Nursing Colleges in UK: Popular Courses, Requirements, Fees, Career

If you are looking to pursue nursing abroad then there are a lot of reasons to study nursing in UK. Apart from the high-quality medical education, you will get an international nursing degree along with the potential for higher salaries. According to Health Education England’s Health Careers website, Nursing is the best degree to get employment in the UK. Almost 94 percent of nursing students get a job within six months of completing their studies. International students can participate in the ONP (Overseas Nursing Programme) which enables international students to register as nurses in the UK. International students can complete ONP as part of their bachelor's or master's degree in nursing. It qualifies students to work for either the private sector or NHS. International students looking for financial support can also look for NHS bursaries; however, you need to be qualified to get one. Working as an NHS nurse will also give you various benefits like a good salary, long-term contracts, and manageable working hours. With more than 90 universities offering almost 50 nursing degrees, one gets plenty of options to choose from while planning to study higher education in nursing in UK.

BSc Nursing in UK

Nursing is a very competitive field of study in the UK. Apart from academic excellence, candidates need to show the right attitude for pursuing BSc Nursing in the UK. In this field, candidates need to get used to working in high-pressure or tense situations. UK universities allow candidates to work for 20 hours a week during their studies and work full-time during holidays. Here, students get a lot of opportunities to train in different medicine and clinical areas. This will give them first-hand experience. There is a lot of demand for medical professionals everywhere, as, does in the UK. So, if you complete your nursing studies in the UK you have a great chance to work here.

Admission requirements for BSc Nursing in UK

• Class 12th with more than 75% marks
• Subjects requirements: Biology, Health, and Social Care, Chemistry,
• Sociology, Applied Science, English, and Mathematics (Subject requirements may vary from university to university)
• IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE scores to prove English language proficiency
• Updated Resume
• LORs (Letter of recommendations)
• Admission Essays

Top universities in the UK offering Nursing courses

Most of the nursing courses are for three or four years and students learn a variety of topics related to nursing during this time. Various UK universities offer BSc Nursing in UK. Studies in the nursing course cover different aspects like Midwifery, Mental Health Nursing, and Adult Nursing.

• University of Edinburgh
• The University of Glasgow
• University of Liverpool
• University of Surrey
• The University of Manchester
• King’s College London
• Queen’s University Belfast (QUB)
• Cardiff University
• Swansea University
• University of Southampton
• University of Northampton

Popular Nursing courses offered by UK universities

Below mentioned are some of the popular courses offered by the UK universities

• Bachelor of Nursing or BSc Nursing Studies
• Bachelor of Midwifery
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Adult
• Bachelor in Medical Science - Adult Nursing
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing Studies - Adult Nursing
• Bachelor of Adult Nursing (BNurs in Adult Nursing), BSc (Hons) in Adult Nursing
• BSc Contemporary Nursing

Cost of studying BSc Nursing in UK

The total first-year cost for studying BSc in UK is Rs 26.87 lakh. The average first-year tuition fee for pursuing a BSc in the UK is Rs 21.06 lakh while the average living expenses are Rs 5.81 lakh. The tuition cost can differ from the university to university. Also, the living costs may vary according to the city like staying in London can be expensive.

Note: The average first-year tuition fees are based on 1181 BSc courses in UK (studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Note: The average living expense is based on 176 colleges in UK (studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Nursing career in UK

To become a Registered Nurse (RN) nurses need to have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing or an Associate degree in Nursing (ADN). As per UK student visa rules students can work as a nurse in the UK for two years after completing their course. You can also go for MSc Nursing in UK after completing BSc Nursing in UK and go for any specialization like critical care nursing or advanced clinical care. Students can also get direct admission to master's courses if they have studied bachelor's from the same college/university. According to Payscale, the average base salary in the UK is £25,717 per year.

Fully qualified nurses can get around £22,000 which can go up to £28,000 at the level of Band 5 of the NHS Agenda for Change Pay Rates. While moving to the higher position of team leader, ward manager or ward sister a nurse can expect higher pay.

How many years does it take to become a nurse in UK?

Most UK universities offer three or four years of nursing courses. Students learn various aspects of health and nursing. After completing their studies, students are placed in NHS or private medical centers to gain real-world experience.

Is nursing a good career UK?

Nursing is one of the most important and growing fields today worldwide, especially in the UK. It offers long-term contracts (job security), high salaries along with potential future growth.

Is it hard to pursue nursing in UK?

Nursing is a popular course in UK and getting admission is competitive. UK universities offer high-quality education and NHS is considered one of the finest medical healthcare systems in the world. Other than studies, students also look for the UK as a great place to work.

How do I become a nurse in UK?

Check out the steps required for international nurses to work in the UK

• You should have completed a nursing degree from a recognized institution
• Give an English language proficiency test like IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE
• Set a job interview
• Do NMC Self-Assessment
• Give a Computer Based Test (CBT)
• Submit relevant documents to your employer/hospital
• Get Certificate of Sponsorship (COS)