Health and Social Care

Southampton Solent University

Qualification

Degree

Length

2 yrs

UK fees / yr

£9,535

Study

full-time

Robin · your guide

Here's the honest picture on this course - what you'd study, whether you'd likely get in, what it pays, and where it leads. Everything's real data.

About this course

The nursing associate role was created to provide a new and valued clinical career that sits between health care support workers and registered nurses, enabling the NHS to extend its workforce while ensuring that a greater proportion of direct patient care is delivered by qualified practitioners. Nursing associates carry out clinical tasks, administer medicines, monitor patients, provide personal care, and support people to understand and manage their own health, working under the supervision of registered nurses and other health professionals across a wide range of settings, from hospitals and community health teams to GP practices and care homes.

At Southampton Solent University, this two-year full-time foundation degree programme in health and social care prepares you for registration as a nursing associate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You will study the underpinning knowledge of anatomy and physiology, health conditions, medicines management, safeguarding, and the professional and ethical standards that govern nursing practice, alongside the communication and interpersonal skills that are central to person-centred care. Clinical placements are a central part of the programme, giving you experience in real health care environments throughout the degree and developing your confidence in working with patients of diverse ages, backgrounds, and health needs.

Qualified nursing associates are employed across the health and social care sector, including the NHS, independent hospitals, care homes, GP practices, and community settings. The qualification is nationally recognised and provides a direct pathway to further development: many nursing associates choose to progress to registered nurse status through a nursing degree top-up programme, for which the nursing associate foundation degree provides a formal academic route. Others build long-term careers as nursing associates, developing clinical expertise and taking on mentoring and leadership responsibilities within their teams.

Job security in this field is strong, with consistent NHS demand for qualified associates.

Could you get in?

The grades students arrived with

No past-entry data for this course.

How they qualified

80% got in with A-levels. The rest came in a mix of ways:

A-levels80%

other higher education10%

another degree5%

Other5%

Could I get in? Try your grades

120 UCAS pts

What students say National Student Survey

87%

of students are satisfied with the course overall

Teaching95%

Assessment & feedback83%

Academic support88%

Well organised83%

Learning resources89%

Student community85%

In students' own words

★★★★☆

Solid, with caveats

There's a lot to love, but it's not without its flaws. The best part: the integration between pre-clinical teaching and placements is well designed. If I'm honest, the timetable has some awkward 9am / Friday afternoon slots. On the city — l…

Class of 2023 · Part-time

★★★★☆

A great decision

I was sceptical before starting — now I'd recommend it to anyone. The best part: the teaching staff are genuinely world-class and accessible. If I'm honest, some seminar groups were too big for meaningful discussion. On the city — local cos…

Third year · Full-time

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