Return to Practice (Nursing) (Institutional Undergraduate Credit) Part Time Blended Learning
Why study this course
Our location
Our school is situated in the heart of Wales’ biggest hospital, so you will be immersed in a real healthcare environment from day one.
Clinical exposure
Gain valuable clinical experience whilst on placement across the Cardiff & Vale and Aneurin Bevan University Health Boards.
NHS bursary
A full NHS bursary, including tuition fees and a non-repayable bursary for living costs is available for our programmes providing you meet eligibility requirements
Clinical simulation suite
Our dedicated clinical simulation suite, which resembles a real hospital ward, will allow you to develop the knowledge, confidence and patient care skills you need within a supportive, professional environment.
Nursing is an exciting, challenging and rewarding career. Our programme provides you with the confidence, skills and knowledge to re-register as a nurse with the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and offers you the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives.
With a UK NMC registration, you will be able to work in a range of healthcare and independent care settings both in the UK and internationally.
Our Return to Practice (RTP) programme would suit previously-trained adult, child and mental health nurses who have previously worked in clinical practice and have either had a career break from nursing, let their NMC registration lapse, been unable to meet their NMC Revalidation requirements or simply wish to enhance an existing role by regaining their professional registration status again.
You will be part of a close-knit group of learners and you will also have a dedicated personal tutor who will provide pastoral support throughout the programme. You will be allocated practice supervisors and experienced practice assessors who will work alongside you during your clinical practice, and a field-specific academic assessor will oversee your progress and completion of the practice assessment document. They can also provide academic guidance throughout the programme.
Cardiff University is a Russell Group University, which supports a strong research profile, meaning that you will benefit from research-led teaching and evidence-based learning. You will be taught by staff with extensive knowledge and expertise in the fields of nursing education, management and practice.
Our dedicated clinical simulation suite, which resembles a real hospital ward, our computer rooms, student study rooms and a dedicated healthcare library will all be available to you during your period of study with us. Our virtual learning environment is also accessible via desktop and mobile devices. This means you can develop your digital literacy skills and access/revise electronic resources from any location.
We have close working relationships with varied service providers in Wales and your learning could take place in hospitals, GP practices and in the community. A varied placement experience will help you gain an insight as to the wide-ranging employment opportunities available to you upon qualification.
Accreditations
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
Not applicable. See 'Other essential requirements'.
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
- Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application. Eligible students will be given an offer that is lower than the standard offer (usually the middle or lower end of the advertised grade range).
- Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional consideration in the selection process.
Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.
International Baccalaureate
Not applicable. See 'Other essential requirements'.
Baccalaureate Wales
From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
Other essential requirements
With your application form you will need to provide all of the following documentation:
- Evidence of UK residency status (for funding purposes) which may include a valid passport and/or a valid biometric residency permit.
- Professional certificates or an AEI issued transcript of previous study. The academic criteria will be met by uploading the certificate for your nursing degree or diploma.
- Evidence of NMC PIN card and/or Statement of Entry gained from the NMC.
- Two professional references, or, one reference from a healthcare professional and one academic reference.
- Employment history or CV.
- Evidence of change of name, such as a marriage certificate or deed poll, if the names on your documents do not match the name on your application.
You must have previously held registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and must be able to confirm your expired PIN details, either by confirming this in writing to Cardiff University, by producing your NMC PIN card or by providing a Statement of Entry issued to you by the NMC. If we are unable to confirm previous registration with the NMC, we will be unable to progress your application.
If you have conditions set by the regulatory body or are unable to fulfil your NMC Revalidation (2016) requirements you will need to provide a decision letter issued by the NMC. Progression of your application will then be dependent upon Fitness to Practice (FTP) PIN checking procedures, assessment, and the School of Healthcare Sciences’ FTP Panel decision outcome. This process will establish whether you have any regulatory body-issued conditions on your clinical practice and whether these can be accommodated.
If you are successful in obtaining an offer, your enrolment will subject to a satisfactory health screening, which is conducted independently by the University’s Occupational Health Department. You will also need to adhere to any immunisation requirements. Full guidance will be provided post-application stage.
Selection process:
If you meet the entry criteria you will be invited to an interview.
Multi Mini Interviews (MMI) are scheduled around five weeks in advance of the course start date and successfully shortlisted applicants will receive at least one weeks’ notice of their scheduled interview date.
The MMI is a series of short interview stations designed to enable you to state why you want to return to the profession, to critically appraise information, to calculate basic numeracy equations, to communicate ideas regarding your preferred placement learning environment, and to demonstrate insight into the values and issues perceived as important to the nursing profession.
If not already provided on the original application form or at the shortlisting stage, you must bring any remaining application documentation with you to the interview.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with a minimum of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking.
PTE Academic
At least 69 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.
Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.
Criminal convictions
You will be required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check if your application is successful. If you are applying from certain countries overseas, a Certificate of Good Conduct may be required. If you have a relevant criminal conviction, this will be stated in the check and may affect your ability to enrol on the course. Applicants who are on the barred list should be aware that applying to this course is likely to be considered a criminal offence.
Other qualifications from inside the UK
BTEC
Not applicable. See 'Other essential requirements'.
T level
Not applicable. See 'Other essential requirements'.
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
A full NHS bursary, including tuition fees and a non-repayable bursary for living costs, is available to applicants from the UK. Full details, including information for applicants from the EU, are available on our NHS funding pages.
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
An NHS placement is a required part of this course. The NHS only makes placements available to students who are eligible to pay UK fees. Therefore, this course is not available for international students.
Additional costs
Applicants are required to meet the costs of obtaining a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate.
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Living costs
We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Course structure
Return to Practice (Nursing) is a 20-week taught part-time programme consisting of 20 theoretical study days and 300 hours spent in clinical practice. Students will be expected to engage with approximately 15 hours of clinical learning per week, or 30 hours per fortnight. The programme consists of one module with two (summative) assessed elements: a field–specific, numeracy-based SafeMedicate exam in week ten and an E-portfolio which will include a clinical proficiencies annex/skills inventory, two in-point assessments (1. medications management and 2. leading and coordinating care), and formative and summative reflective elements. Your portfolio will be submitted in week 18. The programme also includes a formative five-minute field-related, evidence-based health promotion presentation. Students must successfully complete 40 credits at level 6 to be eligible to apply for professional re-registration with the NMC to practice as a nurse.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2025/2026 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2025.
Year one
There is one compulsory module in year one with one clinical practice placement.
The module will be delivered over fifteen weeks.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Return to Practice (Nursing) | HC3353 | 40 credits |
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
You will learn within a cohort of mixed-field Nursing students to develop your understanding of the nurse’s role as well as the other fields of Nursing represented. As ‘experts by experience,’ you will also be afforded valuable opportunities to learn inter-professionally (IPL) from other healthcare professionals and the authentic voices of service users and their carers.
Traditional face-to-face learning strategies such as lectures, workshops and seminars will be complemented by digital on line opportunities, clinical simulation and resources designed to enhance your overall learning experience. These will enable you to regain your confidence and competence, and to acquire new knowledge, skills and capabilities that will help equip you for return to the UK NMC register and help prepare you for a future role as a practice supervisor, following a period of clinical preceptorship.
How will I be supported?
You will be allocated a field Personal Tutor (PT) who is a member of the academic staff group and a qualified nurse. You will be encouraged to arrange meetings with your personal tutor throughout your time on the programme, during which you can access pastoral support, reflect on your overall progress and seek academic supervision. Personal Tutors will also assist in signposting you to other sources of support such as the School and Programme Student Disability Contact and University-wide services including Student Support and Wellbeing and the Academic Skills and Mentoring Team (see Student Handbook for further information). Welsh-speaking personal tutors may be available to you if your preference is to access support through the medium of Welsh.
The School works in partnership with Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol to provide opportunities for Welsh speaking students to study aspects of the programme through the medium of Welsh. Welsh speaker mentors are also available in some clinical areas within our partner Health Boards.
Within the clinical environment you will be supported by Practice Supervisors (PS) and Practice Assessors (PA) as you progress towards achieving your two RTP in-point assessments and proficiencies. In the academic setting you will also be allocated an Academic Assessor (AA) who will review your progress, oversee your clinical hours and E-portfolio entries. Welsh-speaking practice supervisors or practice assessors may be available to you if your preference is to access support through the medium of Welsh within the clinical environment.
To support learning in practice you will also undertake simulated activities, scenarios and access drop-in clinical skills in a purpose-built simulation suite. This will allow you to practice, develop and consolidate your clinical skills within a safe and supportive environment.
How will I be assessed?
The curriculum incorporates a diverse and creative range of summative and formative assessment strategies and methods which are reflective of an inclusive, learner-centred approach, and are aligned to the intended learning outcomes of the programme.
Formative assessment such as mock numeracy exam and formative reflective feedback, which incorporates peer and service user evaluation, is designed to support your learning and to assist you in identifying both your own strengths and areas for development, and will help prepare you for your summative assessments. The goal of summative assessment is to indicate how well you have succeeded in meeting the intended learning outcomes of the module and the feedback provided will enable you to identify areas for further and continued professional development.
Your achievements in practice will be recorded in a student-led E-portfolio Practice Assessment Document (PAD). Assessment of the learning outcomes will be encompassed in an adaptation of the All Wales Undergraduate pre-registration (PAD), to reflect the new practice assessment standards set by the NMC. The E-portfolio includes two in-point assessments of: practice (medications management and leading and co-ordinating care), and the Undergraduate (UG) year 3 clinical proficiencies, annex/ inventory and reflective elements. To support assessment, you will be allocated practice supervisors (PS), a practice assessor (PA) and an academic assessor (AA). You will spend a minimum period of 300 hours within a clinical practice learning environment. In order to demonstrate regular progress, you will be expected to undertake and log approximately 15 clinical hours per week or 30 hours within a two-week period. This will be overseen by your Academic Assessor.
What skills will I practise and develop?
The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you.
The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:
Knowledge & Understanding:
Critically appraise the knowledge and evidence base underpinning the nursing proficiencies for Return to Practice.
Professional Practical Skills:
Lead, manage and coordinate care.
Safely and competently calculate and optimise medications administration when returning to adult nursing, mental health nursing or nursing children and young people.
Transferable/Key Skills:
Demonstrate confidence, competence and appropriate professional attitudes and behaviours including accountability and responsibility for own learning and that of others.
Careers and placements
Career prospects
Upon completion of this accredited programme, we will link students with employment opportunities by introducing them to local recruitment managers. Guidance with their selection choice will also be provided to those who wish to further their studies. Successful registrants can use the credits gained from the Return to Practice for further future study (as part of a credit transfer scheme such as APEL).
Graduate careers
- Nurse
Placements
Return to Practice clinical placement opportunities across the lifespan exist within a range of hospital, community, and GP Practice settings across Cardiff and Vale, Newport and Gwent. The inclusion of RTP practice-based learning will allow you to develop a robust skill set and demonstrate the standards of conduct, performance and ethics which are expected of a Registered Nurse. As a competent Return to Practice student, there is an expectation that you will lead and support others and be accountable for your own actions, attitudes and behaviours.
Following satisfactory DBS and Occupational Health clearance, and the successful completion of all elements of mandatory skill training which is assessed, 300 hours of practice-based learning will commence. This will be in a clinical environment and clinician and service user feedback will form part of the feedback progress. During your placement, you will be supported by practice supervisors, a practice assessor and an academic assessor. Opportunities to develop awareness of your own profession, the range of sectors in which you might work and that of other professionals supporting the journey of people and their families in your care will form part your inter-professional education (IPE) experience.
There will be a strong focus on medications management, safety and optimisation. Pharmacology, consent, safeguarding and developing IT skills will also feature. Practice-based learning development, proficiencies, additional learning experiences and hours implemented will all be logged via an E-portfolio. The completion of this E-portfolio will be overseen by an academic assessor and will form the basis of your continuing personal and professional development.
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.
