Approval visits are the final part of our four-stage gateway process for approving new education programmes. This is where we check that the programmes at education institutions meet our standards and requirements.
After the visit, our external QA service provider complete a programme approval visit report.
We consider this report and decide to approve or refuse approval of the programme. We then publish the approval visit reports after we make our decision.
Visit reports: approved
Buckinghamshire New University - SCPHN - July 2024
Buckinghamshire New University - SPQ - June 2024
Buckinghamshire New University - midwifery - August 2021
Buckinghamshire New University - prescribing - March 2021
Buckinghamshire New University - nursing - December 2019
Buckinghamshire New University - nursing associate - December 2019
City, University of London – SCPHN – June 2024
City, University of London – SPQ – June 2024
City, University of London - midwifery - July 2022
City, University of London - prescribing - September 2020
City, University of London - return to practice (nursing) - July 2020
City St George's, University of London - nursing associate - September 2019
City St George's, University of London - nursing - July 2019
Liverpool John Moores University – SCPHN – May 2024
Liverpool John Moores University – SPQ – May 2024
Liverpool John Moores University - prescribing - September 2020
Liverpool John Moores University - midwifery - August 2020
Liverpool John Moores University - return to practice - June 2020
Liverpool John Moores University - nursing - May 2020
Liverpool John Moores University - nursing associate - September 2019
Manchester Metropolitan University – SPQ – December 2023
Manchester Metropolitan University - SCPHN – December 2023
Manchester Metropolitan University - return to practice - July 2021
Manchester Metropolitan University - prescribing - March 2021
Manchester Metropolitan University - nursing associate - December 2019
Sheffield Hallam University – SCPHN – June 2024
Sheffield Hallam University – SPQ – June 2024
Sheffield Hallam University - return to practice nursing - May 2021
Sheffield Hallam University - midwifery - June 2020
Sheffield Hallam University - prescribing - August 2019
Sheffield Hallam University - nursing - April 2019
The Robert Gordon University – SPQ – May 2024
The Robert Gordon University – SCPHN – May 2024
The Robert Gordon University - Endorsement Midwifery - August 2023
The Robert Gordon University – Endorsement – August 2023
The Robert Gordon University - midwifery - June 2021
The Robert Gordon University - return to practice - September 2020
The Robert Gordon University - advanced practice - July 2020
University of Central Lancashire – SPQ – March 2024
University of Central Lancashire – SPQ – March 2024
University of Central Lancashire - return to practise - June 2022
University of Central Lancashire - midwifery - February 2021
University of Central Lancashire - nursing all fields - February 2020
University of Central Lancashire - nursing associate - November 2019
University of Greenwich - SCPHN - October 2023
University of Greenwich - SPQ - July 2023
University of Greenwich - return to practice - July 2021
University of Greenwich - midwifery - November 2020
University of Greenwich - nursing - all fields - November 2020
University of Hertfordshire - SPQ - May 2024
University of Hertfordshire - SCPHN - April 2024
University of Hertfordshire - midwifery - December 2021
University of Hertfordshire - return to practice nursing - January 2020
University of Hertfordshire - nursing - August 2019
University of Hertfordshire - nursing associate - July 2019
University of Northampton - SCPHN - September 2024
University of Northampton - SCPHN - September 2023
University of Northampton - return to practise - December 2021
University of Northampton - midwifery - June 2021
University of Northampton - nursing associate - July 2020
University of Northumbria at Newcastle – SPQ – February 2024
University of Northumbria at Newcastle – SCPHN – March 2024
University of Northumbria at Newcastle - midwifery - August 2021
University of Northumbria at Newcastle - return to practice nursing - July 2020
University of Northumbria at Newcastle - prescribing - January 2020
University of Northumbria at Newcastle - nursing - December 2019
University of Salford – SPQ – February 2024
University of Salford – SCPHN – February 2024
University of Salford - midwifery - July 2022
University of Salford - SCPHN - July 2021
University of Salford - SPQ - July 2021
University of Salford - nursing - August 2019
University of Wolverhampton - SPQ - July 2024
University of Wolverhampton - SCPHN - July 2024
University of Wolverhampton - return to practice - July 2020
University of Wolverhampton - midwifery - July 2020
University of Wolverhampton - prescribing - January 2020
University of Wolverhampton - nursing associate - September 2019
University of Wolverhampton - nursing - all fields - July 2019
University of the West of England - SPQ - July 2024
University of the West of England Bristol - SCPHN - June 2024
University of the West of England, Bristol - prescribing - May 2021
University of the West of England, Bristol - return to practice - March 2021
University of the West of England, Bristol - midwifery - February 2021
University of the West of England, Bristol - nursing associate - September 2019
University of the West of England, Bristol - nursing - August 2019
Visit reports: refused approval
University of Bedfordshire - nursing associate - November 2019
Reason for refusal
We refused these proposed programme(s) as nine conditions were set during the approval process and we allow up to five conditions for a programme to be approved. The conditions are outlined in the report.
As there are currently students on the legacy Health Education England (HEE) Nursing Associate programme (pre-NMC standards), we've liaised with HEE over this refusal. HEE have carried out further quality assurance and provided us with robust assurance in relation to the student learning experience on the current programme.
University of Bedfordshire - nursing - November 2019
Reason for refusal
We refused these proposed programme(s) as 12 conditions were set during the approval process and we allow up to five conditions for a programme to be approved. The conditions are outlined in the report.
These conditions were in relation to our new standards and future programme design, rather than highlighting any concerns about the pre-registration nursing programme currently running against our pre-2018 standards.
Canterbury Christ Church University - midwifery - August 2022
Reason for refusal:
We refused this programme as the visitors as part of the conjoint approval with the university, identified seven conditions where our standards were not being met. An additional five university specific conditions were also identified.
University of Edinburgh - prescribing - April 2020
Reason for refusal:
We refused this programme as at the approval event the visitors identified six areas where our standards were not being met:
1. The AEI must provide a strategy and implementation plan to ensure recruitment, ongoing development, delivery and evaluation of the programme is co-produced with SUCs and other stakeholders. (SFNME R1.12; Standards for prescribing (SPP) R2.1)
2. The AEI must provide details of admission processes and procedures which support self-employed applicants applying for entry onto an NMC approved prescribing programme. (SFNME R2.3; SPP R1.2, R1.3)
3. The AEI must provide details of the audit process and outline how this will be implemented for practice learning placements for NHS, non-NHS and self- Page 2 of 2 employed applicants. (SFNME R2.13; SSSA R1.4, R1.10, R2.4, R2.5; SPP R1.3, R3.1, R3.2)
4. The AEI must provide details of the schedule and programme of preparation for practice assessors and practice supervisors which ensures these individuals are suitably prepared to support applicants to the prescribing programme. (SFNME R2.4, R2.5, R2.14; SSSA R5.1, R6.7, R8.1; SPP R1.3, R3.2, R4.2)
5. The AEI must provide documentary evidence confirming practice learning partners adopt an approach with shared responsibility for quality theory and practice supervision, learning and assessment, including lines of communication and accountability for the development, delivery, quality assurance and evaluation of the prescribing programme. (SFNME R2.5; SPP R2.1, R4.1, R4.2)
6. The AEI must provide a single comprehensive document that provides the essential information required to undertake the programme. (SFNME R3.2; SPP R2.1)
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Modify an existing education programme
ShowAn approved education institution (AEI) might need to request a programme modification for things like the introduction of flexible routes including nursing degree apprenticeships in England.
Modify an existing education programme Major modification approval reports -
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Programme endorsement
ShowThere are two types of programme endorsement which an Approved Education Institution (AEI) can propose.
Programme endorsement -
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How we monitor approved education institutions
ShowWe monitor approved education institutions (AEIs) and their practice learning partners to make sure that they continue to meet our standards.
We take a data-driven approach, which means we focus on aspects of education and training differently in the areas where greater risk lies. We have a process for identifying information about risks that we receive and we work closely with other professional and system regulators to identify risks early, rather than waiting for a serious risk or event to occur.
New programme monitoring Annual self-reporting -
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How we deal with concerns
ShowIf we identify that an AEI isn’t meeting our standards, we will work with them to make the necessary improvements, so the standards are met and students receive appropriate education and training.
How we deal with concerns If you have a concern about an education programme
