An MSc in Nursing in the UK builds on your foundation in healthcare, offering you the knowledge and training you need to progress in your career. You can choose to either pursue a specialisation or advance in your current role with an MSc in Nursing, accessing high-quality education supported by the healthcare system in the UK.
If you’ve successfully completed an undergraduate degree in nursing or a related field, an MSc nursing in the UK may be an ideal step forward in your career in the healthcare sector. This blog covers what a masters programme in nursing in the UK involves, exploring why study MSc Nursing in the UK, top universities, fields of study, and career prospects followed by application process, costs, and scholarship opportunities in the UK for an Indian postgraduate student. Let’s get started.
Healthcare education in the UK is supported by experts in the field, state-of-the-art facilities for training, and a strong healthcare system that gives you many post-work opportunities for career growth. Let’s have a closer look at the benefits of pursuing an MSc Nursing in the UK:
Highly ranked universities: The UK is home to globally renowned universities delivering highly acclaimed healthcare programmes including nursing, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Subject expertise: The nursing programmes in the UK are curated by expert professionals and academics in the field, giving you up-to-date knowledge with access to the latest medical tech.
Research excellence: Universities in the UK consistently contribute to the field with the latest developments and findings in healthcare, giving you the opportunity to contribute to ongoing research work or conduct individual research.
Wide range of specialties: Nursing education in the UK is delivered in line with four fields of nursing: adult, mental health, learning disability, and children’s nursing. You have the chance to specialise in one or two fields and also pursue further education in sub-fields like anaesthetic nursing, midwifery, and veterinary nursing.
Placement training: MSc Nursing in the UK involves intensive training for you to gain hands-on experience — you will get the opportunity to access placement training, working alongside internationally renowned clinicians and nurse consultants.
Eligibility for registration: Most MSc Nursing courses in the UK can qualify you to work in the UK as a nurse practitioner, making you eligible for registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) — the nursing and midwifery regulator for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Diverse career opportunities: With many specialisations you can pursue, MSc Nursing in the UK opens up diverse career paths in professional practice, healthcare management, and academics.
High salary potential: Well-qualified and registered nursing professionals have a significant earning potential with a high demand for experienced nurses across many sectors in healthcare.
MSc Nursing in the UK provides you many opportunities for you to learn and train for nursing in the UK, with the chance to specialise in a subject area of your preference. Let’s have a look at a few universities in the UK offering a range of nursing master’s programmes to help you get started with your research into masters nursing courses in the UK.
MSc Nursing courses offered by these universities rank high globally for their subject expertise, learning experience, and the employability of their graduates. Here’s an overview of top universities offering MSc Nursing in the UK, with their global subject ranking, available masters courses in nursing, and annual tuition fees for international students.
| University | QS World University Rankings 2024: Nursing | MSc Nursing courses offered | Annual tuition fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| King's College London | 2 | Clinical Nursing MSc | £31,600 |
| University of Manchester | 6 | MSc Adult Nursing | £27,500 |
| University of Southampton | 11 | Nursing: Adult (MSc) | £30,300 |
| University of Edinburgh | 42 | Nursing with Pre-Registration (Adult) MSc | £36,800 |
| Buckinghamshire New University | N/A | MSc Mental Health Nursing | £15,150 |
| Kingston University London | N/A | Adult Nursing MSc | £18,800 |
| Queen Margaret University | N/A | Master of Nursing (MNurs) | £17,325 |
| University of Hertfordshire | N/A | MSc Nursing (Adult) | £18,800 |
| University of Roehampton | N/A | Adult and Mental Health Nursing MSci (undergraduate, 4 years) | £19,500 |
| University of West London | N/A | Nursing (Adult) Pre-registration MSc | £13,000 |
An MSc Nursing programme from these universities might be the right fit for your career goals and experience, and it’s worth looking into your preferred courses in detail to see if they align with your academic and professional background. Before you start in-depth research, let’s have a quick look at how MSc Nursing courses are structured in the UK.
MSc Nursing courses in the UK typically span two years with coursework consisting of study, practical placements, and research. UK universities may also offer longer nursing masters courses with a foundation year or with the part-time study option, and some universities offer you the opportunity to shorten the duration of your case based on your past learning and professional experience.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Also known as Accrediting Prior Learning (APL), RPL allows you to accelerate your degree by demonstrating your previous learning and work experience in the subject area. For example, if you have 400 recorded hours of work in a hospice, your experience can be evaluated as RPL and (if applicable) credited into your masters programme, effectively shortening your course.
The criteria for RPL may vary depending on the university, so if you have prior learning or work experience in nursing, it’s best to check on the possibility of applying for RPL and whether your academic and professional background can be recognised as credits towards your masters programme.
The RPL, part-time study option, and course structure can factor into the duration of your nursing masters, so you may need to look at specific programme listings from your shortlisted universities to understand the duration of your preferred nursing course. Until then, here’s what you can generally expect in your course schedule of a two-year MSc Nursing programme in the UK:
| Year | Study Components |
|---|---|
| First Year | Lectures and seminars on mandatory modules, Self-directed study, Placement training, Research (if available) |
| Second Year | Lectures and seminars on optional modules, Self-directed study, Placement training, Research and thesis (if available) |
MSc Nursing programmes in the UK often allocate one-half of the programme duration to theoretical study and the other half for practical placements.
Theoretical study: Comprises the study of medical knowledge and latest research findings, delivered by experienced academics and clinical professionals.
Practical placements: Conducted in partner medical institutes like hospitals, hospices, and community care homes, involving simulated practice and real-life experience.
The placement training in any nursing masters programme in the UK helps you develop practical and interpersonal skills necessary as a nurse practitioner caring for patients and vulnerable individuals. You will also be able to gain practical experience specific to a subject area like adult nursing or mental health nursing depending on the field of nursing you choose to pursue. Now, let’s learn about the fields of nursing in the UK and what you’ll learn in each.
Nursing education in the UK branches into a few areas, each providing comprehensive knowledge and training required to work as a nurse practitioner in the relevant field. A nursing masters programme designed for a specific field will give you the opportunity to learn how to provide care according to the patients’ unique needs. Let’s have a look at your role as a nursing professional in each field:
You will be working with adults of all ages, providing care for patients with long or short-term physical health conditions. Your responsibilities may include adult primary care, clinical management of medication and treatments, patient assessment and education, and patient referral.
Essentials of nursing practice
Assessing needs and creating therapeutic opportunities
Assessment and evidence-based interventions
Professional, legal, and ethical issues in nursing
Informed decision making
Management of quality care across settings
Becoming a proficient practitioner
You will be caring for children from infancy to age 18, seeing patients with various conditions in different developmental stages. You will need excellent interpersonal and communication skills in this role to explain diagnoses and carry out treatment plans for young patients, as well as reassure the parents of the patients.
Introduction to children's nursing
Caring for children and young people with acute healthcare needs
Public health and community nursing for children and young people
Evidence-based interventions
Pharmacology for nursing
Complex care for children and young people's nursing
Leading care in children and young people's nursing
You will be supporting the physical, mental, emotional, psychological, educational, spiritual, and social needs of a person with a learning disability, from early years to the end of life. You will manage caregiving long-term, helping individuals become as independent as possible — both physically and mentally.
Becoming a professional practitioner
Assessment and decision making in learning disability nursing
Delivering nursing care
Therapeutic interventions and innovations in learning disability nursing
Coordinating complex care within learning disability nursing
Delivering complex holistic nursing care
You will be caring for individuals with a mental health disorder to help them recover and improve their quality of life. You may need to build effective relationships with your patients and their relatives or carers to help manage medication, therapy, and engagement in social activities.
Applied life sciences for nursing practice
Public health
Fundamentals of mental health nursing
Collaborative recovery and psychosocial interventions in mental health nursing
Complex care for mental health nursing
Leading care for mental health nursing
Following your masters qualification in nursing and your registration with the NMC, you also have the opportunity to pursue further education and training in a few specialisations.
Anaesthetic nursing: Provides pain medication (anaesthesia) care for patients before, during, and after surgery to keep them pain-free or asleep.
Dental nursing: Ensures high standards of cleanliness within the dental clinic premises, preventing and controlling infection. Supports the treatment procedures by assisting the dentist and caring for anxious patients.
Midwifery: Provides full antenatal care, including parenting classes, clinical examinations, and screening to identify high-risk pregnancies. Teaches new and expectant mothers how to feed, care for, and bathe their babies.
Occupational health nursing: Supports professionals and organisations with protecting and enhancing their health and wellbeing at work, providing guidance to help prevent work-related ill health.
Veterinary nursing: Provides nursing care to hospitalised animals including administration of treatments, running diagnostic tests, monitoring patients, performing health checks, feeding, grooming, and walking them.
You can pursue further education in these specialisations based on your preferences once you’ve gained professional experience as a registered nurse practitioner in the UK. Next, we’ll find out how to work towards your registration as well as a masters qualification in nursing from the UK.
MSc Nursing courses in the UK may look for an academic background in healthcare as well as professional or volunteer work experience. UK universities may also accept students with an unrelated undergraduate degree and some may recognise your previous work experience as credits for your masters qualification through RPL.
Although the academic requirements and the required hours of work experience may differ according to the programme, the typical entry requirements for an MSc Nursing in the UK are as follows:
Undergraduate qualification: Second class upper division honours or second class lower division honours in any undergraduate degree or — depending on the university requirement — a healthcare related undergraduate degree. Some MSc nursing programmes may accept a lower qualification than their entry qualification on a case-by-case basis, taking previous work experience into consideration.
Recorded hours of relevant experience: Professional or volunteer experience in a caregiving role is often required and sometimes preferred when applying for a masters nursing course in the UK. The university may indicate how many hours of work they require from a nursing masters candidate, ranging from 300-500 hours, and if available, the programme listing would also include information on RPL. Some universities don’t require work experience to be eligible for their nursing masters, but an indication of your interest and capacity in the field is preferred.
English language proficiency: All universities require international students to indicate language proficiency, and you can usually find the specific requirement and proficiency tests accepted by your preferred university under the entry requirements for your preferred nursing masters programme. Generally, most universities accept IELTS (7.0), TOEFL-iBT (100), and PTE Academic (73 and above).
Your preferred nursing masters programme may have stricter requirements or more flexible requirements — it’s best to identify the requirements and benchmarks of the courses you are planning to apply for early on, so you can get the relevant documentation ready for your application.
An MSc Nursing qualification in the UK can help you grow as a skilled nursing practitioner, opening up multiple career pathways in your chosen field of expertise. Let’s look at a few nursing roles in the UK that you may be qualified for and their earning potential after 2-3 years of working experience.
| Professional Role | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Adult Nurse | £42,618 |
| Children's Nurse | £50,056 |
| Counsellor | £43,742 |
| Health Play Specialist | £34,581 |
| Health Service Manager | £44,000 |
| High Intensity Therapist | £52,809 |
| Learning Disability Nurse | £50,056 |
| Mental Health Nurse | £45,000 |
| Midwife | £42,618 |
| Occupational Health Nurse | £53,000 |
| Paramedic | £50,056 |
| Play Therapist | £52,809 |
| Physician Associate | £50,056 |
Source: Prospects
Now that we’ve looked at a few professional roles you can work towards with an MSc Nursing qualification, let’s go over the financial investment you need to make when starting your healthcare education in the UK.
Nursing masters programmes may need a significant financial investment when you consider the annual tuition fees, maintenance fee paid to the university, and your living costs. Let’s have a look at these costs you can expect to incur so you can approximate your total investment to pursue an MSc Nursing in the UK.
Paid out annually, the tuition fee for a nursing programme can vary depending on the offering university and the duration of the programme.
Annual tuition: Ranges from around £13,000 to £36,800
Deposit: £2000 (Some universities do not charge this fee)
Maintenance costs: Approx. £1,500 (Some universities do not charge this fee)
Professional registration fee: To be paid after your graduation for the NMC registration
In addition to these, you might need to consider the costs for textbooks, stationery, uniforms, and travel costs for your placement training.
You may incur these costs during the application and admission process. The expenses can vary for each student, but a general breakdown may look like this:
Student visa fee: £490
UCAS application fee: £28.50 for 2025 entry
Language proficiency tests: Approx. £115
Initial deposit paid out to the university to confirm your place in the programme: Depends on the programme (Some universities do not charge this fee)
Airfare: Varies according to your location
The cost of living in the UK can vary depending on the region, so once you shortlist the universities and the nursing masters programmes you would like to apply to, you can look into the cost of living in the area and plan your finances accordingly. Here are some expenses that you can expect in your monthly cost of living until then:
| Expenses | In London | Other Cities in the UK |
|---|---|---|
| Student Accommodation (with bills) | £848 | £664 |
| Room in Private Accommodation (without bills) | £750 | £554 |
| Utility Bills | £140 | £80 |
| Groceries | £155 | £116 |
| Dining Out, Cafés, Bars | £150 | £80 |
| Public Transport | £103 | £54 |
| Mobile Phone Bill (SIM Only Plan) | £18 | £18 |
| Student Gym Membership | £20 | £15 |
These estimates can give you a general understanding of the costs you should consider, but the actual costs can be different as your living cost depends on the university you are applying for, the city you will be living in, and your lifestyle. Now that we’ve looked at the expenses you may expect, let’s take a closer look at how you can get funding support for your education in the UK with a scholarship.
Indian students have the opportunity to apply for scholarships awarded by the government, third party benefactors, and the university. Here’s a list of masters scholarships you can apply for if you meet the eligibility criteria.
| Scholarship | Funding Amount |
|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarship | Fully funded |
| Commonwealth Scholarships | Often fully funded |
| Exceptional Support Fund by NHS (National Health Service) | £3,000 |
| Global Study Award | £10,000 |
| GREAT Scholarship: India | £10,000 |
| Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation loan scholarships | Full and partial scholarships |
| NHS Learning Support Fund | £5,000 towards training |
Most universities offer funding support for international students in the form of merit scholarships and bursaries, so when you are exploring MSc Nursing you can shortlist, you should be able to check if you are eligible for the funding support these universities offer. If you want more information about postgraduate scholarships you may be eligible for, our scholarship search can help you.
A nurse practitioner in the UK is expected to have the physical and mental capacity to function in a caregiving role, so if you are pursuing an MSc Nursing course in the UK, you must be cleared to work with adults and children in a healthcare and personal care capacity. This means the admission process for a nursing masters comes with a few more steps than the admission process for a typical master’s degree programme. Here’s a closer look:
Applying through UCAS or university portal: You will most likely be submitting your MSc Nursing application through UCAS with your academic details, personal statement, and proficiency test scores. However, some universities may require you to apply through their online portal and in that case, you may have to create an account in the university system first.
Interview: If your application is shortlisted, you will need to face an interview with a faculty member and a practitioner.
Portfolio (if applicable): If you are applying for RPL, you may need to submit a portfolio of your previous work experience with records of your responsibilities and hours worked.
Occupational Health screening: You are required to go through the Occupational Health screening to make sure you are in good physical health to be following the MSc Nursing programme and participating in placement training.
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check: Your clearance to be working with vulnerable children and adults in a healthcare or personal care capacity will need to be confirmed, so your university will carry out the DBS check. This may require an additional payment to the university.
Offer: If your application and interview are successful and you are cleared by the health screening and DBS check, you will be offered a place in the programme.
Covid-19 vaccination: Some universities in the UK require you to be vaccinated against Covid-19, and some universities strongly recommend it, before or after you arrive in the UK for your studies.
Personal statement: A personal essay that highlights your academic background, experience (if available), and your motivations for choosing nursing as a career
Letter/s of recommendation: A letter or two letters of endorsement from a professional/ employer / supervisor, recommending you for the nursing programme
Academic transcripts: Your bachelor’s degree transcripts and records of other academic achievements
Resume: Your updated CV or resume
Certificate of good conduct: Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) letter from your local police authority (if applicable)
Proof of language proficiency: Records of your English proficiency test scores
Proof of funds: Financial records to show your capacity to fund your education in the UK
Putting these documents together is the first step in your application process — if you need further support with documentation and the steps that follow when applying to your nursing masters in the UK, you can always reach out to our counsellors for support and guidance.
Indian students entering the UK for studies need to apply for a student visa, and post-completion of the course, you have the opportunity to apply for a graduate visa that allows you to extend your stay in the UK for two more years.
Step 1: Fill in your student visa application form via the GOV.uk site
Step 2: Submit your documents, either:
Online when filling out your application
At a visa application centre
Step 3: Book a biometrics appointment with your closest visa application centre
Step 4: Attend your biometrics appointment and if you’ve chosen to do so, submit your documents on the same day
Step 5: Attend a visa interview if you’re asked to do so
While this process can seem complicated and lengthy at first, preparing your documents early can give you a headstart with your visa application. If you need support with your visa application, our visa experts can help you through our visa assistance service.
A current passport
Your CAS from your university
Documents to show financial evidence, which can include:
A letter confirming an educational loan
Bank documents of current accounts, deposits, savings accounts, pensions, and/or investment accounts
A letter from your parents or guardian if they’re funding your studies, along with a legal document showing your relationship to them and their financial documents
A letter from your financial sponsor if you have one which includes their contact details and the amount of money they’ll provide for you
Your TB test results
Written consent from your financial sponsor (if applicable)
You can learn more about the visa application process and the documentation you need in our guide on UK Student Visa: Checklist of Documents You’ll Need To Apply. If you need further assistance with applying for your visa, you can access expert support with our Visa Service.
Earning an MSc Nursing from the UK strengthens your capabilities as a healthcare professional and widens your prospects in a rewarding field of work helping those in need. If you would like to gain advanced knowledge and build a career that’s fulfilling, lucrative, and always in-demand as a nurse practitioner, the experts at SI-UK can help as you take the first few steps towards your master’s education in nursing in the UK.
The tuition fee for a master’s in nursing in the UK can be between £13,000 to £36,800 (14 lakhs – 37 lakhs INR). You might need to account for the other expenses like application and pre-arrival costs and the cost of living in the UK.
The average salary of nurses in the UK can range from 35 lakhs to 54 lakhs INR, depending on the level of experience.
Graduates with an MSc in Nursing can explore various career opportunities, including:
Advanced practice nursing: MSc Nursing graduates can pursue advanced practice roles such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse consultant.
Research and academia: Graduates can contribute to nursing research, work in academic institutions as lecturers or researchers, or pursue a PhD in nursing.
Leadership and management: MSc Nursing equips graduates with healthcare leadership and management skills, enabling them to take on administrative roles in healthcare organisations.
Specialised nursing: The course allows graduates to specialise in adult nursing, mental health nursing, paediatric nursing, or other relevant fields.
A master's in nursing in the UK typically takes 1-2 years to complete full-time. The duration may vary depending on the university and the specific degree. Part-time options are also available, which can extend the duration of the course.
High-quality education: The UK is renowned for its world-class universities and healthcare system, providing excellent education and training opportunities for nursing students.
International recognition: UK qualifications are globally recognised and respected, which can enhance your career prospects in the UK and other countries.
Practical experience: UK nursing courses often include clinical placements, offering hands-on experience in real healthcare settings, which can enhance your clinical skills and employability.
Post-study work opportunities: Upon graduation, international students may be eligible to apply for a work visa, allowing them to gain professional experience in the UK and potentially pursue long-term career opportunities.
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