Interested? See

Attendance

Campus

Start

Duration

2 years

Start

September 2025

UCAS Code

NA10

Delivery

In-person

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.

Interested?

Download

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.

Modules

This course is currently under review and these modules are subject to change.

The aim of this module is to give you the skills and knowledge you need when monitoring and providing care for people experiencing acute, long term and complex health difficulties. You'll develop an appreciation of the importance of comprehensive person-centred care delivery with reference to the evidence. You'll also explore professional values and attitudes with reference to The Code.

Module code: NU2901

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. We may also make changes to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Simulated Hospital Environment

Clinical Skills Suite (Harrington Building)

The Library (Preston Campus)

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.

Entry requirements

UCAS: 64 points at A2 or 12 months HCA experience and evidence of academic study e.g. Level 2 or 3 NVQ or Care Certificate
BTEC Extended Diploma: MPP
BTEC Diploma: MM
Pass Access Course: 64 UCAS points
International Baccalaureate Diploma: Pass including 64 points from Higher Level Subjects
T Level: P (D or E)
IELTS: 6.5 with no component lower than 6.5
GCSEs: 5 at grade C/4 including Maths and English or equivalent
A satisfactory Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland) and Occupational Health clearance are required for this course.

This course will involve you working with vulnerable groups of individuals, this may include children. In order to ensure that the University offers places on their programmes to suitable candidates you will be required to obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (formerly termed CRB).

We will be able to guide you through this process once you have been offered a conditional place of study at the University of Central Lancashire.

It is important to note that should your Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prove to be unsatisfactory for the purpose of the course you have applied to, your offer of a place for that course may be withdrawn. If you have already enrolled on a course and your DBS check subsequently discloses a criminal conviction, you may be required to withdraw from the course even if you have already started. If you are aware that your DBS check will disclose a previous conviction, please contact the course leader for advice as not all convictions may preclude you from continuing with the course.

Not got the grades?

Our courses with a foundation year could be exactly what you're looking for. They provide an alternative route to study for this degree.

Find out more about our courses with a foundation year.

Please note:

Students on this programme are eligible for student finance for tuition fees, dependant on their individual circumstances.
Students on this programme are not currently eligible to access the NHS learning support fund.

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

Care Leaver Bursary
Our Care Leaver Bursary is for students who need extra support because they have been in care or are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Care Leaver Bursary
Estranged student support
Estranged Student Support Bursary is for students who need extra support because they are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Estranged student support
Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary
Financial support package
If you are from a low income household our Financial Bursary may be able to help.
Find out more about Financial support package

A 3-year degree qualification typically comprises 360 credits and each 20 credit (a standard module) equates to 200 hours of study, which comprises of a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions and independent study.

Independent study is an important aspect of your degree course. The exact combination of study time will be detailed within your module descriptors, and will depend on your option choices.

Teaching and learning methods will reflect an “active learning” approach in which you will be engaged in meaningful activity and are at the centre of your own learning. This is in keeping with an adult learning philosophy and the programme aims and learning outcomes.

A range of learning and teaching methods will be employed, including:

Discussions and seminars
Keynote lectures
Enquiry Based Learning (EBL)
Debate
Digitally based resources and directed study and reading
Simulation
Nursing associate skills development
Supervised practice within the practice environment
Learning and teaching methods will include the service user and carer experience and voice wherever possible.

Assessment is mapped to the curriculum and occurs throughout the programme to determine student progression. A range of formative and summative assessment methods are used including:

Peer assessment and feedback
Presentations
Student negotiated project
Reflective narratives
Examination
Written assignments
Practice based/Simulation observational assessment

Assessment methods will include service user and carer contribution wherever possible.

Interested?

Download

This course is delivered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

Your saved courses

Nursing Associate

Why study with us

What you’ll do

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Year 2

Compulsory modules

View the course facilities

Accreditations

Future careers

Entry requirements

Not got the grades?

Scholarships and bursaries

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

Financial support package

Nursing Associate

Why study with us

What you’ll do

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

View the course facilities

Accreditations

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Future careers

Entry requirements

Not got the grades?

Scholarships and bursaries

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

Financial support package

Learning and assessment

Industry links

Further information