FdSc Nursing Associate Foundation degree at Westminster
FdSc Nursing Associate at Westminster. You'll study towards the FdSc qualification and gain approval from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to register as a qualified nursing associate.
About this course
FdSc Nursing Associate is a Foundation degree (FdSc) at Westminster, based in Cavendish Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Nursing & Health, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- Developing Personal, Professional and Academic Skills for Person Centred CareCore
Module details
Introduces learners to academic study expectations and skills for person-centred care. Covers academic literacy, transferable skills (teamwork, numeracy, writing, referencing), enquiry-based learning, and foundational concepts of professional practice including duty of care, accountability, and the NMC Code.
- Professional Practice One (Nursing Associate)Core
Module details
Prepares learners for the registered nursing associate role. Develops knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours to meet NMC Standards of Proficiency. Includes professional practice skills, safeguarding, medicines management, practice-based learning, and simulated practice within clinical and laboratory settings.
Assessment: Assessed in practice by practice assessor; includes authentic learning and assessment practices
- Psychology and Sociology of Health and Well-BeingCore
Module details
Explores psychological and sociological factors influencing health and wellbeing at individual, community and population levels. Examines contemporary health issues, policies, practices, volitional behaviour, and intervention strategies across the lifecourse.
- Sciences Underpinning Professional PracticeCore
Module details
Provides foundational knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, body systems and pharmacology principles. Covers psychosocial and biological theories of human development from conception to death, genomics, salutogenic approach to health and well-being.
Year 2 5 modules
- Evidence Based PracticeCore
Module details
Integrates enquiry-based learning and collaborative approaches to build on foundational evidence-based practice knowledge. Covers principles of evidence, research methodologies, data collection, appraisal and application of research, quality improvement and health policy.
Assessment: Includes poster presentations and reflective work; authentic learning and assessment
- Medicines ManagementCore
Module details
Develops knowledge and skills in pharmacology, health numeracy and medicines calculations. Uses safeMedicate e-learning platform for formative and summative assessments. Covers drug calculations, drug constituents, administration routes, interaction risks and error minimisation.
Assessment: Formative and summative assessments via safeMedicate platform; skills-based, competency-driven
- Professional Practice Two (Nursing Associate)Core
Module details
Builds on Year 1 knowledge to achieve NMC Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nursing Associates. Includes professional practice skills, safeguarding, medicines management, practice-based placements and simulated learning. Requires completion of mandatory training via Skills for Health eLearning portal.
Assessment: Assessed in practice by practice assessor; authentic learning and assessment practices
- Recognising and Responding to Illness and Injury Across the LifecourseCore
Module details
Uses enquiry-based learning to build on prior knowledge and enable understanding of individual responses to illness across the lifecourse. Covers common illnesses, injuries, co-morbidities and their presentation in different patient groups, holistic assessment and safe care delivery.
- Transitioning to Registered Nursing AssociateCore
Module details
Prepares learners for NMC registration and entry into the profession with confidence. Covers teamwork, leadership, quality improvement, patient safety and life-long learning. Uses real-world tasks including CV writing and reflective analysis to simulate professional demands.
Assessment: Skill-based, professional readiness; authentic learning and assessment; includes real-world tasks and reflective analysis
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
You'll study nursing practice across three years of theory and supervised clinical placements. A course like this typically begins with foundations in clinical skills, anatomy and physiology, then progresses through acute and long-term care, medicines management, and complex case assessment. Placements run throughout (normally around 50% of study time) in hospital and community settings. In your final year, you'll focus on evidence-based practice and leadership skills, leading to NMC registration as a qualified nursing associate. Specialisations such as adult nursing, mental health, children's nursing, and community & primary care are usually available, allowing you to develop expertise in your chosen area.
Who it's for
This course suits those committed to a career in nursing and healthcare. You'll develop practical and theoretical knowledge across a range of clinical settings, working towards professional registration. The course is delivered in English and is open to full-time students seeking a direct pathway into the nursing associate role.
Careers & job market
Across Nursing & Health courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 87% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. National Graduate Outcomes data shows starting salaries (15 months post-graduation) typically range from £27,000 to £30,500, rising to £23,800–£33,600 after three years and £27,200–£38,400 after five years. These figures reflect sector-wide outcomes rather than guarantees for individual graduates.
University & format
This FdSc (Foundation degree) is studied full-time over 3 years at the University of Westminster, a public university founded in 1838 based at the Cavendish Campus. Instruction is in English. The course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for registration as a qualified nursing associate, and the university holds Silver in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 for teaching quality. The degree is recognised nationally as a UK degree-awarding body qualification.
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.
Entry & how to get in
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 B792). 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
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Westminster →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.
- 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.
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 CareWho studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Westminster
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 Cavendish Campus
14,051 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 Westminster from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Westminster; 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 Westminster’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 Westminster and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Westminster
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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