Nursing — your degree risk

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Nursing

Low risk

NHS shortages, an Immigration Salary List route, and steady demand make nursing one of the UK's most reliable paths.

Study

~4 yrs (typical)

Post-study work visa

2 yrs

Policy change expected

From 1 Jan 2027 the Graduate Route drops from 2 years to 18 months (PhD stays 3). Apply by 31 Dec 2026 to keep the 2-year permission.

Path to PR

Graduate Route (does not count) → Skilled Worker → ILR

5 yrs on Skilled Worker (10-yr 'earned settlement' proposed)

From here it depends on your pathway and conditions

Graduate Route time does not count toward settlement. 10-yr baseline proposed (consultation closed Feb 2026, not yet law).

Employment

92% of recent graduates in full-time work

Visa pathway

Policy change expected

On the skilled occupation list · 2-year post-study work visa

From 1 Jan 2027 the Graduate Route drops from 2 years to 18 months (PhD stays 3). Apply by 31 Dec 2026 to keep the 2-year permission.

Market demand

Estimate

90/100

AI exposure

Estimate

low — Hands-on care is hard to automate; ageing demand keeps rising.

ROI

£22,000 tuition · £30,000 median starting salary · 4.4-yr payback

Top universities for this major by ROI — real salary and tuition data.

Nearby paths that tend to score better on the same five layers — tap one to swap the result.

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