Top Universities in the UK for Nursing

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Did you know that in the UK, Nursing is one of the most employable types of degree with 94% of students getting a job within six months upon completion of their course? Let’s kick start your journey in studying Nursing in the UK by reading this article, where we’ll look at fundamentals of Nursing including the top universities in the UK for Nursing.

What is Nursing?

Nursing is a career that makes a difference to society at large. In healthcare, Nursing is fundamental. Without Nursing, healthcare will definitely crumble, making Nursing a vital component of all healthcare systems globally.

As a Nurse, responsibilities are diverse but at its core, it is to provide care to their patients. This could include supporting patients, administering medication, observing vitals, drafting treatment plans, among many others. In Nursing, no two days are the same which is why Nursing keeps you on your toes.

Believe it or not, Nursing is not only confined to the hospital. There could be placements or Nursing careers in clinics, residential homes, schools, pharmaceutical institutions, or even in the armed forces.

Some of the subjects which could be included in a Nursing degree in the UK are introduction to clinical care, physiology, therapeutic practices, complex care, public health, epidemiology and planning patient care.

Type of Nursing

Listed below are types or Nursing specialisms which make up the pillars of Nursing in the UK.

1. Adult Nursing

Adult Nursing is a Nursing career that involves dealing with patients above the age of 18. These patients may have heart disease, accident injuries, diabetes, cancer, dementia, or other long or short-term physical health issues. A trained Adult Nurse can take additional courses to specialise in areas such as cancer care, women’s health, accident and emergency, critical care, or school nursing.

2. Children’s Nursing

Children’s Nurses primarily concentrate on providing care for children from infancy to adolescence while working closely with parents or guardians. This allows the Nurse to fully comprehend the child’s individual health needs. Children’s Nursing will also require effective communication skills and medical administration methods. Children Nurses can work in hospitals, daycare centres, clinics, and at the child’s home.

3. Mental Health Nursing

Mental health Nursing delivers care for those who utilise mental health services. Mental health Nurses will be trained in areas such as rehabilitation, assessments, interventions, substance misuse, crisis management, as well as child and adolescent mental health. Mental health Nurses are typically found in psychiatric wards, specialist units, or community health centres.

4. Learning Disability Nursing

Learning disability Nursing focuses on supporting patients with learning disabilities. Learning disability Nurses encourage independence to these individuals, advocate for their rights, and support them in living a fulfilling life. Nurses can be placed in education, community centres, hospitals, and people’s homes. Qualified Nurses can advance in specialised areas such as epilepsy management or working with those facing sensory impairments.

5. Midwife

Midwives are healthcare professionals attending to matters revolving deal with processes of pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, and postpartum health. Midwives can work in settings such as hospitals, birthing centres, or women’s homes, with opportunities for independent practices.

Skills Required to Study Nursing

Passion for Helping Others

Passion for helping others is a must for those wanting to study Nursing. This is because Nursing is not an easy course, so this passion can help in overcoming future challenges and hurdles. Additionally, Nursing involves constant interactions with others where you’ll have to stay respectful, ethical, and culturally competent.

Aptitude in Science

Components of Nursing will involve the Sciences, especially Biology and Psychology. You will learn subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, and Nutrition. As such, aptitude in Science is a skill beneficial in ensuring success for studying Nursing.

Research Competency

Evidence-based practices are major in Nursing, making research competency a significant skill to have for those studying Nursing. Research competency will contribute to the decisions and actions taken by a Nurse when providing care to patients.

Critical Judgement

Critical judgement is necessary in terms of improving decision-making skills when facing unexpected emergencies. This skill is also important for critical thinking, problem-solving, and comprehension, which are constituent in Nursing.

Health Assessments & Informatics

Health assessments and informatics are key elements of Nursing. The former enables students to be competent in performing assessments of patients, such as conducting physical examinations and recording vital signs. The latter is to nurture proficiency in handling technological systems in healthcare.

Common Career Paths for UK Nursing Graduates

Upon graduation of a Nursing degree in the UK, you can consider these career paths:

Registered Nurse (RN)
Community Nurse
Surgical Nurse
Research Nurse
Nursing Assistant
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Paediatric Critical Care
Accident & Emergency Care
Ward Manager
Midwife

The average annual salary for a Nurse in the UK ranges from £28,000 to £43,000. This range is dependent on your experience in the Nursing field, the type of Nursing career, and possession of additional qualifications or certifications and training.

If you want a tiny glimpse into what health career best suits you, you can try taking this career quiz by the National Health Service (NHS).

Nursing Degree UK Entry Requirements

Academic Entry

Academic Entry	Minimum Score
A-Levels	BBC
IB Diploma	31-30
UEC	ABBBBB
STPM	3 Principal Passes
Matriculation	Minimum of 3 Grade C’s
Australian Matriculation (ATAR)	80
Canadian Pre-University (CPU)	70% Average in Six 4U/4M subjects at Year 12

Note: Universities may have different requirements. To learn more, get in touch with us!

English Language Entry Requirements

Entry Level	Minimum Score
IELTS	7.0
TOEFL	90
Pearson Test of English (PTE)	76
SPM 1119	C

Note: Universities may have different requirements. To learn more, get in touch with us!

How to be a Nurse in the UK?

Here are general steps to be a Nurse in the UK:

Step 1: Complete your SPM or any equivalent examinations and enrol in a qualifying pre-university or Diploma programme.

Step 2: Enrol and complete a Bachelor in Nursing degree in a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) accredited university in the UK. The duration for a Bachelor in Nursing is typically 3 years and placement is mandatory. However, those who have completed a Diploma can enrol into a Bachelor in Nursing Top Up programme which has a duration of 1 year. But, entry into the programme is strictly on a case-by-case basis.

Step 3: After completion of an undergraduate Nursing degree, register with the NMC.

Step 4: Find employment as a Nurse. Optionally, you can enrol in postgraduate programmes to work in a more specialised field of Nursing.

For those with an overseas qualification but looking to train as a Nurse in the UK, you will have to take NMC’s Test of Competence (ToC) after being considered eligible for it.

Some alternative routes for those without a Nursing degree are as a:

Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeships (RNDA)

RNDAs allow you to develop professionally and academically in order to get a BSc in adult nursing and register with the NMC as a qualified nurse. It is a more flexible route where you will study at university part-time while training as a Nurse in multiple Nursing settings. Most RNDAs take four years, although it could be shorter if APEL (accreditation of prior experience and learning) validates your past learning and experience.

Nursing Associate

Nursing Associates work alongside qualified Nurses in health and social care. Diverse communities of individuals are allowed to pursue a career in Nursing, with the potential of progressing to become Registered Nurses (RN). Trainee opportunities are usually available in a variety of health-care settings. A nursing associate is not an RN, but with additional training, they might be able to become one.

1. University of Leeds

The University of Leeds, founded in the year 1874, is a reputable public university located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. In terms of number of student enrolment, the University of Leeds is considered to be the fifth most popular university in the UK. Among universities globally, the university is ranked in the top 80 making it a suitable choice for those looking to pursue Nursing studies.

The University of Leeds provides Nursing courses which incorporate clinical placements from as early as the first year of the study period. This way, it is ensured that graduates of the Nursing degree are equipped with essential skills for future employment in the healthcare industry.

Programme Offered	Duration	Intake	Indicative Annual Fees (2024)
BSc Nursing (Adult)	3 Years	September	International Students: £30,250
Bsc Nursing (Child)	3 Years	September	International Students: £30,250
Bsc Nursing (Mental Health)	3 Years	September	International Students: £30,250