study nursing scotland

You can study nursing in Scotland:

Nursing is a rewarding career and can offer you the opportunity to work in a variety of settings. You could be working on the wards, in an outpatient clinic or providing care in someone’s own home.

There are currently real opportunities for student nurses to study in Scotland. Right now there is a shortage of nurses and Scotland needs you!

You’ll be supported by NHS Scotland to build your skills, knowledge and clinical expertise whilst gaining the recognised qualification you need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

nurses take the lead on patient care

As a qualified nurse, you will be expected to be able to work autonomously as part of a team. You will develop links with health professionals and healthcare providers and you will have access to the latest technology and evidence-based practice.

You will take responsibility for the care of patients under your charge; providing continuity of care, making referrals when necessary, using support services effectively and managing your own caseload.

The role of an adult nurse

As an adult nurse, you will work in hospitals and communities treating patients aged 16 and over. You are responsible for caring for patients with a wide range of conditions, from chronic long-term illnesses to acute ill health. You will also be responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the needs of your patient. You must have a good understanding of medical conditions and treatments as well as being able to provide support and advice to patients and their families.

The role of a mental health nurse

As a mental health nurse, you’ll be supporting people with mental health problems to lead fulfilling and independent lives.

This could include:

• Identifying how different types of mental illness respond to treatment
• Helping people cope with everyday life by providing practical support and advice
• Working with families and carers to help them support the person who is ill
• Supporting people in their recovery from mental illness, helping them to live independently

The role of a children’s nurse

As a children’s nurse, you will work with children and their families. You may work in hospitals, clinics, schools, nurseries and family homes.

Your patients might need short-term treatment for an illness or condition such as asthma or diabetes; others have long-term conditions like cerebral palsy or cystic fibrosis.

Nursing courses to choose from in Scotland

• Pre-registration courses

These lead to professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You can choose between:

• Adult nursing
• Child nursing
• Learning disability nursing
• Mental health nursing.

Nursing courses are delivered in a variety of ways. You can study full-time or part-time, on campus or online at undergraduate and postgraduate level. There are also short courses available in particular areas of clinical practice if you’re already working in nursing and midwifery. Please contact our UK recruitment team who will be happy to advise you further about the options available to you.

Pre-registration courses

To apply for a pre-registration course, you must meet the following requirements:

• You will need a minimum of 5 National 5 qualifications (or equivalent) at grade C or above.
• The most common route is to study for a degree in adult, mental health or children’s nursing.
• Some universities offer degrees in more specialist areas such as learning disability nursing and midwifery.
• These degree courses are usually three years long if you have never studied nursing before.

Postgraduate courses

Postgraduate courses allow you to specialise in a particular area, and will be at a higher level than undergraduate. You will usually require an undergraduate degree to study. Postgraduate courses are often shorter in duration, and provide opportunities for greater independent study.

How do I apply for nursing courses in Scotland?

You should apply through UCAS by filling out the online application form. Remember, you can only make one application per year and it must be submitted before the 15th January deadline.

Don’t leave it until the last minute; so you don’t spend Christmas feeling stressed, apply early in December.

You should also check our website or contact us if you have any questions about making a late application after the deadline.

Applying for a pre-registration course

Find out when you need to apply by looking at university websites. In the UK, most applications are made through UCAS and most universities have the same application deadlines, so that’s a good place to start. Watch out for any variations though – some institutions also ask applicants to apply directly. Don’t worry if your chosen university doesn’t offer places on pre-registration nursing programmes: they may give you the opportunity to study a foundation degree or top up your credits at a later date.

Applications are considered after the deadline. Some universities make decisions earlier, but it could be quite a while before you hear one way or another.

Applying for a postgraduate course

To apply for a postgraduate course, you’ll need to submit an application. Many courses use the Postgraduate Application Centre (PAC) and applications normally close by the end of March for entry in August. If you’re applying for funding, your application could be due earlier (usually the end of January or beginning of February) so check with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The information below is specific to applying at Queen Margaret University:

You’ll need a first or second class degree in a related discipline, such as biomedical science or nursing studies

You’ll also need 2 years’ nursing experience

You must include a reference from your employer when you apply

You can apply now for nursing degrees in Scotland.

How to Apply – Nursing

Before you apply, you should make sure that you meet the entry requirements for your chosen course. You can find details of these requirements within each course profile on our website.

The UCAS application process for nursing degrees in Scotland is slightly different to that used in other subjects.