Nursing (Child) with Foundation Year

Work placements
Work placements are a core part of this course and account for approximately 50% of the programme. 

Learning and teaching
Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market. You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars, you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University. 

The course uses the NHS Leadership Academy Maximising Leadership in the Pre-Registration Healthcare Curricula Framework to build leadership skills through a spiral curriculum. 

Digital Literacy
Digital and technological literacy is a requirement for entry to all nursing programmes. In healthcare it is now seen as a vital tool and is used for managing patient records, assessment, research and education. It is also the most common and the preferred way we communicate with students on our programmes. 

Applicants are required to apply through the UCAS system and all information exchange until the starting the programme (such as interview arrangements, responding to offers and pre-course preparation) will be via digital platforms. The prospective student’s engagement in this activity will reflect the fundamental digital literacy requirements, which will then be developed through the programme itself. Students will be supported in the university to access learning opportunities using online and blended learning, as well as utilising digital platforms to prepare for and submit assignments. The University of Winchester provides 24 hour access to its library and IT facilities and all students will be allocated a university email address. Further support and information can be found via the student handbook. 

Independent learning
Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available. 

Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity. While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.

Year 1 (Level 3):
Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
Independent learning: 912 hours
Placement: 0 hours

Year 2 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*

Teaching, learning and assessment: 196 hours 
Independent learning: 569 hours 
Placement: 760 hours 

Year 3 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*

Teaching, learning and assessment: 234 hours 
Independent learning: 606 hours 
Placement: 770 hours 

Year 4 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*

Teaching, learning and assessment: 174 hours
Independent learning: 526 hours
Placement: 800 hours

*Please note these are indicative hours for the course. 

Location
Taught elements of the course take place on campus in Winchester and the adjacent Royal Hampshire County Hospital site.

Teaching hours

All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.

Assessment
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.

We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.

Percentage of the course assessed by coursework

The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:

Year 1 (Level 3)*:
60% coursework
13% written exams
27% practical exams

Year 2 (Level 4)*:

25% coursework
52% written exams
23% practical assessment

Year 3 (Level 5)*:

38% coursework
51% written exams
11% practical assessment

Year 4 (Level 6)*:

35% coursework 
10% written exams 
55% practical assessment

*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.