MNSW Adult Nursing and Social Work

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Edge Hill University

Program Overview

If you’re passionate about helping people and want a career that combines health and social care, the MNSW (Hons) Adult Nursing & Social Work at Edge Hill University is a unique and exciting choice. This four-year degree equips you with the skills to register as a qualified adult nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and to apply to register as a social worker with Social Work England, giving you the tools to make a real difference in people’s lives across hospitals, communities, and social care settings.

Curriculum structure

Year 1 – Laying the Foundations
In your first year, you’ll explore both nursing and social work, learning how these two professions complement each other. Modules like Contemporary Nursing, Contemporary Social Work, Foundation Science, Theory and Method in Nursing and Social Work, and Foundations for Integrated Practice give you the knowledge and early practical skills needed for your first placements.

Year 2 – Applying Knowledge in Real Settings
Year two focuses on applying your learning to real-life scenarios, caring for adults, children, and families in diverse contexts. You’ll study Adults Within an Integrated Health and Social Care Context, Children, Young People and Their Families Within an Integrated Health and Social Care Context, Developing Capability for Integrated Practice, and Law and Policy in Nursing and Social Work, deepening your understanding of legal, ethical, and social factors while gaining hands-on experience.

Year 3 – Tackling Complexity and Research
In your third year, you’ll take on more complex care challenges and begin integrating research into practice. Modules such as Aspects of International Health and Social Care, Enhancing Confidence and Capability for Integrated Practice, Research Methods in Health and Social Care, and Working with Complexity in Health and Social Care help you develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in professional settings.

Year 4 – Professional Practice and Leadership
The final year focuses on preparing you for dual professional roles. Through modules like Achieving Competence and Proficiency for Professional Registration, Leadership in Integrated Health and Social Care, and the MNSW Dissertation, you’ll consolidate your skills, demonstrate leadership in multidisciplinary teams, and complete a substantial project that showcases your learning.

Focus areas: integrated nursing and social work practice, adult health assessment, law and policy in care, leadership, research in health and social care

Learning outcomes: deliver safe, compassionate adult nursing; conduct professional social work assessments and interventions; practice ethically and legally across health and social care; demonstrate leadership and critical thinking in multidisciplinary settings

Professional alignment (accreditation): Eligible for registration as a qualified adult nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and application to register as a social worker with Social Work England

Reputation (employability rankings): Supported by partnerships such as the Cheshire & Merseyside Social Work Teaching Partnership, the programme provides practical, multidisciplinary experience valued by employers

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The MNSW (Hons) Adult Nursing & Social Work programme at Edge Hill University is designed to give you hands-on experience from the very start. You’ll spend significant time on professional practice placements in a variety of settings — hospitals, community services, voluntary organisations, and local authority teams — where you’ll work alongside qualified nurses and social workers, applying what you’ve learned in real-world situations. On campus, the Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre provides realistic environments such as wards, consultation rooms, and community care suites, where you can practise procedures, communication, and care delivery safely before your first placement. Through partnerships with the Cheshire & Merseyside Social Work Teaching Partnership, you’ll also gain experience working in multidisciplinary teams, helping you understand how nursing and social work complement each other in professional practice:

Professional Practice Placements: Apply your skills in real health and social care settings, gaining hands-on experience in hospitals, community services, and local authority teams.
Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre: Practise essential nursing skills in lifelike simulated environments with full-body patient simulators before entering real placements.
Multidisciplinary Learning: Learn how nursing and social work intersect through workshops, group learning, and real case discussions with multidisciplinary teams.
Simulated and Technology-Enhanced Learning: Use digital tools, scenario-based learning, and simulations to link theory with practice and refine your professional judgment.
Guided Reflection and Assessment: Receive support from practice assessors and social work educators to reflect on your performance, develop professional communication, and meet both nursing and social work competencies.
Campus Learning Resources: Access the Catalyst library and study spaces to support placement preparation, research, and integrated learning across both professions.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the MNSW (Hons) Adult Nursing & Social Work at Edge Hill University opens up a range of exciting career opportunities where you can make a real difference in people’s lives. Many alumni move into roles such as Registered Adult Nurse, Social Worker, Community Care Manager, Integrated Health Practitioner, Policy and Practice Lead, or Care Services Coordinator, blending clinical care with social support to help individuals and communities thrive.

Personalised careers support: Edge Hill’s Careers team is there to guide you with one-to-one advice, CV and interview preparation, access to job vacancies, and networking opportunities to help you confidently step into your first professional role.
Strong employment outcomes: Around 92% of graduates from health and social care courses go on to work or further study within 15 months, with many taking highly skilled and impactful roles.
Salary prospects: Early-career graduates can expect earnings of around £28,500, with the opportunity to grow as you gain experience, specialise, and take on leadership responsibilities.
Valued partnerships and professional experience: Working with the Cheshire & Merseyside Social Work Teaching Partnership gives you hands-on experience and professional connections in integrated care settings, enhancing your employability.
Accreditation that matters: Completing this degree makes you eligible to register as a qualified adult nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and to apply for registration as a social worker with Social Work England, giving you two strong professional pathways.
Meaningful outcomes: Many graduates report that their roles feel rewarding and closely aligned with the skills and knowledge they developed during their degree.

Further Academic Progression:
After finishing this programme, you can continue your studies through postgraduate courses in areas such as Advanced Clinical Practice, Social Work Leadership, Health Policy, or Integrated Care Management. These pathways can lead to senior clinical roles, research, teaching, policy development, or management positions, while continuous professional development through your regulatory bodies keeps your skills and career growing.