Nursing Associate Foundation Degree

Undergraduate
Foundation degree

Nursing staff providing updates to a patient who is lying on a bed

Our two-year Foundation Degree prepares you for professional registration as a Nursing Associate where you can make a real impact on the quality of life and care for people of all ages in a range of healthcare settings.

Year of entry

2025-26 2026-27 2027-28

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)
CU Scarborough (Scarborough)
Wiltshire College & University Centre (Salisbury)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

2 years full-time

Course code

HF12

Start date

September 2027
January 2028

How to apply

Your UCAS Guide

Download a prospectus

The information on this page is for 2026-27 entry and should be used as guidance for 2027-28 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.

Course overview

A registered nursing associate plays a crucial role in patient care, administering a variety of treatments, monitoring health and preventing ill-health and supporting individuals and families. Working as part of a team alongside registered nurses, you’ll provide hands-on care in diverse clinical settings, including hospitals and community health and care environments.

Successful completion of this course makes you eligible to apply for professional registration as a Nursing Associate with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)¹.
Explore healthcare holistically, going beyond physical wellbeing to recognise the emotional, social and psychological aspects of patient needs.
Practice-based learning, simulation and clinical placements develop your hands-on experience under the guidance of experienced professionals^2,5.
Develop your ability to provide compassionate, empathetic care and effective communication, essential qualities that lie at the heart of your practice.
Advocacy and social justice are integral to the course, empowering nursing associates to champion patients’ rights and promote equitable health and care access.
Study locations in Coventry, Scarborough and Salisbury.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

5 QS Stars for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

QS Stars University Ratings

Why you should study this course

As a nursing associate, you can make a real and meaningful impact, providing essential care, support and advocacy across various health and care settings. Whether it’s managing chronic conditions, assisting with rehabilitation or promoting wellbeing, your contributions will directly enhance patients' lives.

Access to expert staff with nursing, health and care backgrounds
Your voice matters - you will contribute to quality outcomes within diverse communities.
Be part of a learning community committed to excellence, mutual respect and growth - diversity is celebrated and inclusion is paramount.
While fully preparing you for the role of nursing associate, the course may also offer a pathway to other nursing roles, including that of a graduate nurse through progression onto a pre-registration programme (subject to application and additional costs).
Able to enter the workplace after just two years and can work across different specialisms.

Studying in the School of Health and Care

Gain the skills and experience to transform lives, communities and the future of healthcare delivery. We aim to empower you to become a stand-out healthcare professional, capable, competent and confident in your field and role within the wider healthcare team.

Continuously developing your sense of professional identity as a nursing associate from day one, you'll learn in an environment that puts inclusivity, diversity and dignity at its heart.

Joint 1st

for Student Satisfaction in the West Midlands in Nursing & Midwifery

The Complete University Guide 2026

Accreditation and professional recognition

Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)

The Nursing Associate Foundation degree programme is approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) for the 2027-28 intake.¹

Get to know your lecturer

Donna Royle, a lecturer on the Nursing Associate Foundation Degree course at Coventry University, shares her insights and passion for teaching nursing.

Sophie Pickard in the CU Scarborough building, leaning on a bannister smiling at the camera

From the frontline to the classroom

Sophie Pickard, a Scarborough nurse who returned early from maternity leave to support patients during the COVID‑19 pandemic, is now teaching at CU Scarborough to inspire the next generation of NHS professionals.

Read Sophie's story

What you'll study

This course gives you the opportunity to develop a range of practical skills and the underpinning knowledge to allow you to make a real difference to quality of life and care of people of all ages and in a range of healthcare settings.

Equal time and weighting are given to the practical and theoretical components of the course. The course is taught by experienced nurses and healthcare professionals who will support you in your journey to becoming an NMC-registered Nursing Associate.

Modules

Holistic Person-Centred Care - 20 credits

This module aims to equip you with essential knowledge and skills to provide person-centred care. It begins by exploring human anatomy and physiology, emphasising how body systems adapt over time. It also covers how to view health holistically, considering biological, sociological, psychological and spiritual factors. By integrating these dimensions, you will aim to address individual needs and promote wellbeing. Additionally, you will be introduced to the principles of safe and effective medicines administration to provide a foundation for your future learning and practice.

Compulsory

Promoting Health and Care Equity - 20 credits

Within this module, you will consider communities and populations to explore their diverse richness. The objective of the module centres around identifying frequently encountered health conditions within the health and care context, supporting you to develop the skills required to equip individuals with knowledge, empowering them to make informed decisions about their own health and wellbeing.

The module emphasises patient advocacy as a cornerstone of practice, guiding all healthcare professionals toward equitable and compassionate care. Additionally, you will begin to assess the impact of discrimination and social inequalities on health and wellbeing. Recognising these factors, will help you to work towards addressing health inequalities as part of your future practice in promoting equal access to healthcare services across the entire lifespan.

Compulsory

Practice 1: Introduction to Person-Centred Care - 20 credits

This module aims to enable you to apply and demonstrate your learning of professional values, attitudes and behaviours in the practice-based learning setting^2,5. It offers the opportunity for you to put into practice your knowledge of holistic, person-centred care and fundamental nursing skills during care delivery. The learning activities will primarily be undertaken in the practice-based learning placement area. A named person will oversee the placement learning journey and each student will have a Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor.

Compulsory

Practice 2: Contributing to Person-Centred Care - 20 credits

The primary aim of this module is to further build upon your practice learning and experiences by continuing to develop your clinical competence to provide high-quality care with professionalism and integrity^2,5.

There is an emphasis on how you implement your knowledge of social, economic, cultural and environmental factors that may impact the health and wellbeing of people in your care to incorporate health promotion techniques into your practice. The learning activities will primarily be undertaken in the practice-based learning placement area. A named person will oversee the placement learning journey and each student will have a Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor.

Compulsory

Becoming a Professional Practitioner - 20 credits

This module aims to equip you with the values, behaviours and actions essential for professional practice. We will support you to develop your personal and academic skills, providing you with opportunities to reflect on your knowledge, skills and values. We will work with you to foster a culture of professionalism, collaboration and valuing diversity to prepare you to work within multi-professional environments.

Compulsory

Evidence: Your Profession in a Global Context - 20 credits

This module aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to understand and appreciate the role of evidence in both your profession and the wider health and care sector. The module supports you in understanding how your personal views and experiences may influence your thinking in developing your professional identity. It is also designed to help you develop critical thinking skills by encouraging you to question, challenge and reflect. You'll also explore using evidence to build your approaches, making you a more inclusive, evidence-based practitioner.

Compulsory

Modules

The Nursing Associate’s Role in Safe Administration of Medication - 20 credits

In this module, you will aim to gain a deeper understanding of what is required to ensure safe, effective practice when working with medicines. You will have the opportunity to gain insights into the interactions, side effects and contraindications associated with medicines used to treat and manage commonly encountered mental, physical, behavioural and cognitive health conditions.

It emphasises adherence to professional standards and legal guidelines governing medication administration which serves to keep you and the people you support safe. Additionally, you will explore strategies to support sustainable medicines management, including optimal resource utilisation, safe medication transitions and alternative therapeutic approaches.

You will be supported to hone your numeracy skills to enable you to accurately calculate prescribed medicine dosages, a critical aspect for patient safety.

Compulsory

The Nursing Associate’s Role in Complex Care - 20 credits

This module aims to enable you to reflect and explore some of the challenges you may face in your future role in delivering person-centred care for people living with multiple health conditions. It is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge required to enable you to interpret and analyse holistic assessment data to contribute to the planning and evaluation of true person-centred care. This information can be used to support you in making safe clinical decisions and understanding when and how to use professional clinical judgment.

You will aim to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the inextricable link between mental and physical wellbeing and for care to be high quality and effective, both domains require equal attention. This module gives you the opportunity to draw on experience from practice and share and develop your knowledge in the classroom.

Compulsory

Journey from Student to Registered Nursing Associate - 20 credits

During this module you will reflect, explore and consolidate on your previous knowledge and experiences to understand and clarify your professional identity, recognising the value of your role within health and care, your responsibilities related to working and developing within your Nursing Associate scope of practice and the NMC Code.

You will aim to develop the skills and support strategies required to embrace your new career with a commitment to lifelong learning, personal and professional development and the development of others. This is inclusive of becoming a self-aware, emotionally intelligent practitioner with transferable skills to help you to manage the demands of the profession and future career within interdisciplinary teams and in a complex and ever-changing health and care climate.

Compulsory

Practice 3: Provide and Monitor Person-Centred Care - 20 credits

This module is designed to support you to build upon the practice skills gained during year one with increasing independence^2,5. You will aim to develop as a role model for fellow nursing associate students, healthcare support workers and those new to the role and within your team.

You will be expected to demonstrate professionalism, integrity and competence within the context of the placement. By integrating ethical principles, legal frameworks and self-awareness, you will aim to enhance your ability to provide high-quality care.

Compulsory

Practice 4: Becoming an Autonomous Nursing Associate - 20 credits

As your final practice module, you will have the opportunity to apply all of the learning, knowledge and experiences you have gained so far^2,5. You will aim to develop the confidence and competence to work under minimal supervision as an effective member of the interdisciplinary team, providing and monitoring care to people with increasingly complex needs with increasing knowledge and skill to ensure that you are ready to join the NMC register as a nursing associate.

You will aim to continue to demonstrate professionalism, integrity and competence within the context of your clinical placements and integrate ethical principles, legal frameworks and self-awareness to ensure you are providing safe, high-quality care.

Compulsory

Exploring Knowledge Through Curiosity - 20 credits

This module explores methods of enquiry utilised in daily practice. You will aim to develop your ability to analyse the knowledge, theory and practice-based evidence within health and care. This module explores how daily inquiry methods can be transformed into more systematic approaches to data collection and analysis. It covers quantitative and qualitative research, evaluation and audit techniques. Through exploration and debate, you will aim to develop an appreciation of interdisciplinary and profession-specific evidence and how to use this learning within the practice context.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content to keep it relevant and current for our students. Consequently, we may update modules to reflect the latest industry standards.

How you'll learn

We understand that everyone learns differently, so this course will consist of structured teaching sessions which can include:

on-campus lectures, seminars and workshops
clinical skills teaching
group work
self-directed learning
online learning activities
videos
quizzes
practice placement opportunities^2,5.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20-credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average, you will have between 10 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Practice-based learning

Practice-based learning is a vital part of this foundation degree. You will have access to university staff, but you should expect to spend most of your contact time with practice collaborators during your placement activities. These professionals will mentor you as you apply your skills in real-world settings. To qualify for your profession, you must satisfy the eligibility requirements set by the NMC. You must complete at least 1,150 practice-based hours throughout your foundation degree. We calculate these hours through a combination of hands-on placements and simulated learning.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

coursework
practice placement^2,5
phased tests
simulations
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations
presentations
case study
reflections.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement	What we're looking for
UCAS Tariff	Minimum qualification for 32 tariff points (excludes General Studies) To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
A level	32 UCAS points
GCSE	GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards.
BTEC	32 UCAS points
T level	Overall grade of Pass (D or E on the Core) in the T level Qualification in any subject.
IB Diploma	24 points
Access Diploma	32 UCAS points from an Access to Higher Education Diploma, Access to Nursing or NVQ Level 3

Additional requirements

Other requirements include commitment to completing a Foundation Degree programme, intermediate IT skills, evidence of time management skills and ability to prioritise. An ability to work within multidisciplinary teams, escalate concerns, and show initiative are essential requirements for the role.

In line with the National Health Service constitution we use a values-based recruitment approach in seeking candidates with the appropriate values to support effective team working in delivering excellent patient care. You will also be required to attend a selection event, which provides detailed information about the course and assesses numeracy, literacy and aptitude as part of the selection process.

Students will be subject to satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure. Please refer to the full requirements in the disclaimer section⁵.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual/Fair Access Offers

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Offer, you could automatically receive a contextual offer which is 16 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Offer.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK	2027/28 fees TBC 2026/27 fees: £9,790 per year	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We assess your fee status using the information in your application. This status determines your tuition fees and the scholarships or financial support you can get. The Department for Education sets the rules for who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees in England.

The regulations list which students can pay the home fee rate. Because these rules are complex, the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides fee status guidance to help you find the right category. If you meet all the criteria for one category, your institution must charge you the home rate.

Facilities

Our learning and simulation facilities, housed within our campus locations, provide hands-on experiences across diverse scenarios⁴.

Our multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building features a range of mock healthcare settings, including hospital wards, ambulance, therapy suites and community houses, giving you the opportunity to replicate real-life situations before you go on placement.

You’ll have the opportunity to make use of our extensive simulation facilities – from basic life support manikins to high tech simulation manikins, which emulate patient responses and test resuscitation skills. You will also use healthcare devices found in the real world of practice⁴.

Students and a tutor with a manikin in the hospital ward

Mock hospital wards

Our mock hospital wards and critical care settings give you the chance to experience patient scenarios in a real-world environment.

Community houses

Learn how to work with patients outside of a hospital setting in our simulated, two full-size community homes, specifically built for teaching.

Mock operating theatre

Our Alison Gingell building includes a full-size mock operating theatre, containing scrub sinks and theatre lights.

You will use equipment found in the real world of practice, such as medical devices to assist with all elements of care including medication administration, to help build confidence before you go on placement⁴.

Students in the hospital ward around a mannequin in a hospital bed

Simulation facilities

You’ll be able to make use of our extensive simulation facilities – from basic life support mannequins to high tech simulation dummies, which emulate patient responses and test resuscitation skills.

Mock hospital ward

Gaining experience using simulation across a range of care settings is aimed at building your confidence and knowledge about how to act in these situations. You can practise and develop your clinical and interpersonal skills in a safe but realistic environment.

Nursing student taking an actor's blood pressure

Realistic scenarios

We use actors to enhance your experience, giving you the opportunity to replicate real-life situations including breaking bad news, demonstrating emotional resilience, conflict, aggression, teaching and child protection conference.

Set up in the Salisbury College campus of Wiltshire College & University Centre, the campus building features a range of mock healthcare settings, including a Healthcare zone, an ambulance and community housing, providing students with hands-on experience from first response to post-healthcare support⁴.

Students in the hospotal ward around a mannequin in a hospital bed

Healthcare Zone

Using a substantial area of the first floor in Salisbury, the Healthcare Zone uses state-of-the-art technology, coupled with decoration and facilities to mimic Salisbury hospitals to replicate the patient journey, from ambulance to ward, to simulated home environments.

Salisbury campus

The Wiltshire College and University Centre Salisbury campus is located at the outskirts of the picturesque cathedral city of Salisbury. With a range of common areas, including Costa and a cafeteria, plus dedicated higher education spaces, the campus is set up for your success.

Student support

Coupled with the support of Coventry University, students can access a wealth of resources and support to assist them with their studies. From a learning resource centre, with computer access, to wellbeing, counselling and safeguarding teams, you’ll have everything you need to thrive on your new course.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

Whether you choose to continue your education or embark on a fulfilling career as a nursing associate, this foundation degree equips you with the essential skills and knowledge you will need.

Beyond the nursing associate role, this degree can serve as a stepping stone to various nursing pathways. On successful graduation, you are eligible to apply for other pre-registration degree courses.

Where our graduates work

Our graduates are employed in acute care organisations, community care settings and within general practice and social care.

May Parsons holding her diploma at her Coventry University graduation ceremony

From matron to healthcare leadership

In 2020 the images of May Parsons becoming the first person in the world to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to a patient outside of a clinical trial became a symbol of global hope. Since then May credits her Global Healthcare Management MSc from Coventry University, completed in 2022, for helping her achieve a leadership role in the care sector.

Read May's story

How to apply

View our courses on UCAS

Visit UCAS

UK students

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the University maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. For more information, read our visa advice page.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first academic year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year.

For UK (home) students, if the Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

⁴Facilities

⁵Placements

Satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure is also required. As part of the health clearance checks, you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The University is, therefore, unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The current 2025/26 contract is available for information purposes. The 2027/28 contract will apply to the 2027/28 intakes. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

Your next steps

Student life

Accommodation

Fees and funding

Nursing Associate Foundation Degree

Course features

Year of entry

Location

Study mode

Duration

Course code

Start date

Course overview

Rated Gold Overall

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

5 QS Stars for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Why you should study this course

Studying in the School of Health and Care

Accreditation and professional recognition

Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)

Get to know your lecturer

From the frontline to the classroom

What you'll study

Modules

Modules

How you'll learn

Teaching contact hours

Teaching hours

Practice-based learning

Guided and independent study

Online learning

Assessment

Entry requirements

Additional requirements

Other qualifications and experience

Contextual/Fair Access Offers

Fees and funding

Irish student fees

Facilities

Mock hospital wards

Community houses

Mock operating theatre

Simulation facilities

Mock hospital ward

Realistic scenarios

Healthcare Zone

Salisbury campus

Student support

Careers and opportunities

Where our graduates work

From matron to healthcare leadership

How to apply

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