Student nurses: what we’re demanding in England
Supporting you to make your mark on nursing
Every nursing student deserves a solid start in the profession..
With graduates facing huge debts that they can't repay, the current tuition-fee model is failing nursing, the NHS and patients. We need a system that attracts, supports and retains you and your student peers – the next generation of nursing.
What we're calling for
Review
A full review of the financial support available to nursing students in all four countries.
Commit
Commit to writing off student loans in England in return for working in the NHS or other public services.
Build
Attract the right people into nursing and support those to stay in the profession through financial support that reflects real life.
'We can't afford to watch thousands walk away from the profession'
Our recent report shared that nurses would stay up to 10 years longer if their student loans were forgiven.
What's happening across the UK
In England, the government have set out a package of new commitments to nursing staff, including increasing graduate pay and establishing a single national nursing preceptorship.
We’re continuing to lobby for improved financial support for students during their studies, by increasing the Learning Support Fund to reflect the cost of living and inflation, student expenses for placements to be paid on time and forgiving loans for those that go on to work in the NHS and public services.
Student nurses studying in Northern Ireland often report financial hardship when completing their degrees. This sadly means that many choose not to complete their degrees, and despite there being a nursing workforce shortage, many final year students and newly registered nurses report difficulties finding permanent nursing roles.
We’re currently engaging with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland on addressing these challenges and the workforce implications of those not finding nursing roles.
On the back of RCN Scotland and student member lobbying, the Scottish government agreed to a review of the financial support available to nursing students. However, we’re still waiting for the review to conclude and improvements to be made, which should have happened by now.
In Scotland, we’re continuing to push for a cost-of-living increase in the bursary, alongside other changes to better support nursing students to complete their studies. This is a key ask in our manifesto for the Scottish Parliament election taking place in May.
In Wales, we’re committed to championing student voices and advocating for the support they need to thrive throughout their studies and into their early careers. Many student nurses in Wales continue to experience financial hardship during their degree, due to the cost of living, limited access to paid work during placements and the intensity of nursing programmes.
This has a real impact: some prospective students are deterred from pursuing a nursing career, while others feel forced to leave their course early. We’re calling on Welsh Government to urgently reform the financial support system, so student nurses can complete their training and support the future nursing workforce in Wales.
Student nurses in Wales can opt into the national streamlining process, which is designed to guarantee newly qualified nurses a Band 5 role in NHS Wales. However, some students have recently experienced delays and uncertainty during this process, affecting their transition into the workforce.
We’re actively engaging with universities, Health Education and Improvement Wales and Welsh Government to address concerns, push for clearer communication and ensure students receive timely and fair support. We’re also working closely with our network of student ambassadors to monitor issues in real time and provide tailored advice to those affected.
We remain dedicated to ensuring student nurses feel supported, valued, and empowered from the start of their training through to qualification. We’ll continue to advocate for the changes needed to improve students’ experiences, strengthen the nursing pipeline, and secure the future of nursing in Wales.
How you can get involved
Want change but don't know where to start?
- Read our top tips on taking action.
- Order free copies of our posters, leaflets or badges on the RCN Shop to spread the word.
- Use our template letter to raise the issue of graduate jobs with your local trust or HSC. This resource is for students in England and Northern Ireland.
- Contact your local RCN office to seek support.
