School of Nursing and Midwifery

BSc (Hons) Critical Care

Institution code NA
Duration

5 years
Course type

Part-time
Study location Plymouth

There is an increasing pressure to provide critical care services that requires appropriately qualified clinicians to deliver the right care, in the right place at the right time. Our BSc (Hons) Critical Care programme enables NMC/HCPC registered healthcare professionals to develop their practice caring for people who require critical and intensive care.

Key features
  • Advance your practice in critical and intensive care through a programme designed around the person who requires the health intervention and not the place where this is delivered.
  • Gain the practice experience required to facilitate development on a programme particularly suitable for clinicians practicing in intensive care, high dependency units, emergency and pre-hospital care and acute care settings.
  • A modular design and part-time study option enables you to enhance your ability to care for critically ill adults in a variety of settings over up to five years in response to service need and professional circumstances.
  • Participate in and lead quality improvement.
  • Develop specialist and transferable competences within an e-portfolio.
  • Learn with and from other healthcare professionals and medical students.
  • Have the opportunity to RPL to a maximum of 60 credits (must be subject related).

Course details

  • Programme overview

  • The course comprises of four 20 credit core modules and 40 credits in optional modules within the Faculty of Health.
    It may be possible to accredit any previous formal certificated learning and informal non-certificated learning, including e-learning as part of the degree pathway by
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Please see the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) section of our website for further details.
    Please note that if you apply to RPL up to the maximum of 60 credits you will need to achieve the core modules through either RPL or taught and the rest from a combination of optional modules from CPD offer to be eligible for the award of BSc (Hons) Critical Care.
    Optional modules
    Any other module, partnership module, mentorship or learning achieved via professional development modules from the University of Plymouth or with another HEI in the relevant subject of critical care – if you are unsure on whether a module you have passed is relevant, please contact the Programme Lead.
The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Entry requirements

Contextual offers: Typically, the contextual offer for this course is 8 points below the advertised tariff. A contextual offer is an offer to study at university that takes into account individual circumstances that are beyond your control, and that can potentially impact your learning and your exam results, or your confidence in applying to university.

Check your eligibility for a contextual offer

To be eligible for the course you must be:
  • on a professional register (i.e. NMC, HCPC) and:
  • working in practice in an area that reflects the continuum of provision for critical care to achieve the programme learning outcomes and:
  • in possession of previous study at level 5 (Diploma of Higher Education) or a foundation degree.
You will be considered and advised individually (where required) by the programme team and Professional Development Unit. Please contact the PDU or programme lead if you have any queries regarding your situation.
Extended entry requirements

Fees, costs and funding

* UK Government announcement on tuition fees

On Monday 4 November 2024 the UK Government announced a proposal to increase tuition fees for home undergraduate students from £9,250 to £9,535 per annum from September 2025 onwards. The University of Plymouth intends to apply this new fee from September 2025. However, implementation of this increase will be subject to Parliamentary procedure. The University will give further details to both prospective and current students as soon as more information becomes available.

The fee for this programme is dependant on the modules undertaken. Please see the relevant module webpages for further information.

Additional costs

This course is delivered by the Faculty of Health and more details of any additional costs associated with the faculty's courses are listed on the following page: Faculty of Health additional costs .

How to apply
When to apply
Applications for this programme can usually be made throughout the year. Please check the closing date and apply as early as possible as our programmes are popular.
Apply for this programme
To apply for this programme please complete the application form and return via email to:
What happens after I apply?
You will normally receive a decision on your application within four weeks of us receiving your application. You may be asked to provide additional information, to take part in an interview (which in the case if you are an overseas student may be by telephone or video conference) or you will be sent a decision by letter or email.
If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by University of Plymouth, please visit our Additional support for students with an impairment, health condition or disability website.

Modules

A report compiled by the University for the Health Foundation says revalidation needs to address seven key points for success
Find out more about the modules that make up this course:
Core modules
Optional modules
Any other module, partnership module, mentorship or learning achieved via professional development modules from Plymouth University or with another HEI in the relevant subject of Critical Care – if you are unsure on whether a module you have passed is relevant, please contact the Programme Lead.
If you have previously obtained a health related honours degree at 2:2 or above, you are eligible to access the course via the graduate certificate/diploma route:
Graduate Certificate: Critical Care (60 credits at degree level)
Graduate Diploma: Critical Care (120 credits at degree level)
Students seeking to achieve either qualification will be required to achieve the core modules UEC607, UEC608 and UEC609 (certificate) and UEC607, UEC608, UEC609, HEAD360 (diploma)
Applications will be considered individually by the programme team and the PDU.
Postgraduate students

Opportunities for postgraduate study in critical care

Study our MSc Advanced Critical Care Practitioner and develop the knowledge and skills to undertake a comprehensive clinical assessment of a patient’s condition and initiate and manage their clinical treatment plan.
Or specialise in surgical care with our MSc Surgical Care Practitioner , which is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons and will equip you with the practical skills to assist with complex surgical procedures, manage patients intra-operatively and be responsible for pre-operative and post-operative outpatient clinics.
IV Drip
Intercalated degree

We offer medical students the chance to intercalate this degree with their medical studies.
Faculty of Health and Human Sciences

You can contact the Professional Development Unit with any queries

Prospective student enquiries

+44 1752 586951

Current student enquiries

Professional Development Unit, Level 4 Rolle Building, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.

8.30–17.00 (Friday 16.30)