Applications to nursing degree courses in England have “fallen to a new low”, as latest data reveals a continued decline in interest among domestic applicants.
Figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show 41,890 applications to study nursing across the UK had been received by the 30 June deadline – a small increase from 41,520 in 2024.
“These figures are devastating news for the 10 Year Health Plan and alarm bells should be ringing in government”
Nicola Ranger
Out of the four UK nations, England was the only country that saw a drop in applications, while others saw a very marginal increase.
A total of 33,450 applications were submitted in England, down slightly from 33,560 the previous year – a 0.3% decline.
This worryingly represents the lowest number of nursing applications in England since before the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2019.
Across both the UK and England, the number of domestic applicants is now at its lowest level since that time.
Nicola Ranger
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Rangers described the figures as “devastating news” for ministers, who have pledged to grow the domestic workforce as part of the 10 Year Health Plan.
“As ministers talk up increasing domestic nurse recruitment, today we see applicants fall to a new low,” she said.
“These figures are devastating news for the 10 Year Health Plan and alarm bells should be ringing in government.
“You simply cannot transform care while a broken education model chokes off growth and puts off the nurses of the future,” she said.
Professor Ranger warned that the government should have focused on growing the domestic nursing workforce “before they slashed overseas recruitment”.
“The success of the government’s reforms, and the very safety of patients, now rests on ministers delivering a workforce plan worthy of the name, with fully funded measures to supercharge domestic recruitment,” she added.
In contrast, elsewhere in the UK, application figures showed small increases.
Scotland saw a marginal increase in applications to nursing courses – with just 10 more applications as of 30 June 2025, up to 6,050.
RCN Scotland noted that, while there was still time remaining in the current application cycle, the latest figures were part of a troubling trend of underfilled places over the past three years.
Colin Poolman
Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland executive director, said: “This flatlining in the number of applications at this stage in the cycle is an extremely worrying trend that Scottish government needs to reverse.
“Scotland does not have the number of nurses now that it needs to meet the demand for care.”
Northern Ireland saw a similar rise, from 2,320 to 2,370 in a year – a 2% increase.
Wales, however, saw a more significant uptick over the last year, with applications rising from 3,870 to 4,370 – a 13% rise.
The latest figures are approaching pandemic-era levels, which peaked at 4,780 applications.
RCN Wales education and lifelong learning adviser, Rachel Hadland, said the increase came during a “crucial time” for building the nursing workforce in the country.
“This upward trend shows that we’re starting to recover from the post-pandemic slump and the focus must now be on maintaining this momentum and retaining these potential students,” she said.
Ms Hadland emphasised the importance of the upcoming August acceptance data, which will indicate how many applicants actually go on to study nursing in Wales – particularly in light of concerns over the potential closure of Cardiff University’s nursing school.
“Only that acceptance data will tell us what impact this will have had on applicants’ decision making,” she added.
Meanwhile, the data confirmed that recent trends in applicant age have continued – with a fall in mature applicants and a rise in younger applicants.
Among those aged 30-34, applications dropped from 3,550 to 3,170 – an 11% decrease. There was also a 9% decline among those aged 35 and over, from 9,660 in 2024 to 8,780 in 2025.
In contrast, the number of 18-year-old applicants rose by 9%, from 10,950 to 11,900. Applications from 19-year-olds also saw a 7.9% increase, rising from 4,900 to 5,290.
