Final award:
- Level 6 Adult Nurse Degree Apprenticeship
- BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing
| Duration | 3 years full time 15 months full time (progression route from Level 5) |
|---|---|
| Entry point(s) | April 2026 |
| Application deadline | Dependent on employer, see How to apply |
| Campus | St Luke’s Campus, Exeter |
|---|---|
| Contact | Programme Director: Anca Ichim |
Overview
- The BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Degree Apprenticeship offers an employment-based route into the Nursing profession. This Programme will ensure you have the skills required to successfully embark on a career as a Registered Nurse and to be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
- Join an innovative degree apprenticeship programme, with inclusivity at its heart, that supports success for all. The structure and delivery pattern is specifically designed for workplace learning.
- Our flexible approach to learning allows you to join a progression route from Level 5 (15 month duration) or take the full 3-year Adult Nursing Degree Apprenticeship.
- We offer a multi-disciplinary teaching model, with extensive workplace learning within your clinical department as you develop your clinical, leadership, problem-solving and communication skills.
- Designed to support the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, enabling progression, retention and workforce resilience.
Download our employer brochure
Learn more about our Level 6 Adult Nurse Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Exeter.
5th in the UK for Nursing and Midwifery
Complete University Guide 2026
First in the Russell Group for student satisfaction
The Academy of Nursing is 1st in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in the Teaching theme (National Student Survey 2024)
Accreditations
NMC Accreditation
The Degree Apprenticeship in Adult Nursing has not been approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC); however, we are currently going through the approval process, and the outcome will be announced in due course.
Entry requirements
3 Year BSc Degree
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE | C or 4 | English and Maths |
| A Level | BBB |
N/A |
| IB | 28/554 | N/A |
| BTEC | DMM |
N/A |
| ACCESS | 24 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade. |
N/A |
| T-level | Merit | T-level in Healthcare Science or Health |
Offer of employment by employer; right to work in the UK; eligibility for ESFA funding.
Nursing Foundation Degree
Required subjects: 60 credits at 60 % or above. Level 3 Apprenticeship Required subjects: Senior Healthcare Support worker – adult nursing pathway only.
Offer of employment by employer; right to work in the UK; eligibility for ESFA funding.
15 month Progression Route
Foundation degree in Nursing Associate Practice registered with NMC.
Level 2 English and Maths with required pass grades or equivalent qualifications.
Each applicant would be examined for APL, mapped to the degree apprenticeship standard and any bridging required picked up.
How to apply
The Adult Nursing Degree Apprenticeship does not follow the standard UCAS application process. Applicants can apply to this programme in addition to making applications to any institution through UCAS. To gain a place on an apprenticeship, applicants must either:
1. Be employed within an acute, community or specialist department or an adult social care team. Employers must have arrangements in place with the University of Exeter to support an apprenticeship education. Employers are responsible for ensuring applicants meet the Fitness to Practice requirements of the programme. Pre-employment checks will include occupational health screening and DBS checks; fulfilment of these to the satisfaction of the employer is a prerequisite for entry onto this programme.
2. Apply directly to a department offering nursing apprenticeship vacancies. Once applicants hold the offer of a post, employers will notify the University. Employers are responsible for ensuring applicants meet the Fitness to Practice requirements of the programme. Pre-employment checks will include occupational health screening and DBS checks; fulfilment of these to the satisfaction of the employer is a prerequisite for entry onto this programme. Applicants will then be required to undertake an application for the University. If an applicant has been successful they will be offered a position. A place will be confirmed by us, and we will send further information about how to enrol as an apprentice.
Funding
Full programme cost: TBC
Please note the fees for 2026 have yet to be set. We will post the Programme fees very shortly.
Course content
The BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Degree Apprenticeship offers an employment-based route into the Nursing profession. This Programme will ensure you have the skills required to successfully embark on a career as a Registered Nurse and to be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The modules we outline here provide examples of what apprentices can expect to learn on this course.
Employer negotiated module
In the final year there is an employer negotiated module. This enables the apprentices to gain further experience in innovation, leadership & management while completing a project that will help improve service delivery and care outcomes.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUR3011DA | Nursing Theory into Practice 3 (Adult) | 30 |
| NUR3012DA | Innovation in Nursing Leadership and Management | 30 |
| NUR3013DA | Clinical Innovation Project | 30 |
| NUR3014DA | Nursing Practice 3 | 30 |
Learning
The Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship is delivered through a combination of work-based practice and blended learning provided by the University, which includes e-learning and short blocks of on-campus teaching.
Degree apprenticeship roles are developed with a strong emphasis upon the close relationship between employer and University. The academic curriculum underpins clinical practice and therefore real-world practice including challenges and complexity provides the context and support for learning.
E-learning elements of the course, including lectures, seminars and online collaborative work, are undertaken through the University’s electronic learning environment. This will be the platform for most of the apprentice's academic learning, as well as providing academic support.
Time spent studying on campus
The on-campus teaching at the University of Exeter consists of 3 blocks of 4-5 days per year for the 3-year route. The 15 month progression route has 4 campus weeks in total. This is mandatory. Our other healthcare apprentices tell us these sessions are invaluable, helping to build a sense of community, belonging and peer support and gives them the opportunity to experience university life at Exeter.
Apprentices will also require protected study time during the working week of up to two days.
Support available
Our dedicated partnerships team liaise closely with employers throughout the programme. Throughout this programme apprentices' hours are supernumerary as required by the NMC but will still work as part of their team.
Each apprentice is allocated an academic mentor to support their successful completion of the programme.
Apprenticeship Standard
Apprentices who successfully complete the BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing will also have met the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours required for the Level 6 Adult Nurse Apprenticeship Standard.
Nursing Placements/Work Based Learning
We will provide recommended rotations where needed for placements or work-based learning, in line with what's required by the NMC and the Degree Apprenticeship standard relating to knowledge, skills & behaviours. Many of these KSBs will be met within the workplace so fewer placements are required within this programme.
As more care will be in the community in the future, primary care placements are likely to become key for all nurses.
Your future
Once you graduate, you'll be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and thereby gain employment as a registered nurse in health provider organisations such as NHS Trusts.
A nursing degree is a passport to an interesting job and a fulfilling career. You’ll graduate as an in-demand nurse capable of leading exceptional, comprehensive, person-centred and evidence-based care in a true partnership with the people you are caring for.
As you gain experience, you could advance your career by specialising in an area of adult nursing, progress to more senior nursing posts, or move into education or research.
5th in the UK for Nursing and Midwifery
Complete University Guide 2026
First in the Russell Group for student satisfaction
The Academy of Nursing is 1st in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in the Teaching theme (National Student Survey 2024)
