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Course starts: 15 September 2025Apply now
Learn from an enthusiastic team of skilled professionals. Regularly meet and work with patients and carers. Graduate with the qualifications needed to become a Registered Nursing Associate.
The Registered Nursing Associate course is a new direct entry course which will cover the six platforms of care for nursing associates as outlined in the Nursing Associates Proficiency Standards.
The Nursing Associate is a registerable qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This foundation degree is suitable for either those who are new to healthcare, or experienced healthcare workers looking for a recognised qualification. On completion of the course, you may wish to register as a nursing associate or undertake further education to become a qualified nurse. This degree is a natural progression from the T Level in Health as well as traditional entry routes from Health and Social Care courses.
Your study time will be split 50/50 between theory and clinical practice. You'll be exposed to simulation with the use of our state-of-the-art facilities, where you'll learn clinical skills in a safe environment with highly experienced staff and our Patient, Carer and Public Involvement (PCPI) participants.
This course is subject to approval.
You'll be taught using a variety of methods on the Registered Nursing Associate course. There will be a hybrid model in place which will allow some flexibility to study. Teaching methods will include various types of simulation, seminars, problem-based learning, synchronous and asynchronous online lessons, as well as on-campus teaching with highly skilled staff.
Assessments methods include:
Explore our Living Lab and Helen McArdle House, home to state of the art facilities and equipment for our Nursing, Midwifery, and Paramedic Science students.
Read more about our fantastic facilities
Nursing is one of the UK’s most employable types of degree and gives you the opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives. Find out more about what you can do with a nursing degree.
Explore the career paths available in nursing
Nursing associates bridge the gap between healthcare support workers and registered nurses, delivering hands-on care in a variety of healthcare settings.
Find out more about nursing associates
We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.
We require GCSE maths and English language at grade C/4 or above or level 2 functional skills in numeracy and literacy.
Members of the Armed Forces will also require maths and English, however, the Level 3 qualification can be replaced with evidence of relevant clinical experience and in-house training.
The selection process will include an individual interview, which will assess you on your values, problem solving, and communication skills.
Medical assessments of your mental and physical health and disclosure of criminal convictions apply to all nursing courses and are based on current NMC requirements. Nurses are registered healthcare professionals and the ability to practise safely, effectively, and professionally is essential, so all applicants are required to follow our fitness to practise procedures. This means you're required to complete the following:
Instructions on how you complete these checks will be sent to you once you hold a conditional firm offer with us. These forms are then reviewed alongside your application, and you must meet both the academic and fitness to practise requirements before you'll be given an unconditional offer. If you're successful, you'll also need to complete an annual declaration form to confirm you're fit and there are no changes to your DBS.
This course is subject to approval.
Annual fees:
Please note, applications are currently closed to international students.
Every trainee nursing associate on this direct entry course, will receive one payment of £1,000 to cover the entire two-year course. You can use the funds however you see fit, such as for childcare, travel, an iPad for online learning, books, and more.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
Nursing is a rewarding and challenging career where you'll make a significant impact on people's lives. Upon successful completion of this course, you'll be able to register with the NMC as a nursing associate and you may have the opportunity to undertake a shortened nursing degree leading to registration as a nurse.
In March 2024, there were 10,881 nursing associates on the NMC register. This is a growing workforce and because this course isn't field specific, registered nursing associates will be prepared to work in any of the four fields of nursing practice: adult, mental health, learning disability, or child/adolescent. They work with healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver care for patients and the public.
As a trainee nursing associate, you'll undertake 1,150 hours of practice placements in hospitals and the community. Your first placement will take place in the first term, after ten weeks of teaching.
You will undertake your placements at one of our partner Trusts: The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
During your placements, you will be assigned Practice Assessors and Practice Supervisors who will directly assess and supervise you, as well as act as a means of support and guidance.
As you may be expected to travel long distances, start your shift in the early hours, or finish your shift late at night, you could be entitled to Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE) which allows you to make a retrospective claim for excess travel costs and/or expenses for temporary accommodation near to the location of your placement. Find out more about the NHS Learning Support Fund.
Do I need work experience?
We appreciate that it is not possible to obtain work experience in the health or caring environment. As an alternative we would recommend that you investigate the field of nursing you are interested in through online resources, professional body websites and healthcare organisations so you can demonstrate a clear understanding of the role.
What should I include in my personal statement?
Your personal statement provides a unique opportunity to express your personal qualities and attributes related to a rewarding career in nursing. The statement should include a clear articulation of:
What does a nursing interview involve?
Our interviews consist of an individual interview and group activity. For advice on how to prepare, please read our article on how to prepare for interviews for healthcare degrees. Interviews start in late November and will run until the summer.
How many weeks' holiday is there each year?
This information is still to be confirmed.
How far will I have to travel for my placements?
As part of the interview process, you'll be asked to rank your three preferred Trusts, and your Trust will be confirmed once you start the course. Please note it is not possible to guarantee your first choice. We would recommend that prior to your interview, you consider your preferred trust. All your placements will then take place in various locations within that trust, so the travel distance will vary.
How long are the placement shifts?
Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours on a shift pattern which can include nights, early starts, evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Shifts can be anywhere between 7-12 hours and the pattern can vary between trusts. Your shifts will be confirmed four weeks prior to starting your placement. It's not possible to fit placements around school hours and holidays.