Last Updated: November 10, 2024
Nursing Degree - UK
Nursing qualifications in the United Kingdom are structured to ensure that nurses are well-trained and competent to provide high-quality care. Historically, many nurses in the UK trained through diploma programs typically offered by colleges, which took about three years to complete. However, this pathway has largely been phased out in favor of degree programs.
The most common route to becoming a registered nurse (RN) in the UK is through a three-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in nursing. This program includes both theoretical coursework and practical placements in various healthcare settings. Specializations may include adult nursing, children's nursing, mental health nursing, and learning disabilities nursing. For those already holding a degree in another field, an MSc in Nursing offers a fast-track route to becoming a registered nurse. These programs typically last two years and combine advanced nursing practice with clinical placements. As of 30 September 2023, the Office for National Statistics (UK) reported that the total number of nurses, midwives, and dual registrants on the NMC register across the UK was 797,928.
Eligibility for Pursuing a Nursing Degree in UK
Every university has different requirements and qualifications that it desires for its students. Students need two, but probably three, A-levels or equivalent level three qualifications. Also, they will need GCSEs, like English, maths, and science, such as biology or human biology. Many schools will specify their preferred A-level courses or similar subjects. Some universities offer a foundation year for students who do not meet these requirements. Impressive grades in English and maths are essential.
Students seeking a full-time nursing degree must submit their applications via UCAS, which allows for online university applications and tracking of their progress. Those interested in part-time programs should contact their chosen institution directly for further details. It is common for universities to conduct interviews with potential candidates, where students are expected to demonstrate their understanding of the nursing profession and its responsibilities. This can be illustrated through relevant experiences, such as internships in healthcare settings or collaboration with registered nurses. Securing a work placement can be difficult; however, students are encouraged to shadow a nurse or engage in conversations with them to gain insights into their experiences.
Nursing Program for International Students
International students must complete the Overseas Nursing Program (ONP) during their studies. This program lets international students become certified nurses in the UK at the end of their studies. It may be included as part of a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science in International Nursing Studies. The ONP includes 400 hours of supervised practice placement.
Cost of Studying Nursing in UK
The annual tuition fee for all undergraduate programs for domestic students is established at £9,250. In contrast, international students pursuing undergraduate nursing programs in the UK may face tuition fees ranging from £21,000 to £37,000. For postgraduate nursing programs, the tuition fees for domestic students vary from £4,100 to £10,000, while international students can expect to pay between £21,000 and £42,000.
Top Universities for Nursing in UK
| University | Tuition Fee (Domestic students) | Tuition Fee (International Students) |
| UG | PG | UG | PG |
| University of Sheffield | £9,250 | £4,100 | NA | NA |
| University of Glasgow | £9,250 | £4,800 | £30,000 | £32,000 |
| University of Edinburgh | £9,250 | £10,000 to £13,000 | £37,000 | £27,000 to £31,000 |
| University of Manchester | £9,250 | £9,250 to £24,000 | £32,0000 | £27,000 to £42,000 |
| University of Liverpool | £9,250 | £9,250 to £12,000 | £27,000 | £27,000 to £28,000 |
| Queen's University Belfast | £9,250 | £9,200 | £7,800 to £21,000 | £21,000 |
| University of Birmingham | £9,250 | £4,900 to £11,000 | £28,000 | £22,000 to £32,000 |
| King's College London | £9,250 | £9,250 to £14,000 | £32,000 | £32,000 |
| University of York | £9,250 | £9,250 | £31,000 | £29,000 |
| University of Leeds | £9,250 | NA | £32,000 | NA |
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield offers a range of programs including Nursing (Adult) BMedSci, Advanced Clinical Practice (Paediatrics) MMedSci, Advanced Clinical Practice (GP) MMedSci, Advanced Clinical Practice (Neonatal) MMedSci, Health and Clinical Research Delivery MSc, and Ophthalmology Advanced Clinical Practice (Paediatrics) MMedSci. Additionally, the university provides degree apprenticeship pathways into Nursing, featuring both a Nursing Associate program and an 18-month Nursing Top-up program. Please note that the BMedSci program is currently unavailable to international applicants. Admission requirements for this course include a GCSE in English Language at grade 4/C, an IELTS score of 7.0 with no less than 7.0 in Speaking, Reading, and Listening, and a minimum of 6.5 in Writing or an equivalent English language qualification.
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow offers a range of programs, including a 4-year Bachelor of Nursing (BN), a PhD program that can be completed in 3 to 4 years full-time or 5 years part-time, a Master of Science (Research) that takes 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, and an Integrated PhD (IPhD) which spans 5 years full-time. For international students seeking admission to the BN program, an overall IELTS score of 7.0 is required, with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and at least 7.0 in reading, listening, and speaking. The university recognizes the English for Academic Study Unit's Pre-sessional courses as valid proof of the necessary language proficiency. Other BALEAP-accredited pre-sessional courses, such as those offered by the School of Modern Languages & Cultures, are also accepted.
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh offers a range of nursing programs, including the Bachelor of Nursing (BN), Advanced Nursing MSc, Nursing Studies PhD, MScR, and the Nursing with Pre-Registration (Adult) MN(T). For admission to the BN program, the standard entry requirements are SQA Highers: ABBB by the end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by the end of S6, with a minimum of BBB achieved in one academic year from S4 to S6. For A Levels, the requirement is ABB; for the International Baccalaureate (IB), candidates must attain 34 points with scores of 655 at Higher Level. Additionally, all applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency through one of the following: IELTS Academic with a total score of 7.0, TOEFL iBT with a score of 100, C1 Advanced (CAE) or C2 Proficiency (CPE) with a total of 185, Trinity ISE at ISE III, PTE Academic with a total of 73, or Oxford ELLT with an overall score of 8.
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester offers a three-year Bachelor of Nursing (BNurs) program in Adult Nursing, Children's Nursing, and Mental Health Nursing and a two-year Master of Science (MSc) in Adult Nursing and Advanced Leadership for Professional Practice. Additionally, the university provides a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Medical and Health Education, a three-year PhD/MPhil in Nursing, and a four-year PhD in Nursing. To qualify for the BNurs program, applicants must present grades of BBC, including at least one science subject from Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Sociology, Health and Social Care, or Applied Science. Furthermore, candidates must have a well-rounded general education, including at least five GCSEs at grade 4 (C), encompassing English Language, Mathematics, and Science. All applicants must also provide proof of English Language proficiency. The minimum requirement for this course is either a GCSE/iGCSE English Language grade of C/4 or an IELTS score of 7.0, with no less than 7.0 in reading, listening, and speaking and a minimum of 6.5 in writing or an equivalent qualification.
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool offers a three-year Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) program, a one-year Master of Science in Nursing, a two-year Master of Science in Adult Nursing with Registered Nurse Status, and a two-year Mental Health Nursing program with Registered Nurse Status. To qualify for the Bachelor of Nursing program, applicants must have a minimum of BBC in their A-levels, including a science subject such as biology or social science, along with five GCSEs graded A*-C. These GCSEs must encompass English Language, Mathematics, and Science. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in the English language unless they hail from a majority English-speaking country, requiring an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with no individual component below 7.0. International applicants who do not meet the English language requirements can enroll in one of the university's Pre-Sessional English courses to attain the necessary proficiency.
Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University Belfast offers a range of nursing programs, including a three-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Professional Nursing with specializations in Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disabilities Nursing, Children and Young People, and Adult Nursing, as well as a February intake option for Children and Young People. Additionally, the university provides two-year Master of Science (MSc) programs in the same specializations and a six-year PhD in Nursing and Midwifery. The MSc programs are available to both UK and international students. For admission to the BSc programs, applicants are generally required to have at least five GCSEs at grade C/4, which must include English Language, Mathematics, and a Science subject (such as Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Double Award Science, or Single Award Science), or an equivalent qualification recognized by the university.
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham offers a range of nursing programs, including Nursing BNurs for Child, Mental Health, and Adult specializations and Nursing MNurs for Adult and Mental Health and Child and Mental Health. Additionally, the university provides opportunities for advanced study with a Nursing MSc, Clinical Health Research MRes, and Advanced Practice in Healthcare MSc, along with a Nursing PhD/MSc by Research. All applicants must fully satisfy the entry requirements to be eligible for the Bachelor of Nursing, including achieving 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or higher, specifically in English, Mathematics, and Science. Furthermore, applicants must have an overall IELTS score of at least 7, with no individual band score lower than 7.
King's College London
King's College London offers a variety of nursing programs, including the BSc in Nursing with Registration as an Adult Nurse, BSc in Nursing with Registration as a Children’s Nurse, BSc in Nursing with Registration as a Mental Health Nurse, MSc in Nursing with Registration as an Adult Nurse, Master of Nursing (MNurs) in Nursing with Registration as both an Adult Nurse and a Mental Health Nurse, MSc in Nursing with Registration as a Mental Health Nurse, and MSc in Clinical Nursing. For admission to the BSc programs, applicants must have A-Levels with a minimum grade of BBC, along with five GCSEs at grade 4/C or higher, including English Language, Mathematics, and Science. Additionally, candidates from non-English speaking countries must provide proof of English proficiency through tests such as C1, C2, IELTS, OET, PTE, TOEFL iBT, or Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE).
University of York
The University of York offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program specializing in Adult, Child, and Mental Health Nursing and a four-year Master of Nursing program in the same specialization. Additionally, there are two-year Master of Science programs available in Adult and Mental Health nursing. To qualify for admission, candidates must have A levels with a minimum grade of BBB. While GCSEs in English Language, Mathematics, and Science at Grade 4 (C) or higher are recommended, they are not mandatory. An IELTS (Academic) score of 7.0 is required for non-native English speakers, with no component lower than 7.0, or a Grade C/Grade 4 in GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language. Applicants who do not meet the English language criteria may be able to enroll in pre-sessional English language courses.
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds offers a variety of nursing programs, including a 36-month BSc in Nursing (Adult), a 36-month BSc in Nursing (Child), a 24-month Nursing Associate (Apprenticeship) FD, and a 36-month BSc in Nursing (Mental Health). To be eligible for the BSc programs, applicants must have A-levels with a minimum of BBC, ideally including one of the following subjects: Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics, Psychology, or Sociology, along with 5 GCSEs at Grade C or 4, which must include English (Language or Literature), Mathematics, and a Science subject. The English language requirement is an overall IELTS score of 7.0, with no individual component lower than 7.0. International students who do not meet the English language criteria may be able to enroll in an undergraduate pre-sessional English course.
Nurses - Salary/Career
Most nursing graduates in the UK, specifically 79%, are engaged in various roles within the nursing profession 15 months post-graduation. This includes 50% working as other registered nursing professionals, 9% as registered community nurses, 9% as registered specialist nurses, 4% as registered mental health nurses, 3% as registered children's nurses, 2% as registered nurse practitioners, and 1% as nursing auxiliaries and assistants.
In the UK, nurses progress through various bandings throughout their careers, beginning at Band 5. Within each band, salaries rise annually until the maximum for that band is attained. After reaching this peak, nurses can only achieve higher salaries by advancing to a higher band, typically requiring additional qualifications and applying for more senior roles. Currently, a newly qualified nurse starts at Band 5, with an annual salary of approximately £30,000. Highly skilled and experienced consultant-level nurses have the potential to earn over £100,000 annually at Band 9 or higher.
Nursing and Healthcare Staff Pay Bands:
| Band | Annual Salary (approx.) |
| Band 5 | £30,000 to £37,000 |
| Band 6 | £37,000 to £45,000 |
| Band 7 | £46,000 to £53,000 |
| Band 8 | £53,000 to £102,000 |
| Band 9 | £105,000 to £121,000 |
The most common route to becoming a registered nurse (RN) in the UK is through a three-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in nursing. This program includes both theoretical coursework and practical placements in various healthcare settings. Specializations may include adult nursing, children's nursing, mental health nursing, and learning disabilities nursing. For those already holding a degree in another field, an MSc in Nursing offers a fast-track route to becoming a registered nurse. These programs typically last two years and combine advanced nursing practice with clinical placements. As of 30 September 2023, the Office for National Statistics (UK) reported that the total number of nurses, midwives, and dual registrants on the NMC register across the UK was 797,928.
