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CONTENTS

1. What’s Nursing?

2. What Nursing degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto a Nursing degree?

4. What topics does a Nursing degree cover?

5. How will you be assessed?

6. Why study Nursing?

7. Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying Nursing?

8. What do Nursing graduates earn?

9. What jobs can you get as a Nursing graduate?

10. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

11. Similar subjects to Nursing

12. Have any questions?

What’s Nursing?

Nursing is a branch of healthcare focused on providing care for individuals, families and communities who are unwell or in need of help to support them on their journey back to health.

Nurses work in a range of settings and with different types of patients, using many skills to lead their patients' healthcare. Every day presents different challenges and opportunities to make a difference.

Take a look at the university league table for Nursing.

What Nursing degrees can you study?

Nursing is focused on four main fields: adult, children, learning disability and mental health. Courses blend theoretical learning, practical teaching and work placements. Some degrees offer dual qualifications, combining two areas. Examples of undergraduate Nursing degrees include:

Nursing BSc/BNurs

A combination of teaching and practical work giving a broad nursing training and opportunities to specialise.

Search for Nursing courses.

Nursing (Children) BSc

A Nursing (Children) BSc will give you the skills and knowledge to provide excellent care for children across a variety of settings. The role of a child nurse is diverse, and you'll work closely with family members to support them with understanding the healthcare needs of their child. 

Find Nursing (Children) courses.

Nursing (Learning Disability) BSc

Learning disability nurses work across the lifespan to help individuals to maintain independent living, achieve optimal physical and mental health, and live a fulfilling life. You’ll deepen your understanding of the needs of people with learning disabilities, as well as your awareness of changes and challenges in the healthcare world.

Explore Nursing (Learning Disability) courses.

Nursing (Adult) BNur

This course will prepare you for safe and contemporary practice and employment as a registered nurse in adult nursing practice. You will learn biological, pharmacological and social sciences, nursing theories, systems, processes and an advancing range of nursing skills that enable you to lead, manage and deliver effective person centred nursing practice.

See Nursing (Adult) courses.

Nursing (Mental Health) BSc/BN

Mental health nursing is a diverse, challenging and rewarding career with people at its heart. You'll learn how to care for people of all ages experiencing mental health conditions ranging from things like depression, addiction, eating disorders and schizophrenia.

Discover Nursing (Mental Health) courses.

Other options

Some unis offer blended Nursing courses, where you learn through online teaching and in-person placements. These courses include the same content as traditional degrees but with more flexibility.

Alternatively, you could pursue a nursing degree apprenticeship where you work and earn while gaining a qualification. You apply through an employer who pays your course fees but you won’t have access to student loans or grants.

Degrees may include an integrated foundation year or master’s. January start dates are available.

What do you need to get onto a Nursing degree?

Must have 

Entry requirements for Nursing will depend on the university, typically ranging from 104–136 UCAS tariff points. Qualifications may include:

• A Levels: ABB–BCC
• BTECs: DDD–DMM
• Scottish Highers: AABBB–BBBC (Advanced Highers: BBB–CCC)
• International Baccalaureate: 32–27
• Universities will usually ask that you have studied: one or two sciences at A Level (or equivalent) such as biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics or psychology
• Because you may be working with vulnerable people or children, you’ll need to complete Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks (PVG scheme in Scotland)

Good to have 

• Work or volunteering experience in settings like an NHS trust, private clinic, care home, day care centre, school, or charity like St John Ambulance – virtual work experience may also help
• Spoken to a nursing professional about their day-to-day work
• Volunteering with a youth organisation such as Scouts or ����ýs to build your communication, team working and people skills
• Online research into what’s involved, such as the Royal College of Nursing website, or the NHS-run Health Careers website or YouTube channel

What topics does a Nursing degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

• Applied mental health practice
• Core values and complexity in nursing knowledge and interventions
• Enhancing your adult nursing clinical practice
• Exploring evidence and uncertainty in nursing
• Leading complex care in learning disabilities nursing practice
• Leading in children and young people's nursing
• Nursing practice and simulation

How will you be assessed?

Assessments include theoretical and practice elements, using a variety of methods such as:

• Essays
• Exams
• Presentations
• Reports

Plenty of time will be devoted to practical work, including hours spent on long hospital ward shifts. This time will also be monitored to determine whether you are fit for nursing.

Why study Nursing?

You’ll be supporting lives at times of basic human need when care and compassion are what matter most. Nursing can be hands-on but can also provide a huge level of job satisfaction and fantastic progression opportunities – and you’ll gain a wide range of skills.

Career-specific skills:

• Skills in patient-centred care and being able to engage with people from a wide range of backgrounds
• Expertise in assessing, planning and evaluating treatment in different clinical scenarios or care for complex health needs
• Collaborative working with multidisciplinary teams
• Reflective and research-based practice

Transferable skills:

• Approachability
• Assertiveness
• Communication
• Problem solving and adaptability
• Resilience
• Team working

Professional accreditation:

• Degrees must be approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council to enable you to register as a nurse with the NMC on completion of your course

I enjoy the lectures and group work, to get the cohort working together and with people we've not met before. I feel this increases my confidence, communication and listening skills as I will be in similar situations once qualified working alongside the MDT (multidisciplinary team) and making referrals to people that I have never met.

I enjoy the practical side to my degree. The clinical skills lecturers are very knowledgeable and supportive with any questions I have. I feel we cover a good amount of clinical skills, moving and handling, basic life support, in hospital life support, and nutrition to name a few.

I love the eight weeks we have on placements in various trusts and getting to know how other trusts work, seeing new places and faces. I feel the placement books are a very good tool and provide guidance to see our improvements through different placements and mentors and achieving new goals for each placement.” Natasha, University of Staffordshire

What do Nursing graduates earn?

Nursing graduates can expect an entry-level salary of £18,000–£25,000 depending on where they work. Fully qualified nurses in the NHS are normally paid between £28,400–£42,600 (NHS Band 5 or 6).

With experience you could take on more senior roles, move into management or become a consultant, earning between £51,000-£80,000. (NHS Band 8a to 8c).

What jobs can you get as a Nursing graduate?

Nursing is a vocational subject where most students enter graduate careers as nurses. Or you could work in public health, pursue teaching or go into clinical research. It’s also possible to be self-employed or work abroad. Roles could include:

• Counsellor
• CAMHS nurse
• Health visitor
• Learning disability or mental health specialist
• Lecturer
• Occupational health nurse
• Nurse paramedic
• Paediatric nurse
• Social worker

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

If you have a first degree in a related discipline you can take a graduate-entry pre-registration course to qualify as a nurse. Or as a Nursing graduate, you could choose to specialise. Examples of postgraduate degrees include:

• Adult Nursing (pre-registration) PGDip
• Advanced Clinical Practice (Critical Care) PGCert/PGDip/MSc
• Advanced Nursing MSc
• Palliative Care PhD

Similar subjects to Nursing

Other subject areas that might appeal to you include:

• Counselling, Psychotherapy & Occupational Therapy
• Dietetics
• Health Studies
• Midwifery
• Occupational Therapy
• Paramedic Science

Search undergraduate Nursing courses now!

Have any questions?

Get in touch with our experts by emailing ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk with your question about studying Nursing. We’ll be happy to hear from you!