With about 90 universities in the UK offering almost 500 courses in nursing, you have a wide range of choices before you. In this article, we have done the research for you, and we have put together the ten best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for international students.
Yes, we have streamlined this article to suit the needs of an international student who has done a first degree before but wants to be a certified nurse. If that’s you, then read till the end.
Nursing is a fulfilling and rewarding career that is worth pursuing. Fulfilling, in that, you get to help people regain, preserve, or attain maximal health; and rewarding in that the average registered nurse salary in the United Kingdom is £34,916 per year or £17.91 per hour. Whether you have gotten a first degree in another course or not, it is still possible for you to achieve your dream of being a nurse. And if you are considering nursing schools in the UK, great! You have made a great choice.
The United Kingdom boasts of hosting the three best nursing schools in the world: the University of Southampton, King’s College London, and the University of Manchester. Globally known for their practical-based learning and research, nursing schools in the UK offer courses that get the benefit of receiving input from experts in the field, ensuring that students always receive up-to-date knowledge about the areas of nursing studied.
Though nursing programs usually last for 4 years, people who have gained a first degree in another course can go for the 2-year programs offered in any of the 2-year nursing schools in the UK for international students and residents.
What are the 10 best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for international students?
The following are the best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for international students:
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Glasgow
- University of Cardiff
- University of Derby – Nursing and Healthcare Practice(MSc)
- University of Liverpool
- Kingston University
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Northumbria University
- University of Bedfordshire
- City University
#1. The University of Edinburgh
For over 60 years, the University of Edinburgh has been known to provide thorough undergraduate nursing education. Its 2-year accelerated nursing program offers a short but intensive pathway for people who want to be adult nurses but already have a first degree. The 2-year accelerated program is structured such that students gain mastery of the theoretical and practical knowledge that qualifies them to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Students are expected to participate in the clinical skills simulation sessions and practice learning settings. These practice-based settings could be a hospital, a community, or a care home. In practice learning settings, the students are usually under the supervision of suitably trained practitioners, who are also expected to assess each student and record the assessment in the Practice Assessment Document. To ensure that students are grounded in the practical application of the theoretical lessons, practice learning is attached to all the academic courses. The school also includes a 4-week elective placement where students can choose to get clinical experience in an international setting.
The deadline for applying to this program at the University of Edinburgh is June. If you think this school suits your needs, you are advised to submit your application before January ends (next year’s January), as the school operates a competitive selection process. Therefore, applications that come in from January are only considered if there are available slots after on-time applications.
Click here to apply to one of the best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for International Students.
#2. University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow, in collaboration with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), designed a 2-year nursing program, the Bachelor of Science with Honors in Nursing, drawing input from Singapore’s healthcare system and the Ministry of Health.
The program builds upon the foundation students already have from their nursing diploma studies and integrates it with actual practice. The program achieves this through module-focused clinical placements in hospitals and communities, which students are expected to engage in throughout the program. These strategic clinical placements not only offer students the experience they need but also give them exposure to health and social policies. So students get to see what works, what doesn’t work, and what could be changed. This breeds innovation in the healthcare system.
The SIT-UofG Nursing program offers a variety of courses designed to provide students with relevant knowledge and skills to help them meet Singapore’s healthcare challenges, prepare them for leadership roles, and advance the nursing profession.
Click here to apply to one of the best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for International Students.
#3. University of Cardiff
International students wishing to study nursing in the UK can apply to the two-year Cardiff University Nursing Program.
A range of learning opportunities are provided by the course, such as clinical placements in community health clinics and hospitals. This gives them the option to finish their degree without taking any exams and gives them the chance to work in the UK once they graduate.
#4. University of Derby – Nursing and Healthcare Practice(MSc)
For those who have a strong interest in nursing or healthcare, the University of Derby offers a Master of Science program in Nursing and Healthcare Practice. Those who meet the requirements can pursue an accelerated two-year full-time program to become registered nurses.
The course teaches the essential knowledge and abilities for safe and efficient nursing practice across a broad spectrum of specializations. It teaches you how to care for patients with severe and chronic conditions using a theoretical and person-centered approach.
The Derby campus has excellent facilities, such as professional-built clinical skills suites with fake wards, counseling rooms, and treatment rooms furnished with all the most recent technology. The tuition fee for this course at the University of Derby is £14,900.
Click here to apply to one of the best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for International Students.
#5. University of Liverpool
The 2-year master’s degree offered at the University of Liverpool equips students with the knowledge, skill set, and professional attributes required to be an adult nurse with a focus on adult physical health. The school offers extensive clinical experience, working with patients in different settings, hence helping students visualize and practicalize what has been taught.
This accelerated program was developed in partnership with leading healthcare providers in the North West, and experienced nursing practitioners teach students. The University of Liverpool is committed to developing its students into caring and sympathetic nurses who can support patients and their families and who are prepared to take the lead in managing care in a multidisciplinary team.
You will be qualified to apply for professional registration as an adult nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council upon successful completion of the program.
Click here to apply to one of the best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for International Students.
#6. Kingston University
At Kingston University, you can be sure to gain specialized knowledge and the clinical skills required to become an adult nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) thanks to the 2-year adult nursing master’s program.
The school provides simulation suites with high-fidelity patient simulators and actor role-playing that offer unparalleled opportunities for you to hone your adult caregiving skills. To improve your abilities in providing care for clients in the fields of child welfare, mental health, and learning disabilities, you will participate in interprofessional learning. Additionally, you will be able to engage in interprofessional education with students studying pharmacy and midwifery.
After the first year, students get the opportunity to be involved in an elective placement, which can be national or international.
Click here to apply to one of the best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for International Students.
#7. Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University offers a Master’s in Nursing Adult degree that makes you eligible for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in 2 years. Every course the university offers is structured around fundamental ideas that center around getting you involved with the outside world, working together with others, pushing your boundaries, and giving you a safe space to grow.
In certain modules, you will be required to study and work together with students from other health and social care courses. This strategy will assist you in providing person-centered care by helping you comprehend the roles that other professionals play in the patient’s journey through the health and social care systems.
At Sheffield Hallam University, you get to apply what you have learned in theory to practice-based learning experiences. Here, you’ll learn critical and moral approaches to your work, equipping you to be a skilled professional for the rest of your life. To meet the practice-based learning outcomes for the course, you must complete the tasks that are given to you. These tasks will be held in various practice-based learning settings, which will represent the variety of ways that services are currently provided. This could involve face-to-face service delivery experiences in addition to virtual placements and simulated learning.
The course’s practice-based learning component satisfies the standards set by the Professional and Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB), which oversees the adult nursing sector. Upon completion of your course, you will demonstrate that you fulfill the prerequisites for adult nursing registration.
Click here to apply to one of the best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for International Students.
#8. Northumbria University
In the field of nursing education, Northumbria University is well-known for its innovation and quality. To prepare students to lead their profession, the university collaborates closely with their NHS partners to offer a pre-registration Nursing Science Masters program that satisfies the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s ‘Future Nurse’ standards.
Graduates from any undergraduate subject can expand on their experience in a caring role and earn their NMC registration with this two-year master’s program. Students will be ready for quick career advancement if they study following the new NMC standards, especially when they combine it with the advanced skills they will gain as a postgraduate student at Northumbria.
Click here to apply to one of the best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for International Students.
#9. University of Bedfordshire
The 2-year accelerated nursing course at the University of Bedfordshire helps you acquire the knowledge, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors required to become an adult nurse and fulfill the responsibilities of the position in a healthcare system that is continuously changing. The course begins by going over the fundamentals of adult nursing practice before delving into topics like pharmacology and medication management, professional values and governance, assessment, and decision-making.
You study in clinical and academic environments that encourage you to connect theory to practice through assessments. You can apply to become a registered adult nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) after completing the course successfully.
Click here to apply to one of the best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for International Students.
#10. City University
City University is one of the most established and oldest providers of health care in London. The school has been known to provide nursing education for 140 years. The school offers a 2-year Nursing Associate course program that enables students to qualify as nursing associates in the 4 fields of nursing or progress onto a BSc program.
The program offers two entry options: the apprenticeship route and direct entry. Students applying through the apprenticeship route should contact their employer to inquire about opportunities and the application process, but direct entry applicants apply to the university directly through UCA. The tuition fee for this course is £16,390.
Click here to apply to one of the best 2-year nursing schools in the UK for International Students.
FAQs
How much is a nurse paid in the UK per month?
The average monthly salary for nurses in the UK is 4,541 GBP, or approximately 54,500 GBP annually. The real pay for nurses, however, can differ greatly, from 28,300 GBP to 83,300 GBP annually. These amounts include extra perks like lodging, transportation, and other allowances. Graduates of 2-year nursing schools in the UK for international students are also entitled to this pay.
How much do 2-year nursing schools in the UK for international students cost?
The typical cost of a BSc in nursing in the UK is between 15,000 and 33,000 GBP, or, for overseas students, 15 to 34 lakhs.
How many years is BSc Nursing in the UK?
With three terms per year and 45 weeks spent in university or on placement in health and social care settings, the BSc Nursing (Adult) degree is taught over three years.
Conclusion
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the nursing regulatory body for the United Kingdom, has accredited all the 2-year nursing schools in the UK for international students listed in this article. This implies that graduates of these programs will be qualified to practice nursing and register as nurses in the UK. Select one that best suits your needs and apply immediately.
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