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  • Foundation Nursing Associate Foundation Degree Apprenticeship [Level 5]

Nursing Associate Level 5 Foundation Degree Apprenticeship FdSc

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  • Level of study:
    Foundation degree, Undergraduate, Apprenticeship
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information
  • Start date:
    January 2027
  • Duration:
    Two years
  • Attendance:
    Part-time
  • Course delivery:
    Blended (Clifton Campus, Mansfield Hub)
Nurses on mock hospital ward
Information for 2026

About this course

The Level 5 Nursing Associate Foundation Degree Apprenticeship at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is designed to prepare apprentices for a vital role in healthcare. Nursing associates work alongside registered nurses and other healthcare professionals, delivering high-quality, person-centred care across diverse settings. This apprenticeship combines academic study with hands-on experience, enabling apprentices to develop the practical skills and theoretical knowledge needed to make a meaningful impact in patient care.

Delivered in collaboration with healthcare employers, the programme ensures apprentices gain real-world experience while working towards a nationally recognised qualification. NTU’s expert teaching team, along with access to modern facilities, supports apprentices' learning journeys as they enhance their clinical abilities and deepen their understanding of healthcare principles. Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), this course meets professional standards and equips apprentices with the skills required to progress in their healthcare careers or further their studies to become registered nurses.

This course aims to provide a route to achieving the Foundation Degree [Higher] Apprenticeship for Nursing Associate by combining all the components required for this apprenticeship in a single, unified programme of study.

You will cover aspects such as professionalism; accountability, health promotion, person-centred care, anatomy and physiology, long-term conditions, health and safety, quality issues, leadership, supervision and clinical skills.

Course accreditations

Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) this work-based apprenticeship course is designed for staff in employment across health and social care to meet the NMC standards of proficiency for nursing associates.

  • NMC Logo

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

Completing your Apprenticeship

To achieve the apprenticeship, all apprentices must complete an End-Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA is an independent assessment that ascertains whether an apprentice is competent in their occupation.

Gateway

Gateway is the period of time between the end of the off-the-job training (practical period) and the beginning of the assessment period when EPA will take place.

At Gateway, the apprentice, employer and training provider will review the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours to determine whether they are ready to take their EPA. This is normally done at a Gateway review meeting which takes place near the end of the apprenticeship. At this meeting, all three parties will check that the mandatory aspects of the apprenticeship have been completed and that the apprentice is ready to take their final assessment(s).

Apprentices must meet the Gateway requirement set out in the assessment plan before taking their EPA.

End-Point Assessment

This apprenticeship is integrated. This means that the end-point assessment is administered by Nottingham Trent University and is usually linked to the academic award that apprentices study whilst in their off-the-job training period.

Details of the assessment elements can be found in the assessment plan.

The end-point assessment for this apprenticeship standard is the examination board.

Successful completion of this apprenticeship will meet the education requirements for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

How you're taught

This apprenticeship is taught at NTU's Institute for Health and Allied Professionals at the Mansfield Hub in October and the Clifton Campus in January.

Delivered on a day-release basis , your learning will have a work-based focus, with a wide range of activities and methods. You'll attend for one full week of study at the beginning of each academic year and then regularly attend for one day per week alongside blended and independent learning activities for 44 weeks a year.

Placements

Across the two years, you will spend 460 hours on placement, and will also have 690 hours of Protected Learning Time.

Apprentices will access a wide variety of placements for 12 weeks over the two years to achieve the NMC programme hours and practice learning requirements. These placements will include experiences in adult, children’s, mental health and learning disability areas, across the lifespan in a variety of setting across community, hospital, primary and social care settings.

How you're assessed

This course integrates collaborative learning and uses a wide range of assessment methods to ensure that the course will be engaging and challenging. Throughout the course, the learning materials and assessments have a work-based focus, using case-studies, problem-based learning and blended learning methods to demonstrate how theory underpins health and social care practice.

Assessment methods include:

  • A Practice Assessment Document and Ongoing Achievement Record which will be in the format of an E-portfolio on a PebblePad platform
  • Essays
  • Reflective accounts
  • Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)
  • Presentations
  • Academic posters
  • Multiple choice and short answer question exams
  • Professional discussion
  • Medication calculation exam

Entry requirements

UK students

In order to be eligible to undertake an Apprenticeship, you must ensure the following are in place prior to the start date of the course:

  • You are a UK resident or have the right to work in the UK.
  • Have a job or a job offer from an employer who will support you to complete your apprenticeship.
  • Will spend at least 50% of your working week in England over the duration of the apprenticeship.  This also applies to remote and hybrid workers

Make sure to read the course-specific entry requirements in the additional requirements section below.

International students

In order to be eligible to undertake an Apprenticeship, you must ensure you can fulfil the following prior to the start date of the course:

  • You have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for at least the previous 3-year period on the first day of your apprenticeship.
  • Your ordinary residence in the UK and Islands has not during any part of that period been wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education.
  • You have permission granted by the UK government to live in the UK and such permission is not for education purposes only.
  • You must be able to complete the apprenticeship in the time you have available (e.g. your Visa must last for the duration of the apprenticeship as well as your contract of employment).

Make sure to read the course-specific entry requirements in the additional requirements section below.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

To undertake an apprenticeship, you must be employed. Your employer will pay your tuition fees.

If you or your employer have any questions regarding the fees and funding available for this apprenticeship, please see our Apprenticeships pages, email our Apprenticeships team, or call  +44 (0)115 848 2589.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

To undertake an apprenticeship you must be employed. Your employer will pay your tuition fees.

We will review your identity documents / immigration status to verify your residency eligibility in line with the apprenticeship funding rules, at the application stage.

If you or your employer have any questions regarding the fees and funding available for this apprenticeship, please see our apprenticeships FAQs, contact our Apprenticeships team at apprenticeships@ntu.ac.uk, or call +44 (0)115 848 2589.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Careers and employability

With NTU’s focus on practical learning, academic excellence, and collaboration with employers, this apprenticeship positions learners to thrive in a challenging and rewarding role within the healthcare sector.

  • Employability Promise

    Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

  • NTU Enterprise

    If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

You’ll mainly be studying in the purpose-built Health & Allied Professions (HAP) Centre.  The 34,000 square foot building features mock hospital wards, consultation and counselling rooms, creative teaching spaces and specialist equipment.

Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep our students busy between lectures. Catch-up with your coursemates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in chic and stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!

You’re also right next to the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. All through termtime, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.

Applying

UK students

Applications to this course can be made through NTU Applicant Portal.

To apply for this course, you must have secured your employer's agreement to support you through the degree apprenticeship course and have been allocated an architecturally qualified Employment Mentor from your place of work.

Firstly, your employer should contact our Apprenticeships team to discuss next steps in the applications process, and support available.

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Good luck with your application!

Apply now

International students

We will review your identity documents / immigration status to verify residency eligibility in line with the apprenticeship funding rules, at application stage.

Applications to this course can be made through NTU Applicant Portal.

To apply for this course, you must have secured your employer's agreement to support you through the degree apprenticeship course and have been allocated an architecturally qualified Employment Mentor from your place of work.

Firstly, your employer should contact our Apprenticeships team to discuss next steps in the applications process, and support available.

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Good luck with your application!

Apply now

Application guidance for apprenticeships

We have lots of useful advice and guidance to help you discuss your options with your employer or apply for available apprenticeship opportunities.

Application support

If you need more help or support, you can call our Apprenticeship team on +44 (0)115 848 2589, or email apprenticeships@ntu.ac.uk.

Keeping in touch

Ask us a question
Sign up for updates
Call +44 (0)115 848 2999
Email the international team