Nursing Associate FdSc

Why choose this course?

As a nursing associate, you'll deliver hands-on care to patients. You'll work alongside healthcare support workers (holding a care certificate) and fully qualified registered nurses, bridging the existing gap between the two roles.

Through a combination of theoretical learning and practice placements, you'll develop a wide range of specialist and transferable clinical, care and interpersonal skills across all four fields of nursing. Practice placements will also give you the opportunity to gain a wide range of experiences through exposure to different health and care settings.

Nursing associates will be a key part of the multidisciplinary workforce that's needed to respond to the future needs of the public and patient.

You will attend study days and undertake guided learning. Through a combination of theoretical learning and practice placements you will develop a wide range of specialist and transferable clinical, care and interpersonal skills (including medicines management). You will learn a variety of clinical skills through simulation and experiences in a range of healthcare environments, including hospital wards and community setting. You will work with a range of people with different healthcare needs including mental health and learning disability across their lifespan as well as their carers, practice supervisors/assessors and other healthcare professionals.

Successful completion of the course will equip you to work as a Nursing Associate and to progress your career within the health and social care sector. You may be able to progress to a shortened nursing degree course.

Apply for this course
Attendance UCAS code Year of entry
2 years full time B745 2024
2025

Please note: Teaching on this course may take place on more than one KU campus.

Main location Kingston Hill
Order a prospectus
Book an Open Day
Contact us

Apprenticeship option

This course is also available as an apprenticeship.

Find out more about the Nursing Associate FdSc Apprenticeship

Reasons to choose Kingston University

  • This course will enable you to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Nursing Associate.
  • We are top in London for General Nursing, and No.3 in the UK overall (The Guardian University Guide 2024).
  • You'll develop a range of specialist and transferable skills (including medicines management) through clinical placements in a variety of settings.
  • You'll have the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the fields of adult, child, mental health and learning disabilities.
  • We won two awards at the 2023 Student Nursing Times Awards, including Nursing Associate Trainee of the Year. Pebbles Day won the award for her work supporting individuals with a variety of mental health needs.

What you will study

This programme is designed to meet the NMC requirements for Nursing Associates. You will be supported to achieve the competencies, communication, relationship management skills and nursing procedures specified in the Standards of Proficiency for Nursing Associates (NMC 2018).

Year 1

Year 2

Year 1 develops a broad understanding of the nursing associate knowledge base and enables the student to provide reasoned explanations of relevant issues.

Core modules

Personal and Professional Development 1

15 credits

This module addresses professional and personal development and runs throughout Year 1. It integrates and applies skills, knowledge and values acquired in other modules and provides academic skills support and development for students throughout their first year of study. The principles and skills of reflection are introduced and practised. The module also addresses wider issues known to influence successful study outcomes, such as wellbeing, resilience and support networks.

Applied Anatomy and Physiology

30 credits

This module explores the foundations of human anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology relevant to healthcare practice. The content covers the body's key systems and processes, the mechanisms for maintaining homeostasis and an introduction to human development across the lifespan. The module also introduces selected pathophysiology associated with common disease processes in order to assist students contextualise their learning to their clinical settings.

Skills for Healthcare Practice 1

30 credits

This module will enable the student to develop and apply a range of skills to the holistic assessment and monitoring of people within their care, documenting progress and reporting outcomes. Students will be introduced to the required skills and underpinning knowledge so that they can contribute to the ongoing assessment and recognise when it is necessary to escalate findings to other members of the multidisciplinary team for reassessment.

Professionalism in Practice

15 credits

This module explores the application of the NMC Code (NMC, 2018) and the professional principles, values and skills required to safeguard vulnerable people, optimise the quality of care and enhance the experience of people accessing health and social care. The content explores the domains of ‘prioritising people', ‘practising effectively', ‘preserving safety' and ‘promoting professionalism and trust', as applied to a range of user groups.

Promoting Health and Wellbeing

30 credits

This module will set healthcare in its wider social context, providing participants with an understanding of the various influences on health outcomes and inequalities, the relationship between mental and physical health, and their roles in promoting wellbeing. Effective communication skills for supporting people to manage their health and care will be explored.

 

Year 2 promotes a more detailed understanding of the subject matter covered in Year 1, related theories and concepts, enabling students to provide substantiated arguments applied to relevant issues.

Core modules

Personal and Professional Development 2

15 credits

The module will continue the development and consolidation of students' academic practice skills and will support their professional growth as they transition to Registered Nursing Associates. The range of learning, teaching and assessment activities undertaken in the module will allow students to demonstrate acquisition of reflective practice and lifelong learning skills, together with the knowledge and insights necessary for professional practice. The module also covers career development, employability skills and job-seeking preparation.

Skills for Healthcare Practice 2

30 credits

This module builds on the Year 1 module: Skills for Healthcare Practice 1. The module will enhance students' knowledge of the different approaches used to assess and promote a person's health and wellbeing, and to identify those who are at risk. Students will continue to develop the knowledge and core skills required for safe, effective assessment and care management within the practice setting.

The Acutely Unwell Person

30 credits

This module enables students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver safe, effective, compassionate, evidence-based, person-centred care when a person's condition is deteriorating. The module builds on students' knowledge of anatomy and physiology. It will equip them to recognise people who are at risk of deteriorating mental and physical health, undertake timely structured assessments, provide appropriate interventions and care across the lifespan and in a variety of settings.

Long Term Conditions

30 credits

This module will introduce students to the principles of working with people across the lifespan who live with complex and/or long-term conditions (LTC's) in primary and/or secondary care settings.

Leadership for Nursing Associates

15 credits

This module is aimed at final semester nursing associate students. It focuses on the acquisition of knowledge and skills for promoting the delivery of high-quality person-focused care. The content will include: leadership and management; supporting learning and assessment in practice; research, development and innovation; policies and frameworks that support effective care.

Future Skills

Knowledge to give you the edge

Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.

As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.

At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.

Learn employability enhancing Future Skills
A female engineering student, in the engineering lab.

Entry requirements

Typical offer 2025

UCAS tariff points: 56 OR two years of verifiable and relevant work experience.

All students need GCSE at grade 4 or above (or grade C or above for GCSEs taken before 2017) in English Language and Mathematics or equivalent qualification e.g. Functional/Key skills Level 2 in numeracy and literacy.

Enhanced DBS check and Occupational Health Clearance. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview.

Typical offer 2024

UCAS tariff points: 56 OR two years of verifiable and relevant work experience.

All students need GCSE at grade 4 or above (or grade C or above for GCSEs taken before 2017) in English Language and Mathematics or equivalent qualification e.g. Functional/Key skills Level 2 in numeracy and literacy.

Enhanced DBS check and Occupational Health Clearance. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview.

Additional requirements

Admission is subject to:

  • occupational health screening
  • an Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check including checks against the Adult and Child Workforce Barring Lists

All applicants who meet the minimum requirements are required to attend an online interview. This includes a series of short value-based questions, tasks or scenarios. 

International

The apprenticeship programme is not suitable for international applicants without the Right to Work in England, although the UCAS route can be undertaken by international applicants. However, please note that the Nursing Associate role currently only exists in England.

Typical offer and UCAS points explained

Like most universities, we use the UCAS Tariff point system for our course entry requirements.

Find out more about UCAS Tariff points and see how A-level, AS level, BTEC Diploma and T-level qualifications translate to the points system.

Teaching and assessment

Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.

It may also include placements, project work, practical sessions, workshops, conferences and field trips.

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

Outside of the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.

Academic support

Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.

Dedicated personal tutor

When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, support you throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University. 

Your workload

A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.

One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.

  • Year 1: 61% scheduled learning and teaching
  • Year 2: 61% scheduled learning and teaching

The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.

Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.

How you will be assessed

Types of assessment

  • Year 1: Coursework 50%; practical 25%; exams 25%
  • Year 2: Coursework 80%; practical 20%

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback to you on your assessments within 20 working days.

Your timetable

Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.

Course fees and funding

2025/26 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2025/26 the fees for this course are:

 Fee category Amount
Home (UK students) £8,300*

* For full time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. 

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

2024/25 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2024/25 the fees for this course are:

 Fee category Amount
Home (UK students) £8,100*

* For full time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

Note for EU students: UK withdrawal from the European Union

The Government has recently announced that new students from the European Union and Swiss Nationals starting their course after August 2021 will no longer be eligible for a student loan in England for Undergraduate or Postgraduate studies from the 2021/22 academic year. This decision only applies to new EU students starting after 2021/22. If you are an existing/continuing EU student, you will continue to be funded until you graduate or withdraw from your course.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks, this can cost between £50 and £250 per year.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residences. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees; this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Placements

You will need to pay for your travel to and from placements, costs can vary depending on the location and mode of transport. Health Education England has given Nursing Associate UCAS students a £1,000 one-off payment in 2021 to be used towards travel and placement costs during the two-year course.

Uniform and equipment

We provide you with a uniform. You will need to purchase appropriate shoes (£20-£60) and a fob watch (£5-£20) for practice. If you want additional uniform items, they are available for purchase.

DBS check

The University pays for the processing of the application which is £51 but students are expected to pay a small fee (approximately £7) to the Post Office to get their ID documents verified and £13 per year for subscribing to the Update Service. This subscription allows universities and potential employers to view any changes to students' DBS.

Occupational health

You will need to fill out an Occupational Health Form. In some cases, we will require extra information and may ask you to get your GP to complete a routine screening form. All GPs have their own policies on charging fees for completion of these reports. The minimum fee recommended by the BMA is £30. Some GPs will not charge you for completion of the form but some GP surgeries are unable to make exceptions and will charge you the standard rate for their practice (in some cases this can be £50 or more). Neither the Faculty nor Occupational Health will be able to reimburse students for fees charged by their GP.

The majority of the required vaccinations should be free from your GP or via the NHS. Our Occupational Health Service will see you in the first two weeks of the course to ensure you have obtained the necessary vaccinations and will undertake any vaccinations/screening tests you have missed. Neither the Faculty nor Occupational Health will be able to reimburse students for any fees charged by their GP or other vaccination providers for vaccinations incurring a cost. If you are being charged for a vaccination we would suggest that you wait until you start the course where you will be able to obtain the vaccination at no cost to yourself.

Accreditation

This degree confers both an academic award and a professional qualification in nursing. On completion of the programme, students are recommended to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for professional registration.  

After you graduate

This course will prepare you to work as a nursing associate and enhance your career in the health and social care sector. You may be able to progress to a shortened nursing degree course.

Visit NHS Careers for more information about the role of Nursing Associates working in the NHS.

 

What our students say

This course is a great opportunity to develop new skills and gain more knowledge in how to provide a high standard of care to all patients. The tutors and course leaders are extremely supportive and they believe in every single one of us students. I cannot be more grateful to them than I am now."

Nursing Associate FdSc student

After completing this two year Nursing Associate FdSc programme, I feel equipped to apply all the knowledge I have gained and I am ready to contribute as much as I can to the healthcare service."

Nursing Associate FdSc graduate

Key information set

The scrolling banner(s) below display some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.