Becoming a Nurse in Northern Ireland

If you wish to become a registered nurse in Northern Ireland, this website is for you.

It has been designed to help you in your choice to become a nurse and to help you see the rich diversity of people who study nursing and who are welcomed into the profession.

In Northern Ireland, three Universities provide courses for people who wish to become a registered nurse:

  • Open University
  • Queen’s University Belfast
  • Ulster University

The three Universities have come together to promote equality within the nursing profession, in line with the Athena SWAN equality charter.

We believe nursing is a career for people who are caring and compassionate about nursing and we believe in the richness that a diverse nursing family brings to the profession and the care of people, regardless of gender or background.

This resource has been developed collaboratively by staff from all three Northern Ireland Universities:

  • Professor Neal Cook and Dr Debbie Goode (Ulster University)
  • Dr Maria Healy and Dr Mark Linden (Queen’s University Belfast)
  • Mr Maurice Devine (Open University)

On this page

Explore your potential future career from here

Our students have come together to tell you of their experiences as student nurses.

Watch and listen to the videos to hear about their journeys.

Career for all

Portrays male and female nursing students discussing why nursing is a career for all.

Men in Nursing

Male nursing students discuss why they chose nursing as a career.

Nursing Profession

Social media clip to promote the nursing profession.

Hear from our Chief Nursing Officer Maria McIlgorm

Our Chief Nursing Officer, Maria McIlgorm, provides a welcome to you in your exploration of nursing as a career.

Where to study

Click on any of the University options below to be taken to their websites and get more information about their courses and how to apply.

Open University

Open University

  Follow Open Universityon twitter   Go to Open University
Queen's University

Queen's University Belfast

  Follow Queen's University Belfaston twitter   Go to Queen's University
Ulster University

Ulster University

  Follow Ulster Universityon twitter   Go to Ulster University

Explore Nursing

There are many resources you can use to explore nursing further.

We have brought together a few to help you understand nursing as a career.

Athena Swan

Athena Swan

We are committed to the Athena SWAN Charter and its implementation in Nursing in Northern Ireland. To learn more about the charter.

Find out about Athena Swan