Intellectual Disability Nursing (BSc (Hons)) at University College Cork

On completion of the BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing, you can apply to register as an Intellectual Disability Nurse to NMBI, the profession’s regulatory body.

The course will provide you with excellent opportunities to develop knowledge and skills relevant to professional Intellectual Disability Nursing practice, including independent and critical thinking, and problem solving. It will enable you to deliver nursing care that is up-to-date and based on the best current evidence.

This four-year full-time degree course is offered in partnership with COPE Foundation, Cork.

With a BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing, you will be ready to start work as a qualified Intellectual Disability Nurse in a variety of clinical settings immediately after graduation. 

The broad aim of the course is to promote your personal, intellectual and professional development to meet the role dimensions of a qualified practitioner of Intellectual Disability Nursing. 

Each year, you will study modules in both theory and clinical practice. Clinical practice modules require you to be in supervised clinical practice in hospital, community and other healthcare settings for 35 hours per week for a number of weeks each year.

Theory modules include both nursing, and biological and social science modules, some of which are core (shared with students from other nursing/midwifery branches), while others are discipline-specific (taken by Intellectual Disability Nursing only).

In year 4, you may also take some elective modules.

Why Choose This Course

The BSc (Hons) Intellectual Disability Nursing course at UCC is a highly sought-after course, as evidenced by the consistently high points required for entry to the course.

We can offer you a wide variety of clinical placements across a number of university hospitals and community facilities, representing all of the major Intellectual Disability specialties.

We can also offer opportunities to study abroad and have a large suite of postgraduate courses available to our graduates to facilitate further study needs.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

The School of Nursing and Midwifery at UCC participates in a number of international research and educational programmes which afford you the opportunity to undertake part of your BSc studies abroad. Currently we have links with Finland, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Netherlands, France, England, and the U.S. Study abroad opportunities in other countries is also a possibility.

Skills and Careers Information

The course aims to provide you with sound clinical nursing skills (and the supporting knowledge base) necessary for starting your professional career as a Intellectual Disability Nurse. These skills will be further developed through clinical experience and further study at postgraduate and in-service levels.

You will also develop skills in independent thinking, problem solving, and analytical and clinical decision-making, as well as fundamental research utilisation and application skills.

On graduation, you may seek employment as an Intellectual Disability Nurse. Intellectual Disability Nurses work in a wide range of areas including acute care, respite care, community facilities, residential facilities, workshops, schools, retirement care, and home nursing.

Traditionally, Irish nurses are highly regarded by other countries, enhancing work opportunities abroad, in particular in the UK, Canada, Australia and the US.