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 are set out with those Regulations. The provisions of Resolution No. 697 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” together with such Supplementary Regulations as are contained in this Resolution No. 697 - “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 (including any periods of temporary withdrawal). 

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 above in all components of summative assessment of the previous year after two attempts.

b)   Achieved practice learning outcomes appropriate to the previous year of study. On completion of the Final Practice Learning Experience, candidates must have achieved all standards of proficiency, communication and relationship skills and nursing procedures 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 component of assessment must present for re-assessment of that component on the first occasion for which they are eligible.  

3.3   A candidate who has failed to achieve a grade D or above in a component of summative assessment in any course after two attempts will not be readmitted to that examination or assessment until any conditions of further study that the College may prescribe have been fulfilled.

3.4   A candidate who has failed to achieve grade D or above in any component of summative assessment 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   Code of Assessment

In accordance with Generic Undergraduate Regulation §9, assessment and reassessment are governed by the Code of Assessment with the following exceptions:

a)   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.

b)   i)   A candidate who achieves less than grade D on any summative component on any taught course of the curriculum will, irrespective of the overall course grade, be eligible for a second opportunity at assessment on that component. For the avoidance of doubt, the grade D3 or above required in a piece of independent work worth at least 20 credits (referred to in Generic Undergraduate Regulation §16.1) must be achieved at the first attempt.

ii)   In accordance with §16.7 of the Code of Assessment, where reassessment is undertaken of a component or components on courses forming part of the Honours curriculum, the overall course result achieved at first attempt will contribute to calculation of the Honours classification.

c)   Course results achieved on Placement Practice Learning Experience 3 and the Final Practice Learning Experience will not contribute to calculation of the Honours classification.

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.

c)   If the candidate does not achieve a minimum of grade D in all components of summative assessment of any year after two attempts.

d)   If the candidate will be unable to sit their final year examinations or complete the required final year summative assessments within five consecutive 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, or practice learning placement in the following session, until such time as they have been satisfactorily completed:

a)   Criminal Records Check.

b)   Health Screening.

c)   Hepatitis B Immunisation.

3.9   Progress to Honours

The requirements referred to in Generic Undergraduate Regulation §15.1(d) are that a candidate must normally have attained, at the first attempt, a grade C or above in Developing Knowledge for Nursing and Health in Year 2, have attained a grade D or above in all components of summative assessment in Year 2 and have attained a grade D or above in practice learning placements.

3.10   Progress within Honours

Candidates must normally have attained, at the first attempt, a grade C or above in Advancing Knowledge for Contemporary Nursing Practice in Year 3, have attained a grade D or above in all components of summative assessment in Year 3 and have attained a grade D or above in practice learning placements.

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 as set out at §5.1 below.

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 above in all components of summative assessment of Years 1 to 3 of the Bachelor of Nursing Degree Programme, including all practice learning placements of Years 1 to 3 and the Final Practice Learning Experience. The candidate must also demonstrate attainment of the NMC requirements for health numeracy (requirement 4.6, NMC Standards for pre-registration nursing programmes, 2018).

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 above in all components of summative assessment in Year 1;

b)   grade C or above in Developing Knowledge for Nursing and Health at the first attempt and grade D or above in all courses and in all components of summative assessment in Year 2;

c)   grade C or above in Advancing Knowledge for Contemporary Nursing Practice in Year 3 at the first attempt and grade D or above in all other courses and in all components of summative assessment in Junior and Senior Honours courses of the Bachelor of Nursing Programme;

d)   grade D or above in all practice learning placements of Years 1 and 2 and of the Junior Honours year and the Final Practice Learning Experience in the Senior Honours year of the Bachelor of Nursing Degree Programme;

e)   satisfactory demonstration of the NMC requirements relating to health numeracy (requirement 4.6, NMC Standards fof pre-registration nursing programmes, 2018).

The calculation of the final Honours classification is based on weightings from Years 3 and 4 of 40:60.

5.3   A candidate who withdraws from Year 4 of the programme before completing the Honours examinations and other summative assessments may be eligible for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of Nursing on satisfying the requirements for award of the Degree as set out at §5.1 above.

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) and must have achieved all the NMC standards of proficiency, communication and relationship skills, and nursing procedures 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, as set out in Part 3 of The Nursing and Midwifery Council (Education, Registration and Registration Appeals) Rules Order of Council 2004, have been met: available at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/cy/uksi/2004/1767/made [accessed Jan 15th 2020].

6.3   Attendance

All timetabled practice learning placements and theoretical components must be completed, including instances where the candidate is permitted to repeat a course.

6.4   Absence

The Student Absence Policy is available online. There are additional attendance requirements for the BN (Hons) Programme: these are detailed in the Programme Handbook.

Permission for a candidate to have leave of absence for special circumstances must be obtained from the appropriate Course Leader in advance and remedial activity may be required to meet all progress and graduation requirements.

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

6.5   Certificate of Higher Education (Health Studies)

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 (Health Studies): grade D or above in all courses of the first year of the Bachelor of Nursing Degree programme totalling 120 credits.

6.6   Diploma of Higher Education (Health Studies)

In addition to meeting the requirements of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §13 a candidate must achieve the following to qualify for the Diploma of Higher Education (Health Studies): grade D or above in all courses of the first and second years of the Bachelor of Nursing Degree programme totalling 120 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 has not achieved a grade D or above in the Final Practice Learning Experience or been able to demonstrate attainment of the NMC requirements for health numeracy referred to at §5.1 above; and,

ii)   who has achieved a grade D or above in all courses in Years 1 and 2 of the Nursing Degree programme and in courses totalling a minimum of 125 credits in Year 3.

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 and who has not achieved a grade D or above in the Final Practice Learning Experience will be eligible for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of Health Studies.

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