FdScHealth and Social Care (Nursing Associate)
Apply on UCASWhy study a health and social care (nursing associate) foundation degree at Solent University
Become a skilled nursing associate in an incredible profession, with fantastic career prospects in a range of different healthcare settings on our NMC-accredited course.
- 0thin the UK for graduate prospects in social work studies (out of 68 institutions) (The Times Good University Guide 2025)
- Top0%for teaching quality, out of 131 institutions (Times Good University Guide, 2025)
- £0minvestment in our campus and industry-standard facilities
- Successful completion of this course allows registration to the NMC as a Nursing associate.
- All employed graduates who responded to the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey (from 2021 to 2024) were in high-skilled employment.
- 96% of employed graduates who responded to the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey (from 2021 to 2024) agreed that they are utilising what they learnt during their studies in their current work.
- Once qualified, nursing associates will be able to work in a range of settings within the healthcare environment.
- Learn using specialist nursing facilities including a nursing simulation suite, nutrition laboratories and biomedical science laboratories.
- Our teaching team have excellent teaching and clinical experiences. They can help you to become a skilled nursing associate to make a positive difference to people lives.
- Take part in a range of clinical placements in all years of study, in a variety of primary and secondary services, such as community and hospital teams and specialist providers.
- You’ll be assigned a personal tutor who can assist you with pastoral support to help you make the most of your learning.
Course overview
This challenging and fulfilling course is a NMC-accredited foundation degree which, upon successful completion, allows registration to the NMC as a nursing associate. You will gain knowledge, skills and behaviours that allow you to work in a variety of healthcare settings including adult, paediatrics, mental health and learning disabilities in both the community and hospital settings. Â
Working in healthcare is an inspiring, challenging and rewarding occupation where no day is ever the same. This course will equip you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to support your career development in healthcare. At Solent University, we have strong and dedicated local industry links with practice partners who support our students both during and after their studies.
Working in healthcare is an exciting, fulfilling and satisfying career, and the ever changing healthcare environment drives the development of healthcare roles - giving the opportunity for lifelong learning.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email:Â admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall:Â +44 (0)23 8201 5066Accredited by:
Higher Technical Qualification
Course features
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
Professional accreditation
This course has been accredited by a professional body
Built-in work experience placement
As part of your studies you will have the opportunity to undertake a work experience placement
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for those who want to work in a healthcare setting, who feel they have the qualities and philosophy required to become a caring, effective, professional and safe practitioner. Trainee nursing associates should demonstrate the following values:
- Caring personality
- Compassionate towards patients and families
- Competent and safe in practice
- Effective communication
- Courageous
- Committed to the highest standards of professionalism and nursing care.
What does this course lead to?
This is a new and exciting role to support the nursing family, with future opportunities to progress to become a Registered Nurse for those who have the aspiration and ability to do so. Once qualified, nursing associates will be able to work in a range of settings within the healthcare environment.
Meet the team
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
We have a dedicated clinical skills suite with a six bed ward, GP consulting room, nurse’s treatment room, waiting area/break out space, care home bedroom and working kitchen and bathroom. There is a wide range of clinical equipment including simulation manikins to facilitate a number of simulated scenarios.
Our vibrant campus brings state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning and elevate your student experience. Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces. Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
What you'll study
Core modules
Anatomy and Physiology to Support Practice
You will learn about the biology of the main body systems, focusing on anatomy, physiology and pathology. You will also explore how the body systems interact to maintain homeostasis and gain an understanding of cellular function within the human body.
Developing Professional Practice
The module will explore accountability within health and social care by examining lessons learned from public inquiries and critical practice incidents.
Foundation Skills to Support Practice
As a foundational introduction to higher education, this module provides an opportunity for you to develop skills in academic reading and critical writing. It also provides knowledge, and promotes understanding, of key concepts in health and social care practice such as effective communication and equality in care settings. This knowledge underpins your practice and helps with skills development to enable you to work in a wide range of health and social care settings.
Foundations in Practice Based learning
This module aims to promote your understanding of the responsibilities, challenges and limitations of your professional role as a Trainee Nursing Associate (TNA). It will focus on key topics such as: evidence-based and person-centred care to support decision-making; practising under the direct supervision of a registered practitioner and timely completion of occupational standards linked to the TNA role including safe administration of medicines.
Introduction to Public Health and Health Promotion
This module will explore contemporary approaches to public health and examine the historical origins of the discipline in Britain which lie in the 19th century industrial age and the movement of populations from countryside to crowded cities. Public health utilises epidemiological and demographic data, and you will be introduced to the calculation of simple public health measures. Understanding the social determinants of health and the contribution of these to health inequalities entails new ways of thinking about social and economic organisation and governance in Britain. Public health expertise is increasingly important in diverse and complex 21st century societies and this module will help you to develop this expertise and apply it to your workplace role.
Long-Term Conditions
This module aims to support development of your knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours when caring for people with long-term conditions. You will explore the pathophysiology and aetiology of commonly occurring long-term conditions, the impact of the condition on an individual’s and family life, consider patient needs in community settings and explore patient transitions between different healthcare settings.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
- Guided independent study
You will be assessed by:
- Practical activities
- Reflective accounts
- Essays
- Case studies
- Practical exams
- Written exams
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out moreStudy support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
Access Solent provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose a career as a nursing associate?
Nursing associates play a key role in a nursing team, bridging the gap between health and care assistants and registered nurses. They work with people of all ages, in a variety of settings in health and social care.
The course team has developed this programme in partnership with partner NHS Trusts and other health and social care providers, ensuring graduates are equipped with the necessary skills for employment in a number of health and social care settings.
You will have the ability, skills and knowledge to work in a range of healthcare settings, including adult, paediatrics, mental health and learning disabilities in both the community and hospital settings. Â
Solent Futures
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Accreditations
Accredited by:
Higher Technical Qualification
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are:
- UK, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,250 per year
- International full-time fees: £17,750 per year
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately.
The 2025/26 other costs are not yet available. For guidance, the 2024/25 other costs were:
- Two uniforms will be provided, but if you require additional uniforms this will cost in the region of £30
- The University will pay for an occupational health assessment, however you may need to pay for immunisations if they are not covered by your GP
- You will need a pair of suitable comfortable shoes while on clinical placement and studying in our simulation settings (estimated cost £40-£60)
- You will need to purchase some of your own clinical items, for instance a fob watch (estimated cost £5)
- You will need to be able to travel to study at our partner NHS trusts and to your placement - travel costs will be associated with this
For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Student finance videos
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
64-96 UCAS tariff points
- Grade 4 or above in GCSE English language and mathematics (previously grade C).
- Interview including values based discussion/interview.
- All students will be required to undertake a criminal convictions check through the Disclosure and Barring Service. This is organised by the University before enrolment.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about EU qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about international qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
Note to all international students requiring a visa
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email:Â admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall:Â +44 (0)23 8201 5066How to apply
Full-time
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 31 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
- IELTS minimum 6.5 overall with no component score below 5.5
- TOEFL IBT 92 with a minimum of 22 in writing and a minimum of 20 in reading, listening and speaking
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 100 in each component or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Make your application
- 2 years full-time