BSc (Hons) Nursing

We’re delighted to partner with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) to offer an alternative route for those wishing to pursue a career in nursing leading to registration as an adult or children and young people nurse. 

This innovative pre-registration nursing degree programme is a blended programme whereby theory is delivered online, and students undertake practice placements in Oxford and Banbury. To be eligible for the programme students must be able to commute to these locations.

How you’ll learn

The course will take approximately three years to complete.

  • You’ll be registered as an Open University (OU) student, and for your practice learning and clinical placement experiences you will be linked with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH).
  • Theory modules are taught via online learning by the OU. You’ll have a dedicated tutor for each module, who is a registered nurse. 
  • Practical training is delivered in OUH hospitals across Oxford and Banbury. 
  • You’ll be working with nursing staff in clinical settings for your practical experience.
  • Practical training and placements are delivered in three blocks each year, and last seven or eight weeks, with students working up to 37.5 hours per week.
To find out more about the OU’s online learning visit our website and to find out more about the practical training and placements visit the OUH website.

Who can apply?

  • You must be resident in England.
  • You must be 18 years of age, or older.
  • You don’t need to be working in a healthcare role, but you must have relevant experience.
  • Applicants must be within daily commuting distance of Oxford and Banbury and are likely to live in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, South Warwickshire and South Northamptonshire.
  • Applicants must confirm that they live within commuting distance to Oxford or Banbury and can commit to travel to placements with local healthcare providers. 
  • You must have literacy and numeracy skills to functional skills level 2, or equivalent. For more information see the Nursing entry qualifications policy.
  • You must be able to demonstrate good character and health as described on the NMC website, and complete a satisfactory disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

Places are awarded following successful completion of an interview and assessment of personal values, matched to the requirements for sensitive nursing practices as defined by The NHS Constitution.

What you'll study

Each stage of the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult)/BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children and Young People) totals 120 credits, made up of one 60-credit theory module delivered by the OU and one 60-credit practice-based module delivered by OUH.

Stage 1

  • Introducing health and social care
  • Introduction to healthcare practice.

Stage 2

  • Understanding nursing: knowledge and theory
  • Developing nursing practice.

Stage 3

  • Assimilating nursing: knowledge and theory
  • Becoming an autonomous practitioner: adult/Becoming an autonomous practitioner: children and young people
You can find out more about these courses on our website.

How to apply

Applications for our blended nursing programme are currently closed,  if you meet the entry requirements and would like to register your interest for our February 2026 course please complete this form. We will get in touch with you after 14 July, so please keep an eye out for our email. There is no need to contact us before then, as the course is not open for registration yet.

Fees and funding

Fees are paid on a module-by-module basis – you won't have to pay for the whole of your qualification up front. At current prices, the total cost of your qualification would be £27,750*. 

A wide range of flexible payment and funding options are available. You may also be eligible to receive an NHS Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year. See the NHS careers website for more information.

You can find out more about the funding options open to you in this guidance information. If you'd like to speak to someone about this programme please contact us on 0300 303 5303.

*The fees and funding information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2024. Fees normally increase annually.

Note about COVID-19 vaccinations

You are not required (either by law or by The Open University) to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to join the Nursing programme. However, please be aware that, if you choose to remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 (or are medically exempt from such vaccination):

  • we would need to carry out a Risk Assessment as part of the process of your admission to the programme. 
  • not being vaccinated against COVID-19 might decrease some of the placement experiences available to you, due to the potential risk to both you and the patients of your not being vaccinated.

All healthcare students, as future professionals, have a responsibility to protect patients, service users, colleagues, their family, and themselves by getting vaccinated.