Course summary
Reasons to choose Kingston – Kingston University is top in London for Nursing and Midwifery (The Complete University Guide 2026) and Top University in London for General Nursing (The Guardian University Guide 2026). – Our expert academics are involved in research and shaping the future of learning disabilities nursing nationally and our nursing students have been finalists in the Student Nursing Times Awards from 2012 to 2022, with Jessica Ball winning Student Nurse of the Year: Learning Disabilities in 2022. – You will work directly with individuals with learning disabilities, their family/carers, as well as actors with learning disabilities from the Baked Bean Theatre Company, in our simulation suite. About this postgraduate pre-registration course If you’re looking to make a positive difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities, and already have an undergraduate degree and experience in health and social care, this Masters course is for you. You’ll become a registered learning disabilities nurse in two years. This course prepares you for a career in person-centred professional practice across a variety of health and social care settings. You will learn how to enable design and evaluation of care for people with learning disabilities and their families. You will be challenged to develop skills in gathering, analysing and synthesising evidence to ensure health inequalities and social isolation are confronted and resolved. You’ll study the factors that affect people’s health and wellbeing, the health inequalities in our society and how we can improve health outcomes for people with a learning disability and autistic spectrum conditions (ASC). You’ll explore the management of complex conditions across the lifespan, from children to the older person and those with dementia, or other mental or physical health needs. Through simulations, and on placement, you’ll work collaboratively with service users. Placement providers include South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust, Surrey and Borders Partnership Trust, Great Ormond Street, The Children’s Trust, and The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. This course is designed for a small cohort of students, where you'll benefit from individual learning and support. You will be taught by our dynamic teaching team which includes leading researchers and experts in learning disability nursing from practice and the Department of Health. How to apply You can apply for this MSc course through UCAS Undergraduate Course code B764 Institution code K84
Modules
Example modules: Foundations of Life Sciences for Graduates; Introduction to Professional Practice; Assessment and Care Process in Learning and Disability Nursing. For a full list of modules please visit the Kingston University course webpage.
Assessment method
Assessment methods include; essays, exams, presentations and reports and clinical skills assessed in our simulation suites and by practice supervisors and practice assessors in practice placements.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
Entry requirements
A health- or science-related degree is preferred at 2.2 or above, completed in the last five years. Health- and science-related degrees could include health studies, psychology, physiology, biology, social sciences, or related studies. A minimum of 650 hours of health or social care related experience undertaken in the 12 months prior to your application. Applicants will be asked to complete an RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) claim form to demonstrate this experience. This, along with a testimony, is a condition for entry to the programme. You must have at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above (or grade C or above for GCSEs taken before 2017), including English language and maths (and a science subject is preferred), or equivalent qualifications, together with evidence of academic study, ideally within the last five years. Please visit the provider course webpage for further information
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Tuition fees for UK and international students will shortly be confirmed, please check back at the end of October.
Provider information
Kingston University
River House
53-57 High Street
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1LQ