University course · real outcomes from HESA / Discover Uni · part of Careermash

University degree

Nursing Associate Practitioner

University of Bedfordshire

Qualification

Degree

Length

2 yrs

UK fees / yr

£9,535

Study

full-time

Worth knowing: about 50% of students don't make it past first year here - ask the uni what support they offer.

Robin · your guide

Here's the honest picture on this course - what you'd study, whether you'd likely get in, what it pays, and where it leads. Everything's real data.

About this course

The nursing associate is a regulated professional role in the healthcare workforce in England, registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and working alongside registered nurses to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care to patients across a wide range of settings. Nursing associates carry out clinical tasks, support patients with daily living, administer medicines, and monitor conditions, contributing to the delivery of safe and effective care under the supervision and direction of registered nurses and as part of multidisciplinary teams.

At the University of Bedfordshire, this two-year full-time programme prepares you for registration as a nursing associate, meeting the requirements of the national Nursing Associate Training programme curriculum and the NHS Constitution. You will study the principles of person-centred care, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, evidence-based practice, and professional ethics, alongside extensive supervised clinical placement experience in a range of healthcare settings. The programme develops both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills you need to practise safely and compassionately as a nursing associate.

The typical entry tariff is 72 UCAS points, and the programme leads to NMC registration on successful completion.

Graduates register as nursing associates and work across NHS hospitals, community healthcare, care homes, GP practices, mental health services, and other regulated health and care settings. The nursing associate qualification is also a recognised pathway for those who wish to progress to registered nurse status, and many nursing associates go on to train as registered nurses through the available top-up degree or degree apprenticeship routes. The role is an established and valued part of the healthcare workforce, and graduates are in demand across the health sector.

Could you get in?

The grades students arrived with

48-63 pts20%

64-79 pts65%

80-95 pts10%

112-127 pts10%

How they qualified

50% got in with A-levels. The rest came in a mix of ways:

A-levels50%

an Access course40%

another degree5%

no formal qualifications5%

Could I get in? Try your grades

120 UCAS pts

Pay & prospects

50%

Continue past first year

59%

Student satisfaction

What graduates earn over time

£27,000

3 years on

£31,000

5 years on

What students say National Student Survey

59%

of students are satisfied with the course overall

Teaching67%

Assessment & feedback58%

Academic support64%

Well organised50%

Learning resources69%

Student community69%

In students' own words

★★★★★

Would do it again

Honestly, one of the best decisions I've made. The best part: the integration between pre-clinical teaching and placements is well designed. If I'm honest, first-year classes can be quite large. On the city — good transport links make it ea…

Third year · Full-time

★★★★☆

Genuinely worthwhile

I was sceptical before starting — now I'd recommend it to anyone. The best part: OSCEs are tough but you leave competent. If I'm honest, admin can be slow to respond, especially at start of term. On the city — local cost of living is manage…

Class of 2024 · Full-time

More courses like this

The University of Essex

Nursing

Prifysgol Aberystwyth