Program Overview

Nursing Associate FdSc

Key Facts

• UCAS Code: B970
• Level: UndergraduateUG FdSc
• Duration: 2 years Full-time
• Starting: September SEP
• Entry Requirements: E at A Level, MM at BTEC
• Fees UK 25/26: Full Time: £9,535
• Fees International 25/26: Full Time: £15,700
• Location: Waterside

Overview

Nursing Associates work with registered Nurses to care for patients and service users of different ages and in a range of settings. Nursing Associates are members of the nursing team and are accountable for their own practice. This full-time 2 year nursing associate degree FdSc, with a 50/50 split between theory and practice learning, will prepare you to be a highly skilled autonomous and reflective practitioner who is able to deliver high quality, compassionate, professional and safe care.

Highlights

• Leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a registered Nursing Associate.
• Hyper-real simulation mannequins and virtual reality to recreate clinical environments.
• Access to welling activities to support academic, professional and emotional development.
• HP laptop and software included with this course for eligible students* (*see eligibility criteria and terms and conditions).

Entry Requirements

• Level 2 qualification: Maths and English Language Grade C or equivalent
• Level 3 qualification: pass grade
• Access Course: Pass grade
• BTEC Extended Diploma/Cambridge Technical: PPP
• BTEC Diploma: MP
• One A level: Grade E
• T Level: Pass (with a D or E in Core or above).

We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.

English Language Requirements

All International and EU students applying for a nursing associate foundation degree with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

• IELTS 7.0 with no lower than 7.0 in Reading, Listening and Speaking as well as no lower than 6.5 in Writing for study at the undergraduate level.

Placements

The programme is a 50/50 split of theory and practice to enable you to develop your knowledge and apply this in clinical practice. You will have a range of practice placements allowing you to develop your competence in caring for people of different ages and in different settings.

Course Content

• Stage 1
  • Interprofessional Education (IPE)
  • Discovering My Identity as a Nursing Associate (20 Credits)
  • Professionalism and Public Protection for Nursing Associates (20 Credits)
  • Exploring the Evidence Base for Nursing Associates (20 Credits)
  • Developing Competence in Safe, Effective Administration and Optimisation of Medicines for Nursing Associates
  • Foundations of Practice for Nursing Associates (60 Credits)
• Stage 2
  • Developing My Nursing Associate Identity Towards Becoming a Registrant (20 Credits)
  • Applying Understanding of Nursing Professionalism and Protection of the Public in Nursing (20 Credits)
  • Interpreting the Evidence Base Influencing Nursing Associate Practice (20 Credits)
  • Demonstrating Competence in the Safe, Effective Administration and Optimisation of Medicines for Nursing Associates
  • Advanced Work Based Learning for Nursing Associates (60 Credits)

Student Perks

• HP laptop and software included with this course for eligible students* (*see eligibility criteria and terms and conditions).
• Access to welling activities to support academic, professional and emotional development.
• Northampton Employment Promise.

Fees and Funding

• 2025/26 Tuition Fees
  • UK Full Time: £9,535
  • International Full Time: £15,700
• Additional Costs
  • Travel costs to and from placements, and extra costs associated with placements, may be incurred throughout your studies depending on where you are based.
  • Optional membership of Union
  • Optional two week European placement (flights, accommodation, living expenses)
  • First set of clinical uniform is free but additional uniforms have to be purchased by the student
  • Black leather shoes, black socks.

Scholarships and Bursaries

For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

Staff

• Nicky Peasnell, Senior Lecturer - Dental
• Hannah Cannon, Senior Lecturer in Practice Development - Nursing
• Ruth Smith, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing

Careers and Employability

On successful completion of this nurse associate foundation degree you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Nursing Associate.

Graduates can apply to one of our BSc Nursing programmes, and subject to successful interview, can complete a further 18 months of study. This will enable you to gain BSc (Hons) in Nursing and apply for a registration with the NMC as a Registered Nurse.

Facilities

• Clinical Skills Simulation Lab
• Senate Building
• Learning Hub

Related Courses

• Adult Nursing BSc (Hons)
• Dental Nursing FdSc
• Children and Young People’s Nursing BSc (Hons)
• Learning Disability Nursing BSc (Hons)
• Mental Health Nursing BSc (Hons)
• Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons)