Who is it for?
This programme is suitable for individuals who have applied via a health and social care employer, in collaboration with NTU, for the opportunity to complete a degree in nursing. This application could be as a new employee in a health and social care setting or an application as a current employee.
Why do the apprenticeship?
Care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment: these core NHS values are embedded in our teaching. The World Health Organisation declared 2020 as “Year of the Nurse”, recognising the huge part they play in day-to-day healthcare. It’s an important and deeply rewarding role.
Through our flexible curriculum and blended learning approach – building up your theoretical knowledge, and then putting it into practice on placement – you’ll develop your holistic, clinical and decision-making skills in line with the demands of modern nursing. Taught by experienced practitioners – and with the additional input of service users and carer groups – you’ll learn from the very best on your journey. Registered nurses are a statutorily regulated profession and successful completion of this apprenticeship will allow employees to register as professionals with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
We offer three different pathways as part of this programme:
- Level 6 Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (Adult)
- Level 6 Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (Mental Health)
- Level 6 Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (Learning Disabilities)
What are the benefits?
Employers will benefit from an employee, after successful completion of the course, that will return to them as a registered professional with the NMC.
Student profiles
What you'll study
Our course gives you a robust knowledge of adult, mental health or learning disabilities nursing practice (depending on the field of nursing you have chosen) – as well as the wider sector – both in and outside of the classroom. It’s the perfect combination of theory and practice, aligned to great facilities, modules built around the latest research, and teachers who’ve worked for years in professional healthcare. You’ll develop your nursing knowledge based around:
- A holistic view of a person’s’ psychological and physical needs to support recovery
- The chance to refine and apply your therapeutic skills
- A practice-learning environment, with simulated exercises and activities
- Placements in a variety of healthcare settings
- Some fantastic opportunities for career development.
Our nursing degree isn’t just distinguished by the amount of time you’ll spend on placement – it’s how early those placements opportunities arrive on your course. From the outset, we’ll ensure you’re in hands-on, practice-based environments, supporting local healthcare providers and putting your theoretical skills to the test. Alongside the “interprofessional” nature of our teaching – which connects you with experts from across the sector, broadening your skills and knowledge – you’ll have the perfect grounding in adult / mental health / learning disability nursing (depending on which field of Nursing you have chosen).
The five strands of nursing at NTU
- Applied Biological, Psychological and Social Sciences.
- Clinical and Nursing Skills.
- Nursing Concepts, Philosophies and Theories
- Personal and Professional Development
- Preparation for Practice
Across these strands, you’ll develop the core knowledge, skills and attributes you’ll need for a successful career in nursing – both at home and abroad. You’ll have the chance to complete care-based work placements – embedding in your theoretical skills – and select from an exciting range of specialist placements, outside the specific field of your chosen course. This way, you’ll have the chance to broaden your knowledge and experience even further, making you a great candidate for a huge range of nursing roles.
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Year One
- Introduction to Nursing Practice
- Integrative Nursing Practice
- Foundations in Applied Nursing Practice
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Year Two
- Evidence in Nursing Practice
- Biopsychosocial Approaches to Nursing Practice
- Applied Nursing Practice in Complex Care
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Year Three
- Innovating and Improving Healthcare
- Leadership in Nursing
- Leading and Managing Applied Nursing Practice
The end-point assessment will take place after the three-year degree, although completion of the degree is dependent on completion of the end-point assessment.
How you’re taught
Your learning is based on two things we’re very proud of – a “blended” approach of classroom theory and hands-on practice, and our incredible new facilities. We know what’s needed for the toolkit of the “future nurse”, and we’re committed to giving you the skills, knowledge and experience you need. Our teaching delivery is flexible and diverse, and includes:
- Working with personal tutors – individually, and in larger groups
- Collaboration with “expert patients” – those who’ve accessed health services directly, and can guide your skills in person-centred care through their own experience
- Large and inclusive lectures, and smaller, more intimate seminars
- “Interprofessional” learning, with industry experts from across the healthcare sector
- Clinical skills practice / simulated skills application, in our Clinical Skills Suites
- Virtual reality, and a wealth of online learning communities and resources
- Problem-based learning (PBL) and project-based learning (PrBL)
- Experiential practice and work-based learning (WBL)
- Off-the-job training
Programme structure and activities
- Year One: Clinical Skills / Practice placements / Numeracy Exam / Written Work
- Year Two: Clinical Skills / Practice placements / Numeracy Exam / Presentation / Written Work
- Year Three: Clinical Skills / Practice placement / Numeracy Exam / Presentation / Written Work and Independent Study
Assessment methods
This is a multi-disciplinary programme, and you’ll be assessed through a range of methods and activities. These include:
- OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations) – practical demonstrations of your hands-on nursing skills in a simulated environment
- Observations by Practice Educators of your competency in practice
- An ePortfolio (PebblePad)
- Case studies
- Reflective accounts
- Presentations
- Essays
- Multiple-choice and short-answer exams
- Simulated multi-disciplinary meetings
- Your own independent nursing project
Contact hours
A full-time student on average can expect to spend 1200 hours a year learning which will typically be broken down as follows:
A full-time student on average can expect to spend 1200 hours a year learning which will typically be broken down as follows:
Your time is split roughly in half between classroom-based learning and practice learning placements. You’ll have a minimum of 4,600 hours’ contact time throughout your course – how that’s divided up depends on the programme you’ve chosen, and the year of study. Whilst the hours are always subject to change, here’s some examples:
Hands-on nursing: your work experience opportunities
Placements are the foundation of our nursing courses, and a crucial part of your learning. No other experience gives you the applied, hands-on insights into modern nursing – from decision making to relationships. It’s on placement that you’ll apply the theoretical principles of holistic assessment, values-based practice, person centred care, and effective collaboration between service users, their families, and other providers. You’ll work across a variety of health and social care settings, in a wide range of public and private sector environments – all the time developing your understanding of the person’s journey and the services they access.
You’ll benefit from our reputation in the healthcare sector, and our fantastic professional links throughout nursing. The range and diversity of experiences on offer means you can properly explore the role – and in your second and third years, you’ll even get the chance to complete an practice learning placement in an alternative field. It’ll deepen your understanding of nursing and improve your job prospects even further.
In each year of the programme there will be 3 placements, in the first year, for example, you will have a placement that starts approximately 8 weeks after you start. Each placement in the first year lasts for six weeks and in the second and third years the placement are no less than 7 weeks long.
Learn from the experts
As tomorrow’s professionals, you’ll be taught by today’s experts – people who’ve worked (and are still working) across the healthcare sector. Tutorials and personal contact time are an important part of our nursing courses, and we ensure you’re supported in both one-to-one and group-learning environments. You’ll have your own personal tutor, and a range of module leaders. As these are new courses, we’ve had the opportunity to build them from the ground up, ensuring they’re informed by the latest research and practice – and meaning that you’ll learn at the forefront of modern nursing.
Throughout the programme, we’ll give you all the support you need: from advice and feedback, to securing practice learning placements, to helping you deal with any unforeseen personal circumstances or difficulties.
Clinical and nursing skills
Your registration by the Nursing and Midwifery Council hinges on proving you’ve got the required nursing skills – the practical components of this course. You’ll develop these skills in our suites, through a range of simulated exercises that bridge the gap between the classroom and your practice placements. You’ll then keep a record of the skills you’ve acquired and contact hours you’ve completed in your ePortfolio.
Entry requirements
- A level – ACC or BBC; or
- BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM (Health and Social Care preferred but not essential); or
- Access to Higher Education – D15 and M30 (Health or Nursing preferred but not essential)
- 5 GCSEs including English, Maths and either, Science or Health-related grades C / 4-5 and above; or
- Functional Skills including English and Maths
- A full DBS check
- Declaration of good health and good character
- Attendance at an Occupational Health review
112 UCAS tariff points from a range of Level 3 qualifications including:
Alternative Level 3 qualifications will also be considered on application and approval.
Level 2 qualifications including:
Alternative Level 2 qualifications will also be considered on application and approval.
Applicants who do not meet the above academic criteria but have sufficient relevant experience in the workplace will be considered on an individual basis for recognition of prior learning and experience. Please contact us to discuss your options.
For those in employment in Health and Social Care
You'll need to be in current employment and have secured your employer's agreement to support you through the degree apprenticeship.
Evidence will also be required of:
Unfortunately this course is not available for EU or international students.
How to apply
To apply click the Apply button at the top of the page.
For further information visit our apprenticeship pages or email us.
Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.
Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.
Unfortunately this course is not available for EU or international students.
Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.
Fees and funding
Your employer will be able to access government funding which will cover the costs of your course fees. Your employer will discuss with you regarding any extra charges such as accommodation and travel expenses prior to you signing up to the apprenticeship so that you are aware of any additional costs you may incur before you accept your apprenticeship. For apprenticeship fees, funding and guidance information, please see our Apprenticeships pages.
Unfortunately this course is not available for EU or international students.