A UK-based university has taken the top spot in a world ranking list for nursing studies for the first time.
King’s College London has moved up from second to first in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject for 2025.
“This success comes at a time when the UK higher education sector is navigating significant financial pressures”
Jessica Turner
In doing so, it has overtaken the University of Pennsylvania in the US, which has been number one since the list for nursing began in 2016.
The two universities have always been close on the list.
King’s College London has consistently been in the top six and has been second behind the University of Pennsylvania since 2019.
Professor Richard Harding, interim executive dean of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care at King’s College London, said he was “delighted” to see the university ranked first in the world for nursing.
“To be recognised as the leading nursing school globally is an incredible achievement for our faculty and testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff,” he added.
Richard Harding
“We are immensely proud to be inspiring and educating future leaders who will improve and transform health and care.
“Our education and research programmes are led by world-leading subject experts, conducting and teaching cutting-edge research to ensure our graduates are at the forefront of excellence in practice, research and leadership.”
A spokesperson for the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing offered their congratulations to King’s College London.
They said: “For nine consecutive years, Penn Nursing has led the QS World University Rankings, a reflection of our unwavering commitment to excellence in nursing education and research.
“This year, we proudly congratulate King’s College London on achieving the number one ranking – testament to our shared dedication and innovation in the field.
“We understand the hard work required to reach this milestone and celebrate their success alongside them, as we all strive to advance nursing and healthcare worldwide.”
Three other UK-based universities also feature in the top 50 for nursing this year – the University of Manchester, which ranked number 10; the University of Southampton, which was number 13; and the University of Edinburgh, which came in at number 46.
List creator QS, a higher education analysis organisation, ranks universities based on their reputation among academics and employers that recruit graduates, as well as on the impact of research from those universities.
“To be recognised as the leading nursing school globally is an incredible achievement for our faculty”
Richard Harding
Across all subjects this year, the UK was ranked best in the world for 18 including nursing – the second most globally after the US.
However, QS warned that the financial pressures facing the UK university sector threatened its standing in the future.
Cardiff University is among those struggling and is now considering dropping its nursing courses as a result, as previously reported.
The Wales-based university has fallen out of the top 100 for nursing in the QS list for 2025.
Jessica Turner, chief executive of the QS, said: “This edition of the rankings reaffirms the UK’s position as a global higher education powerhouse, with UK universities claiming the top spot in 18 subjects — more than four times the number of Switzerland, the next most successful country after the US.
“However, this success comes at a time when the UK higher education sector is navigating significant financial pressures, raising important questions about how to sustain and strengthen its global competitiveness.
“To maintain this leadership in the years ahead, targeted investment in research and innovation, alongside closer collaboration with industry to equip graduates with in-demand skills, will be essential.”
Read more about nursing education
