Nursing Degree Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for a course will always vary depending on where you apply. Some universities focus on students with the highest grades, while others will favour students with more industry work experience.

What is a Nursing degree?

A nursing degree is a broad subject encompassing many disciplines and areas of medical care. Ultimately, it is a degree that focuses on medical care and can open up lots of different opportunities for those looking for a career in nursing.

Nursing degrees focus on many different aspects of medical care. Typically, modules include physiology, epidemiology, critical care, public health, patient care and mental health care.

Nursing degree entry requirements

The degree entry requirements for a nursing degree vary depending on where you apply. Of course, not all universities favour the same things; for example, some universities prefer students with the highest UCAS points total, while others prefer students with the highest grades in specific subjects.

The most common entry requirements for a nursing degree are:

Not all qualifications are accepted by a university. For example, qualifications such as T Levels or BTECs may not always be accepted as part of a university’s admissions criteria. You must speak to the university to see which qualifications are accepted before applying.

A Levels

A Levels are accepted at all universities and colleges in the UK. For those looking to study nursing courses, A Levels are the qualification most likely to get you accepted. Typically, universities are looking for students to have studied a science course (specifically biology or chemistry); however, psychology and health and social care may also be accepted.

BMAT

Some, but not all, medical schools or universities will ask for students to have sat the BMAT. This medical admission exam tests a student’s aptitude for a subject, as well as their knowledge and application. Students are also required to complete a writing task.

The current universities that ask for the BMAT are:

• Brighton & Sussex Medical School
• Imperial College London
• Lancaster University
• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford

These universities may change with each academic admissions term.

BTECs

A BTEC is probably the UK's second most commonly accepted qualification. However, not all universities will necessarily accept BTECs as a qualification for a nursing degree. Some will, but not all of them. Generally, you will need to achieve either an MMM as a minimum or a DDD. Some universities may still insist that you have A Levels alongside them.

IELTS

The IELTS is a qualification created purely for international students. You may find that universities ask for specific scores in certain sections of the test rather than an overall score.

International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate is also a qualification for international students. Generally, for a nursing degree, you must have a 5,5,5 at Higher Level. You may need to study a specific health-related subject or a science, but this is not always the case. Some universities have been known to ask for results as high as 6,6,6.

UCAT

The UCAT is very similar to the BMAT, a university admissions test. As with the BMAT, not all universities necessarily ask for the UCAT to be sat; however, it is becoming increasingly common for certain subjects.

The following universities will ask for the UCAT for 2023 admissions:

• Anglia Ruskin University
• Aston University
• Cardiff University
• Edge Hill University
• Hull York Medical School
• Keele University
• Kent & Medway Medical School
• King's College London
• Newcastle University
• Queen Mary University of London
• Queen's University Belfast
• St. George's, University of London
• University of Aberdeen
• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• University of Dundee
• University of East Anglia
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Exeter
• University of Glasgow
• University of Leicester
• University of Lincoln
• University of Liverpool
• University of Manchester
• University of Nottingham
• University of Plymouth
• University of Sheffield
• University of Southampton
• University of St. Andrews
• University of Sunderland
• University of Warwick (graduate entry)

The test is set into five different sections. Some universities will take scores from specific areas, while others are more interested in your overall score. It varies from university to university.

What is the best university for a Nursing degree?

It may sound cliche, but the best university to study medicine is the best one for you. Students often feel that if they pick a university known for teaching a subject, that is objectively the best place to go, but it isn’t always true.

You need to know what you want from a university before you apply there. Think about your needs as a student. Do you need the best teachers or the best facilities? Do you want to be closer to home or further away? Do you want to attend a coastal university or a city university? Do you prefer a university that favours one-to-one teaching or more group-oriented teaching? All of these are things to consider first.

How to write a Nursing personal statement

Writing your personal statement can often feel daunting. You have 4,000 characters and 47 lines, to sum up yourself, your interest, your hobbies and your love of nursing.

From the personal side, don’t be afraid to tell the university what you're interested in. Universities want to know what makes you stand out and what makes you so unique compared to everyone else who will apply. Your hobbies and interests do not necessarily need to link up to your love of nursing, although it can be useful if you can make the connection somewhere along the line.

As for your interest in nursing, speak about what prompted your interest. Does a family member work in nursing? Did you see a film or TV show that sparked your interest? Is nursing always something you’ve wanted to do? All of these are good ways to speak about nursing.

What jobs can I get with a Nursing degree?

Nursing is a wide and varied degree that encompasses many different disciplines. As a result, you can apply for a wide spectrum of jobs.

The jobs you can apply for with a nursing degree are:

• Chemist
• Counsellor
• Health visitor
• Medicinal chemist
• Midwife
• Nurse
• Paramedic
• Physician associate
• Social worker

It is also possible to become a teacher. However, you must have either a Masters in Education or a PGCE degree.

Can I find Clearing Nursing courses?

Nursing is a hugely popular degree. That said, you can usually find Clearing nursing courses when Clearing starts.

However, these may not always be what you want to see from a nursing course. The Clearing courses that open may require you to study a foundation year before studying or may require you to combine the subject with another degree in a sandwich course.