RCN Scotland responds to UCAS figures showing applicants to nursing courses down by 8.3%

By Lucy Ashton

UCAS figures released today (15 February) show another decrease on the number of applicants for nursing courses beginning in autumn this year.

The figures show that the number of applicants for nursing courses in Scotland is down 8.3% compared to the same point last year.

By the January deadline, 4,650 people had applied to study nursing in Scotland, compared to 5,070 at the same point last year. This is now the third year in a row where there has been a decrease and in Scotland the number of applicants remains below pre-pandemic levels.

There are still several months left in this year’s application cycle, but these figures are a worrying snapshot following on from the fall in acceptances onto undergraduate nursing courses at Scottish universities in 2023 by 11% compared to the year before.

Eileen McKenna, RCN Scotland Associate Director, said:  “Nursing remains a fantastic career but these figures suggest getting that message across to potential applicants is getting harder and harder every year.

“For anyone considering nursing as a career but think they have missed the opportunity to apply this year be reassured that universities across Scotland are still accepting applications. Just get in touch with your preferred university for further information.”

“That’s now three years in a row that the number of applicants at this time of year has fallen and it’s an extremely worrying trend.

“Scotland does not have the number of nurses now that it needs to meet the demand for care in health and social care services. The NHS alone has more than 3,700 registered nurse vacancies.

“This is a desperate situation and it is more important than ever that the Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce proposes the right actions to directly address the workforce challenges.

“The Scottish government must back the Taskforce up by finding the financial resources needed to deliver change and ensure nursing is positioned as a career of choice.”

Labour’s Dame Jackie Baillie, a nurse on duty and LibDem Alex Cole-Hamilton.

Commenting on the latest UCAS figures Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “These figures are a damning reminder of how damaged the perception of nursing in Scotland has become under the SNP’s watch.

“Years of seeing our NHS with an understaffed, overstretched nursing workforce has put a generation of young people off entering this fantastic profession.

“There are many young people who want to join an NHS that is expanding and innovating with time for professionals to care – under the SNP we are watching it decline.

“Neil Gray must realise that unless he comes forward with a credible plan that will address staffing shortages and reduce the pressure on our health and social care services more people will avoid a career in nursing and our NHS will continue to lose out on the dedicated nurses it desperately needs.”

Responding to the embargoed data from UCAS which shows that for the third year in a row the number of applicants for nursing courses in Scotland has dropped, down by 8.3% compared to the same point last year, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“This worrying downward trend is part of a vicious cycle. If courses don’t fill up, existing staff come under greater pressure and more patients suffer. The SNP are putting the very future of our health service at risk.

“The complete failure by this SNP-Green government to recruit and retain staff stretches all the way back to Nicola Sturgeon cutting training places and claiming that was ‘sensible.’

“Neil Gray has his work cut out. He must completely overhaul the failed NHS recovery plan of his predecessors and do everything possible to promote nursing as a rewarding career.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would deliver the safe staffing legislation that Parliament agreed years ago, as well as a plan to meaningfully tackle burnout among staff- a plan that the SNP and Greens were wrong to vote down when we previously brought it to Parliament.”

• The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the world’s largest professional organisation and trade union for nursing staff, with members in the NHS, independent and voluntary sectors. RCN Scotland promotes patient and nursing interests by campaigning on issues that affect their members, shaping national health policies, representing members on practice and employment issues and providing members with learning and development opportunities.  With over 49,500 members in Scotland, they are the voice of nursing.