A Guide to Nursing Courses

Once you have chosen the type of nursing you wish to work in, you might be given the opportunity to specialise throughout your degree. This specialisation can influence the specific are of nursing you choose to pursue. Common specialisation options include:

• Intensive Care
• Occupational Health
• Chronic Health Conditions
• Emergency Care
• Acute Mental Health

When you are taking part in your clinical placement, you will be able to experience what it is like to work as a nurse in a work environment, which will not only improve your practical skills, it might also help you to decide on your career path.

The accreditation awarded for a nursing degree will depend on where you choose to study, as well as your specific course. Generally, you can expect to be awarded a Bachelor of Science (BSc), or a Bachelor of Nursing (BNurs). Once you have completed your undergraduate degree, you may be able to gain postgraduate awards, either at a university, or through your workplace.

As well as your degree, you will need to be a registered nurse in order to gain employment in healthcare. The specific registration or licensing needed will be individual to your country, so make sure to check with your institution for more details. Some degree courses will be designed to prepare you for registration or licensing.

Typically, you can expect an undergraduate degree in nursing to take three to four years to complete. Foundation degrees, diplomas and certificates can last up to two years, when studied full-time.

Once you have completed your nursing degree, you can choose to either seek employment in your chosen area, or further your studies. Continuation of your studies could be in the form of a postgraduate degree, such as a master or PhD, or a graduate certificate or diploma. As a nurse, you will be expected to continuously improve and update your knowledge and skills. Healthcare is an ever adapting sector, so your commitment to continuing education is vital.

The entry requirements for a nursing degree will depend on where you choose to study. Some universities may require you to sit an entrance exam, where others may rely on previous exam results. Some universities may prefer you to have studied certain subjects, and others may consider previous relevant work experience. It is likely that you will be required to submit a personal statement, as well as attending an interview, for admission onto a nursing degree.

You should check each institution to see what entry requirements they have for their nursing programmes.

• UK – 7.0 IELTS
• US – 3.0 GPA

Tuition fees for international students are not fixed. This means that they can vary from institution to institution. You should make sure that you are aware of how much your course will cost you.

You may be eligible for a scholarship or funding. This could be awarded by your institution, or by a separate funding body. For more information, visit our scholarships and funding section.

The most common destination for nursing graduates is to work within the healthcare sector as a nurse. You might work in public or private healthcare settings, but there is a constant demand for nurses. You could work as a school nurse, or perhaps work as a nurse in a residential home. The wide range of skills you gain throughout your degree will mean that you would be able to find work in many different fields. These skills include adaptability, effective communication, organised and flexibility.