FdSc Nursing Associate Foundation Degree Foundation degree at Keele University
FdSc Nursing Associate Foundation Degree at Keele University. Delivered by Keele University, a recognised UK degree-awarding body founded in 1949, the course combines academic study with practical training in healthcare settings.
About this course
Nursing Associate Foundation Degree FdSc at Keele University prepares you to take the next step in your healthcare career. Explore our undergraduate degree programme. From the provider’s course page.
FdSc Nursing Associate Foundation Degree is a Foundation degree (FdSc) at Keele University. It runs 2 years, studied full-time.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Nursing & Health, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 80% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
- Fundamentals of Nursing Associate PracticeCompulsory
Module details
Apply theory to practice to demonstrate safe and effective communication with people across the lifespan. A person-centred approach will be used to apply the principles of assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care. Develop competence and confidence in relation to the nursing associate role and connections with other roles within the healthcare team.
- Nursing Associate Clinical Practice 1Compulsory
Module details
Gain knowledge, skills and behaviours to demonstrate safe, effective and compassionate nursing associate practice in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (2018) code, and the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (2018) standards of proficiencies.
- Skills for Academic Learning and Professional PracticeCompulsory
Module details
Demonstrate and apply accurate numeracy and literacy skills to safe nursing associate practice. Equip yourself with skills to use digital technologies in academic studies and clinical practice. Become a reflective practitioner demonstrating professional requirements and standards through written reflection.
- Medicines Management in Nursing Associate PracticeCompulsory
Module details
Demonstrate safe and effective administration of medication. Explore the concept and application of patient consent, and the principles surrounding safe storage, transportation and disposal of medication. Understand key policies and guidance relating to medicines management and different medication routes.
- Nursing Associate Clinical Practice 2Compulsory
Module details
Build upon knowledge, skills and behaviours to demonstrate safe, effective and compassionate nursing associate practice in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (2018) code, and the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (2018) standards of proficiencies. The remaining proficiencies will be assessed under supervision of practice supervisors and a practice assessor.
- Applied Biological ScienceCompulsory
Module details
Identify key structures and functions of the human body, exploring normal parameters of human anatomy and physiology. Recognise altered physiology applied to common health conditions across the lifespan. Build knowledge and understanding of the relationship between health conditions and microbiology and the principles of infection prevention and control.
- Enhancing Nursing Associate PracticeCompulsory
Module details
Explore the management of people with complex healthcare needs across the lifespan in a range of settings including learning disability and mental health. Consider partnership working with service users and carers, and the concept of 'expert patient'. Discuss the principles of care management in end-of-life care.
- Health and Wellbeing in Nursing Associate PracticeCompulsory
Module details
Explore health and wellbeing across the lifespan for individuals, families and communities across a range of settings. Develop understanding of public health, health protection and health promotion. Raise awareness of the wider determinants of health, health inequalities including social influences and health behaviours.
- Nursing Associate Clinical Practice 3Compulsory
Module details
Build on first year knowledge, skills and behaviours to demonstrate safe, effective and compassionate nursing associate practice relating to a group of people's needs. Develop enhanced clinical skills such as venepuncture, electrocardiogram lead placement, basic airway management skills, A-E assessment approach, end of life care and care of complex wounds. Develop theoretical knowledge in A-E assessment, end of life care, dementia care, mental health in young people, infection prevention and con
- Leadership and Team Working in Nursing Associate PracticeCompulsory
Module details
Explore leadership qualities and behaviours, encouraging reflection on application and development in nursing associate practice. Learn the principles and importance of effective multi-disciplinary teamwork. Develop knowledge and skills pertaining to leadership and team-working that can be applied to clinical practice.
- Nursing Associate Clinical Practice 4Compulsory
Module details
Consolidate knowledge, skills and behaviours to demonstrate safe, effective and compassionate nursing associate practice relating to a group of people's needs in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (2018) Code and the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (2018) Standards of Proficiencies.
- Safety and Quality in Nursing Associate PracticeCompulsory
Module details
Explore the importance of research, audit and risk management in improving quality and safety in healthcare. Introduce key principles of teaching, learning and supervision relevant to nursing associate practice. Equip yourself with skills to devise and demonstrate a teaching resource that facilitates learning for other healthcare team members.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This Foundation Degree prepares you to progress in healthcare as a registered nursing associate. You'll develop core clinical skills, person-centred care and the anatomy and physiology essential to nursing practice. The course typically progresses from foundational knowledge in Year 1, covering nursing practice, body systems and your first supervised placement, to specialist areas in Year 2, such as acute and long-term care, medicines management, and broader practice settings. Placements run throughout and form a substantial part of study. You'll usually conclude with complex care, leadership and evidence-based practice, supported by final placements that consolidate your competence for Nursing and Midwifery Council registration.
Who it's for
This course suits healthcare professionals seeking formal qualification as a nursing associate, or those with healthcare experience looking to progress into a regulated nursing role. Most entrants hold a previous degree; recent cohorts show 75% of accepted students arrived with prior qualification. You'll need English language competence and the ability to meet NMC registration requirements, including health and character checks. The course is full-time, so you should be able to commit to study and clinical placements across two years.
Careers & job market
Across Nursing & Health courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months, and 87% of those working are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. National earnings data shows nursing graduates starting at £27,000–£30,500 fifteen months after graduation, rising to £23,800–£33,600 after three years and £27,200–£38,400 after five years. As a nursing associate, you'll be eligible to apply for roles in hospitals, community settings, care homes and other healthcare environments. You may also progress to a full nursing degree (RN) or specialise in areas such as Adult Nursing, Mental Health, Child Health, Midwifery, Public Health, Physiotherapy, Social Work or Paramedic Science.
University & format
This FdSc is delivered full-time over 2 years at Keele University, a University located in Staffordshire, England. Teaching is in English. The degree is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for registration as a qualified nursing associate. Keele is a recognised UK degree-awarding body whose degrees are nationally recognised. The university holds a Gold rating for teaching quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (2023).
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| a previous degree | 75% |
| another higher-education qualification | 25% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code B750). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Keele University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
National funding for this subject
- NHS Learning Support Fund: Eligible nursing, midwifery and allied-health students can receive a non-repayable training grant. Official guidance
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Nursing & Health graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Newly Qualified PractitionerPreceptorship / first post · 0–2 yrs
- 2Registered PractitionerAutonomous practice · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / SpecialistSpecialist or team lead · 5–10 yrs
- 4Advanced / Consultant PractitionerAdvanced practice or management · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Nursing & Health nationally
National figures for Nursing & Health graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Job market & outlook
How Nursing & Health graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine documentation and triage support
- Scheduling and records admin
- First-pass risk flags from data
- Standard reference look-ups
More human than ever
- Hands-on, compassionate care
- Clinical judgement and accountability
- Communicating with patients and families
- Ethics and safeguarding decisions
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Nursing & Health graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- NHS trusts
- Private healthcare
- Care providers
- Community & mental-health services
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Nursing & Health graduates.
Nursing Home ManagerJarrodean Healthcare RecruitmentSenior Charge Nurse Uist Community Nursing teamNHS National Services ScotlandCare Assistant - Nursing Home | Flexible Hours, Weekly PayMpa RecruitmentCare Assistant (Nursing) - Nightshift - RatheaneMacklin Care Homes LimitedSenior Support Worker: Meaningful Care & Flexible ShiftsPotens GroupDental NurseBupa Dental CareIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.0 out of 10: continued 80%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Keele University
Subjects allied to medicine across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Keele University
88 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Nursing & Health right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Keele University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Keele University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Keele University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Keele University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Keele University
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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