Posted 19 September 2024 - 14:45
Posted 19 September 2024 - 14:45
News
Lowest student numbers in a decade, but one UK nation bucks the trend
Slump in degree course acceptances prompts call for urgent action on nursing student finances after ‘catastrophic’ removal of NHS bursaries. The number of students accepted onto nursing degree courses is the lowest in more than a decade, prompting a stark warning to the government to urgently address student finances. However, one UK nation is bucking the trend.
Slump in degree course acceptances prompts call for urgent action on nursing student finances after ‘catastrophic’ removal of NHS bursaries
down by one fifth since the peak in 2021 Picture: iStock
The number of students accepted onto nursing degree courses is the lowest in more than a decade, prompting a stark warning to the government to urgently address student finances.
Latest Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) clearing data shows that the number of people accepted onto nursing courses has dropped to the lowest level since 2012.
A total of 23,800 students have been accepted onto courses across the UK, down by one fifth (21%) since the peak in 2021, when 30,150 students had been accepted by this time in the academic cycle.
Acceptance levels fell by 2% in England and 15% in Northern Ireland, although there was a 3% increase of accepted applicants in Scotland. In Wales, which offers a tuition-fee forgiveness scheme for students through the NHS Wales bursary, student numbers grew by 14%.
Scrap tuition fees and ensure graduate jobs for nurses, RCN tells ministers
| Number of nursing students accepted onto courses 2012-24 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Acceptances 28 days after A level results | Acceptances by end of academic cycle |
| 2012 | 23,280 | Not available |
| 2013 | 24,010 | Not available |
| 2014 | 26,340 | Not available |
| 2015 | 26,620 | 27,535 |
| 2016 | 28,240 | 28,890 |
| 2017 | 27,240 | 28,620 |
| 2018 | 26,890 | 28,540 |
| 2019 | 23,900 | 25,890 |
| 2020 | 29,300 | 32,575 |
| 2021 | 30,150 | 32,705 |
| 2022 | 27,410 | 29,440 |
| 2023 | 24,140 | 26,330 |
| 2024 | 23,800 | Not yet end of cycle |
The figures come days after England's former chief nursing officer (CNO) Dame Ruth May told a COVID-19 inquiry that the removal of the NHS bursary for nursing students was ‘catastrophic’ for pandemic preparation and enlarging the future nursing workforce.
Latest analysis by Nursing Standard also shows that 40% of nursing students who had been due to graduate in 2023 failed to complete their course on time.
Responding to the figures, the RCN called on the government to scrap tuition fees and ensure graduate jobs for nurses to attract and retain nursing staff in the NHS.
RCN says ignoring the figures would be ‘an act of abandonment at a time of crisis’
RCN director for England Patricia Marquis said: ‘Only this week the former CNO said the removal of the nursing bursary was a catastrophic decision.
‘Now the new government can right that wrong with a commitment to nurse education, including funding of tuition fees and ensuring every recent graduate of nursing has a job, to attract and retain the nursing staff needed to deliver for patients.
‘The continuing collapse in the number of people accepted onto nursing courses should act as a warning sign to the government of the urgent need to act. Ignoring this now would be an act of abandonment at a time of crisis.’
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has been contacted for a response.
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