Study Nursing Abroad: Top Countries, Universities, Courses & Fees

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Subhashri Roy
Updated on Aug 08, 2023 09:34 AM IST

Looking forward to studying nursing abroad? Here's all you need to know about pursuing a nursing degree in top countries like the US, UK or Canada. Also, check out the list of top-ranked universities offering nursing degrees at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels.

Study Nursing Abroad: Top Countries, Universities, Courses & Fees

Nurses are the backbone of the health care services playing key roles in maintaining the health of patients, their families and larger communities. Studying nursing abroad helps individuals prepare for the people-focused profession which calls for a combination of theoretical and practical horizons. Nurses are sensitised to empathise, communicate and be culturally competent as they are exposed to diverse communities while studying abroad. 

Top universities for nursing abroad offer state-of-the-art facilities, advanced medical technologies and experienced professors which help students to get comprehensive training and high-quality education. Many nursing programmes provide extensive clinical opportunities in diverse healthcare settings. Nursing graduates with international experience are highly sought after by healthcare institutions across the world. Besides, the US Bureau of Labour Statistics notes that the jobs for registered nurses are projected to grow 6% between 2021 and 2031 with about 203,200 job openings every year. In this article, we will take you through studying nursing abroad, top countries and colleges offering nursing abroad and career prospects after graduation. 

What is Nursing?

Revolving around the promotion of health, care of the ill, and prevention of illness, nursing is considered an integral part of the healthcare system. This rather broad spectrum of healthcare deals with the human responses to transition from an episode of illness to attaining good health for a lifetime. Nurses play a crucial role in shaping health policy, managing patient and health systems management, promotion of a safe and healthy environment and eventually promoting the long-term health of a population.

As Virginia Avenel Henderson, an influential nurse, said, a nurse has the unique function to assist a person, sick or well, in their performance of activities that promote health and recovery that they can otherwise perform without help.

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Why Study Nursing Abroad?

Wondering why you should study nursing abroad? Well, you are not alone. Here are a few reasons why you should consider pursuing a nursing degree abroad:

Cultural Awareness

Studying in a foreign country lets you explore and embrace different cultures, customs and history and traditions. While meeting academic goals is extremely important, it is also necessary for you, a nursing student, to get to know people from different parts of the world and better appreciate the similarities and differences between the host country and the home country.

Personal Growth

Whether you are studying nursing or management, studying abroad will lead to you discovering a lot of things about yourself. There is no better way to explore new cultures and be out of your comfort zone than to be in a foreign environment for an extended period of time. While you might feel overwhelmed at times, it will eventually lead to a life-changing experience that is always beneficial to stand out in the healthcare market.

More Career Opportunities

Try putting yourself who has a foreign nursing degree and someone with an Indian nursing degree in the same spot, you would always find yourself with an edge over them. Employers today value candidates with global experiences and education. There are a lot of skills gained through international exposure which eventually improves a nurse's knowledge, confidence and communication. They also become culturally aware, sensitive and competent- which makes them better candidates for nursing positions.

Exposure to Regional Diseases/Health Conditions

Travelling to a foreign country lets you see physical living conditions and diseases in the country that are usually not encountered in the home country. These may include diseases such as Chikungunya, polio, Raynauds syndrome, osteomalacia and so on.

Top 5 Countries for Nursing Degrees

Now comes the question - which is the best country to study nursing in? Mentioned below are the top three countries for nursing degrees, the programs they offer along with their entry requirements:

USA

Demand for skilled nurses in the US exceeds supply, providing excellent opportunities to nursing graduates. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021, the United States houses the majority of the universities, making it the top choice to study nursing. Of the top, the most common employment opportunities for nurses in the US include hospital nurses, office nurses, public health nurses and long-term care nurses.

Nursing Programs in the US

Course

Duration

Bachelor of Nursing (BSN)

4 Years

Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing (BSN)

11 to 18 Months

Master of Nursing (MSN)

18 Months to 3 Years

The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CNRA)

1 to 2 Years

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

1 to 2 Years

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)

3 to 5 Years

Entry Requirements for Undergraduate Programs

In addition to all required application documents, international applicants must submit one of the following transcript evaluations:

  • A World Education Services (WES) International Credential Advantage Package

  • A full education course-by-course report for all transcripts from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Credentials Evaluation Service.

Entry Requirements for Postgraduate Programs

Those applying to a Masters degree in nursing in the US must fulfil the following criteria:

  • Must have completed a BSN at an accredited college or university and a statistics course.

  • Competitive applicants should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their BSN program.

  • Must also submit GRE scores, resume, three references, transcripts, and an essay.

UK

In the UK, a fully qualified nurse has a starting salary of 24,214, making it one of the most popular professions. A nursing degree in the UK means spending the first year studying a number of core modules and then specialising in the specific areas of nursing that you may be interested in. According to Nursing Times, the country offers diverse study options of which the most popular include adult nursing, children's nursing, learning disability nursing, and mental health nursing adult nursing, learning disability nursing, children's nursing, and mental health nursing.

As a nursing student, you will be able to avail financial support and scholarships of around 5000. Apart from that, reasons such as a stable and dynamic career, worldwide degree and practical knowledge make the UK a good choice for nursing students.

Nursing Programs in the UK

Course

Duration

Bachelor of Nursing (with Honours) - BN (Hons)

4 Years

MSc in Nursing

2 Years

PhD/MPhil Nursing

3 Years

Entry Requirements for Undergraduate Programs

  • Must have passed high school with at least one science-related subject including Biology, Psychology or Chemistry, each with a grade of 5.

  • Must have studied English in high school.

  • Must also have relevant work experience.

Entry Requirements for Postgraduate Programs

  • Must hold an honours degree in nursing.

  • Must have studied English in high school and undergraduate study.

Canada

Canada, with a huge population of old people, has an increasing demand for qualified nurses that fill the gap in the healthcare sector. Unlike many countries, Canada offers a broad future of nursing in aspects of promoting community health, making decisions, educating patients and helping patients realize their health goals by developing therapeutic relationships. While pay scales in Canada will vary depending on the area of expertise, the country ensures that every nurse receives decent payrolls.

Nursing Programs in Canada

In Canada, nursing includes three regulated nursing groups including Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN). These are as follows:

Group

Degrees

Duration

Group 1 - Registered Nurses (RN)

BSc in Nursing and Bachelor of Nursing

4 Years

Group 2 - Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)

Practical Nurse Professional Diploma Program

2 Years

Group 3- Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)

Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing

Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing

Psychiatric Nursing Diploma

2.5 to 4 Years

Entry Requirements for BSc in Nursing

  • Must have passed 10+2.

  • Must have obtained at least an average of C grade in subjects like Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics.

Entry Requirements for Practical Nurse Professional Diploma Program

  • Must be 19 years of age or older.

  • Must be out of high school for one year.

  • Must have studied English, Math and Biology in 10+2.

Entry Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing

  • Must be 19 years of age or older.

  • Must have graduated from Grade 12 with at least C+ average .

  • Must have studied English, Math, Science and Biology in 10+2.

Australia

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recognises Australia’s healthcare system as one the best in the world. To meet the country’s need to solve complex health conditions and improve outcomes of the healthcare centre, it requires a huge workforce of medical professionals including nurses. The nursing programs offered in Australia have a comprehensive curriculum and scope of practical training. With a nursing degree, the doors for high-paying careers open up in hospitals and the healthcare sector. The average salary of registered nurses in Australia is AUD 1,937 per week. 

Nursing Programs in Australia

Course 

Duration

Bachelor of Nursing

3 years

Master of Nursing

2 years

Master of Nursing Science

2 years

Diploma of Nursing

1.5 to 2 years

Entry Requirements for Undergraduate Programs 

  • Must complete high school

  • Must have a diploma or advanced diploma in Nursing, Health Sciences or similar.

  • IELTS: 6.0-7.0, PTE: 65, TOEFL: 94

  • Must be fit enough to practice

Entry Requirements for Postgraduate Programs

  • Undergraduate degree in any discipline

  • IELTS band: 6.5-7.5 

Sweden

Sweden’s progressive healthcare system makes it a forerunner in nursing education. The nursing programs in Sweden offer students a scope to develop a global perspective on health and nursing. They are created keeping in mind the global health needs. Students are trained to analyse the health needs of patients and are inducted with the knowledge to create evidence-based interventions to improve health. They are trained in medical science, social and behavioural science. 

Nursing Programs in Sweden

Program

Duration 

Bachelor of Nursing

3 years

Specialist nursing

1 year

Midwifery Science

1.5 years

Entry Requirements for Undergraduate Programs 

  • Successful completion of higher secondary education

  • English language proficiency

Entry Requirements for Postgraduate Programs 

  • Bachelor's degree in health science or equivalent

  • English language skills

Related Reads:

Best US Universities for Studying Nursing in 2022

Study Nursing Abroad: Top Countries, Universities, Courses & Fees

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in USA?

How to Become a Registered Nurse in Canada?

Guide to Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) in the US

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Canada? Check Eligibility and Application Process

Top Universities in the World Offering Nursing Degrees 2023

Check out the top 15 universities in the world that offer nursing programs at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels:

QS Ranking 2023

Name of the University

Courses

International Tuition Fees (in INR)

1

University of Pennsylvania

BS in Nursing

33,79,700

2

Kings College London

BSc Nursing Studies

MSc Nursing

MSc Clinical Nursing

20,90,460-26,24,431

3

Johns Hopkins University

MS in Nursing

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

PhD

46,29,351

4

University of Washington

BSN, ABSN, DNP, PhD

9,55,144 

5

University of Alberta

BS in Nursing

MS in Nursing

PhD

5,16,658

 

University of California, San Francisco

Nursing MEPN, Nursing Masters Nursing Doctoral

53,18,493

6 University of Southampton

BSc Nursing

MNurs Nursing

Postgraduate Diploma in Adult Nursing

30,50,000
7 The University of Manchester BNurs, MSc 24,22,936 
7 University of Toronto

BS in Nursing

Master of Nursing

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science

17,45,709-23,27,613

9

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

BSN

ABSN

MSN

DNP

PhD

40,29,217-66,66,523

10

Yale University

MS in Nursing

Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing

DNP

PhD

49,08,319

Career Scope After Completing Nursing Abroad

Around 84% of nursing graduates from top universities abroad are usually employed and only 10% of them are midwives. The top five jobs held by them include paramedics, nursing auxiliaries, health professionals and nursing assistants.

Find out what nursing graduates across the world do:

Destination

Percentage

Employed

86.6

Working and Studying

7.5

Further Education

0.8

Unemployed

0.7

Other

4.4

Check out the work types performed by Nurses:

Work Type

Percentage

Health Professionals

96.5

Health, childcare and education

1.3

Managers

0.5

Legal, social and welfare

0.4

Other

1.3

Source: www.prospects.ac.uk

Early in the profession, you will be able to earn a monthly salary between Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 15,000 per month. On gaining experience, you can expect somewhere within the range of Rs.48,000 to Rs. 72,000 per month. In countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, nurses earn anywhere between USD 50,000 and USD 65,000 per year. In the Middle East and Gulf Countries, the average annual wage offered to a nurse is around USD 25,000.

Studying nursing abroad offers multiple advantages, including cultural enrichment, enhanced medical education, diverse patient interactions and the opportunity to build global connections. Also, the promising career prospects in the future make studying nursing abroad an appealing choice for nursing aspirants. Nursing students develop the skills, knowledge and global perspective that are necessary to excel in the ever-evolving field of healthcare. The multiple clinical experiences and exposure to different healthcare systems make them valuable assets within healthcare settings.

Choose the Top Nursing Colleges Abroad!

FAQs

How to study nursing abroad?

To study nursing abroad, you must start researching nursing universities that offer programmes for international students. Check the admission requirements and submit your application with supporting documents within the application deadline. Once you receive the offer letter, apply for a student visa, rent accommodation and book your flight tickets.

What is the English language requirement for studying nursing abroad?

Most universities abroad require knowledge of English for studying nursing in the form of an IELTS or TOEFL score. PTE or Duolingo are rapidly gaining popularity among nursing colleges abroad.  It is important to ensure that you meet the minimum score required criterion to get admitted to the nursing college of your choice. 

Do foreign universities offer scholarships for nursing abroad?

Yes, foreign universities offer scholarships and grants specifically designed for international students. You must research the details of the scholarships and apply for those within the deadline specified by the scholarship committee. The aid received will help to ease your financial burden by covering a good portion of your tuition fees. 

Can I work part-time while studying nursing abroad?

Yes, you can work part-time while studying nursing abroad. Most countries allow students to work 20 hours a week and they must adhere to the regulations imposed by authorities. The popular part-time jobs are dog walker, waiter, tutor, shop assistant, etc.

What are the admission requirements to study nursing abroad?

The admission requirements to study nursing abroad include completion of a high school or college. Students must submit a letter of recommendation, personal statement or essay and their resume as documents while applying to nursing colleges. English language proficiency is mandatory in most countries. 

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