Best places to study nursing

A career in nursing is highly rewarding and comes with opportunities to make a real difference to people’s wellbeing.  

You might be wondering where’s the best place to study a nursing degree. When you take into account factors such as affordability, financial aid, career prospects, and student community, it can feel overwhelming to find a programme in the right location.  

We’ve used data from the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 as well as the QS Best Student Cities 2024 to find top-ranked nursing programmes in the world’s most student-friendly cities.  

Here are some of the best places to study nursing: 

Sydney, Australia 

Australia’s best university for nursing, the University of Sydney, (ranked 13th globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023) offers a Bachelor of Nursing for students who have completed a pre-registration course.  

This one-year full-time course aims to produce graduates who can engage with and contribute to important decisions about trends in treatment, patient care and disease prevention.  

You’ll be gaining practical, hands-on experience in dedicated clinical simulation facilities on the Westmead Campus and in the Susan Wakil Health Building on the Camperdown Campus. 

At the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) (ranked 20th), the Bachelor of Nursing course prepares students for employment in a wide range of healthcare settings across Australia and internationally.  

The course includes compulsory clinical placement experiences in healthcare and community settings, including extended clinical placements of up to six weeks in your final year. 

You may also want to consider Western Sydney University which ranks 47th. The Master of Nursing course allows students to choose a major in clinical leadership, clinical teaching or tuberculosis management, preparing you for career progression in your chosen field. 

Sydney finishes in seventh place in the Best Student Cities ranking, up from two places last year, and it’s not difficult to see why.  

Sydney is known for the stunning landscape of its harbour, iconic opera house, large selection of green spaces within the city, and proximity to beaches which are among the most beautiful in the world.  

It also ranks third in the world for desirability, reflecting the high quality of life in the city, as well as its popularity among prospective students. 

Melbourne, Australia 

It’s not just Sydney which is home to Australia’s best nursing schools. Monash University ranks two places behind the University of Sydney in 15th place.  

Their undergraduate nursing degree trains you to become a registered nurse in three years. Through this accredited nursing course, you’ll gain the knowledge, clinical skills and placement experience to provide high-quality nursing care to your patients. 

Next on our list is the University of Melbourne (ranked 17th), which offers a unique integrated curriculum where you learn clinical skills and theory concurrently.  

Clinical placements take place in the largest major metropolitan teaching hospitals. This includes clinical practice opportunities, research collaborations with the latest medical equipment, and dedicated laboratory staff to guide your practical skill development. 

Other study options in Melbourne include Australian Catholic University (ACU) in 43rd place. Sigrid, a nursing student at ACU, said: “I chose to study at ACU when exploring universities in Melbourne, I heard from alumni and other nurses in the workforce how excellent the clinical classrooms are.  

“I also come from a regional town and wanted to ensure the university I attended did not feel too big, and the ACU campus and community is very welcoming.” 

Melbourne is ranked fourth in this year’s Best Student Cities ranking, making it the best student city in Australia.  

Melbourne is home to one of the world’s most diverse student communities, as well as ranking 20th for the employer activity indicator, indicating the wealth of professional opportunities for graduates. 

Brisbane, Australia 

The best university in Brisbane for nursing is Queensland University of Technology (QUT) (ranked 30th). QUT was the first provider of tertiary nurse education in Queensland and has more than 40 years of experience and industry consultation. 

You’ll also have opportunities to travel abroad and provide health services to communities in developed and developing countries.  

Alyza Garcia-Small, a graduate from the Bachelor of Nursing degree, said: “'Being taught by highly educated health professionals at QUT has been the most beneficial part of my learning.  

“My tutors, lecturers and facilitators encouraged me throughout my training and helped me to implement the skills they taught. QUT has supported me to become a more confident future health professional.” 

Three places behind QUT is the University of Queensland (ranked 33rd). Examples of modules on the undergraduate programme include Acute Care Nursing, Health Across the Lifespan, and Older Adults' Health.  

By the time you finish the programme, you’ll have accumulated up to 880 hours of supervised clinical practice in a range of settings that include hospitals and health care organisations.  

The third-largest city in Australia ranks joint 22nd in the Best Student Cities ranking. Brisbane is a great city for students seeking a balance between urban and outdoor lifestyles. 

New York City, US 

Although Australia is home to many top-ranked institutions, you may be glad to hear the US has plenty of high-quality universities for nursing, especially on the east coast.  

One example is New York University (NYU), which is the best university for nursing in New York City (ranked 12th).  

The dual-degree BS/MS programme enables students to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing and advance to a master’s degree that prepares them to be advanced practice nurses.  

Dual-degree students can choose an advanced practice area from modules such as Pediatrics Primary Care, Nurse-Midwifery, Clinical Research Nursing, and Psychiatric-Mental Health.  

Aside from NYU, Columbia University is also one of the best universities to study at if you’re interested in a nursing career.  

Ranked in 14th place, you can choose to study a Masters Direct Entry (MDE) programme if you studied another subject at university but want to become a registered nurse.  

The curriculum involves basic nursing knowledge and practice expertise enhanced with master’s course work in advanced assessment, advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology and global health. 

The programme also offers a unique six-week integration experience in which students work one-on-one with a registered nurse in New York or participate in one of many global integration sites. 

As one of the world’s busiest and most exhilarating cities, New York City has it all, including world-class education opportunities.  

From the Empire State Building and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to Broadway and Central Park, you’ll never run out of things to do while you’re studying here.  

The city ranks 17th in the Best Student Cities ranking, as well as ranking 11th for employer activity, making it a great place to kickstart your career.  

Hong Kong, China 

If you’re toying with the idea of studying in Asia, Hong Kong could be a great option for you. 

At the Chinese University of Hong Kong (ranked 16th), the five-year honours programme ensures that students gain an in-depth understanding of biological and behavioural sciences, health promotion and maintenance, nursing practice and theory, nursing research, and information technology. 

In addition to clinical experience gained in a range of hospital and community settings, there are also opportunities to participate in an overseas exchange programme where you’ll visit renowned universities and hospitals in mainland China, UK, US, Australia, Japan, and South Korea. 

Similarly, the University of Hong Kong (ranked 27th) also offers a five-year BNurs Programme to help ensure students become general registered nurses with the Nursing Council of Hong Kong. 

You’ll be completing a total of 1,400 practise hours, arranged in blocks to help you consolidate nursing themes and skills.  

It’s also worth mentioning that all applicants, including international students, are required to have a good working knowledge of Cantonese by the time you start the programme.  

Ranked 21st in the Best Student Cities ranking, Hong Kong is renowned for its combination of Eastern and Western cultures and is considered one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the world.  

With plenty of things to do such as visiting Lantau Island or the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, as well as trying local food in street markets, it’s clear that Hong Kong offers a unique international outlook and atmosphere.