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The University of Cumbria · Undergraduate
FdSc Nursing Associate Foundation degree at the University of Cumbria
FdSc Nursing Associate at University of Cumbria is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for registration as a qualified nursing associate.
FdSc
Award
2
Years
Full-time
Study mode
100%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
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FdSc Nursing Associate is a Foundation degree (FdSc) at the University of Cumbria, based in In Carlisle. It runs 2 years, studied full-time.
For Subjects allied to medicine graduates from this provider, 100% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 90% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £32,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
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.
9.2
/ 10
2 of 3 official measures
Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Exceptional100
Limited evidence Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 100% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent85
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 85% (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.
Year one 4 modules
- Foundations of Nursing Associate PracticeCore30 credits
Module details
This module enables you to develop knowledge and understanding of the key principles that underpin the Nursing Associate role, including professional behaviours, communication, and safe, effective care.
- Applied Biological Sciences Across the LifespanCore30 credits
Module details
You will gain essential knowledge of anatomy and physiology across the lifespan, exploring how human body systems function and how this scientific understanding informs clinical assessment, practice, and decision-making.
- Concepts of Health and WellbeingCore30 credits
Module details
This module explores the biological, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual, and behavioural factors that influence health. You will consider how these determinants shape wellbeing across the lifespan and how to promote person-centred approaches to care.
- Fundamentals of Decision MakingCore30 credits
Module details
You will examine the key factors that inform safe and effective decision-making in health and social care, developing your ability to evaluate information, apply evidence, and exercise sound clinical judgement.
Year two 4 modules
- Therapeutic InterventionsCore60 credits
Module details
This module examines the nature, purpose, and application of therapeutic interventions used to support individuals across the lifespan. You will explore evidence-based approaches that enhance wellbeing, promote recovery, and optimise person-centred care.
- Developing Nursing Associate PracticeCore60 credits
Module details
You will further develop your Nursing Associate practice within acute care settings, applying your clinical knowledge and skills to more complex scenarios and strengthening your confidence in safe, effective care delivery.
- Advancing Nursing Associate PracticeCore
Module details
In this module, you will analyse the principles, priorities, and challenges of care provision across a range of healthcare contexts. You will develop your ability to evaluate evidence, apply clinical reasoning, and adapt your practice to meet diverse and changing needs.
- Clinical Decision Making and Preparation for Professional PracticeCore
Module details
This module focuses on organisational and teamwork theories that influence healthcare delivery. You will examine how teams function, how decisions are made in clinical environments, and how your personal and professional development prepares you for transition into registered practice.
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 two-year degree equips you for registration as a qualified nursing associate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You'll usually begin with foundations of nursing practice, anatomy and physiology, and your first supervised placement. Year 2 typically progresses to acute and long-term care, medicines management, and a broader placement across community, mental health or specialist settings. Throughout, you'll develop core clinical skills, person-centred care and the ability to manage deteriorating conditions. You can specialise in areas such as adult nursing, mental health, children's nursing, or community and primary care. Supervised practice runs through every year to meet NMC standards, and you'll build toward the competence required for professional registration.
Who it's for
This course suits those seeking professional qualification in nursing within a structured, supported environment. It appeals particularly to graduates and career-changers, given that 50% of accepted students arrive with a previous degree. The NMC accreditation ensures your qualification is recognised for professional registration as a nursing associate across the UK.
Careers & job market
Across Nursing & Health courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after completing their degree, with 87% of working graduates in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. National earnings data shows starting salaries of £27,000–£30,500 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £27,200–£38,400 after five years. The university offers bursaries and scholarships. Check their funding pages for details.
University & format
The University of Cumbria, a UK degree-awarding body, offers this FdSc (Foundation degree) in Carlisle over 2 years, full-time. Teaching is in English. The course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for registration as a qualified nursing associate. The university holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 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.
Entry & how to get in
Most entrants held a previous degree50% of accepted students came in with a previous degree (entrants over recent years).
Professionally accreditedApproved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of registration as a qualified nursing associate
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check the University of Cumbria's official course page for the current offer.
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 | 50% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 35% |
| another higher-education qualification | 10% |
| Other | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Offer-based entry
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.
Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. 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.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask University of Cumbria whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£25,000 / yr
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Cumbria →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 2 years
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.
Funding matched to this course
All University of Cumbria funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
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
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Nursing & Health graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £32,000 | £27,000 – £36,000 | 10 |
| 3 years after | £38,000 | £31,000 – £44,000 | 55 |
| 5 years after | £41,500 | £33,000 – £48,000 | 45 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
100%
in work or further study 15 months on
90%
in highly skilled work or study
85%
continue past their first year
- 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
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£32,000
£27,000 – £30,500After 3 years LEO
£38,000
£23,800 – £33,600After 5 years LEO
£41,500
£27,200 – £38,400national rangethis course’s medianaxis £22,500 – £43,000
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.
100 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
90% working10% working and studying0% in further study90% in highly skilled work or study
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Nursing & Health courses at the same study level.
This course £41,500Peer median £31,500Middle 50% £28,000–£34,000
98th percentile
Compared with 1,506 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Other Health ProfessionalsSOC 2020 225 · 65% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,902
- Nursing ProfessionalsSOC 2020 223 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £37,597
- Caring personal servicesSOC 2020 613 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £23,668
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 25; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Nursing & Health graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
90%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Nursing & Health courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes87%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow 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 CareLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is 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.
📈
Where graduates go
100% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £32,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.2 out of 10: in work or study 100% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Cumbria
All students9,065
International2.6%
Aged 25+63.7%
Subjects allied to medicine across the UK
Students360,360
Aged 25+51.5%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around In Carlisle - Fusehill Street
1,445 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 611Public Order 173Shoplifting 173Criminal Damage Arson 106Other Theft 85
Around In Lancaster
870 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 270Anti Social Behaviour 186Shoplifting 109Public Order 75Criminal Damage Arson 71
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 University of Cumbria from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £25,000 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 University of Cumbria’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 University of Cumbria and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Cumbria
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
Set by the University of Cumbria. Most accepted students held a previous degree. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates go on to do?
For Subjects allied to medicine graduates from this provider, 100% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 90% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £32,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
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. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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