Important notice
This course is awaiting approval from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Become a degree-qualified nurse through a work-based apprenticeship, preparing you to lead the nursing care in diverse health and social care settings.

About the apprenticeship

Course length: 3 years, full-time. 

Start date: March 

Course level: Level6

University award: BSc (Honours) Nursing (Mental Health)

How much it costs: Funded through the employer

This course is subject to Nursing and Midwifery Council approval

Course summary

• Gain the knowledge and skills you need to provide compassionate nursing care. 
• Apply learning in your work-based context throughout the course. 
• Lead the development and delivery of person-centred care. 
• Experience authentic interprofessional working in healthcare environments.
• Become eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). 

The Registered Nurse degree apprenticeship provides a dynamic pathway to becoming a fully qualified nurse, transforming the lives of  individuals and communities. Through work-based learning, you'll gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to navigate the changing nature of health, illness, and recovery. As you build strong relationships with service users, carers, and healthcare professionals, you'll develop into a reflective, proficient nurse ready to lead compassionate care in diverse settings.

How you learn

At Sheffield Hallam, all our courses are designed to engage you with the world and challenge you to think in new ways. You’ll get to collaborate with others, and you’ll be taught in a supportive environment where you can thrive.

You’ll experience a mix of in-person teaching, remote learning, and hands-on practice within your healthcare setting. You’ll work closely with your mentor to carry out a training plan that is designed to meet your individual needs, enhance your work-based learning and meet the required apprenticeship standards.

You will learn through:

• on-campus lectures, seminars, tutorials, and practical sessions
• access to digital teaching and learning platforms
• Work-based learning and placements
• networking and collaboration opportunities
• structured training plan guiding you through modules, assessments, and key skills
• access to specialist labs, simulation environments, workshops and field trips
• independent learning

You will progress through the course following successful achievement of assessments, which address the learning outcomes for each module and allow you to complete the course.

Key themes

On this course, you’ll develop both personally and professionally, gaining a strong foundation in the core principles of nursing care, professionalism, compassion, holism, and the bio-psycho-social principles of health. You will develop your knowledge and skills, whilst learning through collaboration, on key topics around the delivery of high-quality, safe care. You’ll also learn research and evidence-based practice, which you’ll apply to your own service development project aimed at improving patient care. As the course progresses, you’ll explore leadership and management in nursing, preparing you for the transition to a registered professional.

Course support

You will be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through a number of key areas. These include:  

• Access to apprenticeship course teams both on campus and in practice which will encompass academic and pastoral support throughout the course
• Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments

Applied learning

Apprenticeship learning takes place across various healthcare settings where you’ll be working alongside nurses and other health professionals. You'll engage in all activities essential to your training and learn the responsibilities of nursing practice.

Throughout your placement, you will be supernumerary, meaning you’ll have dedicated time to focus on learning. You’ll be closely supervised and supported by practice supervisors, assessors, link lecturers, and academic assessors, ensuring you gain the necessary skills to achieve proficiency and autonomy in your nursing role safely and effectively.

You’ll have the opportunity to engage in a range of activities, including:

• hands-on care to the individuals you support
• observing nursing practice in real-world healthcare settings
• engaging in discussions with experienced nurses and interdisciplinary, multi-agency teams
• participating in question and answer sessions to enhance your understanding
• collaborating with peers for support and shared learning
• supervised learning focused on reflective practice
• tracking progress through a skills development record
• building a professional portfolio with assessments aligned to NMC proficiencies

You’ll work with your employers to develop and implement a training plan for each module, focusing on identifying your strengths, areas for development, and learning opportunities.

Future career

This course prepares you for a career in:

• clinical nursing in a range of health and social care settings, including primary and community care, secondary care, private and voluntary organisations 
• advanced practice roles 
• management positions in clinical nursing, such as a lead nurse or head of nursing services 
• Research nursing 
• lecturing 
• further study, such as health visiting, master's and doctoral education

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work in:

• hospital and community nursing environments 
• health centres 
• GP surgeries 
• the armed forces 
• education

Equipment and facilities

You'll learn in modern facilities at our Collegiate Campus.

You’ll have access to our purpose-built clinical simulation suites, including mock wards and community spaces. You'll also use technology-enhanced learning tools and clinical skills labs using equipment you’ll find in contemporary clinical and practice-based health care environments.

You’ll have access to 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students to support your independent study. 

Entry requirements

Throughout the course, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours at university. They can be existing employees looking to develop their careers, or new applicants to the business. 

Applicants must: 

• not be in full-time education 
• have the right to abode in the UK 
• meet the course entry requirements - Applicants under the age of 18 years will be considered as per the Sheffield Hallam University Admission of U18’s Policy. 
• GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English at level 2 or above (grade 4, or previously C).

If you don't meet the required Maths and English criteria yet, you'll need to achieve this level before you take your end-point assessment.

If English is not your first language, you will also need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your level of English language is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider an appropriate Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve the required level of English. Please note that the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) require IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5 for registration. 

Additional requirements

• evidence of successful formal study at level 3 
• a minimum of six months experience in a health and social care capacity, including any placements or work-based learning undertaken as part of a level 3 qualification. 

If you don’t have six months of health or social care experience, you must hold one of the following:

• 96 UCAS points from three A levels  
• level 3 BTEC National Qualifications MMM 
• successful completion of an Access to HE Diploma  
• T-Levels  
• Higher Technical Qualifications (Level 3)  
• previous degree level or higher study including foundation degrees. 

Registered Nurse apprentices will be required to complete a disclosure and barring check. In addition, employers will need to confirm adherence to mandatory training and vaccinations. Occupational Health assessments may be required in individual cases. 

Direct Entry

Completing the FdSc Assistant Practitioner (Health and Social Care) to Level 5 allows you to apply to be considered for entry into Year 2 of this degree apprenticeship. This is a direct application process in accordance with the partnership arrangement between Sheffield Hallam University and your college, not via UCAS. Please note that places to commence this course in Year 2 are limited.  

Nursing Associate and Assistant Practitioner (Health) apprenticeships may also be considered for Year 2 entry on an individual basis.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The programme usually takes three years, but if you've already completed your first degree and have relevant health or social care experience within the past five years, you may be eligible to receive credit against the first year of nurse education.

To start the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA), you'll need to provide evidence showing how your previous experience aligns with nursing. This will demonstrate that you've met the same standards as a first-year student on the RNDA. 

Your RPL submission will include a written narrative of your knowledge and experience based on the 7 NMC Platforms, supported by relevant literature. You'll also need to complete 760 hours in a relevant health or social care setting, with at least 160 hours working alongside a registered nurse. Additionally, you must show you've achieved 29 clinical proficiencies, which a registered nurse will need to verify.

Guidance and support will be offered on how to complete your RPL following a successful interview.

Modules

The programme adopts a blended learning approach with modules delivered through a combination of lectures, class-based seminars, practical work and site visits.

Year one

• Fundamentals of Nursing Practice 
• Sciences for Nursing Practice 
• Personal and Professional Development Part One 
• Nursing Placement Part One 

Year two

• Developing Nursing Practice 
• Applied Sciences for Nursing Practice 
• Personal and Professional Development Part Two 
• Nursing Placement Part Two

Year three

• Transition to Registration in Mental Health Nursing 
• Service Development Project 
• Personal and Professional Development Part Three
• Nursing Placement Part Three
• Nursing PSRB Requirements 

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change.