We are closing on 20 December for the Christmas period and will re-open again on 2 January. If you have a question during this time, please speak to our chat bot.

What are you looking for?

Courses

Events

Staff

level: UG top_up: false international: true clearing: false full_time: true part_time: false start_month: September location: Waterside

Nursing Associate FdSc

  1. Home
  2. Courses by subject
  3. Nursing Associate FdSc

Key Facts

  • UCAS Code

    B970

  • Level

    UndergraduateUG FdSc

  • Duration

    2 years Full-time

  • Starting

    September

Updated 20/12/2024

The Guardian Top 5 Apply Now Open Days

Updated 20/12/2024

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

international@northampton.ac.uk
44 (0)1604 892134

Overview

Nursing Associates work with registered Nurses to care for patients and service users of different ages and in a range of settings. Nursing Associates are members of the nursing team and are accountable for their own practice. This full-time 2 year nursing associate degree FdSc, with a 50/50 split between theory and practice learning, will prepare you to be a highly skilled autonomous and reflective practitioner who is able to deliver high quality, compassionate, professional and safe care.

Top 5 For General Nursing

The University of Northampton is a top 5 institution for general Nursing in the Best UK University Guardian League table for 2025.

Top 10 For Nursing & Midwifery 

Our nursing and midwifery courses are joined top 10 in the Daily Mail University League table for 2025.

Successful completion of the nurse associate foundation degree will lead to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Nursing Associate, allowing you to practice in accordance with the NHS Constitution which is underpinned by the core NHS values. The FdSc Nursing Associate course has been approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This means you can be confident that this programme meets the standards of education, training, conduct and performance required for nurses in the UK.

NMC - Nursing and Midwifery Council logo

Highlights

  • Leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a registered Nursing Associate.
  • Hyper-real simulation mannequins and virtual reality to recreate clinical environments.
  • Access to welling activities to support academic, professional and emotional development.
  • HP laptop and software included with this course for eligible students* (*see eligibility criteria and terms and conditions).
Aerial view of University of Northampton, Waterside campus featuring multiple modern buildings, a river, and surrounding greenery and open fields. Car parks and residential areas are visible in the background.

Waterside campus has everything students needs from: Learning Hub featuring 24/7 library, Creative Hub, on-site shop, restaurant, cafes and food outlets, multi-faith chaplaincy, student village hall, Students' Union and more. With only a short walk over the bridge into the town centre.

Internal view of the Learning Hub, showing barriers towards elevators and in the background the student information desk. There is a large clock on the wall. A person is walking through the spacious lobby.

The Learning Hub and Student Information Desk would be a student's first point of call when needing support.

Two floors of the Learning Hub library, showing a spacious, modern interior with rows of bookshelves, a mezzanine level, and several students studying on couches and tables below.

Our library covers three floors of the Learning Hub, with IT rich learning environments, including silent and group study spaces, physical books. Don't forget there are plenty more resources available online!

University of Northampton Student Information Desk area with digital screens, staff computers, and a sign reading

The Student Information Desk is the first place a student should go if they need any help. Here the team can direct you to academic support, mental health support, financial support, IT support, and more.

Spacious modern building lobby, the Learning Hub, with high ceilings, circular ceiling panels, staircase, and staff and students working at yellow seating areas.

The Learning Hub is where every student will go for library support and classes, as well as food outlets and social events.

External view of the Learning Hub, with large windows and vertical pillars housing, adjacent to a green lawn with benches and an outdoor seating area with an umbrella.

The Learning Hub also has lots of outdoor space for meeting with friends or finding some silent time between classes.

External view of the Learning Hub at the University of Northampton. The building features large glass windows, metal panelling, and pavements.

The Learning Hub is the biggest building on campus, home to our Student Information Desk, 24/7 library, teaching spaces, cafes, and more.

External view of Senate building at the University of Northampton, which is a modern building with cream features and grey roads surrounding it.

The big and spacious modern Senate building has various types of learning spaces, teaching rooms, our Bloomberg suite, Morley Room lecture hall, and cafes.

Entry Requirements

The following are the entry requirements for the Nursing Associate foundation degree:

  • Level 2 qualification – Maths and English Language Grade C or equivalent
  • Level 3 qualification – pass grade
  • Access Course – Pass grade
  • BTEC Extended Diploma/Cambridge Technical  – PPP
  • BTEC Diploma – MP
  • One  A level – Grade E
  • Pass (D or E) at T Level

We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.

  • Please note that we may consider other qualifications for this foundation associate in nursing course not listed above on an individual basis, please contact our Admissions team to discuss these in further detail.

    All offers of a place on this Nurse Associate course are subject to:

    • successful Occupational Health Screening,
    • satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report, and
    • successful interview by the University.

  • All International and EU students applying for a nursing associate foundation degree with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

    • IELTS 7.0 with no lower than 7.0 in Reading, Listening and Speaking as well as no lower than 6.5 in Writing for study at the undergraduate level.

    For more information on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) English language entry criteria, please follow the NMC website.

    For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

Course Content

  • This nursing associate foundation course has been designed to contribute towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG3 of Good Health and Wellbeing and SDG5 Gender Equality.

    Our aim is to help you to develop into a safe and effective Nursing Associate who is caring and compassionate and able to deliver high quality care to people of all ages and in a range of settings.

    The FDSC Nursing Associate degree is a 50/50 split of theory and practice to enable you to develop your knowledge and apply this in clinical practice. You will have a range of practice placements allowing you to develop your competence in caring for people of different ages and in different settings.

    By studying FdSc Nursing Associates you will:

    • Learn to work in teams
    • Develop your professional self
    • Develop excellence in caring for people
    • Work in partnership with other members of the healthcare team
    • Develop competence in evidence-based care.

    The Foundation Associate in Nursing degree also runs as an employer-sponsored apprenticeship. You can find more details about our nurse associate apprenticeship on our Apprenticeships webpage.

    List of modules:

    Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

      • Module code: FHS_IPE20
        Status: Compulsory
      • Module code: NPR1032
        Status: Compulsory
        The purpose of this module is to develop nursing associate students self awareness, personal and professional resilience and professional identity within nursing. An understanding of how health science, social and political knowledge, behaviour, vocabulary and skills form their nursing identity. Additionally the module will develop communication skills and understanding of how constructive feedback can be used to evaluate self and effect positive change.
      • Module code: NPR1033
        Status: Compulsory
        The purpose of this module is to provide nursing associate students with underpinning theoretical knowledge. Students will consider the scientific, legal, professional and personal context of nursing in order to participate in practice safely, ethically and lawfully within a range of clinical practice settings.
      • Module code: NPR1034
        Status: Compulsory
        The purpose of this module is to equip nursing associate students with the theoretical foundation skills and evidenced based knowledge to fully participate in person-centred decision making, influence positive lifestyle choices and beginning the students? own professional development within the context of nursing.
      • Module code: NPR1035
        Status: Compulsory
      • Module code: NPR1036P
        Status: Compulsory
        This is a work-based module which enables students to develop the appropriate attitudes, behaviours, values and skills and underpinning knowledge to work competently within health and social care as student Nursing Associates. The module is based on requirements from the NMC Proficiencies for Nursing Associates (2018).
      • Module code: NPR2075
        Status: Compulsory
        This module will further develop nursing associate students communication skills, resilience, and professional identity. Students will respond to constructive feedback through reflection to effect positive change and develop self awareness. Student?s will apply their knowledge of health science, social and political knowledge and behaviour enabling them to problem solve.
      • Module code: NPR2076
        Status: Compulsory
        The purpose of this module is to further develop nursing associate students theoretical knowledge, advancing their understanding and application of science, the law and professionalism. This will enable them to initiate safe practice that is ethical and lawful within a range of clinical practice settings.
      • Module code: NPR2077
        Status: Compulsory
        The purpose of this module is to further develop nursing associate students professional development, theory, skills and evidenced based knowledge to initiate person centred care. This will be used to influence positive lifestyle choices, improve health outcomes and understand the appropriateness of quality of care to effect service improvement.
      • Module code: NPR2078
        Status: Compulsory
        The purpose of this module is to develop nursing associate students knowledge and understanding of pharmacology and the principles of safe, effective adminstration and optimisation of medicines. Students will demonstrate proficiency and accuracy when calculating dosages of prescribed medicines in clinical practice, developing understanding of a health numeracy assessment. This will enable students to safely initiate and undertake all aspects of medications management in the clinical with confidence and competence.
      • Module code: NPR2079P
        Status: Compulsory
        This is a work-based module which enables students to develop the appropriate attitudes, behaviours, values and skills and underpinning knowledge to work competently within health and social care as student Nursing Associates. The module is based on requirements from the NMC Proficiencies for Nursing Associates (2018).

  • At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

    If you join our full time associate in nursing foundation degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

    Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your nursing associate course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

    To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

    * UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details)

  • How will I be taught on this Nursing Associate course?

    You will be taught by high quality and experienced lecturers who will share their knowledge and passion of nursing with you.  They will also enable you to develop your study skills.  You will have a range of learning activities that will vary from face to face sessions, tutorials, online blended learning, simulation and virtual reality in our state of the art simulation suit and placement learning. You will also be able to access our wellbeing activities that will range from study skills, sports and mindfulness sessions.

    How will I be assessed?

    Assessment on this foundation nurse associate degree is by a variety of methods including written assignments, presentations, scenario assessments and assessment in clinical practice.

    What is our recruitment approach for this FDSC Nursing Associate degree?

    Values Based Recruitment is an approach with attracts and selects students on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with the NHS constitution. The purpose of this is to ensure that the future and current workforce is selected with the right values and skills to support the delivery of excellent patient care.

    Through application and interview applicants are selected based on their ability to show they have the values of the 6Cs.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 2025/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Full Time: £9,535*
  • International Full Time: £15,700

* The 2025/26 annual tuition fee for undergraduate courses has not yet been confirmed by the Department for Education but is expected to be £9,535 for year one. UON will adjust fees annually in line with government policy.

For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

    • Travel costs to and from placements, and extra costs associated with placements, may be incurred throughout your studies depending on where you are based.
    • optional membership of Union
    • optional two week European placement (flights, accommodation, living expenses)
    • first set of clinical uniform is free but additional uniforms have to be purchased by the student
      black leather shoes, black socks.

  • For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

    For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

  • Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £9,250
    • International – Full Time: £15,200

Staff

Ruth Smith, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing

Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Ruth Smith
Nicky Peasnell, Senior Lecturer - Dental

Senior Lecturer - Dental
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Nicky Peasnell
Hannah Cannon, Senior Lecturer in Practice Development - Nursing

Senior Lecturer in Practice Development - Nursing
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Hannah Cannon

Careers and Employability

On successful completion of this nurse associate foundation degree you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Nursing Associate.

Graduates can apply to one of our BSc Nursing programmes, and subject to successful interview, can complete a further 18 months of study. This will enable you to gain BSc (Hons) in Nursing and apply for a registration with the NMC as a Registered Nurse.

Facilities

The Learning Hub is at the heart of the campus and home to the student information desk.

Learning Hub

A realistic, acute clinical environment with mannequins, hospital beds, medical gases systems, clinical equipment, and more.

Clinical Skills Simulation Lab

The main reception for the University and additional teaching spaces.

Senate Building

Is this course for you?

The Guardian Top 5
Apply Now
Open Days

Share