University of Edinburgh

What you'll study

This programme combines campus-based learning with substantial clinical practice to develop knowledge, practical skills and professional behaviours required for entry to the nursing register. Teaching is research-informed and includes anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, psychology, public health, ethics and law, and nursing-specific modules tailored to the chosen field of practice (adult, child or mental health).

• Core clinical skills and practice: clinical assessment, communication, long-term condition management, acute care and therapeutic interventions.
• Specialist field modules: child health nursing, adult nursing practice or mental health nursing theory and practice, with age- and context-specific interventions.
• Evidence and research: research methods, critical appraisal, quality improvement and translating evidence into practice.
• Professional and personal development: ethics, leadership, interprofessional working, reflective practice and preparation for professional registration.
• Practice placements: multiple supervised clinical placements across primary, secondary and community settings, including urban and rural services, in partnership with NHS boards and third-sector providers.

Entry requirements

Applicants need strong secondary-school qualifications appropriate to their country of study (for example Scottish Highers, A‑levels or the International Baccalaureate) with good grades in relevant subjects; science or health-related subjects are often preferred but not always mandatory. Typical offers reflect the academic and clinical demands of the programme.

In addition to academic qualifications, applicants must demonstrate relevant caring or healthcare experience, suitability for professional practice, and interpersonal attributes required for nursing. Successful applicants will be required to complete occupational health checks and an enhanced disclosure (criminal records) check where applicable, and to meet the University’s fitness to practise requirements. International applicants must meet the University’s English language requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates qualify to apply for professional nursing registration and commonly take up roles in the NHS, independent and third-sector health services, and community care. Early-career roles include staff nurse positions in acute hospitals, community nursing, school or health visiting posts, and mental health teams. With experience, nurses move into specialist practice, advanced practice, clinical education, leadership and management, service improvement, policy or research.

The degree also provides a foundation for postgraduate study (for example advanced clinical practice, nursing graduate-entry programmes, leadership, public health or research degrees) for those seeking to specialise or move into academic and leadership pathways.

Why study at University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh offers this programme within a research-active environment and strong clinical partnerships with NHS boards across the region, giving access to a wide range of placement settings and patient groups. Students benefit from clinical skills and simulation facilities, interprofessional learning opportunities with other health disciplines, and teaching informed by contemporary research and practice.

Support services for students include academic tutoring, clinical practice support, career guidance and wellbeing resources. The city and surrounding regions provide diverse clinical experiences—from large urban hospitals to community and rural services—helping prepare graduates for the varied contexts of modern nursing practice.