Information for teachers and careers advisers

At Norland, students study two distinct qualifications that uniquely blend theory and practice. Our  BA (Hons) degree is a three-year full-time undergraduate degree. Running alongside the degree, students study the prestigious Norland diploma, which will prepare them for all the practical aspects of the care and development of children in the early years (aged 0-8) as well as critical professional and life skills. The final module of the diploma is the Newly Qualified Nanny (NQN) year , a 12-month probationary nanny post in paid full-time employment. Please note: the degree and diploma are fully integrated and cannot be studied separately. Find out more about our course

We accept a range of qualifications for entry to Norland. We accept A-levels and alternative qualifications at Level 3 such as T levels, CACHE, BTEC qualifications, International Baccalaureate and Access to HE Diploma in all subjects. Norland does not have a preference between whether a student takes A-levels or other Level 3 qualifications or a combination of these, as long as they carry UCAS points and meet our entry requirements.

Prospective students do not need to have an early years or childcare related qualification to apply to Norland. Students can calculate their points or anticipated points with the UCAS tariff calculator. It is always best to check with our admissions team as to whether a student’s chosen course will meet our entry requirements and you can contact them at [email protected]. We expect applicants to have some experience of caring for children. This could include babysitting, nannying, volunteering at a children’s group, or helping to care for younger relatives, for example.

We would not accept credit towards the Norland Diploma but may be able to accept some credit towards the degree, depending on the level at which that credit was studied and how closely it aligns with the learning in the Norland modules. For more information, please see our Student Transfer policy

The Norland website has a wealth of information for students who are interested in studying at Norland. On-demand virtual open events, Norland Unwrapped and physical open days are the best way to find out more. Students can follow us on social media and visit our YouTube channel which includes lots of exciting content about the course and student life. They can also view our digital prospectus or order a print copy.

A genuine passion for early years is essential as well enthusiasm for making a difference to a child’s life. Norlanders are seen as among the very best childcare professionals and we have been maintaining those high standards for over 130 years. Therefore, we look for students who are prepared to uphold Norland’s exceptional reputation for professionalism, who will work hard and be outstanding role models for the children in their care.

Personal statements need to reflect on the applicant as a person, what they want to achieve and why they want to pursue a career caring for children. We do appreciate that students may apply to other universities as well as Norland and may find it difficult to write a personal statement that outlines their desire to study at Norland. We recommend that students send an additional personal statement specific to Norland to support their application, which can be sent to admissions when they apply via UCAS. For assistance with personal statements, please visit UCAS’s website.

Students on our chat to students page have also provided advice on writing a personal statement when applying to Norland.

Tuition fees and study costs can be found on our fees page. We appreciate that the costs of studying at Norland are higher than for many other universities, and this is because students pursue two distinct qualifications alongside a value-added curriculum and benefit from lifelong career support and a dedicated recruitment agency for fully qualified graduates. We offer a means-tested bursary to help with the financial costs of studying at Norland. More information about the Emily Ward bursary and financial advice can be found on our finance and bursaries page.

Many students work whilst at Norland and during the holiday periods. There is a strong demand for Norland students to provide childcare duties. We support students to find nannying and babysitting jobs through our Job Shop and our partnership with the Marvellous Babysitting app. Students also work within childcare settings in ski resorts, hotels, summer sun holiday destinations and cruise ships. However, it should be acknowledged that the Norland course is demanding, and home study expectations are high, therefore caution should be exercised to ensure any work commitments do not affect your studies.

All students have the opportunity to work for Norland, creating a valuable source of student income. We employ Student Charity Reps, Student Librarians, Student Brand Ambassadors as well as Staff and Student Liaison Committee (SSLC) members. These vital posts give students the opportunity to play an important role within Norland, supporting fellow students, Norland initiatives and enabling effective communication between staff and the student body. All students are encouraged to get involved.

More information can be found on our finance and bursaries page.

Norland students can access student loans. As an independent higher education provider, student fee loans are capped at £6,125 so there is a shortfall to be made up between the student loan and our fees. More information about funding studies and how some of our students self-fund their studies can be found on our finance and bursaries page or you can view our fees and student finance Q&A from a recent virtual open event.

Norlanders can command high salaries due to the exceptional level of training they undergo and their worldwide reputation as being among the very best childcare practitioners. Depending on the type of role, the family and the experience of the Norlander, salaries tend to be above-average for graduates and often out-compete starting salaries for the teaching, legal and medical professions. The average starting salary for a Norlander placed through the Norland Agency in the UK within 12 months of qualifying is £40,000. View salaries and fees on our Agency page

Norlanders work with a wide range of families. Every family is different, and Norland’s training enables its graduates to adapt to suit the individual needs of each family and child in their care.

Norland offers outstanding academic and pastoral student support to its students and has a high student support staff to student ratio of 1:10. We teach in small class sizes using a variety of teaching, learning and assessment techniques. We have an open-door policy and encourage students to seek help and advice with any aspect of their studies or pastoral support. Find out more about our outstanding student support provision

If you have a student who shows interest in studying at Norland or working with children, please encourage them to come along to one of our open days, watch one of our virtual open events or Norland Unwrapped sessions and request a prospectus. Encouraging students to volunteer or gain experience working with families and children will help them during their application and help them build their confidence.

Although we don’t have a halls of residence, we work with private landlords across the city to offer accommodation that has been vetted and approved by Norland. We help first-year students to find accommodation in a house with other Norland students, if required. Second and third-year students find their own accommodation as per other universities and some of them move in with students from other universities in the city. The approximate cost of accommodation is £550-£600 per calendar month and does not include bills. There are two self-contained/partially self-contained flatlets within two of our properties. The rent for these two rooms with additional facilities are £650 each. Some students choose to live with families or provide live-in childcare support to reduce their accommodation costs. More information can be found on our student life page

Whilst students are at Norland, they are required to wear the Norland uniform. They wear the brown, formal uniform for degree lectures and special occasions. For diploma classes, such as food and nutrition, sewing and on placement, they wear the blue practical uniform. Norland students are extremely proud to wear the uniform and it is an integral part of Norland. The uniform costs approximately £1,000 across the three years spent at Norland. Students wear their own clothes when not on campus or when they come onto site outside of lectures or classes, and during their NQN year. Once a student has graduated, it is very rare for a family to ask a nanny to wear the Norland uniform unless for special occasions such as weddings. Expectations of Norland students are high. Students will need to follow a set of rules during their studies and whilst wearing the uniform, and to adhere to the Norland Code of Professional Responsibilities

With the Norland degree behind them, graduates can go on to pursue a wide range of careers including teaching, nursing and research. The Norland name is highly respected in the field of early years and our qualifications are recognised worldwide as a standard of excellence. View our career pathways page to see the various careers Norlanders go on to enjoy.

Yes, we welcome male students. In 2019, we celebrated the graduation of the first two male Norlanders to hold both the Norland degree and diploma. We actively encourage applications from students from a wide range of backgrounds and have several continuing initiatives that specifically target and support students from under-represented groups at Norland, including our bursary scheme.

Students that meet our entry requirements are invited to one of our interview sessions, which run from October until we close applications. They are usually held on a Friday. The earlier students apply, the earlier their interview will be. Students will be interviewed by a member of the academic team and participate in a group task. The interview aims to establish why the student wants to be a Norlander, what they can bring to a family and to provide an opportunity to demonstrate their passion as well as their experience of caring for children. Students preparing for interview should watch our helpful interview tips film on our how to apply page or contact the admissions team with any questions or concerns.

Each year, we’re delighted to welcome a small number of international students who benefit from our world-famous high-quality early years training and the outstanding career opportunities and lifelong career support we offer. Our international students page has lots of helpful information about applying for a Student visa and studying in the UK.