What are the entry requirements for Nursing?
Our entry requirements indicate both Standard and Minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.
Admission to the programme is also dependent upon a satisfactory Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) check. This will be conducted as part of the induction week. The cost of the PVG check will be paid by the University.
Selection Test
Part of the selection process for entry to the programme of your choice will include a computer based Confident Caring Assessment (CCA) where you will be given a short video and related scenario with questions. This is an assessment of the attributes expected of a nurse/ midwife, not your clinical knowledge and skills. It is designed to assess the qualities needed to work as a nurse/ midwife and the proficiencies outlined in the:
Nurses Standards of proficiency
The Code and watch these short videos
It presents a series of work-related situations, and you will be questioned about how you would respond. All applicants are required to sit the CCA.
If you require adjustment for a learning support need, please get in touch by emailing nursingandmidwifery@napier.ac.uk before your selection event.
Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?
If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the undergraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.
Minimum Year 1
SQA Higher
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Standard Offer Entry Requirement: BBC preferably to include English or a Literary subject* and a Science subject**. National 5 grade C in Maths OR Applications of Maths. For those who do not have Higher English and a Higher Science subject, National 5 English and a Science at grade C will be required.
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Minimum Offer Entry Requirement: BCC preferably to include English or a Literary subject* and a Science subject**. National 5 grade C in Maths OR Applications of Maths. For those who do not have Higher English and a Higher Science subject, National 5 English and a Science at grade C will be required.
You may be given an adjusted offer of entry if you meet our specified minimum entry requirements within our widening participation criteria and outlined in our Contextual Admissions Policy. Click here for further information about our entry requirements and admissions policies.
A Level
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BC preferably to include English or a Literary subject* and a Science subject**
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GCSE grade C/4 in Maths
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GCSE grade C/4 in English and a Science (or Double Award Science) required for candidates who do not have these subjects at A Level.
BTEC (QCF) National Extended Diploma Level 3
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Minimum grades MMP (Merit, Merit, Pass) in any subject*
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GCSE English, Maths and a Science at grade C/4. *Recommended subjects: Health and Social Care, Applied Science, Sports Science, Health Science
BTEC (QCF) National Diploma
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Minimum grades DM (Distinction, Merit) in any subject*
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GCSE English, Maths and a Science at grade C/4
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*Recommended subjects: Health and Social Care, Applied Science, Sports Science, Health Science
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded in 2017)
- H3, H3, H3 at Higher Level preferably to include English or Literary subject* and a Science subject**
- For those who do not have English, Maths and a Science subject at Higher level, grade O3 at Ordinary Level will be required.
HNC
- Pass in any subject with grade C in the graded unit for Year 1 entry. For the subjects below, the National 5 requirements differ. For all other HNC's, National 5 grade C in Maths, English and a Science is also required.
- Care and Administrative Practice/Healthcare Practice (No additional National 5 grades required)
- Social Care, Social Services, Social Sciences, Childhood Practice, Early Education and Childcare (National 5 grade C in Maths and a Science also required)
- Applied Science (National 5 grade C in Maths and English also required)
QQI Level 5 Pre-Nursing Studies
- Minimum of 6 Distinctions must be achieved overall. Distinctions must also be achieved in the Communication Unit and the Anatomy and Physiology Unit.
- O3 in Ordinary Level Maths in the Irish Leaving Certificate or Maths passed as part of QQI Level 5 also required.
T level
- Pass in any subject with grade C or above in the Core component.
- GCSE English, Maths and a Science subject also required at grade C/4.
Access Courses
Please note the following points about local Access to Nursing courses offered by Further Education Colleges for those interested in Nursing and Midwifery courses at Edinburgh Napier University
Edinburgh Napier University has Partnership Agreements with 4 local Further Education Colleges – Borders, Edinburgh, Fife and West Lothian Colleges for entry to Adult, Learning Disability, Child and Mental Health Nursing.
Well over 100 students study each year, on appropriate preparation to nursing and midwifery courses, at our Partner Colleges.
All students attending SWAP Access to Nursing courses are required to pass the internally assessed graded units with overall profile grades BBC for entry onto the Adult, Learning Disability, Child and Mental Health Nursing programmes.
Students from the Rest of the UK
Pass Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 credits overall with a minimum of 18 credits at Pass and 27 credits at Merit.
English, Maths and a Science subject must be achieved at Level 2/3 within the diploma.
Previous Nursing Students
Please note that students who have already studied a Nursing degree are unlikely to receive funding for a second Nursing degree.
Mature students
Adequate and appropriate previous (and recent) study is essential. Please contact ugadmissions@napier.ac.uk if you are unsure whether or not you would be eligible to apply. Relevant work experience will be considered alongside recent study. It may be necessary for those with limited qualifications to undertake an Access course or other appropriate courses/studies in a Further Education setting.
Subjects required
*Literary subjects include: English/English Literature, History, Modern Studies, Religious Moral & Philosophical Studies/Christian Theology, Psychology, Geography, Sociology, Health and Social Care, Law
**Science Subjects include: Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics, PE (only accepted as a Science subject if studied at Higher level)
If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test. The English Language requirements for this programme are IELTS 7.0 (with no less than 7.0 in each component, excluding Writing which requires 6.5).
This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country
Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
- BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
- All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.
See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.
We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study.
Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.
Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies