The Future of Care Starts Here: UK’s Top Nursing Universities

Abroad study is one of the major aspirations for students in India. And why not? If you compare India’s education system with others, the better practical approaches to learning with extended flexibility attract the majority of students. Among them, Indian students highly aspire to get a nursing degree in the UK. Although numerous destinations are offering the same courses, they would always prefer the UK over others. Did you know there’s a reason for this? Well, let me explain it to you. Nursing courses in the UK are shorter and more intensive, the quality of education is elite, the degree is recognized worldwide, and there are remunerative career opportunities that make it one of the most sought-after courses in the UK.

Aspiration is a different thing but meeting the requirements is the real challenge. If you wish to get into a clinical program, it won’t be a piece of cake! But there is a popular saying “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. And if you love helping others heal and recover, you will surely crack the deal to pursue your dream career!

The majority of the students opting for this specific program come from the northern regions of India, especially from Haryana and Punjab. This gets harder to swallow, right? Is it a coincidence? Or maybe, just a stereotype to get to the UK? Well, you may be aware of the reasons already but have not thought about it deeply enough. In the north, especially in Haryana and Punjab, students often visit Gurdwaras & Temples to offer their selfless love and care to all the needy. The repetition of this subconsciously diverts the minds towards care and affection for people. And the number of nursing students coming from the land justifies it!

Leading UK Universities for Nursing Degrees

You are passionate about pursuing a nursing degree from the UK but have no idea about the university you wish to attend. Well, this is the case for some intense research, especially based on the world ranking, career opportunities, study curriculum, student satisfaction, entry standards, and others. However, we have curated a specific list of top-10 universities  just for you, calculating their overall ratings-

• • University of Sheffield (100)
    • BMedSci (Hons) Nursing
    • University of Glasgow (99)
    • BSc (Hons) Nursing
  • Queen’s University Belfast (97)
    • BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing
    • BSc (Hons) Midwifery
    • BSc (Hons) Children & Young People Nursing
    • BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing
    • BSc (Hons) Learning Disabilities Nursing
  • Kingston University (96)
    • BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing
    • BSc (Hons) Learning Disabilities Nursing
    • FD Nursing Associate
  • University of Salford (95)
    • FdSc Nursing Associate
    • BSc (Hons) Accelerated Nursing Adult
    • BSc (Hons) Learning Disabilities Nursing & Social Work
    • BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing with a health care foundation year
  • Bournemouth University (94)
    • BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing (advanced standing)
    • BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing
    • BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing (foundation year)

The Eligibility Criteria

This is the most important clause for all international students willing to study nursing in the UK. Although studies abroad seem promising and fruitful, Nursing is no joke! It’s a clinical degree that requires a high bar of eligibility to be met. So before you rush to any decision or conclusion make sure to go through the eligibility criteria of all the Universities and their respective courses. Mentioning all the criteria for the universities listed above is not possible, yet I will list down some important ones you must go through before applying-

• A-level requirements- ABB – BBB, two A-levels from Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Mathematics.
• English Language Proficiency- TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS with an average 7.0 band or higher.
• A resume, letters of recommendation (LOR), and admission statement of purpose (SOP) might be required.

Note- Before fulfilling the aforementioned eligibility, you must act altruistically. To successfully complete your course you will have to show endless determination, humbleness, and the ability to help and care for people coming from different cultures.

I heard from a friend once who told me about their department head’s speech during their orientation.

“I don’t mean to dishearten you or demotivate you but only 1 out of 3 of you will make it till the end of the program. This is what I know from my years of experience!”

There were 120 students in the lecture room and Dang! Exactly 40 of them got the degree. No cap! She was right.

This is not to demotivate you but rather to help you mindfully decide your future in Nursing.

University Application Process

Once you verify your eligibility, the process of applying to the University comes into play. It’s expected that you might have already finalized your dream university, but, this may always go south! If you are applying for an undergraduate program, you can do it via their web portal or via UCAS, which is the major portal through which your application will be processed. With UCAS, you are allowed to choose 5 different courses or Universities as per your preference and eligibility.

Statement Of Purpose (SOP)

The SOP will act as your personalized key to unlock the pathway to the University. The SOP will contain all the information including your introduction, educational background, work experience(if any), why you wish to study the course, why you chose the UK for your studies, why you think the university is ideal for you, your family ties, and your fundings.

Credibility Interview

Credibility Interviews are part of the filtration process for universities to filter out the right and deserving candidates from the pile of applications. Basically, in this interview, the interviewer will assess your performance based on your answers to a few questions. Your answers will reflect your knowledge of the English language via listening, understanding, and speaking. Also, they will judge your knowledge about the course, the university, and the UK. There might be certain personality-based questions that you will not find difficult to answer.

Fundings

Funding is a very important factor, as the majority of the applications are rejected based on funding itself! So, having strong funding is a must if you wish to study in the UK. Usually, for applying in the UK, showcasing mature funds of more than 28 days is mandatory. Along with a strong fund display, diversity in movable and immovable assets will further solidify your acceptance.

Letter Of Recommendation (LOR)

This letter is your booster! Yes, a letter from your former institute or your former employer recommending you for further studies in the UK. If you showcase a LOR, the probability of being accepted by the institute highly increases.

VISA Application

Once you receive your CAS, you are just one step away from your dream university! The VISA application will include all your documents including your passport, educational documents, financial documents, and all other supporting documents. Once your VISA application is processed, you might or might not (depending on your previous Credibility Interview) have to appear for the Credibility Interview organized by the United Kingdom’s Visa and Immigration (UKVI). Once you get through this, you are all set to commence your journey to the UK.

Conclusion

At last, getting admission into a nursing degree requires a lot more than a regular degree. If you are determined to take up the course with all your will showcasing benevolence towards people regardless of their race and caste. If you fulfill all the criteria mentioned above, you can freely opt for the course and pursue your dreams. Lastly, you don’t need to develop negative sentiments for Nursing courses as there are numerous students from all over India traveling each year for such courses.

– By Prasant Kumar Pandey