Swansea University

What you'll study

The top-up programme builds on existing practice-focused learning to develop critical, evidence-based adult nursing skills at honours level. Core study areas emphasise advanced clinical decision-making, holistic care for people with acute and long-term conditions, professional leadership and the application of research to practice.

• Advanced assessment, clinical decision-making and skills — consolidation of physical assessment, clinical reasoning and intervention for adult patients across care settings.
• Pathophysiology, pharmacology and therapeutics — applied biological sciences underpinning safe medication management and condition-specific care.
• Long-term conditions and complex care — management of frailty, multimorbidity, palliative and chronic disease care in acute, community and primary-care contexts.
• Evidence-based practice and research methods — critical appraisal, practice evaluation and a small-scale research/project (dissertation) linking evidence to clinical improvement.
• Leadership, professional practice and quality improvement — preparation for supervisory roles, service improvement and safe practice within multidisciplinary teams.
• Public health and community nursing — prevention, health promotion and working with diverse populations and care pathways outside the hospital setting.
• Practice consolidation — protected practice learning opportunities to demonstrate achievement of honours-level competencies; assessment in clinical settings with mentorship and workplace-based assessment.

The programme is commonly delivered as a top-up year to convert prior higher national or foundation-level study into a full honours degree, with options for part-time study where available. Teaching blends lectures, seminars, simulation-based learning and supervised clinical practice.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a relevant Foundation Degree, HND or Diploma in Higher Education in a health or nursing-related subject, or equivalent prior learning, with evidence of achievement at the appropriate level. Demonstrable recent clinical practice experience in adult nursing and a record of professional development are required.

• Professional checks — satisfactory occupational health clearance and an enhanced DBS (or local equivalent) are required for practice placements.
• English language — applicants for whom English is not a first language will need to meet the university's English language requirements.
• Admissions process — selection typically includes academic transcript review and may include interview or professional reference checks to confirm suitability for clinical practice.

Career prospects

Graduates use the honours degree to progress their nursing careers and to access a wider range of clinical and leadership roles. Typical career destinations include:

• Staff nurse and senior staff nurse roles in hospital acute and specialist wards
• Community and district nursing, including case management and advanced community practice
• Clinical specialist or practice educator roles following additional experience or postgraduate study
• Leadership, quality improvement and service development positions within NHS and independent sector providers
• Further study at postgraduate level (eg MSc, specialist practitioner training or advanced clinical practice pathways) leading to advanced practitioner or consultant roles

Why study at Swansea University

Swansea University's health programmes are delivered by the School of Health and Social Care in partnership with local NHS providers, offering integrated academic and practice learning. Students benefit from strong clinical links across acute and community services in Wales, contemporary simulation and clinical skills facilities, and a teaching team comprised of experienced academics and practising clinicians.

The university provides structured student support for practice placement coordination, academic tutoring and career development, alongside opportunities to engage in applied research and quality-improvement projects within local health services.