Degree of Bachelor of Nursing

RESOLUTION

The Degree of Bachelor of Nursing is governed by Resolutions of the University Court. The provisions of Resolution No. 582 supporting the Generic Undergraduate Regulations, which came into effect on 1 September 2008, as subsequently amended, are set out with those Regulations. The provisions of Resolution No. 628, which came into effect on 1 September 2010, as subsequently amended, are as follows:

1.    The Degree of Bachelor of Nursing (BN) may be awarded by the Senate of the University of Glasgow in the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences (the College) as an Ordinary Degree and as a Degree with Honours in such designations as may be prescribed by Regulations.

2.    The award of the Degree shall be governed by Resolution No. 582 - “Generic Regulations for the award of Degrees gained by the successful completion of Undergraduate Programmes”, which came into effect on and from 1 September 2008 together with such Supplementary Regulations as are contained in this Resolution No. 604 - “Degree of Bachelor of Nursing”. The Supplementary Regulations are set out in the Schedule of Regulations attached to this Resolution.

3.    The early exit awards of Certificate of Higher Education, Diploma in Health Studies and Bachelor of Health Studies (Ordinary Degree) are included in the Regulations.

REGULATIONS

1.     Recognition of Prior Learning

A candidate who has attended and passed the examinations, assignments and clinical requirements of the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) in another institution of higher education approved by the University Court on the recommendation of the Senate may be allowed to count such attendance as qualifying towards the Degree provided that the Senate is satisfied that the content and standard of any course or examination to be recognised is equivalent to a corresponding course or examination prescribed for the Degree.

2.     Maximum Period of Study

The programme of study for the Degree shall extend to not more than five academic sessions of full-time study.  Students who temporarily withdraw from the programme must complete the full programme within five years from the date of commencement, irrespective of interruptions.

3.     Progress

Generic Undergraduate Regulations §10 and §11 apply with the following additional requirements:   

3.1   A candidate may not proceed to the next academic year of the curriculum until they have:

a)   Obtained a grade D or better in the courses and summative assessments of the previous year after two attempts.

b)   Achieved clinical outcomes/competencies appropriate to the previous year of study. At the end of the academic year the candidate is required to have achieved 100% of the learning outcomes required for progression by the NMC for entry to the following year of study. On completion of clinical consolidation candidates should have achieved all competencies required for professional registration as determined by the NMC.

c)   Met the attendance requirements in §6.3.

3.2   A candidate who has failed any part of a diet must present for re-examination on the first occasion for which they are eligible. The grade awarded as a result of the resit examination shall be no higher than grade D3 (D in clinical).

3.3   A candidate who has failed to achieve a grade D or better in a Degree examination/assignment in any subject after two attempts will not be readmitted to that examination/assignment until any conditions of further study which the College may prescribe have been fulfilled.

3.4   A candidate who has failed to achieve grade D or better in any subject after two attempts will be considered by the School Progress Committee.

3.5   The School Progress Committee shall have the authority to rule on issues of progress, including the authority to set aside the regulations governing exclusion and to permit a candidate to repeat a course including a further two attempts at the associated assessments.

3.6   For the purposes of all assessments and degree examinations §16.44 and §16.52 of the Code of Assessment for Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes do not apply to Honours candidates. For such candidates 100% submission of all assessments and degree examinations is normally required.

3.7    Exclusion of Candidates

A candidate will normally be excluded:

a)   if the candidate does not comply with the attendance requirements stated in the Course and Programme Handbooks.

b)   if the candidate’s conduct is considered to warrant exclusion following referral under the Fitness to Practise procedure (as identified in the Code of Professional Conduct for BN students).

c)   if the candidate fails to achieve a minimum of grade D in all Degree examinations and assignments of any year after two attempts (with the exception of BN3H and BN4H students, where only one attempt is permitted); if the candidate will be unable to sit their Final Year examinations or complete the required final year summative assignments within five academic sessions of commencing the programme; or if the candidate fails to meet the statutory requirements of each year of the Programme in Nursing.

3.8   A candidate with outstanding tuition fees from the previous session will not be permitted to register and attend classes in the following session until the outstanding fees are paid. In addition, a candidate who has not satisfactorily completed any of the following will not be permitted to register and attend classes in the following session until such time as they have been satisfactorily completed:

a)   criminal records check,

b)   health screening,

c)   Hep B immunization.

3.9    Progress to Honours

The requirements referred to in Generic Undergraduate Regulation §15.1d are that a candidate must normally have attained, at the first attempt, a grade C or better in Nursing and Health Studies, have attained a grade D or better in all second year Degree examinations/summative assignments and have attained a grade D or better in clinical performance.

3.10 Progress within Honours

Year 3 Junior Honours candidates must normally have attained, at the first attempt, a grade C or better in Nursing, have attained a grade D or better in all third year Degree examinations/ summative assignments and have attained a grade D or better in clinical performance in order to progress to Year 4.

Any candidate who does not meet these criteria will be excluded from the Honours Programme and may be eligible for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of Nursing upon satisfactory completion of all necessary requirements.

4.     Courses Available to Candidates

The list of recognised qualifying courses may be found in the programme specification.  

5.     Programme Requirements for the Award of the Degree

5.1    Bachelor of Nursing (Ordinary Degree)

In addition to meeting the requirements of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §14 the candidate must have achieved grade D or better in all courses of Years 1-3 of the Bachelor of Nursing Degree Programme, including all clinical practice components of Years 1-3 and the 12-week period of clinical consolidation as required by the NMC.

5.2    Bachelor of Nursing (Honours Degree)

In addition to meeting the requirements of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §16 a candidate must have achieved:

a)   grade D or better in all courses of Year 1;

b)   grade C or better in Nursing and Health Studies and grade D or better in all courses of Year 2;

c)   grade C or better in Nursing and grade D or better, at the first attempt, in all other Junior and Senior Honours courses of the Bachelor of Nursing Programme;

d)   grade D or better in all  clinical practice components of Years 1 and 2 and of the Junior Honours years of the Bachelor of Nursing Degree Programme;

e)   grade D or better in a 12-week period of clinical consolidation as required by the NMC.

The calculation of the final classification is based on weightings from Years 3 and 4 of 30:70.

5.3   A candidate who withdraws from Year 4 of the course before completing the Honours examinations/summative assignments may be eligible for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of Nursing on achieving grade D or better on completion of a 12-week period of clinical consolidation.

6.     Other Information on Awards

6.1   For eligibility for entry to the Professional Register a candidate must have completed 4,600 hours of study (2,300 theoretical; 2,300 clinical (including a 12-week period of clinical consolidation)) and must have achieved all the NMC competencies by the end of the final year of study.

6.2   A candidate will not be eligible to apply to the NMC for registration as a nurse until the statutory requirements of the Adult Field of the Nursing Programme have been met.

6.3    Attendance

Attendance at all timetabled clinical placements and theoretical components is mandatory, including instances where the candidate is permitted to repeat a course.

6.4    Absence

The Student Absence Policy is available online.

Permission for a candidate to have leave of absence for special circumstances must be obtained from the appropriate Course Leader in advance.

Persistent absence will normally be a matter for consideration under Fitness to Practise regulations and may result in exclusion from the programme.

Where a candidate is absent from a Degree examination owing to illness, a certificate signed by a doctor must be submitted to the Nursing & Health Care School within seven days of the absence.

6.5    Certificate of Higher Education

In addition to meeting the requirements of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §12 a candidate must achieve the following to qualify for the Certificate of Higher Education (Year 1): grade D or better in all courses of the first year of the Bachelor of Nursing Degree programme totalling 150 credits.

6.6    Diploma in Health Studies

In addition to meeting the requirements of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §13 a candidate must achieve the following to qualify for the Diploma in Health Studies: grade D or better in all courses of the second year of the Bachelor of Nursing Degree programme totalling 150 credits.

6.7    Bachelor of Health Studies (Ordinary Degree)

a)   In addition to meeting the requirements of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §14 the Degree of Bachelor of Health Studies shall be awarded to a candidate:

i)    who exits from the Bachelor of Nursing (Ordinary) Degree programme at the end of the third year of study who does not fulfil the requirements in relation to Clinical Consolidation Practice, and

ii)   who has achieved a grade D or better in courses with a minimum of 125 credits in the third year of study.

b)   The Degree of Bachelor of Health Studies shall not be recognised as a qualification carrying eligibility for registration with the NMC.

c)   A candidate who withdraws from the Senior Honours year of the Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) Degree programme without satisfactory completion of Clinical Consolidation Practice will be eligible for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of Health Studies.

6.8    A candidate shall not be permitted to progress to clinical practice until they have met the prevailing requirements for immunisation against Hepatitis B and have received their Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme membership from Disclosure Scotland.