Nursing Associate Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc

Course overview

Our FdSc Nursing Associate two-year course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). It has been carefully co-designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and professional attributes required for the role.

The trainee nursing associate role is proving to be an exciting addition to the nursing workforce and successful completion of this course will ensure you are eligible to apply for initial registration as a Nursing Associate with the NMC.

The nursing associate is a new generic nursing role in England that bridges the gap between healthcare support workers and registered nurses, to deliver hands-on, person-centred care as part of a multidisciplinary team in a range of different settings.

You’ll have the opportunity to engage in skills development and simulated learning, allowing you to practice the skills required of a nursing associate. It will also enable you to identify where you need to focus your personal and professional development plans.

As you progress through the course, you will find that your work-based learning will inform your theoretical work and vice-versa. Your work-based learning will be managed by the University Work Based Learning Team (WBLT) and academic team, to ensure that you will meet the work-based learning requirements for your course.

Why study with us


• After you have completed the course, you can train to become a registered nurse by completing a shortened nursing degree or a nursing Degree Apprenticeship.



• The course is based on exciting and innovative teaching, utilising technology, superb clinical skills facilities and interdisciplinary education.



• You will gain real-world experience from your placement in a variety of healthcare settings.



What you'll do


• As part of the placement experience, you’ll gain real-world experience in a variety of healthcare settings, understanding how nursing care is delivered to people with diverse needs.



• Throughout each work-based placement, you’ll be supported by practice supervisors, practice assessors, practice education facilitators (PEF), and academic staff.



• Your placements will span across multiple healthcare environments, allowing you to develop your skills in different settings, both within hospitals and in community or home-based care.



Future Careers

On completion of the nursing associate programme you’ll be eligible to register with the NMC and have knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and behaviours to work as a nursing associate.

After you have completed the course, you can train to become a registered nurse by completing a shortened nursing degree or a nursing degree apprenticeship.