The Nursing Associate Higher Apprenticeship at UCW builds upon our proven track record in delivering Foundation Degrees in Health and Social Care and Integrated Mental Health and Social Care in partnership with UWE Bristol.

Our students and graduates are employed in a range of settings, from NHS trusts to smaller health and social care providers, and our brilliant lecturing team are all experienced in teaching students who work in demanding roles alongside their studies.

Our healthcare students and apprentices are taught at the modern University Centre in our Winter Gardens building on Weston seafront, meaning they have access to great new facilities and a dedicated higher education library, with practical studies sometimes taking place at our multimillion-pound Health and Active Living Skills Centre.

The facility, which is the first of its kind in the region and was opened in 2019 at our Loxton Campus, includes a fully-equipped simulation ward with high-tech patient mannequins, a therapy room and brilliant indoor and outdoor sport and exercise facilities.

Nursing Associate apprentices combine their studies with work-based learning in areas including clinical practice, clinical observations and supporting patients and their loved ones.

The classroom-based elements of the course cover key knowledge and skills in areas including safety and quality, anatomy and physiology, communication, medicines management, integrated care, clinical practice, teamwork and promoting good health.

Apprentices are just like any other students at UCW – meaning they have access to all of the support and guidance we offer at no additional expense.

Please contact our Apprenticeships Team on 01934 411 594 or apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk to find out more.

Higher Apprentices are taught via lectures and seminars in the classroom, e-learning and real-world, on-the-job training. UCW’s Higher Education Library Plus (HE.LP) team also deliver a series of sessions on degree-level research and academic writing to all first-year students.

Degree Apprentices are also expected to learn through independent self-study, which involves working on individual and group projects, and undertaking research in preparation for coursework and exams.

All of the modules on this course are compulsory and successful completion will lead to the award of the Level 5 Nursing Associate FdSc Foundation Degree.

Year 1:

• Accountable Professional Clinical Practice 1 (30 credits)
• Applied Anatomy and Physiology (30 credits)
• Communication and Relationship Management Skills (15 credits)
• Improving Safety and Quality of Care (15 credits)
• Provide and Monitor Care (30 credits)

Year 2:

• Accountable Professional Clinical Practice 2 (30 credits)
• Contributing to Integrated Care (15 credits)
• Pharmacology and Medicines Management (30 credits)
• Promoting and Preventing Ill Health (30 credits)
• Working in Teams (15 credits)

Please click on the course handbook button to find out more.

This course is taught via a combination of lectures, seminars, skills practice, presentations, case studies, group workshops and work-based practice. UCW’s Higher Education Library Plus (HE.LP) team also deliver a series of sessions on degree-level research and academic writing to all first-year students. When not in scheduled lecturers and seminars, students are expected to continue learning through independent self-study. This involves reading relevant literature, working on individual and group projects, and undertaking research in preparation for coursework and exams.

This course has an average of 7.5 hours of scheduled teaching per week.

Assessment is via a combination of written exams, practical exams and coursework. The assessment breakdown is 25% written exams, 30% practical exams and 45% coursework.

• Those who successfully complete the course will be able to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a qualified Nursing Associate.
• Qualified Nursing Associates are eligible to undertake a shortened nursing degree or relevant Degree Apprenticeship to continue their training to become a fully qualified, registered nurse.

Industry insight

Nursing Associates are typically on Band 3 of the NHS pay scale and earn between £17,000 and £21,500 while they are training and can progress to Band 4 upon becoming qualified (NHS).

• A Level 3 qualification such as A Levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma, or a T Level, or an Access to Higher Education Diploma, or equivalent.
• Requirement of 112 UCAS tariff points
• Maths and English GCSE above a grade 4/C or equivalent
• Applicants must also be employed in a suitable health or social care setting where they can be supported and assessed by a NMC approved Practice Assessor.

As UCW has vulnerable adults, children and young people studying on site at times, all students are asked to disclose if they have a criminal record at enrolment.  This is so that we can achieve our priority of ensuring the safety of all children, young people, or adults at risk within our community.  In addition, some programmes require students to obtain an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an additional cost of £55. For more information please click here.

UCW Terms and Conditions

Programme specification