuss future challenges and opportunities in public mental health.

Delivery will be a combination of recorded lectures and focused examples, with self-directed learning tasks, as well as synchronous sessions to problem solve and consolidate knowledge.

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NURM118: Integrative Talking Therapy for Mental Health

Integrated talking therapies combine different therapeutic approaches to create a tailored method for each patient who may be struggling with their mental health. It is underpinned by the view that no single approach is suitable for every patient in every situation, but communication contributes to helping the individual with their own personal recovery journey. Building on your previous learning about therapeutic relationships, you will have opportunity to learn about particular methods of providing talking therapies. This will encompass methods drawing on approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, solution focused therapy and trauma aware approaches. The module is an introduction and will not mean you will be a qualified therapist in integrated talking therapies. Nonetheless, the module aims to develop the ways you can communicate with a patient and this is to help the person with working towards reaching their full potential by developing self-awareness and managing their life challenges.

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“The MSci Nursing course is great! I would strongly recommend it to anyone wanting to get into nursing. It’s a 4-year course but that extra year at Exeter gets you an integrated Masters degree. The course is really well structured and the balance between practical and theory is brilliant.”

Yasmin

Studying MSci Nursing

Yasmin

Placements

Fifty per cent of your time will be spent in clinical practice. Placements are organised in blocks that range from seven to fourteen weeks.

We have a variety of placement opportunities for our students, at sites across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset. These can include NHS Trusts, community hospitals, community outreach teams, primary care settings, social care settings and voluntary healthcare settings. You will rotate around placement sites which could be based anywhere in the South West region.

There are a number of NHS Trusts we work closely with in the region where you may spend some of your time on placement:

We believe it is vital for our students to understand the whole patient journey and we ensure that students attend a variety of different settings throughout the region, to experience a broad variety of patient care settings. One of the requirements of the NMC is an understanding of the whole patient journey. With this in mind, you will have placements in primary care, social care and independent healthcare organisations and charities to support your learning. The South West is a rural area and students will need to travel to placement sites to undertake their placements.

We use a variety of innovative placement models to support your learning throughout the programme. During your placements there will be opportunities for you to do ‘spoke’ placement within the Trust you are working in, as well as spoke out to local GP practices, care homes and learning disability settings to enrich your clinical experience. You will also have the opportunity to undertake a three-week elective practice learning experience, in the UK or abroad. We support you fully throughout your placement and have a dedicated placements team to guide you.

Years 1 and 2

Placements are organised in blocks that range from seven to fourteen weeks. By the end of year one you will have had exposure to mental health and one of our NHS Trusts. By the end of year two you will have had exposure to mental health, either primary care or social care and a community placement with one of our NHS Trusts.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake a three-week elective practice learning experience in year 2, in the UK or abroad.

Years 3 and 4

Placements in the third and fourth year differ depending on your chosen pathway: Single Award in Adult Nursing or Dual Award in Adult and Mental Health Nursing.

Students following the Dual Award pathway have two placements in the third and fourth years: one will be in mental health and one will be either in an acute Trust or in the Private, Voluntary, and Independent (PVI) sector.  

Students following the Single Award pathway will have two placements in the third year and one placement in the fourth year: in an acute Trust, Primary Care or in the PVI sector. 

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Fees

Tuition fees for 2026 entry

UK students: £9,790 per year
International students: £31,200 per year

NHS Learning Support Fund

Through the NHS Learning Support Fund, students starting or continuing study on a range of Nursing and Allied Health degrees at undergraduate or postgraduate level can apply for a Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year.

Potential extra payments worth up to £3,000 per academic year will be available for eligible students. This includes £1000 for those studying in an area of shortage specialism, including radiography (diagnostic and therapeutic) and mental health nursing. Find out more and how to apply on the NHS Learning Support Fund website.

The Schwab and Westheimer Trust - Westheimer Scholarship

The Schwab and Westheimer Trust was established to assist young refugees and asylum seekers in accessing education, especially where there are no adequate alternative sources of funding. For more information, including eligibility criteria, please visit the Westheimer Scholarship website.

Scholarships

The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships*. We also provide scholarships for sport, music and other achievements, alongside regional and partner awards such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. Financial support is available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.

* Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply. See our website for details.

Find out more about tuition fees and scholarships

Learning and teaching

We have designed this unique programme to include a wide range of teaching, learning and assessment methods. We use the best techniques, to create the best nurses.

You will learn through a varied and challenging programme of lectures, workshops, seminars, small group teaching and learning in both simulated and real clinical environments.

We will give you plenty of opportunity to practise your knowledge and skills, as you work closely with professionals in the Clinical Skills Resource Centre and our purpose built simulated ward. You will be supported by practice supervisors in your clinical practice.

Assessment

You are assessed at Exeter via Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, essays, case studies, examinations and in clinical practice settings.

Clinical practice is assessed using a range of proficiencies which will be detailed in a Practice Assessment Document. These proficiencies are prescribed by the NMC and form the basis of discussion and assessment during each clinical practice placement. The proficiencies and related learning activities represent the range of nursing skills that you are expected to observe, acquire and develop during each year of the programme (although we cannot assess the proficiencies while you are on elective).

Overall, we are committed to giving every student the opportunity:

  • to get the maximum benefit from this programme
  • to understand what a career in nursing will involve and the wide range of exciting opportunities it can offer you.
  • to be equipped and ready for that, and modern professional nursing, and
  • to shine and be valued as a unique individual. 

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Your future

After you graduate, you’ll be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and thereby gain employment as a registered nurse in health provider organisations such as NHS Trusts.

A nursing degree is a passport to an interesting job and a fulfilling career. As an Exeter Nurse you will be equipped for a fast-track career in nursing with rapid promotions to senior clinical, leadership, education and research roles.

Below are some of the advanced roles you may be eligible for, as suggested by our NHS Directors of Nursing partners.

 

Role  Role description Additional training required MSci Nursing graduates
Typical time to initial appointment
BSc Nursing graduates 
Typical time to initial appointment 
Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP)

Trainee ANP with 2 year fast track competence development. 3rd year prescribing.

Placement in clinical area in Year 4 of MSci Nursing

2 years with 3 to full competence

Min 5 years 

Nurse consultant

High level clinical role in multiple specialisms following on from ANP.

MSc/PhD and specialist clinical training

5-7 years

6-8 years

Clinical Academic

Research, clinical practice, education, University leadership

Teaching qualification, or PhD for research roles.

3 years 

Min 5 years 

Management role

Research, clinical practice, education, University leadership

Additional leadership programme

2 years

Min 3 years

‘Portfolio’ roles including coaching, supervision, quality
improvement

Quality Improvement Practitioner [QIP].

Placement with QI Academy and Safety & Risk team learning QI methodology in Year 4 of MSci Nursing.

Immediate

Not available – some medics

Approved/responsible clinician in mental health

Taking overall clinical accountability for a ward or specialist community team.

MSc/PhD.
Non-medical Prescribing.
Portfolio training and Royal College of Psychiatry Assessment

6-9 years

7-10 years

Chief Nurse Fellow

Allocated time to undertake work based research working to the Chief Nurse

Placement with heavy focus on research methods in Year 4 of MSci Nursing

Immediate

n/a

 

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