The number of applicants to Scottish programmes is 6,450 as of 30 June 2023, compared to 7,930 in 2022 and 9,010 in 2021. The number of applicants applying to study nursing in Scotland at this point in the UCAS cycle, is below the pre-pandemic number of 7,290 applicants from 2019. The number of applicants was highest in 2021, reflecting an increase in demand for certain courses, including medicine and nursing during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Commenting, Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Director, said: “This significant drop in applications to nursing courses in Scotland is a real cause for concern amid the stubbornly high registered nurse vacancy rates and ongoing workforce challenges which are compromising patient safety and the wellbeing of staff.
"Our recent report on the costs of becoming a nurse highlighted the significant financial pressures that student nurses are facing. The prospect of starting a degree course during a cost-of-living crisis is bound to be having an impact. Nursing is a hugely diverse profession and relies on attracting people of all ages and all walks of life, often as a second career.
"The Scottish government needs to demonstrate that nursing is valued and a career choice worth pursuing. The Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce provides an opportunity to ensure that current and future nursing students get the financial support they need to prioritise their education, cope with the rising cost of living and finish their studies successfully without falling into financial hardship.”
