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'Top-up' a registered nursing qualification to a full honours degree in one year of study. Develop your advanced clinical expertise, theoretical knowledge and professionalism. Enhance skills that allow you to meet a wider range of challenges within the clinical nursing environment.
This course is designed to top-up a registered nursing qualification. You’ll be taught by an enthusiastic team of skilled professionals, and all members of the team have at least one specialist area of both clinical and teaching expertise. They're also actively involved in healthcare research and consultancy work.
All learning on the Nursing (Top-Up) course is underpinned by evidence-based practice that promotes the development of high-quality healthcare provision. There's a strong emphasis on relating nursing theory to clinical practice.
The course is carefully structured to enhance skills that allow you to meet a wider range of challenges. We work hard to ensure you have all the support that you need to build your confidence and professionalism.
Places are available to study this course at our London campus on several dates throughout the year. Find out more and apply online.
Please note that the course is not approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and does not lead to registration with the NMC. It's an academic top-up for Level 1 NMC Registered nurses** or Internationally Educated Nurses, who have a licence to practise in their country of qualification as a qualified nurse.
**UK students must be a 1st level registered nurse with a recognised regulatory nursing organisation and hold a Higher Education Diploma Level Nursing qualification (NQF Level 5). In the UK, a Level 1 nurse is a nurse who has completed a three-year programme of education leading to a nursing qualification/academic qualification (a degree or diploma) which excludes students who are working outside of this remit/status on the NMC register e.g. Nurse Associates.
We use various methods of teaching including lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, independent learning and group work.
Each module involves an element of assessment using methods designed (where appropriate) to support professional development in clinical practice.
Our BSc (Hons) Nursing Top-Up degree allows you to top-up a registered nursing qualification to a full honours degree in just one year of study. Here, you can explore all the reasons why studying on the Nursing Top-Up course could be a great idea.
Learn more about the Nursing Top-Up degree
Are you interested in a career as a nurse or midwife but aren’t sure which of our courses is right for you? Find out more about the nursing and midwifery degrees we offer at Sunderland and who they may be suitable for.
Find out which nursing our midwifery course is most suitable for you
Our typical offer is:
| Qualification | Minimum grade |
|---|---|
| You will be required to be a registered nurse with the appropriate country regulatory body and hold a Nursing Diploma qualification, equivalent to Level 5 in the UK. | For international applicants, we accept Registered Nurses who also hold a Licence to Practice. |
If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.
If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.
Please note that the course is not approved by the NMC and does not lead to registration with the NMC. This course is an academic top-up for level 1 NMC Registered nurses** who are seeking to become a graduate nurse, or internationally educated nurses who have a licence to practise in their country of qualification as a qualified nurse and looking to become a graduate nurse.
You're required to be either:
In addition to the above requirements:
If English isn't your first language, please see our English language requirements.
**UK students must be a level 1 registered nurse with a recognised regulatory nursing organisation and hold a Higher Education Diploma Level Nursing qualification (NQF Level 5). In the UK, a Level 1 nurse is a nurse who has completed a three-year course of education leading to a nursing qualification/academic qualification (a degree or diploma) which excludes students who are working outside of this remit/status on the NMC register, e.g. Nurse Associates.
2025/26 fees are:
The annual, full-time fee for this course is:
*Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.
**We're unable to accept international applicants for part-time study who require a Student visa to study in the UK.
Read more about EU fees and funding in our Help and Advice article.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
Given the increasing emphasis on degree level qualifications for nurses, this Nursing (Top-Up) course is a valuable stepping stone towards more senior roles and greater responsibility.
Recent graduates from this course have gone on to develop their nursing careers both within the UK and in other countries.
This nursing course gives you more flexibility to move between different types of nursing jobs. Interests can and do change over time. This qualification helps ensure that you're always in demand and can work where you like.
Like all our courses, this nursing degree has a strong emphasis on real-world learning that equips you to deliver and achieve more in the workplace.
If you're an international student, please be aware that successful completion of this Nursing (Top-Up) course will not make you eligible to work as a nurse in the UK.
In order for you to work as a nurse in the UK, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Our course does not lead to professional registration with the NMC.
The University has state-of-the-art facilities in an excellent teaching and learning environment.
The quality and wealth of knowledge and skills I have accumulated is unbelievable.
My interactions with teaching staff always left me imbued with self-confidence and resilience.
I have been enjoying the excellent learning facilities and the friendly and supportive lecturers.
