Entry Requirements

Full-Time Programme: 

The Healthcare Education Centre at Aberystwyth University promotes an inclusive admission criterion; however, applicants who are unsure of their admission qualifications are encouraged to discuss their academic achievements and experiences with the Healthcare Education Centre’s Admissions Tutor (nrsstaff@aber.ac.uk). 

UCAS Tariff 104 – 96 

This includes Level 3 qualifications such as: 

• 3 A-Levels – BCC/CCC 
• The Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above) 
• BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM-MMM 
• BTEC Diploma – D*D-DD 
• Access to HE Diploma – Merit overall 
• International Baccalaureate – 26-28 
• European Baccalaureate – 26% overall 
• Or any other equivalent qualifications.

And

• GCSE (or recognised alternative) at a minimum grade C/4 in: English/Welsh Language and Mathematics 

For further details regarding the application process and short listing, please see visit our dedicated FAQ pages. 

Part-Time Programme 

The Healthcare Education Centre at Aberystwyth University promotes an inclusive admission criterion in line with the RPL/APEL process. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Healthcare Education Centre’s Admissions Tutors (nrsstaff@aber.ac.uk) and their own Line Manager for further information.

The part-time programme is open to applicants currently employed in caring/healthcare roles within the Healthcare Sector in Mid Wales. Applicants may hold level 3 academic qualifications (as listed for the full-time programme), but the entry requirements to the part time programme for everyone will include submission of the evidence outlined under either the RPL or APEL process. Admissions will be via Direct Application route.

Applications via Recognition of Prior Learning [RPL] process:

• Level 4 qualification – Certificate in Healthcare for Higher Education or another recognised/relevant healthcare alternative qualification at this level/credits (or above).

This programme/qualification must include:

• Confirmation that the Level 4 programme (or recognised alternative programme) content is mapped to Part 1 of Aberystwyth University’s BSc Nursing programme
• Completion of the All-Wales Practice Assessment Document (2018) – Part 1
• Confirmation of practice hours (800 hours over the last two years)
• Confirmation of Occupational Health screening conducted by the applicant’s employer, providing any relevant information to the Healthcare Education Team, which may require consideration for reasonable adjustment or Fitness to Practise panel
• Completion of Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Screening with results meeting professional requirements (see Fitness to Practice information)
• Mandatory training compliance as stipulated by the applicant’s employer which meets programme skills mapping for Part 1
• Application and approval for employer study leave, and Line Manager agreement
• GCSE (or recognised alternative) at a minimum grade C/4 in:
  • English/Welsh Language and Mathematics

 OR

Applications via Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning [APEL] process:

• APEL will be considered on an individual basis
• Mandatory training compliance as stipulated by the applicant’s employer which meets programme skills mapping for Part 1
• Application and approval for employer study leave, and Line Manager agreement
• Confirmation of Occupational Health screening conducted by the applicant’s employer, providing any relevant information with the Healthcare Education Team, which may require consideration for reasonable adjustment or Fitness to Practise panel.
• Completion of Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Screening with results meeting professional requirements (see Fitness to Practice information)
• GCSE (or recognised alternative) at a minimum grade C/4 in:
• English/Welsh Language and Mathematics

APeL applications normally incur a charge for academic support and assessment. This will be agreed in accordance with the number of credits to be APeL’d.

In addition to academic achievements, in order to comply with professional requirements, the admission criteria also include:  

• Good Health and Good Character assessment (see Fitness to Practise information below) 
  If you are offered a place with us, you will have to complete an Occupational Health Screening form 
• Enhanced DBS clearance (see Fitness to Practise information below) 
  If you are offered a place with us, you will have to complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Screening 

Please see guidance-on-health-and-character-august-2020.pdf (nmc.org.uk) for more information. 

For international students, an International English Language Testing System [IELTS] with an overall score of at least 7 and at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7 in the reading, listening and speaking sections is accepted. An OET certificate minimum of C+ in writing alongside a minimum of B in reading, listening and speaking will also be accepted. 

Good health and character requirements as stipulated in NMC legislation means that you are capable of safe and effective practice either with or without reasonable adjustments. It does not mean the absence of a health condition or disability.  Therefore, should any issues regarding your health and character be identified through our screening processes, a Fitness to Practise Panel will look at each individual situation and make a decision regarding your eligibility to be accepted onto the programme.  If you have any concerns about this, please feel free to discuss this further with the Admissions Tutor. 

The Fitness to Practise Panel also consider students’ health and character throughout the programme as well, should any incidences and/or ill-health occur during their training which will impact on their learning and/or on clinical placements. Students can access support and advice via Student Support and Career Services at any time during the programme.

After receiving your application, the Healthcare Education Centre’s Admission Tutors will read through your documents in order to assess if you meet the continuation criteria of our admission process.  Please note that the places to study on this programme are extremely competitive, and if you fail to be invited to the next stage of the admission process at this attempt, we would strongly urge you to apply again in the future.   

Initial shortlisting will be based on information supplied in your application, including your personal statement and reference.  Applications submitted which are missing key information (e.g., details of qualifications achieved/pending, personal statements, references) will not be considered for shortlisting.  

If your application meets the next stage of the admission criteria, you will be invited to attend one of our Student Selection Events.  All applicants attending Student Selection Events will be assessed in line with All-Wales Student Recruitment and Selection principles.  Once all of these events are completed, we will identify and agree our prospective student cohort as soon as possible, and we will aim to provide provisional offers soon after.  

The University’s selection events will be supported by internal Healthcare Education staff, Practice Learning Partners, service users/carers/members of the public and students. Events will normally last for around half a day.   

Aberystwyth University’s selection event will consist of: 

• An introductory talk and overview of the programme 
• Tour of the Healthcare Education Centre 
• Group debate/discussion  
• Unseen teamwork activity 
• Individual scenario 
• 1:1 interview  
• An opportunity to meet staff and current students, and ask questions. 

Please note that our forthcoming Student Selection Events will be facilitated in line with current University/Welsh Government Covid-19 regulations and may therefore be different to what is outlined here. 

Aberystwyth University operates an inclusive admissions policy which recognises the individual nature of each application we receive.  We are committed to helping the widening participation agenda which supports progression to higher education. The Healthcare Education Centre support contextual admissions and applicants will be assessed on an individual merit.

For applicants applying for our undergraduate nursing courses, the University may explore contextual offers if any of the following criteria apply to applicants’ own personal circumstances:

• Have been in in care or looked after for three months or more
• Who are young carers (Young adult carers are young people aged 16–25 who care, unpaid, for a family member or friend with an illness or disability, mental health condition or an addiction)
• Who live in an area of high deprivation (lowest 20% WIMD)
• Whose parents are not educated to Higher Education (“HE”) level
• Who hold a protected characteristic and are underrepresented in higher education.

Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (ug-admissions@aber.ac.uk) or one of the Healthcare Education Centre’s Admission Tutors for more information (nrsstaff@aber.ac.uk).