The University and College Admissions Service (UCAS) has published data following A-level results day 2024 for acceptances to UK undergraduate courses. For undergraduate nursing courses across the UK, it shows a 1% decrease in the number of acceptances. Providers in Scotland, Wales and Northern are currently seeing increases compared to this point in 2023, with providers in England seeing a slight decrease. For undergraduate midwifery courses across the UK, it shows a 1% decrease compared to this point in the 2023 cycle.
The Council has produced a briefing which highlights key trends for nursing and midwifery as the data stands on results day, with changes taking place in the coming weeks as Clearing progresses. The Council will monitor developments and review the data trends at the end of Clearing.
Ed Hughes, CEO at the Council of Deans of Health, said:
‘The Council would like to congratulate all the students who have been accepted onto healthcare courses for this coming year. Whilst there is currently a mixed picture in terms of acceptances across the nations, numbers are marginal and will change as Clearing progresses. It should be noted that there will also be nuances across regions and institutions within the UK. For those students still making decisions or in Clearing there remain opportunities to enrol on pre-registration nursing, midwifery and allied health courses which can lead to fantastic careers and job opportunities in the future.
The financial implications of going to university, especially in the context of a cost of living crisis, are an ongoing factor in student considerations. This has a particular impact on healthcare degrees which are intensive courses that see limited opportunities for students to take on part time work and financial strains such as travel to placements.
Our members are working incredibly hard to recruit and retain students that go on to become our future healthcare workforce. However, if the workforce needs are to fulfilled across the UK, and the ambitions of the NHS workforce plan in England are to be realised, then the whole system needs to work together, both locally and nationally, to make healthcare careers attractive and promote these opportunities to prospective students. The Council will continue to work with stakeholders across the sector to support growth in student numbers, including through apprenticeships, and to ensure we have the right education workforce and infrastructure in place for universities to continue to provide high quality programmes.”