he government has confirmed degree-level nursing apprenticeships will be available from September 2017, at a number of universities across the UK.
In a bid to tackle the current staffing crisis, £4.5 million of funding will be given to new courses launching next year in four universities, with 5,200 apprenticeship placements available.
The introduction of nursing apprenticeships follows major changes to student nurses on traditional degree courses who will now no longer receive bursaries and instead take out means-tested loans.
The apprenticeships are designed as an alternative to students splitting their time between university and their employer. They will be offered at the Universities of Derby, Gloucestershire, Greenwich and Sunderland. Additional funding for a nursing associate apprenticeship will be given to the University of Wolverhampton in partnership with Walsall College, City of Wolverhampton College and Birmingham Metropolitan College.
Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Robert Halfon, said: “Apprenticeships work, that’s why we’ve launched degree apprenticeships that give people a real chance to earn while you learn, putting you on the fast-track to a top career.
“This multi-million pound fund will allow universities and colleges to work with top employers to design high-quality degree apprenticeships that give people a ladder of opportunity, more choice and help shape Britain to become an apprentice nation.”
To find out more about nursing apprenticeships, please visit the government website.
