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What makes Nursing Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) at the University of Worcester special?

The University of Worcester has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, innovative and contemporary Nurse Education.

This exciting and transformational Nursing Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) will allow you to study to be a Registered Adult or Mental Health Nurse. It enables you to study the Nursing BSc (Hons), with a fully integrated End Point Assessment.

You can complete the apprenticeship either as a full-time three year route or a four-year part-time route. Opportunities are available to undertake a shortened full-time 18 month or part-time two year route for appropriate applicants, including Registered Nursing Associates via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Full-time apprentices will complete the course alongside other students completing the Nursing BSc (Hons) (Adult, Children’s and Mental Health) course. While part-time students will study as a discrete group of apprentices, while also having opportunity to study alongside other students completing the Nursing BSc (Hons) course.

The Nursing Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) reflects the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2018) Future Nurse: Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses and Realising Professionalism: Standards for Education and Training. It is mapped to the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the Registered Nurse Degree (NMC 2018) Apprenticeship Standard.

The apprenticeship route allows healthcare organisations to support an employee to access nurse education, via the apprenticeship levy.

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • The Nursing Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) facilitates widening participation to higher level study
  • This course enables you, as a health care support worker to access Higher Education whilst continuing in paid employment
  • The apprenticeship supports employers to develop their health care support workers towards NMC Registered Adult or Mental Health Nurse status. This is either via a full-time three-year route or a part-time four-year route for individuals with appropriate level three qualifications or a shortened route for Registered Nursing Associates, to progress their career to a Registered Nurse
  • As an apprentice, you will work across a variety of health and care settings supporting people of all ages and further developing your knowledge, skills and behaviours
  • Emphasis is on learning in diverse, supportive learning environments with 50% of the course embedded in the work-base setting
  • Develop knowledge and understanding to provide safe and effective, person-centred care for people across the lifespan
  • The skills and simulation centre provides excellent facilities to safely practice Nursing interventions in a supportive environment

Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council

The Nursing Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) meets the requirements of the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education: Registered Nurse Degree (NMC 2018) Apprenticeship Standard.

Exterior view of Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology in Dudley

Apprenticeships in Dudley

From September 2024, you have the choice of whether to study Nursing (Adult) Degree Apprenticeship BSc or FdSc Nursing Associate Apprenticeship at our campus in Worcester or at the Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology, located in Dudley (subject to NMC approval).

The courses are taught by the same experienced lecturers at both venues, but the Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology will be ideal for you if you currently work near Dudley or in the wider Black County region and your employer supports you to study your apprenticeship in your local area.

Visit the Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology website
Entry requirements

Entry requirements

112
UCAS tariff points

Entry requirements

112 UCAS Tariff Points from 3 A levels (for example BBC at A level)

OR

Equivalent Level 3 qualifications e.g.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DMM or above

Access to Higher Education Diploma – with 45 credits at level 3 (with at least 30 credits at Merit or Distinction)

To meet the requirements of the Education and Funding Skills Agency (ESFA) and be eligible to undertake the end point assessment Nursing apprentices must have:

GCSE grade C/4 or ESFA approved level 2 equivalent in Maths and English

Apprentices’ whose first language is not English must have a minimum standard of English at IELTS 6 (with no less than 5.5 in any component).

Apprentices will be required to demonstrate health and character sufficient to ensure safe and effective practice. This includes confirmation of a satisfactory Enhanced DBS and occupational health clearance from your employing organisation

Applicants who are already Registered Nursing Associates or health care support workers/assistant practitioners who have completed an appropriate Foundation Degree can complete a shortened route, using Recognition of Prior Learning.

Work-based entry requirements

Under UK Government requirements, Higher and Degree Level apprentices are normally employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week and must have the right to live and work in the UK.

All apprentices must be employed in a health and care setting with an identified Trust partner or Independent provider in a healthcare role and supported by their employer.

The support of the employer is articulated in an Apprenticeship Agreement.

Prior to starting the apprenticeship, the apprentice, employer and university are required to complete a Training Plan, which identifies the expectations of the apprentice, university and employer.

Selection Event

Applicants apply for an apprentice position with an Organisation / Trust usually via NHS jobs. The application will be reviewed by the organisation, and the candidates shortlisted and invited to a joint employer/university selection event.

Apprentice applicants will be expected to demonstrate that they have an understanding of the requirements of the Nursing role and will be required to complete an Initial Needs Assessment to ensure the apprenticeship is right for you and assess your prior learning and provide a starting point for monitoring your progress across the programme. This will be sent to all applicants via their employing organisation.

Disability information

If applicants are worried that a disability or physical/mental health problem will affect their Nursing application, please refer to our disability concerns document for more information. Apprentices can disclose any additional learning needs on the Initial Needs Assessment.

Course content

Course content

You will study a combination of core, field of practice and essential skills and practice learning modules. 

The Nursing and Midwifery Council require Nursing programmes to be divided into three parts.  If you are studying full-time each part equates to a year, if you are studying part-time each part is 16 months long.  Theory and practice are delivered in blocks across each part of the course. 

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and by feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course.

Nursing (Adult)

The adult nursing field of practice modules focus on the needs of adults with a diverse range of health and dependency needs, including physical and emotional care requirements, particularly addressing the needs of the ageing population. Adult field of practice nurses will be articulate, flexible, decision makers able to promote health and well-being, prioritise effective care and implement evidence-based nursing practice. They will work collaboratively with the inter-professional team, service users and their families, respecting their rights, choices and wishes. The emphasis is on providing a high-quality experience for all service users, in a wide range of healthcare settings.

Part 1 (Adult)

  • Communication and Professional Values to Promote Health and Wellbeing across the Lifespan (30 credits) 
  • Human anatomy and physiology for person centred care (15 credits)  
  • Essential Skills for Practice Learning in Nursing1 (30 credits) 
  • Practice Learning in Nursing 1 (30 credits) 
  • Principles of Adult Nursing (15 credits)

Part 2 (Adult)

  • Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing (15 credits)
  • Fundamentals of medicines management and therapeutics (15 credits) 
  • Essential Skills for Practice Learning in Nursing 2 (30 credits) 
  • Practice Learning in Nursing 2 (30 credits) 
  • Person-centred assessment in adult nursing (15 credits)  
  • Safe and effective care planning in adult nursing (15 credits) 

Part 3 (Adult)

  • Dissertation: Critical engagement with practice (30 credits)
  • Challenges and complexity in adult nursing (15 credits)
  • Leading and managing nursing care (15 credits)
  • Essential Skills for Practice Learning in Nursing 3 (30 credits) 
  • Practice learning in nursing 3 (30 credits)

Nursing (Mental Health)

The mental health nursing field of practice recognises the inclusion of service users and carers as an integral part of the delivery of the programme. This will ensure that person-centred recovery processes are addressed throughout the programme in the development of the student. The mental health field of practice modules will be further informed by critical engagement with current mental health agendas and developments.

Part 1 (Mental Health)

  • Communication and Professional Values to Promote Health and Wellbeing across the Lifespan (30 credits)
  • Human anatomy and physiology for person centred care (15 credits)
  • Essential Skills for Practice Learning in Nursing1 (30 credits)
  • Practice Learning in Nursing 1 (30 credits)
  • Principles of Mental Health Nursing (15 credits) 

Part 2 (Mental Health)

  • Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing (15 credits)
  • Fundamentals of medicines management and therapeutics (15 credits)
  • Essential Skills for Practice Learning in Nursing 2 (30 credits)
  • Practice Learning in Nursing 2 (30 credits)
  • Person-centred assessment and care-planning in mental health (15 credits) 
  • Psycho-social Interventions in mental health nursing (15 credits)

Part 3 (Mental Health)

  • Dissertation: Critical engagement with practice (30 credits)
  • Challenges and complexity in mental health nursing (15 credits)  
  • Leading and managing nursing care (15 credits)
  • Essential Skills for Practice Learning in Nursing 3 (30 credits)
  • Practice learning in nursing 3 (30 credits)
Teaching and assessment

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures and seminars. Case studies (developed in partnership with service users) support a scenario-based approach to learning which facilitates small group activities and discussions, leading to shared and individual problem-solving and decision-making. A blended learning approach uses a range of strategies including the virtual learning environment, flipped classroom and e-learning packages, which promote personalised engagement with learning.

You will meet with your personal academic tutor 4 times in each year.

To integrate theory and practice and to development your knowledge, skills and behaviours all apprentices have to complete a tripartite individual learner progress reviews every 12 weeks. Members of this review will include the employer/assessor/supervisor, a university representative and the apprentice. Undertaking these scheduled tripartite meetings will allow individual monitoring of your progress across the apprenticeship.

At the core of the nursing programme is learning in a diverse range of clinical placements, learning in the real world which facilitates work-readiness, personal and professional development. Mandatory practice learning equates to 50% of the programme credit for each year. Your practice learning is mapped across the programme, gradually increasing as you gain in confidence, supporting your transition from apprentice to Registered Nurse. Your placements run in blocks across the year, with experiences normally in a minimum of two practice placements each part of the course, in a setting appropriate to adult/mental health nursing. The use of ‘spokes’ (visits to alternative placement settings) to maximise learning opportunities offered by diverse and non-traditional settings, offer exposure to opportunities to care for people from across the life-span, with mental and physical health needs and learning disabilities. Enhanced practice learning days rooted in clinical practice, provide opportunities to consolidate learning, provide opportunity for reflection, complete project activities and inter-professional learning opportunities and seek additional support as necessary to promote inclusive learning in the practice setting.

While on placement you are supernumerary and are supported by a practice supervisor and assessed by a practice assessor, both having undergone appropriate preparation for their roles. Further support is provided by the inter-professional team, a nominated person (usually a member of the practice education team) and an academic assessor allocated for each part of the programme. You will have access to the internet and library resources whilst on placement.

You will be provided with the opportunity to complete skills and simulated learning activities. All skills and simulation activities involve a range of people including students, peers, service users/carers, practitioners, technicians, academics and includes role play, ‘hands on’ practical skills sessions using a range of simulation manikins, video recording and playback. Formative feedback on performance is provided to facilitate safe and effective support for essential skills development, in a simulation suite, replicating hospital and community practice learning environments.

Location of teaching

Teaching is delivered at University of Worcester, with practice placements provided by your employer and our local NHS Trust partners across Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucester and Dudley, as well as placements in the independent and voluntary sector.

Contact time

The full-time apprenticeship requires you to spend 37.5 hours per week on programme.

The part-time apprenticeship requires you to spend 28-29 per week on the programme. Any remaining hours are for ‘on the job’ learning, in your place of employment.

In a typical week, you will have around 12-18 hours (full-time route) or 10-12 hours (part-time route) contact hours of teaching each theory week. The precise contact hours will depend on the year of study and the module you are studying, as in the final year there is normally slightly less contact time in order to do more independent study. This allows the completion of a dissertation, a sustained piece of individual work, which critically and ethically engages with professional practice, relevant to the students’ chosen field of practice.

Typically, class contact time per day will be structured around:

• 2 hours lead lecture
• 4 hours of seminar, workshop or tutorials

While on placement you will attend placement for 37.5 hours per week (full-time route), or 28-29 hours per week (part-time route) experiencing the full range of hours expected of a Registered Nurse. While on placement, as an apprentice on a nursing course you will be supernumerary. All practice learning hours, including skills and simulated learning must be formally recorded and signed for. As an employee, any remaining contracted hours will be ‘on the job’ learning in your place of employment.

Independent self-study

In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake around 20-25 hours (full-time route) or 16-19 hours (part-time route) of personal self-study per week. Typically, this will involve completing online activities, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and online, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including The Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources.

Duration

  • Three years full-time (37.5 hours per week) or four years part-time (28-29 hours per week)
  • Shortened route via RPL 18-months full-time (37.5 hours per week) or two years part-time (28-29 hours per week).
  • The course is divided into three parts – one year long (full-time route) 16 months long (part-time route). 
  • The planner includes pre-planned university holiday weeks and reassessment weeks. Reassessment weeks are for theory and practice reassessment or completing ‘on the job’ learning in your employed work setting.   
  • The course is 50% theory and 50% practice learning.

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that whilst we try to be as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week; and some classes can be scheduled in the evenings.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team is made up primarily of Registered Nurses from different backgrounds, with expertise in their chosen field of practice/area of expertise. Teaching is also supported by the inter-disciplinary and multiagency team, when specialist knowledge is required. Contributions by service users, carers and their families, provides opportunity for them to share their lived experiences, with service users as appropriate having a role in the assessment process.

Teaching is informed by research and consultancy, with 71% of permanent lecturers on the course having or studying for a Higher Education teaching qualification, with 72% Fellows of the Higher Education Academy, including 18% Senior Fellows (December 2022). You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or ‘formative’ assignments.

Each module has one or more formal or ‘summative’ assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade. Assessment methods include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and a final year independent studies project.

A typical formal summative assessment pattern for an apprentice studying adult/mental health nursing for each part of the course is:

Part 1

  • Scenario-based essay
  • Group presentation of a Poster
  • Unseen exam
  • Reflective assignment (visual or written)
  • Assessment of practice learning using the e-Practice Assessment Document, with evidence of medicines calculation test at 80%

Part 2

  • Report
  • Care plan plus supporting report
  • Unseen, scenario-based exam
  • Essay
  • Critically Reflective assignment (visual or written)
  • Assessment of practice learning using the e-Practice Assessment Document, with evidence of medicines calculation test at 90%

Part 3

  • Essay
  • Individual presentation
  • Dissertation
  • Critically reflective assignment (visual or written),
  • Assessment of practice learning using the e-Practice Assessment Document, with evidence of medicines calculation test at 100% and professional discussion

You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback on examination performance is available upon request from the module leader. Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with personal academic tutors and module tutors as appropriate.

We aim to provide you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of hand-in.

Program Specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.

Careers

Careers

The programme is professionally accredited by the NMC and achievement of our nursing degree normally indicates your Fitness to Practice and eligibility to enter the NMC professional register, permitting use of the title Registered Nurse. Almost all graduates go straight into nursing employment, locally, nationally and in some instances internationally in a wide range of healthcare settings.

Many nurses are employed locally, with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Wye Valley NHS Trust, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health & Care Trust, Gloucestershire Hospitals, Dudley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Local employing organisations are invited to meet with finalists and discuss career opportunities and further professional development.

A number of initiatives are embedded to promote employment, including mock interviews and support with CV writing during year 3. Personal Academic Tutors also offer support with career planning and writing personal statements. The nursing teaching team and the Careers and Employability Service ensure details of Trust recruitment events and individual jobs are publicised.

Continuing professional development includes the opportunity to undertake post-graduate academic study including master’s degrees: Advanced Clinical Practice MSc.

Costs

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

This is covered by the Education and Skills Funding Agency via the apprenticeship levy.

Note for Apprenticeships no additional charge can be made for re-takes once Apprenticeship fee is agreed at the start of the programme

Course-related costs included in the fees

Please discuss with your employer to find out any course-related costs included in the fees.

Course-related costs not included in the fees

Day to day costs exist for printing, stationery and books.

As part of the course you will need to travel to placement and will therefore need to pay any associated costs.

Cost of NMC Registration on completion of the Nursing Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons).

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Chestnut Halls' at £131 per week to 'Oak Halls' at £221 per week (2024/25 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.

Sources of financial support

Apprentices are employees and receive a salary from their employing organisation.

How to apply

How to apply

How to apply

All applications are through your employer and you must have the support of your employer to complete the Nursing Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons). Please discuss the possibility of completing the apprenticeship with your line manager.

Who to contact in the case of queries

Please speak to your employer if you are interested in the Nursing Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons).

Any employer who requires further details of the Nursing Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) email: apprenticeships@worc.ac.uk

You can contact the School Head of Department for Apprenticeships and CPD directly by emailing h.holder@worc.ac.uk

Get in touch

Apprenticeships team

Dr Helen Holder

Head of Department Apprenticeships and CPD