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Nursing Associate (Higher Apprenticeship) - FdSc *
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry. Switch to 2024/25 Entry
The FdSc Nursing Associate (Higher Apprenticeship) programme aims to produce compassionate, competent, and confident nursing associates at academic level 5 qualified to deliver a wide range of clinical, care and interpersonal skills underpinned by a systematic knowledge base....
- Level Apprenticeship
- Study mode Blended Learning
- Location City South
- Award FdSc
- Start date October 2025, February 2026, April 2026
- School School of Nursing and Midwifery
- Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences
This course is:
Overview
The FdSc Nursing Associate (Higher Apprenticeship) programme aims to produce compassionate, competent, and confident nursing associates at academic level 5 qualified to deliver a wide range of clinical, care and interpersonal 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.
To support your learning and development during this course, you will be supported by academic assessors, practice assessors and practice supervisors (NMC, 2023). You will demonstrate the development of your knowledge, skills and behaviours by achieving the NMC Standards of Proficiency for nursing associates (NMC, 2018) reflecting the six platforms:
- Platform 1 – Being an accountable professional.
- Platform 2 – Promoting health and preventing ill health.
- Platform 3 – Provide and monitor care.
- Platform 4 – Working in teams.
- Platform 5 – Improving safety and quality of care.
- Platform 6 – Contributing to integrated care.
As work-based learning remains central to the successful completion of the programme, you will have the opportunity to combine your previous experience with your newly acquired knowledge and apply this immediately into your practice. Collaboration between the University and work-based partners is fundamental to the programme and ensures attainment of the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education (IfATE) Occupational Duties and therefore acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs).
How to apply
You apply for a degree apprenticeship in the same way you apply for a normal job. You’ll need to submit an application to the recruiting employer.
Employers advertise degree apprenticeships throughout the year and there is no application cycle like there is with university applications. The vacancy will state when the application deadline is, and when the apprenticeship is due to start.
You cannot apply directly to the University for a degree apprenticeship. To apply for an apprenticeship, you first need to find one that you are interested in applying for.
The NHS Jobs website is where the vacancies are advertised. It only shows live jobs (so it won’t tell you previous vacancies, nor what’s coming up), so you will need to check it regularly to see new vacancies as the employers advertise them.
What's covered in this course?
The FdSc Nursing Associate is a full-time course delivered at City South Campus.
You will attend university one day a week and also attend a placement in a variety of settings across the four fields of nursing, as well as working in your permanent work base area.
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:
Why study an apprenticeship?
- Apprenticeships offer work based learning – the opportunity to build on existing knowledge and skills
- A wide range of placement opportunities to broaden your understanding of healthcare provision across the lifespan
- Highly experienced tutors who are all professionally qualified to support you at university
- Work based clinical educators to support you in practice
- A wide range of support services available to you at university to support your learning journey.
Entry requirements
GCSE grade C or new grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics. GCSE equivalents e.g. key skills level 2 or functional skills maths and English level 2 are currently accepted.
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
- NVQ Level 2 plus written paper – essay (1,500 words)
- Portfolio of evidence if no level 2 qualification achieved. A portfolio route has been devised for those applicants who are already working in a health or social care setting and who do not meet the formal entry requirements. To follow this route you are still expected to possess GCSE Maths and English or equivalent
The portfolio should include:
- Two written testimonies (one of which must be from your employer) supporting your application
- One reflective piece that draws on your current practice (1,500 words)
- All pieces of work should be endorsed by your line manager
You will also be required to work 30 or more hours a week.
Why Choose Us?
- We have excellent facilities, including a brand new building that offers state-of-the-art 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.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
Our School of Nursing and Midwifery is 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.
See more of our skills facilities at City South
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.
Our staff
Pamela Perks
Lecturer / Admissions Tutor
Pamela has worked in health care since the eighties starting her career on a children’s ward. The majority of her career though has been in Critical Care working in a variety of settings and specialties at Grimsby, Leeds and Papworth hospitals before coming to Birmingham’s Major Injuries Unit in the early nineties.
More about Pamela