Level 7 Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship MSc

• An undergraduate degree at lower second-class honours or above plus
• GCSEs – English, Maths and a Health or Science related subject grade C / 4 or Level 2 (or above).

We will consider equivalent qualifications and combinations, please see UCAS course search for details.

If you are working towards your GCSE English Literature or English Language, Maths and / or Health/Science subject or equivalent qualification, please ensure you mention this in your application.

For those in employment

For those already in employment, this apprenticeship provides access to development opportunities for applicants who may already have practical experience but wish to improve their theoretical understanding, want to develop their skills further, and obtain an academic qualification and professional recognition.

You'll need to be in current employment and have secured your employer's agreement to support you through the degree apprenticeship.

You will also need English and Maths qualifications:

• GCSE Maths or international equivalent – minimum C / 4-5 or above; or
• Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths
• GCSE English or international equivalent – minimum C / 4/5 or above; or
• Level 2 Functional Skills in English

Evidence will also be required of:

• A full DBS check
• Declaration of good health and good character
• Attendance at an Occupational Health review

Personal statement

You will be expected to detail evidence of transferable skills that may include academic study, voluntary or work experience, and should detail this in your personal statement along with how this makes you a suitable candidate for nurse training.

You should also consider including the following information in your personal statement:

• Evidence of professional knowledge, attitudes and behaviours
• Evidence of communication and interpersonal skills
• Evidence of transferable skills and practice
• Understanding of the role of a nurse specific to the route that you are applying for i.e. Adult or Mental Health, and current nursing issues
• Insight into the professional, regulatory and statutory aspects of nursing and current nurse training

Other requirements

You will also need to:

• Undertake an interview with a lecturer, clinical practitioner and service user
• Provide a satisfactory health declaration
• Complete an enhanced-level Disclosure and Barring Service check
• Undergo the MSc Nursing Recognition of Prior Learning process

There may also be other recommendations, such as a vaccination programme, before any placements can be undertaken.

Recognition of Prior Learning

For the MSc Nursing, 500 hours of theory and 500 hours of practice will be accredited using Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This means that students will be required to attend for two years instead of the traditional three-year nursing course.

RPL will take the form of a reference, reflection on practice document, RPL interview and written assignment.. Prior to invitation to interview, you will be invited to complete and submit this document to the recruiting organisation.  The reference will confirm that 500 hours of work/voluntary experience where you will have used skills that are transferable to nursing*. This will need to be signed by your supervisor or line manager.

The reflection on practice document will identify twelve ‘indicators’ that are adapted from twelve Nursing and Midwifery Council proficiencies. You will need to identify eight ‘indicators’ (including a mandatory indicator on digital skills) that you believe will have been achieved through their work/voluntary experience together with details of the activities that you have engaged in to achieve them.  At interview, you will be invited to discuss and reflect on how your experience has enabled you to achieve a selection of these indicators.  This process will support RPL of achievement of the practice hours for a nursing programme.

Once you have passed your interview, you will be invited to submit a written assignment to the department.  You will select one from a choice of case studies and write a 3000 assignment in which you explore the physical, psychological and social factors that have the potential to impact on the health of the individual

Transferable skills

While we warmly welcome people who have worked in a health or social care setting, we do not restrict our definition of transferable skills to these settings.  It is likely that you will have used transferable skills if you have worked in any public facing sort of role.  You need to think about what skills you have used and how they are relevant to nursing.  You have to have used these skills in a paid or formal voluntary role, rather than with family and friends on an informal basis.