Bachelor of Science in Midwifery

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Limerick

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Midwifery at the University of Limerick prepares you to become a compassionate, skilled nurse who supports individuals with intellectual disabilities to live healthier, more independent, and fulfilling lives. This programme is ideal for students who want a meaningful healthcare career that combines clinical expertise with advocacy, inclusion, and person-centred care.

Curriculum Structure

Year One

In your first year, you will be introduced to the foundations of intellectual disability nursing and what it means to deliver person-centred care. Through Understanding Intellectual Disability and Introduction to Support Strategies Across the Lifespan, you will learn how to support people from childhood to adulthood in ways that respect dignity, choice, and individuality. Modules such as Communication and Interpersonal Relationships in Nursing and Midwifery help you develop the professional communication skills needed to build trust with service users, families, and healthcare teams.

Year Two

The second year deepens your understanding of how care changes across different life stages. You will study Intellectual Disability Early Childhood Nursing, Adolescent Nursing, and Adult Nursing, giving you insight into developmental, emotional, and healthcare needs as people grow. You will also explore Older Adult Nursing, helping you understand ageing with an intellectual disability, while continued clinical placements allow you to apply what you learn in real care environments.

Year Three

In third year, the focus moves toward more complex and specialised care. Modules such as Meeting and Supporting the Person with Intellectual Disability and Complex Needs and Supporting the Person with Intellectual Disability in Challenging Behavioural or Mental Health Situations prepare you to manage difficult clinical and emotional situations with confidence and sensitivity. You will also study Nursing in Primary and Community Settings and Research and Evidence in Healthcare, helping you connect nursing practice with scientific evidence and community-based care.

Year Four

Your final year prepares you for professional practice and leadership. Through Leading and Managing in Quality Practice and Envisioning the Future Role and Practice of the Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability, you will develop the confidence to take responsibility and shape the future of care services. You will also complete a Practice Research Project, allowing you to explore a real issue in intellectual disability nursing and contribute to improving care, while extended clinical placements ensure you graduate work-ready and professionally prepared.

Focus areas (in a string):

Intellectual disability nursing, person-centred care, lifespan development, communication and advocacy, community and primary care, complex and behavioural support, research-informed practice, leadership and quality care.

Learning outcomes (in a string):

Graduates will be able to deliver safe and compassionate care, support people with intellectual disabilities across all life stages, communicate effectively with individuals and families, apply evidence-based nursing practice, and contribute to high-quality healthcare services.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

This honours degree is aligned with Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications at Level 8 and prepares graduates for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland as a Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability.

Reputation (employability rankings):

The University of Limerick is widely recognised for its strong health sciences education and close links with healthcare providers, and its nursing graduates are highly valued for their practical training, professionalism, and readiness to work in diverse care settings.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of Limerick, learning to become an intellectual disability nurse goes far beyond the classroom. From the very beginning of the programme, you will take part in supervised clinical placements where you work directly with individuals with intellectual disabilities in real care settings such as community services, residential homes, and specialist support centres. On campus, you will train in modern clinical skills and simulation laboratories that replicate real healthcare environments, allowing you to practise nursing procedures, communication skills, and safety techniques in a supportive, low-risk setting before applying them in practice. This blend of hands-on training, reflection, and academic learning ensures you graduate confident, capable, and ready to work in professional care environments:

Clinical placements every year, giving you direct experience supporting children, adults, and older people with intellectual disabilities across different care settings
Dedicated clinical skills and simulation laboratories, designed to mirror real hospital and community healthcare environments
Simulation suites with observation and control rooms, where you take part in realistic care scenarios and receive detailed feedback to improve your practice
Structured reflective learning, helping you connect what you experience in placement with what you study in class
Group-based learning and inter-professional activities, allowing you to develop teamwork and communication skills alongside other healthcare students.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Midwifery at the University of Limerick step into careers that are both meaningful and in high demand across Ireland and beyond. Many go on to roles such as Registered Intellectual Disability Nurse, Community Disability Nurse, Autism Support Nurse, or Care Coordinator, working closely with individuals, families, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams to support independence, wellbeing, and quality of life:

Career support at UL: Students are supported by UL’s dedicated Careers Service, which offers one-to-one career guidance, CV and interview coaching, employer events, and job vacancy alerts specifically linked to healthcare and social care employers
Strong employability: Intellectual disability nurses are in continuous demand across community services, residential care, early intervention services, and specialist disability organisations, giving graduates excellent job security and long-term career prospects
Professional recognition: This degree leads to eligibility to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland as a Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability, a qualification recognised nationally and respected internationally
Wide range of graduate roles: UL graduates work in settings such as community disability services, supported living, residential care, schools, respite services, and specialist health teams
Long-term career value: Registration allows graduates to progress into senior clinical roles, specialist nursing, service management, education, and policy development over time

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, graduates can progress to postgraduate study such as postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees in nursing, advanced clinical practice, healthcare leadership, disability studies, community health, or research, allowing them to specialise further or move into leadership, education, or advanced practitioner roles.