- Overview
- Course modules
- Entry requirements
- What makes this course different
- Accreditations
- What we're researching
- Your future career
- How we support your career ambitions
- Careers Guarantee
- What you'll learn
- How you'll learn
- How you'll be assessed
- Campus and facilities
- Who teaches this course
- Testimonial
- FAQs
Overview
This course bridges the gap between registered nurses and healthcare support workers. Our blend of on-campus theoretical and simulation-based learning and real-world placements in hospitals will prepare you to be a registered nursing associate.
- Live and learn in East London in the heart of one of the youngest, fastest-growing, most multicultural neighbourhoods in the UK.
- Learn in our immersive, state-of-the-art Hospital & Primary Care Training Hub. Have access to placements at prestigious healthcare providers, including Barts Health NHS Trust, Barking Havering & Redbridge University Hospitals Trust, Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, and East London NHS Foundation Trust.
- Upon successful completion, you can register as a nursing associate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
*Overall positivity using the Times Higher Education methodology, on student samples over 1,000 and out of all Universities UK members.
This course is open to home fee-paying applicants only.
This course is in Clearing
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Course modules
The Nursing Associate programme builds professional competence through six interconnected modules. The Professional Values module develops person-centred care skills and collaborative practice. The Bioscience for Nursing module covers essential knowledge of anatomy and physiology for evidence-based practice. The Nursing Practice in the Workplace and Promoting Health modules develop health promotion skills across a range of care settings, addressing health inequalities. The Communication module enhances interpersonal skills for effective interaction with patients and professionals, with a focus on consent and safeguarding. Developing as a Nurse Associate fosters clinical skills through simulated learning, encompassing all nursing fields and meeting NMC standards.
The second-year Nursing Associate programme advances clinical competence through seven specialised modules. Professional and clinical modules build practical competency across all nursing fields to meet NMC standards. Pharmacology for Nursing Associates develops safe medication administration skills and understanding of drug interactions. Evidence-based Research equips you with the skills to appraise and apply research for quality improvement. Patient Safety focuses on evaluating and enhancing care provision, while Teamwork for interprofessional practice develops delegation, supervision and leadership capabilities. Together, these modules prepare you to provide safe, effective care while working as a nursing associate.
Download course specification
Entry requirements
Degree:
48 UCAS pointsThis is the standard advertised entry requirement for most students applying to this course.
Degree with contextual offer:
48 UCAS pointsYou may be eligible for a reduced offer based on your personal, educational or socioeconomic background.
Missing some qualifications?
We have a range of pre-entry programmes to help you meet the entry requirements for this course.
What makes this course different

2nd in London
Our nursing courses ranked 2nd in London for “Learning Resources” in the 2026 National Student Survey (NSS).

Ready for the working world
Get ready to work in a clinical environment with our AR and VR equipment, Oxford medical simulation facilities, on-campus intensive care room, maternity ward, birthing suite and OT room.

Work-life balance
You’ll only be on campus one to two days per week to ensure you can accommodate your personal schedule, whether that be child-care or a part time job.
Your future career
Nursing associates monitor and deliver planned care. They work with nurses and a multidisciplinary team. Nursing associate jobs are still relatively new so it is an exciting time to learn to become a registered nursing associate. As the role continues to evolve, you will be ready as more career pathways emerge. The nursing associate role is professional in its own right, however, it can be a stepping stone to the registered nurse course in the future.
Industry links
Central to the nursing associate course are placement experiences with local healthcare providers who work collaboratively with the University in the delivery of the nursing associate course. Through our placement links, we have close connections with a range of NHS and independent nursing associate job providers. These include Barts Health NHS Trust, Barking Havering & Redbridge University Hospitals Trust, Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, and East London NHS Foundation Trust.
Graduate employers
We have close links with our healthcare partners. This ensures employment in the future for learners who successfully complete their courses and are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Many of our graduates secure nursing associate jobs within the trusts that have supported them during their course. Upon completion, our graduates work in acute hospitals, community services, nursing homes, care homes, and the private and independent sectors.
Job roles
As a trainee nursing associate, you’ll usually be paid on band 3 of the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay system, with qualified nursing associates usually employed on band 4.
Further study
Some nursing associate graduates choose to study on our BSc Nursing (Adult) course. Some Nursing Associates can enter the second year of the course to make it shorter.

I am always inspired as an educator when students have that light bulb moment and say “ Ahh, now I get it, now I understand!”. It motivates me to continue the work of helping students achieve their academic and career goals."Dr Patricia Smith
Senior lecturer in Allied and Public Health
How you'll learn
When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, specialist facilities, such as game labs, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.
Guided independent study
Our innovative Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) approach enhances face-to-face learning by providing students with scheduled on-campus contact hours and additional learning opportunities. Through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), students can access course materials and resources beyond their scheduled hours. We offer access to industry-standard technology and specialised spaces to prepare students for their future careers.
Dedicated time for activities and development, along with a holistic approach to learning, fosters academic, personal, and professional growth. Students benefit from career support through on-campus and virtual Career Zones, personalised support services, and a dedicated online portal, Track My Future (TMF).
Academic support
Students are supported with academic or subject-related queries by a programme director, module leaders, academic advisors (you’ll have an academic advisor from the teaching team as soon as you arrive with us), and university central support services.
Dedicated personal tutor
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, academic tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help you achieve your potential.
You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses.
Our Student Support hubs feature centralised helpdesks. UEL provides support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Placements
You'll be based in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience in Stratford. As this course integrates theory alongside practice, you'll also spend time on placements and temporary nursing associate jobs in many clinical settings. We have strong links with local NHS trusts and private-sector providers, which means you'll have a range of work placement opportunities.
When not on placement, you'll enjoy practical and clinical sessions in our Clinical Education Building. Our modern, purpose-built campus offers superb teaching facilities, as well as our Nursing Simulation Lab where you can practice what you have learnt in a safe immersive environment.
Your timetable
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Class sizes
The size of our nursing classes can vary depending on the nature of the course, module and activity. This can range from large groups in a lecture theatre setting, to smaller groups taking part in seminars and collaborative work.
How you'll be assessed
Assessment tasks are mainly spread across the year to make the workload manageable. Assessment methods include group work, exams and individual work including essays, presentations, case studies, professional development and practical activities depending on the nature of the course. All grades count towards your module mark. More details will be included in the student handbook and module guides.
You'll always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days, although you will receive immediate feedback following many of our face-to-face assessments.
Campus and facilities
Stratford Campus, London, E15 4LZ
Our historic Stratford campus is located in one of the best-connected areas of London: close to Stratford's thriving town centre, the 2012 Olympic Park, just 15 minutes from London's West End and 20 minutes from Canary Wharf.
Stratford’s facilities include a state-of-the-art library and learning centre, the majestic Great Hall and specialist laboratories and computing services. The School of Childhood and Social Care and Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Sports Science are housed in new buildings. There is also a campus restaurant and bookshop, and a Students' Union café-bar.
Westfield Stratford City - Europe's largest indoor shopping mall - is just one of Stratford's attractions, alongside many other shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and cinemas. Stratford is fast becoming London's new cultural quarter, with Sadler's Wells East and V&A East moving in.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
What our students and staff say

I love UEL because of its diversity, equality and inclusivity for staff, students and the Newham community. I love our Hospital and Primary training hub that uses the latest technology, AR, VR, and Oxford Medical Simulation (OMS) for our nursing students."
Kelly Ncube
Senior lecturer in Adult Nursing

I chose UEL because I work full time and being close to home I can still attend my lectures. UEL has great links with clinical placements, which will help with my studies.”
Tracy Kibel
Nursing Associate FdSc







