Want to become a nurse and achieve success in your career while also serving humanity? It’s best to study nursing in the UK as it has internationally recognized and respected nursing degrees, high-quality nursing universities, and prestigious theoretical and practical hands-on nursing experience.

The salary of a nurse intern in the UK is around $23,000 per year, while a new registered nurse can earn up to $30,000. But how to study nursing in the UK as an international student? 

It may be overwhelming for some of you due to not knowing the entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, and also the best universities. Don’t worry, we’ll tell you everything about becoming a nurse in the UK, whether you’re from Pakistan or any other country.

Study Nursing In The UK: Becoming A Nurse As An International Student In The UK

Becoming a nurse in the UK, especially for international students, needs careful planning. You need to understand and meet the entry requirements, choose the right nursing type, know about the course duration, tuition fees, and also about the right scholarships. Let’s take a look at each of these things so you can seamlessly apply for a nursing course in the UK.

Meet The Entry Requirements

The UK nursing entry requirements depend on the course and the university you’re applying to. Other than academics, some universities may also ask you for your healthcare work experience.

You must have completed the secondary education equivalent to A-levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB). Along with having good grades, you need to have a positive and learning attitude, which is observed most by the universities and recruiters.

The following are the further entry requirements you need to meet to study nursing in the UK:

1. IELTS 7.0 
2. ABB in A-levels or 32 in IB
3. Health and character checks
4. Proof of English proficiency
5. Possible healthcare work experience
6. Strong academic background
7. Passion and the right mindset for nursing

Decide the Nursing Type

In the UK, there are various nursing types that you can choose from. Choose the one that you’re into, and also based on your academic grades. The requirements may be different for each.

1. Master of Nursing (MN): It’s a 2-year-long nursing degree in the UK that combines theoretical and advanced clinical learning.
2. Nurse Associate Apprenticeship: It’s another 2-year-long nursing program that you get into. It offers paid practical training and also the work-based route.
3. Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing: If you’re already a graduate, then you can do this diploma and become a registered nurse in the UK in only 1 to 2 years.
4. Bachelor of Nursing (BN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN): BScN is a nursing degree of 2 years with practical clinical placements and theory. It’s great for the undergraduates.
5. PhD in Nursing: If you’re into Learning the High-level policy of Nursing, want to get the essential skills such as Leadership, Research, and also Top-class academic studies, Then you can pursue this degree. 

Nursing Course Duration In The UK

The duration of the nursing degree in the UK is usually 2 to 3 years. However, it may be longer as well if you don’t study full-time due to part-time work or any interruptions happening during the degree. Also, it depends on the level of the degree, such as BSc or MSc.

Nursing Courses Fees In the United Kingdom

If you’re an international student, you must consider the cost of nursing in the UK. Lots of factors affect the price, including the accommodation, whether you’re going on a scholarship, and which university you’re going to. 

But on average, the tuition fees for the international students doing a full-time BSc in nursing range from £16,000 to £28,000 per year.

Apply For A Scholarship

What’s interesting about studying nursing in the UK is that you get many scholarship options as well. But each comes with different criteria and the academic grades that you must meet. You can learn about the criteria of each of the scholarships by heading over to their website.

NHS Learning Support Fund

The NHS Learning Support Fund is a government-funded support for international and national students in the UK. It helps with nursing, midwifery, and allied health students. 

The tuition fees, travel, and living costs are all covered in this scholarship. You will be eligible for this scholarship if you want to study in England, not any other place in the UK.

The Burdett Trust for Nursing

As you can easily guess by name, it’s a trust offering scholarships and grants for nursing education and research. It covers both the study expenses and the research project expenses that are involved in the education of the student.

RCN Foundation

The Royal College of Nursing Foundation gives scholarships, research grants, and bursaries to students doing a nursing course in the UK. It also supports leadership, education, and innovation in the same field. You can consider it, but make sure you meet its criteria.

Florence Nightingale Foundation

The Florence Nightingale Foundation is another well-known organisation that offers many scholarships for leadership and development in nursing and midwifery. It covers everything from tuition, travel, to living costs for international students in the UK.

Cavell Nurses’ Trust

Cavell Nurses’ Trust is a charity that supports international nursing students in the United Kingdom who face financial hardships. It offers hardship, educational, and travel grants to support the students and help them get higher education in nursing.

Choose The Best Universities For Nursing

The next step is to choose a nursing university in the UK for yourself. Make sure you choose the one that meets your goals, has the degree that you want to study, and offers you the environment and the facilities you require as a nursing aspirant. These are some of the best nursing UK universities you can consider for yourself:

1. University of York
2. Kingston University
3. University of Glasgow
4. University of Roehampton
5. University of Edinburgh
6. University of West London
7. Queen Margaret University
8. University of Sheffield
9. University of Hertfordshire
10. University of Liverpool

What To Do After Completing a Nursing Degree In The UK?

You can start working as a nurse in the UK when you have your degree. This is how you can do it as an international student.

1. When the course is completed and you have the degree, head over to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and register yourself there. 
2. You’ll have to submit proof of qualification and pay a registration fee, which is usually minimal. They’ll check your documents, verify them, and verify your degree. Then they’ll approve of you.
3. When you’re registered with the NMC, you can now start working as a nurse in the United Kingdom. It’s up to you now where you want to serve, whether in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or community centres.

How Much Salary Can You Expect As A Nurse In The UK?

Apart from top-class nursing education, hands-on clinical experience, and the supportive community, promising salaries are another reason why it’s a dream to study nursing in the UK. As a new nursing graduate, you can earn between £24,907 and £30,615 per year. 

As an experienced nurse Band 5, you can earn up to £25,655 to £31,534 per year. What if you’re a practicing intern? Still, you can make up to £25,655 per year.

Remember, the salaries of nurses in the UK depend on how many hours they work, their experience, role, and the location they’re in.

Careers That Naturally Align with Nursing Skills

These roles directly use your nursing knowledge, hands-on training, and patient care experience.

1. Mental health nurse
2. Social worker
3. Health visitor
4. High-intensity therapist
5. Midwife
6. Police officer
7. Learning disability nurse
8. Health play specialist
9. Adult nurse
10. Play therapist

Careers Where a Nursing Background Gives You an Edge

Even if these roles don’t require a nursing degree, your healthcare experience can still be a strong advantage.

1. Counselor
2. Physician associate
3. Children’s nurse
4. Medicinal chemist
5. Genetic counselor
6. Paramedic
7. Health service manager
8. Further education teacher
9. Higher education lecturer

Final Words

The UK offers a wealth of opportunities, a promising career, and growth for international nursing students. It offers prestigious nursing education, including academic and hands-on clinical experience. To study nursing in the UK, you need A-levels, IELTS 7.0, and health checks. 

The course duration is 2 to 3 years, but could be longer. Tuition fees range from £16,000 to £28,000 per year. After your degree, register with the NMC to start working. 

If you are applying from Pakistan, contact StudyLeads consultants. We’ll help you with the visa, applying to and selecting a good university, and also getting fully funded scholarships. Contact us today!

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