The government has been urged to step up efforts to attract more people into nursing, after new figures revealed little growth in the number of students accepted onto courses across the UK.
Data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), released on A-level results day earlier this week, showed that 18,300 students secured places on nursing courses this year – down 1% from 18,450 in 2024.
“This is nowhere near the level of growth required and will be cold comfort to exhausted nursing staff”
Nicola Ranger
It is understood that these numbers will increase throughout the clearing process – which runs from 5 July to 20 October.
The picture varied between nations. England saw a small rise in acceptances, from 13,870 to 14,030 between 2024 and 2025.
Just 40 of these additional places went to UK students, with the remainder taken by overseas applicants.
Northern Ireland also saw a marginal increase, up 3% from 640 to 660 acceptances.
By contrast, Wales recorded a sharp 15% drop in acceptances, from 980 to 830, while Scotland dropped 6% from 2,960 to 2,790.
The figures also concerned an ongoing shift in applicant age.
Acceptances among 18-year-olds rose by 6% to 5,620 – the highest since 2019 – but mature student numbers continued to decline.
There was a 14.5% fall for those aged 30-34, and an 8% drop for those aged 35 and over.
Responding to the data, the Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “This is nowhere near the level of growth required and will be cold comfort to exhausted nursing staff, working beyond breaking point on dangerously understaffed wards.”
The figures have come just days after the government launched a new graduate guarantee scheme, which aims to address the growing number of newly qualified nurses and midwives struggling to secure jobs.
From this summer, trusts will be able to hire graduates before vacancies formally arise, with recruitment based on projected need rather than headcount.
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting told Nursing Times this week that trusts would be able to convert vacant healthcare support worker roles into posts for newly qualified nurses and midwives.
The government said it will allow up to 17,000 vacant healthcare support worker roles to be converted into registered nursing and midwifery posts and will allow trusts to “flex” a further 24,000 nursing vacancies into graduate roles.
Professor Ranger said: “This week, ministers made important commitments to get more graduates into nursing jobs, but this must only be the beginning.
“We now need to see the government prioritise getting more students to choose nursing in the first place.
“Nursing is a wonderful career, but only by reforming pay and delivering stronger financial support during study can things be turned around.”
Also responding to the results, chief executive of the University Alliance, Vanessa Wilson, said: “Nursing continues to retain a steady acceptance rate – but this doesn’t represent the whole picture.
“Nursing and other allied health professions are suffering falling application rates and limited placements at NHS trusts.
“If we are to deliver on the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, the government and the NHS must continue to work with universities to improve long-term planning and funding. “
