Nursing is without a doubt one of the most essential and in-demand professions in public health and society in general. It’s both an emotional and technical job which requires empathy, communication and organisational skills. If you imagine yourself caring for people and their families across a diversity of situations, then you might consider a career in nursing.

As a professional nurse, you’ll be providing comfort and understanding to ill or injured patients, as well as support and reassurance to their family members. You’ll be part of a team of doctors, surgeons and other health professionals working with many different types of patients and in a wide range of settings from clinics, hospitals and hospices, care homes, and out in the field. Every day is different, and it can be extremely meaningful work which can take you all over the world.

So where can you start? There are nursing courses all over the country, and many of them offer dual qualifications which can include any of the four main fields of nursing: adult, children, learning disability and mental health.

We’ve put together the following guide which breaks down the UK into twelve areas and lists the top ranked nursing courses in each one. We’ve used ratings from Complete University Guide’s league tables, and you can check out courses and unis in more detail on their website. Read on to learn more.

Find nursing courses.

Best unis for nursing in the East Midlands

University of Nottingham

University of Lincoln

University of Derby

Best unis for nursing in the East of England

University of East Anglia UEA

University of Hertfordshire

University of Essex

Best unis for nursing in London

King's College London, University of London

Kingston University

University of West London

Best unis for nursing in North East England

Northumbria University, Newcastle

Teesside University, Middlesbrough

University of Sunderland

Best unis for nursing in North West England

University of Liverpool

University of Manchester

University of Salford

Best unis for nursing in Northern Ireland

Queen’s University Belfast

Ulster University

Best unis for nursing in Scotland

University of Glasgow

The University of Edinburgh

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Best unis for nursing in South East England

University of Southampton

University of Surrey

University of Portsmouth

Best unis for nursing in South West England

University of Plymouth

University of Exeter

Bristol, University of the West of England

Best unis for nursing in Wales

Cardiff University

Swansea University

University of South Wales

Best unis for nursing in the West Midlands

University of Birmingham

Keele University

Coventry University

Best unis for nursing in Yorkshire and the Humber

University of Sheffield

University of Leeds

University of York

NEXT:

Search for nursing courses

Nursing subject guide