These show that the number of applicants for nursing courses in Scotland is down 24% compared to the same point last year - the biggest drop in applicants for nursing across the UK.
By the January deadline, 5,070 people had applied to study nursing in Scotland, compared to 6,690 at the same point last year. This is the second year in a row where applicants have decreased. While some change may be expected following the exceptional demand for courses during COVID-19 as students were inspired to pursue nursing, in Scotland the number of applicants at this point in the cycle is below pre pandemic levels.
While there are still many months left in this year’s application cycle, these figures provide a worrying snapshot and follow last year’s cycle which saw acceptances onto undergraduate nursing courses at Scottish universities in 2022 fall by 8% compared to the year before.
Responding Eileen McKenna, RCN Scotland Associate Director said: “Nursing is a fantastic career with a huge range of opportunities and I wish all the best to those who are embarking on their nursing journey.
“However it’s very worrying to see these figures going in the wrong direction. Scotland desperately needs more nurses, there are over 4,600 registered nurse vacancies in our NHS alone and a reduction in the number of people applying to study nursing will only add to the workforce crisis.
“The Scottish government must act now to ensure nursing is seen as an attractive and rewarding career. They need to reward today’s experienced staff with a fair pay rise and demonstrate that a career in nursing shouldn’t come with a personal financial sacrifice. They need to ensure nursing students have adequate financial support to allow them to prioritise their education and cope with the rising cost of living.”
