Course contact details
Course Enquiries
Email:cenquiries@lancashire.ac.uk
Phone:01772 892400
University of Lancashire
Preston
PR1 2HE
Nursing Associate (September)
- FdSc
- 2 Years
- Full-time
- 22 September 2025
- Undergraduate
- Preston Campus
Course summary
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.
Modules
Please visit The University of Central Lancashire’s website for the latest information about our modules.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
Ways to study this course
Campuses
- Preston Campus
Study options
- FdSc • Full-time • 2 Years
Start dates
- 22 September 2025
Apply by
29 January
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
Application codes
- Course code:
- NA10
- Institution code:
- C30
- Campus name:
- Preston Campus
- Campus Code:
- U
- Points of Entry:
- Year 1
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
University of Lancashire has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?
How to apply
Apply by
29 January
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- NA10
- Institution code:
- C30
- Campus name:
- Preston Campus
- Campus Code:
- U
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff48 points
We will also consider applicants who have 12 months HCA experience and evidence of academic study e.g. Level 2 or 3 NVQ or Care Certificate
A level
48 UCAS points.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)PPP
Access to HE Diploma
48 UCAS points.
Scottish Higher
48 UCAS points.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE grade C/4 or above in English and Maths or Functional Skills Level 2 English and Maths.
Additional entry requirements
- Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
- Interview
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | with no component score less than 6.5 (To have been taken within two years prior to the course commencement date) |
Contextual admissions
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
Widening participation is at the core of our mission. We believe in helping people to seize every opportunity to flourish in education and work, for life. We offer reduced entry tariffs for students from areas of relative disadvantage, with lower rates of participation in higher education, as well as those who have spent time in the care system. Simply include your care leaver status and postcode on your UCAS application and we will automatically make you a contextual offer if you are eligible.
Historical entry grades data
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).
It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.
Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Historical entry grades report
This report uses your grades to show how students with similar results have done when applying to this course in the past. Sometimes, there isn’t data for every possible set of grades. When that happens, universities and colleges occasionally fill in the gaps for sets of grades that are typically accepted.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Per year tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
*subject only to annual increase in line with UK Retail Price Index inflation rate
Related courses
At University of Lancashire
Like this page