BN (Hons) Nursing

Please check the Undergraduate Degree Finder to see the specific entry requirements, start date and application deadlines.

Our four-year Honours programme integrates theory, practice and clinical experience. Years 1 and 2 serve as an introduction to the evidence base for nursing, encompassing various aspects of healthcare and research.

In Years 3 and 4 (Honours years) you will develop leadership skills, deepen your understanding of the evidence base for nursing, and sharpen your critical thinking and clinical decision-making abilities. You can also customize your experience of the programme by undertaking an elective clinical placement, either abroad or elsewhere in the UK. As well as choosing from a range of Honours option courses that align with your disciplinary interests. 

In your final year, you will receive academic supervision for your dissertation work from our supportive and highly experienced academics.

The successful completion of the BN (Hons) Nursing programme leads to eligibility to register as an adult nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Over the four years, students undertake 2,300 hours of practice learning. This comprises clinical placements alongside simulation and interprofessional learning.

• Nursing is an integral part of the University of Edinburgh. You join a vibrant community of more than 40,000 students and have the opportunity to be a part of student societies, arts and sports - a true university experience.
• You will have the option to embark on a four-week clinical elective placement in the UK or abroad.
• Personalise your learning with course choices in Years 1, 3 and 4.
• You will benefit from being in a research intensive University where you are taught by staff who are engaged with the contemporary issues in nursing through practice, policy and research.

We have consistently topped the Guardian University Guide for General Nursing for the past 5 years, coming 1st again in 2025.

The healthcare landscape is constantly changing, presenting new challenges and opportunities for nursing professionals. We have strong links with practice learning partners and engage with service users to keep the programme fresh and abreast of current practice. Clinical skills are taught in small groups and are focused on experiential learning using a range of simulation-based education techniques. We share some of the state-of-the-art facilities with medical colleagues, providing a collaborative and immersive experience.

The programme also offers a well-established inter-professional learning framework that spans across all four years. You will be able to collaborate with a diverse range of healthcare students, including those from medical, pharmacy, and paramedic backgrounds and experience a collaborative approach to the learning experiences, preparing you for the complexities of clinical practice.

The optional clinical elective experience is an opportunity to broaden your cultural horizons and explore diverse nursing settings and global perspectives. This invaluable opportunity allows students to obtain experience in an area of particular interest and to further develop your capacity for personal and professional development. There is an additional opportunity for two students in Year 3 to undertake a single semester exchange with La Trobe University, Australia. These opportunities are an excellent preparation for the global healthcare workforce. 

The programme offers the opportunity to broaden your education in Year 1, undertaking two courses of your choice meeting students from across the University. In Year 3 and 4, you can follow your own interests with a range of Honours option choices, for example Transplantation Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, Care of Older People, and Homeless and Inclusion Health.

A degree from our BN (Hons) Nursing programme opens doors to a wide range of employment opportunities. The employment prospects for a graduate nurse are excellent and opportunities are wide-ranging. Most students who complete a nursing degree at the University of Edinburgh go on to practice as nurses, and many pursue further professional education to become specialists and leaders in their chosen clinical areas. Others innovate, developing new clinical services, writing healthcare policy and furthering nursing research. Some graduates work overseas, contributing to healthcare in both developed and developing countries. 

For those seeking to advance their education, the University offers many postgraduate options, including Masters and PhD programmes.