The number of students beginning undergraduate nursing degrees in England has risen in 2025, driven by a 6% increase in students aged 25 and under.
The latest data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has revealed that over 11,500 (11,530) students aged 25 or under have accepted a place on a nursing degree so far this year.
Last year there were 10,850 students aged under 25 scheduled to start a nursing degree by this time.
In total, 18,640 people have accepted a place on an undergraduate nursing degree in England this year, a 1% rise on the same period in last year’s cycle.
This is the first time since the ‘post pandemic surge’ that new nursing students have increased. There was an increase in nursing students of 25% in 2020, with 22,490 students, and another 4% in 2021 to 23,490. However, that number has declined since 2021, falling to 18,420 last year.
The calculations are based on UCAS data at 4 weeks after the announcement of exam results.
Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, welcomed the new nurses who had applied to join nursing courses this year.
‘Nursing is a fantastic career. Becoming a nurse is the best decision I ever made, and it continues to inspire and challenge me just as much today as it did when I qualified.
‘You have the unique privilege of impacting people’s lives every day, offering both clinical expertise and compassionate care,’ he said.
Mr Burton noted that there were still places available via clearing and encouraged anyone still thinking about university this year to consider a healthcare degree.
‘It’s an incredibly rewarding choice where you can make a real difference to people’s lives,’ he added.
Mr Burton is also appealing to registered nurses, nursing associates and midwifery professionals and nursing and midwifery students across England to shape his new strategy for the professions.
The strategy, announced earlier this summer, aims to outline a ‘long-term vision’ for England’s next generation of nursing and midwifery professional
Health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, described nurses as the ‘beating heart’ of the health service and the ‘forefront’ of the government’s goal of building a health service ‘fit for the future’.
‘Their skills are urgently needed, and we’re equipping them to lead long, fulfilling careers – bringing down waiting lists and offering patients the highest quality care as part of our Plan for Change,’ Mr Streeting said.
Last month, the government launched its ‘Graduate Guarantee’ for nursing and midwifery, and committed to providing more jobs for newly qualified nurses and midwives by converting existing healthcare assistant vacancies into registered nurse posts.
Earlier in summer, the government announced that 2,000 nursing apprenticeships will be created over the next three years.
In August, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) warned that the threat of nurse redundancies and ongoing uncertainty around incoming cuts to ICBs was placing significant strain on the workforce.
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Nursing in Practice.
