Program Overview

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Nursing Associate - FdSc

Overview

The FdSc Nursing Associate programme aims to produce compassionate, competent, and confident nursing associates at academic level 5 qualified to deliver a wide range of clinical, care and inter-personal skills underpinned by a systematic knowledge base. They will be able to practice safely and effectively within their parameters of practice, demonstrating appropriate values and behaviours in a wide range of health and care settings.

What's covered in this course?

The FdSc Nursing Associate is a full-time course delivered at City South Campus.

You will study six level 4 modules in the first year, which cover key theory and practice knowledge and skills to include person and family-centred care, professional values, the parameters of a RNA’s role and safe administration of medication. The second-year modules build on the theory and practice acquired in year 1 to support the development of knowledge and skills to produce competent and reflective practitioners.

Successful completion of the course leads to a registrable qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and professional recognition as a nursing associate.

Accredited By

This course is accredited by:

• Nursing and Midwifery Council

Why Choose Us?

• We have excellent facilities, including state-of-the-art simulation equipment that will support you in your studies. There are several study spaces and open access information technology support.
• We have been shortlisted for the Student Nursing Times Nursing Associate Training Programme Provider of the Year (pre-registration) 2022.

Open Days

Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.

Next Open Day: 28 June 2025

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

Applicants for this course also need GCSE English Language and GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests.

Plus one of the following:

• One A Level grade D or above
• Two AS Level grade D or above
• BTEC National Award grade M
• BTEC National Certificate grade PP
• BTEC National Diploma grade PPP
• Access to HE Diploma
• NVQ Level 3 Full Diploma

Successful candidates will be required to obtain a satisfactory occupational health check and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prior to enrolling on this course.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.

Award: FdSc

Starting: Feb 2027

• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 2 years
• Fees: TBC

Apply via UCAS

International students

Sorry, this course is not available to International students.

Included in your course fees

• Access to computer equipment
• Printing
• Field trips
• Access to Microsoft Office 365
• Key software
• Key subscriptions
• DBS check
• Uniform
• Occupational health assessment

Not included in your course fees

• Placement expenses (mandatory)
• Excess printing (optional)
• Personal stationery and study materials (optional)
• Memberships (optional)
• Accommodation and living costs (optional)

Course in Depth

Level 4

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

• Introduction to Delivery of Safe and Compassionate Care 20 credits
• Introduction to Professional Accountability and Person-centred Care 20 credits
• Introduction to Health Inequalities and Promotion of Preventative Health Behaviours 20 credits
• Introduction to Human Development Across the Lifespan 20 credits
• Introduction to Maintaining and Improving Safe Work and Care Environments 20 credits
• Introduction to Developing and Managing Appropriate Relationships 20 credits

Level 5

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

• Consolidation of Delivery of Safe and Compassionate Care 20 credits
• Consolidation of Professional Accountability and Person-centred Care 20 credits
• Consolidation of Health Inequalities and Promotion of Preventative Health Behaviours 20 credits
• Consolidation of Human Development Across the Lifespan 20 credits
• Consolidation of Maintaining and Improving Safe Work and Care Environments 20 credits
• Consolidation of Developing and Managing Appropriate Relationships 20 credits

Employability

Employment opportunities

On completion of the course, you will be eligible to apply to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council Nursing Associate register and practise in the UK. As a qualified Nursing Associate you could work in a range of roles in the NHS. You could also choose to continue your studies and qualify as a Registered Nurse.

Facilities & Staff

Our Facilities

Our Nursing and Midwifery courses are based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.

We’ve spent £41million expanding our facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice.

In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that you learn using the most up-to-date equipment available. Alongside physical spaces such as a mock operating theatre and wards, we also make use of online and virtual technology, such as our virtual ward and virtual case creator.

Centre for Skills and Simulation

The Centre for Skills and Simulation offers a range of different spaces which replicate situations that you will encounter in practice. These include hospital wards, an operating theatre and a home environment room.

Our mock wards enable you to get a feel of what a ward is really like before you head out for your first placement. The hospital wards can be adapted from low care to high dependency care environment with the necessary monitoring equipment.

The home environment room is the perfect space for teaching communications skills and allows us to simulate a community setting for our students. It is particularly useful for mental health nurses, learning disability nurses and midwives.

Simulation Manikins

We have several Simulation men (SIM men) and simulation babies (SIM babies) which are anatomically correct manikins used for teaching specific techniques such as advanced adult and paediatric life support skills, acute and high dependency clinical skills, first aid and communication skills. The manikins contain software which replicates real symptoms, and can manipulate indicators such as blood pressure, pulse and heart rate for extra realism. SIM man can even ‘talk’ to the students as they are treating him, to add another dimension to learning.

Computer Facilities

The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.

Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:

• Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
• Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
• Microsoft Office software
• Research and statistical software
• Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home

Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.

In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.