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Nursing Science (General)
Course Overview
The Bachelor of Nursing Science (General) course is a four-year degree programme that will qualify you as a nurse. Successful students are awarded the Bachelor of Nursing Science (General) degree and are eligible to apply to register with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the nursing profession’s regulatory body. The programme is offered in partnership with the Health Service Executive (HSE) West.
The first three years are run within the academic year and include a combination of theory modules and clinical practice modules. Practice modules will require students to be in clinical practice for 35 hours per week. Year four comprises clinical/theory instruction in semester one and a 36-week internship of clinical practice which runs from January to September. During this period, the student will be an employee of the HSE West and paid a salary. The theoretical component comprises lectures, seminars, workshops, experiential learning, skills training and reading time.
Applications and Selections
Who Teaches this Course
Requirements and Assessment
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e. Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint) or Agricultural Science), and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes.
Additional Requirements
Duration
4 years
Next start date
September 2023
A Level Grades (2023)
universityofgalway.ie/alevels
Average intake
69
QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes
Closing Date
NFQ level
Mode of study
ECTS weighting
Award
CAO
GY515
Course code
Course Outline
Years 1 - 3
- Biological Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Nursing Theory
- Nursing Practice
- Health Promotion
- Research
Year 4
- Research
- Leadership and Clinical Governance in Nursing and Midwifery Practice
- Transition to Professional Practice in Nursing and Midwifery Practice
- Clinical/Theory instruction - Semester I
- Clinical internship which runs over 36 weeks - Semester II
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Glossary of Terms
- Credits
- You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
- Module
- An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
- Subject
- Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Required Core Subject
- A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.
Year 1 (60 Credits)
Required NU185: Principles and Practice of Clinical Nursing 1 - 10 Credits - Semester 1Required NU123: The Nature of Nursing (NG) - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required NU115: Biological Sciences I - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Required NU117: Nursing Management of the Physically III Adult 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required NU104: Placement Hours - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Required NU116: Social Sciences 1 - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Required NU118: Clinical I & II - 15 Credits - Semester 2
Required NU182: Assessing and Promoting Health 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required NU129: Practice Assessment (NG) - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Required NU1105: Practice Assessment 2 (NG) - 0 Credits - Semester 2
Year 2 (60 Credits)
Required NU231: Clinical Practice 3 & 4 - 20 Credits - Semester 3Required NU250: Nursing Management of the Physically Ill Adult 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Required NU245: Assessing and Promoting Health II - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required NU249: Biological Sciences II - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required NU335: The Nursing Management of Specialist Client Groups 1 - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Required NU208: Specialist Placement Hours Module - 0 Credits - Semester 4
Required NU247: Research Methods I - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required NU248: Social Sciences II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional NU915: Univ of Fairfield: Race, Cities and Poverty - 10 Credits - Semester 4
Optional NU914: Univ of Fairfield:Developmental Psych-Non Majors - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional NU905: Univ. of Fairfield: Elective Module (Free Choice) - 10 Credits - Semester 4
Optional NU902: Univ. of Fairfield:Health Assessment - 10 Credits - Semester 4
Optional NU903: Univ. of Fairfield: Sociology of Law - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional NU904: Univ. of Fairfield: Elective Module (Psychology) - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional NU906: Univ. of Fairfield: Sociology of Law & Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional NU901: Univ. of Fairfield: Research in Nursing - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional NU911: Univ of Fairfield:Geriatric Nursing - 10 Credits - Semester 4
Required NU220: Practice Assessment - 0 Credits - Semester 4
Year 3 (60 Credits)
Required NU333: Research Methods II - 5 Credits - Semester 5Required NU306: Biological Sciences III - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional NU902: Univ. of Fairfield:Health Assessment - 10 Credits - Semester 6
Optional NU911: Univ of Fairfield:Geriatric Nursing - 10 Credits - Semester 6
Required NU350: Clinical Practice V & VI - 15 Credits - Semester 6
Required NU314: Elective - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Required NU317: Practice Assessment (General) - 0 Credits - Semester 6
Required NU336: The Nursing Management of the Physically ill Adult III - 15 Credits - Semester 6
Required NU334: Social Sciences III - 10 Credits - Semester 6
Required NU399: Clinical Hours - 0 Credits - Semester 6
Required NU347: Practice Assessment 2 (3rd Year Gen) - 0 Credits - Semester 6
Year 4 (60 Credits)
Required NU405: Leading & Developing Practice - 10 Credits - Semester 7Required NU474: Clinical Practice VII - 10 Credits - Semester 7
Required NU470: Practice Assessment - 0 Credits - Semester 7
Required NU499: Clinical Hours - 0 Credits - Semester 7
Required NU488: Internship Assessment 3 - 0 Credits - Semester 7
Required NU489: Internship Assessment 4 - 0 Credits - Semester 7
Required NU486: Internship Assessment 1 - 0 Credits - Semester 7
Required NU487: Internship Assessment 2 - 0 Credits - Semester 7
Optional NU4701: Practice Assessment Erasmus - 0 Credits - Semester 7
Required NU475: Research Project - 20 Credits - Semester 8
Required NU471: Clinical Internship - 20 Credits - Semester 8
Further Education
Graduates have the option to study a variety of nursing programmes at postgraduate, diploma, masters and PhD levels.
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
Nurses have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings both in the hospital and the community. The Bachelor of Nursing Science degree is recognised internationally and many nurses choose to work overseas to broaden their experience.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Transferable Skills Employers Value
Work Placement
Students are required to complete their clinical practice placements within the HSE West region. While on clinical placements, students will be supervised by a nurse who has been specially prepared to guide and direct student learning. Students are also supported by the clinical placement co-ordinator, who ensures that learning outcomes are identified and achieved.
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student Contribution
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
*EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy
Student Levy: €140 - payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here https://su.nuigalway.ie/
Find out More
The School of Nursing and Midwifery
T 353 (0)91 493 432
F 353 (0)91 494 537
E nursing.midwifery@universityofgalway.ie
www.universityofgalway.ie/nursingmidwifery
What Our Students Say

Suelyn Sibanda | BSc (Nursing)
...I decided to do a nursing degree after working for 3 years as a care assistant with a nursing agency. I felt l could do more, give more in my job but l was limited. I enjoy the way the programme is set out with due emphasis given to both theory and clinical experience components. Through the theoretical component, I've had the chance to learn many things, not just about nursing but also from biological sciences and social sciences, making the course all the more dynamic and enjoyable. I have also gained clinical experience in medical and surgical nursing, midwifery, psychiatric and public health nursing...