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Registered Nurse (Adult) (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons)

This apprenticeship is employer led: applications must be submitted by employers on behalf of their staff.

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Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

2-3 years full-time

UCAS Tariff

120

Eligibility Criteria

Permanent Employment in relevant field


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About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • Outstanding Quality - Huddersfield is an Ofsted Outstanding provider, delivering top-tier apprenticeship training.
  • You’ll learn from experienced health professionals and service users whose real-world insights bring teaching to life.
  • Gain confidence using our state-of-the-art skills labs and immersive simulation facilities on our National Health Innovation Campus.

Accreditation and Professional Links

Recognised connections to give you an extra edge when you graduate. Read More

This apprenticeship course has been designed to provide the opportunity to study whilst being employed in adult healthcare services. During this apprenticeship you’ll get the opportunity to learn in a supportive, forward-thinking and contemporary environment, where you’ll explore all aspects of adult nursing, from the fundamentals of providing care to more advanced topics such as complex needs, and leadership and management.

In line with the apprenticeship model, the course is designed to support a training in practice approach. Whilst undertaking the course you’ll remain employed by your host organisation. You will spend one day a week working for your employer. The other 30 hours a week will be either on placement in clinical practice or in university. The course is designed to be progressively demanding and once qualified you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and work as a Registered Nurse for Adults.

If you’re thinking of studying an apprenticeship course or are an employer looking for an apprenticeship for your employees, you’ll also find useful information on our Degree Apprenticeship webpages.

Why study Registered Nurse (Adult) (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons)

On this course, you’ll learn how to respond to the physical, cognitive, and mental health needs of all patients and service users across their lifespan. You’ll have the opportunity to develop key clinical skills in our fully equipped simulated facilities, using our patient simulators, as well as hearing first-hand experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.

You’ll be taught and supported by experienced lecturers, who combine their knowledge, experience, and skillset to deliver high-quality teaching in line with current practice. You’ll learn through lectures, workshops, seminars, group work, simulation and role play. This will also involve a combination of face to face on campus learning, as well as online teaching and resources.

You’ll have the opportunity to gain key clinical skills and engage in simulation-based learning within a safe environment.

Your time on the course will be divided between learning theory and applying your knowledge in a clinical environment, with clinical practice providing opportunities for you to put what you’ve learned into practice in a variety of settings. These may include hospitals, general practice, specialist teams, nursing homes, in the community, as well as voluntary and private sectors.

The University’s new Daphne Steele Building is now open on the site of the National Health Innovation campus. This allows our Adult Nursing students to benefit from specialist, clinical teaching facilities and world-leading research facilities.

The University of Huddersfield has the highest Apprenticeship Qualification Achievement Rate (QAR) among Higher Education Institutions in England.*

Our 2023/24 QAR was 87.6% and coupled with our Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rating displays the excellent learning experience for apprentices and their employers at the University of Huddersfield.

*Excludes providers with fewer than 100 apprentices.

Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

You must:

  • Be employed in healthcare and supported to undertake the course by your employer.
  • Have BBB at A Level (120 UCAS points). If you are studying a Science A Level, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course, DDM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma, Merit at T Level, NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma/Level 3 Extended Diploma at grade B or a Pass in Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits 15 at Distinction, 30 at Merit.
  • Hold and provide evidence of GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under previous GCSE grading scheme or equivalent, before the start date of your apprenticeship.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum of IELTS 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

Complete a Rehabilitation of Offenders form and have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check.

You may be eligible to gain accreditation for your prior learning towards this course. Please note that the course you are applying for is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) which allows a maximum of 50% of credits for the award to be conferred through accreditation of prior learning.

If you have alternative qualifications, including the nursing associate foundation degree, you may wish to contact us for advice before applying. Please note places are limited and attainment of the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an interview or offer. You must include details of any previous study. A Nursing Associate qualification will usually mean you can be granted Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) onto the second year of the 3-year BSc course but please check prior to applying. Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered via a portfolio of evidence mapped against the NMC standards of proficiency and the apprenticeship framework for Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA). As sector leaders in apprenticeships we hope this attracts more people to train as nurses and help towards recruiting more apprentices. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

What will you learn?

Course Details

This module involves exploring your development as a professional, examining your personal and professional attitudes and beliefs, as well as relating these to your future professional role as an adult nurse. You’ll gain an understanding about how you can develop as a learner and maintain your physical and mental health, so you are able to promote and support people with their health. You’ll also learn how to manage the transition to university and explore ethical and professional codes underpinning adult nursing.

This module provides the opportunity for you to develop the fundamental knowledge and skills required to care specifically for adults, as well as people of all ages from conception to end of life, with a range of physical, mental health and cognitive care needs. You’ll learn about the principles of holistic assessment and management of well and sick people of all ages. You’ll gain an understanding of development through the lifespan by exploring the principles of anatomy and physiology. You’ll also be introduced to pharmacology and medicines administration.

This module provides the opportunity for you to develop the fundamental skills of nursing practice including personal hygiene, infection control, undertaking observations and basic life support. You’ll complete a practice learning experience where you’ll put the theory you’ve learnt into practice.

This module provides you with a further opportunity to develop the fundamental skills of nursing practice including personal hygiene, infection control, undertaking observations and basic life support. You’ll complete a practice learning experience, where you’ll put the theory you’ve learnt into practice.

This module introduces you to the nature of knowledge and how it supports evidenced-based nursing practice. You’ll learn how to search for and read evidence to identify its value and relevance to nursing practice. You’ll explore how to evaluate published research and will be introduced to the concept of ethics within healthcare research. You’ll also have the opportunity to develop and use a variety of transferable skills including literature searching, critical appraisal of evidence and application of evidence to your own and the nursing practice of others.

This module builds on the year one Becoming a Professional and supports you to develop the professional knowledge and transferable skills needed to become a Registered Nurse. You'll gain an understanding of professional, legal, and ethical frameworks, and their role in your clinical decision-making. You'll also develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required for effective leadership, management, and teamworking to enable you to positively influence management, decisions, and care delivery of patients and service-users in your care.

This module builds on the knowledge and skills you developed in Year 1. You’ll expand your range of assessment skills and apply them to more complex adult care encounters, using your knowledge to recognise deterioration and begin to identify appropriate interventions to meet the care needs for people with a range of complex physical, mental health and cognitive care needs. You’ll plan care needs and begin to formulate care plans to meet the needs of individuals and groups of people in your care.

This module builds on the Understanding Knowledge and Evidence for Nursing module in Year 1, by introducing you to the design of research studies, including literature reviews and empirical studies. You’ll have the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills of research methods and design, preparing you to undertake a study relevant to adult nursing in Year 3. You’ll learn about research ethics, data collection, analysis and research approaches including qualitative, qualitative and mixed method studies, literature reviews undertaken systematically, systematic reviews and audits. For those apprentices with a Nursing Associate qualification, this module may not be required. If so, you would spend this time back on base with your employer.

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop a wider range of skills of nursing practice including cannulation and phlebotomy. You’ll complete a practice learning experience, where you’ll put the theory you’ve learnt into practice.

This module provides you with the opportunity to further develop your skills of nursing practice including cannulation and phlebotomy. You’ll complete a practice learning experience, where you’ll put the theory you’ve learnt into practice.

This module builds on professionally themed modules in Year 1 and 2 to consolidate your preparation to become a qualified nurse. You’ll have the opportunity to develop future nurse leader skills to prepare you to positively influence care, undertake the role of teacher to individuals and groups, as well as the role of practice supervisor for future nurses.

This module builds on the knowledge and skills developed in Year 1 and 2, enabling you to further develop your critical understanding of assessment skills to recognise and respond appropriately to the deteriorating patient. You’ll have the opportunity to expand your skills and apply them to managing and coordinating the care of adults with a range of conditions varying in complexity and in a range of settings under minimal supervision. The module also assists you to develop skills in advanced care management and complex discharge or transfer planning.

This module provides the opportunity for you to gain fundamental skills of nursing practice including intravenous medicine administration. You’ll complete a practice learning experience where you’ll put the theory you’ve learnt into practice.

You’ll be supported in supervised practice in placement areas to develop your knowledge and skills related to practice. Simulated placement learning will focus on preparation for placement; mandatory skills and transition to registered nurse. Both formative and summative assessment will be provided with initial, intermediate, and final interviews in practice. Lectures will provide opportunities for preparation and support before and during placement.

This module builds on the evidence and research modules in Year 1 and 2, enabling you to systematically undertake a literature review or a small scale research project based on the research proposal developed in Year 2. You’ll have the opportunity to develop a detailed literature review report or research study report. You’ll use one of a variety of approaches including qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods or a review of literature undertaken in a systematic way, within the adult nursing field. You’ll also be involved in data collection and analysis.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Interested in a placement?

Placements

Nothing can really replicate working in the real-world, which is why practice placements are essential and a compulsory part of the course. The Nursing and Midwifery Council require you to complete the minimum of 2300 hours across the course in order to obtain registration.

You'll have the opportunity to complete your practice learning experiences in a range of healthcare environments including NHS Trusts, private and voluntary organisations such as hospices, nursing homes and community settings. You'll be supervised throughout your practical experiences by a qualified professional who will provide you with any required help and advice. In order to provide you with the broadest professional experience possible, practice experiences are generally offered across West Yorkshire and occasionally beyond, covering 24 hour care including evening, weekend and night shifts.

Whilst on placement you'll be supported by trained supervisors and assessors, as well as by members of the academic team who will meet with you and your practice support team every 12 weeks.

Please note that you'll be required to travel to and during your placements.

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

As an apprentice, there is no tuition fee to pay for the higher or degree apprenticeship. Tuition fees are covered by your employer and the government through the Levy. As you'll be a paid employee, you are not able to take out a student loan.

Are you an employer? You’ll find lots of information about how apprenticeships are funded via the levy on our Degree Apprenticeship webpages.

If you require further information, please contact apprenticeships@hud.ac.uk

Scholarships and Bursaries

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Tuition Fee Loans

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What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

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Why Hud

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Careers support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

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Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you’ll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you’ll soon discover that you’re never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

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Teaching Excellence

Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

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Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Department of Nursing may teach you on this course.

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Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

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Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

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Further Study

If you want to continue your learning beyond your undergraduate degree, there is a range of financial support available for postgraduate study, including discounts for Huddersfield graduates.

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