Article
Nursing Degree Entry Requirements: GCSEs, Access to HE and UCAS
Last reviewed: June 2026
Nursing degree entry requirements vary by university, course, nursing branch and year of entry. For adult learners, an Access to HE Diploma can provide a suitable Level 3 route, but applicants must also meet the Level 2 requirements set for their chosen degree. English and Maths are particularly important, and some courses also require Science.
Use this guide to understand the language used in nursing entry requirements. When you have shortlisted courses, check each university’s current course page and contact admissions if a condition is unclear.
Nursing degree entry requirements at a glance
| Requirement | What universities may ask for | What Access to HE applicants should check |
|---|---|---|
| Level 3 qualification | A Levels, an Access to HE Diploma or another accepted Level 3 qualification. | Confirm that Access to HE is accepted for the exact nursing degree and intake. |
| Access to HE Diploma title or subject | A diploma in nursing, health, health science, science or another relevant subject. | Give admissions the formal diploma title and, if requested, your planned units. |
| Access to HE graded credits | Completion of the diploma with 45 graded Level 3 credits. | Check how many credits must be achieved at each grade. |
| Merit and Distinction profile | A stated combination of Merit and Distinction credits. | Compare the full credit profile with the offer rather than relying on an overall pass. |
| UCAS Tariff points | A minimum Tariff total from accepted qualifications. | Check both the points required and whether your Access Diploma is an accepted qualification. |
| GCSE English | Often grade 4/C or above, or an accepted Level 2 equivalent. | Check the required qualification, grade and permitted equivalents. |
| GCSE Maths | Often grade 4/C or above, or an accepted Level 2 equivalent. | Check the required qualification, grade and permitted equivalents. |
| Functional Skills Level 2 | Accepted by some universities in place of English or Maths GCSE; others specify GCSEs. | Confirm the policy for the nursing course rather than relying on a university-wide statement. |
| Science GCSE | Some courses ask for Science at grade 4/C or above. | Check whether Access science units can meet this condition or whether a separate GCSE is required. |
| Specific Access units | Named biology, health science, psychology or other relevant content. | Compare the course requirement with your learning plan and unit titles. |
| Work experience | Relevant paid, voluntary or caring experience may be required or recommended. | Check what evidence is expected and how it will be considered. |
| Interview or selection event | A values-based interview, written task or other selection activity. | Read the selection guidance and prepare examples from your experience. |
| DBS checks | A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. | Check when the process begins and whether any previous matters need to be declared. |
| Occupational health checks | Health screening and, where applicable, evidence of immunisation. | Read the university’s fitness-to-practise and occupational health information. |
What Access to HE grade profiles mean
An Access to HE Diploma normally contains 60 credits. Of these, 45 Level 3 credits are graded at Pass, Merit or Distinction; the remaining credits are ungraded. A university may therefore describe its offer as a particular combination of graded credits rather than a single overall grade.
The following are fictional examples of how an offer might be written:
- Example: 45 credits at Level 3, with 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit.
- Example: 112 UCAS Tariff points from an Access to HE Diploma.
- Example: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with specified credits in biology or health science.
Some universities use UCAS Tariff points, while others state a credit profile. A course may also combine a points requirement with conditions about subjects or grades. The Access to HE UCAS points calculator can help you understand how graded credits convert into Tariff points.
GCSE English, Maths and Science
Many nursing degrees ask for GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C or above. Some also require Science. These are separate Level 2 conditions and are not automatically satisfied by completing an Access to HE Diploma.
Some universities accept Functional Skills Level 2 English and Maths, but others specify GCSEs. Check the wording for each nursing course before deciding which Level 2 qualification to take.
Functional Skills and nursing degrees
Functional Skills Level 2 can be a useful option for adult learners who need English or Maths. Its acceptance for nursing degrees is not universal: some universities treat it as an acceptable GCSE equivalent, while others require GCSE qualifications.
If you already know where you intend to apply, confirm the position before enrolling on Functional Skills. Where a course page does not answer the question, ask admissions:
- Do you accept Functional Skills Level 2 English for this nursing degree?
- Do you accept Functional Skills Level 2 Maths?
- Do you require GCSE Science?
- Are there minimum grades or specific awarding-body requirements?
Access to HE subject and unit content
University course pages may refer to Access to Nursing, Access to Health Professions, Access to Science, Access to Health Science or a similar subject route. These descriptions do not always identify the precise qualification and units that admissions will assess.
Academy Online Learning students should use the formal title Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Science Professions) when contacting a university. They should also provide their planned unit list if the course requires particular science or health content. The Access to Nursing course online page explains the route and its current unit structure.
UCAS points are not the whole story
UCAS Tariff points allow universities to compare grades across eligible qualifications. Reaching a published points total does not, by itself, confirm that a nursing course accepts your qualification. You must also check that the Access to HE Diploma subject, unit content and grade profile meet the course conditions.
Use the Access to HE UCAS points calculator alongside the university’s full entry requirements, not as a substitute for them.
Applying while studying Access to HE
Most Access to HE students apply through UCAS while completing the diploma for entry in the following academic year. Units that have not been through moderation are entered as pending rather than with predicted grades. Academy Online Learning can provide an academic reference, and a university may ask for the unit grades achieved so far.
Other nursing selection requirements
Academic qualifications are only one part of nursing selection. Universities may also consider your personal statement, work or voluntary experience, understanding of the nursing role and performance at interview or another selection event. Applicants may be asked to show communication, empathy, reflection and an informed understanding of professional practice.
Offers are also commonly subject to satisfactory DBS and occupational health checks. These are requirements for entry to and participation in a university nursing degree; they are not entry requirements for starting Academy Online Learning’s Access course.
To qualify as a registered nurse, students must complete a nursing degree approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Check the professional approval shown on the university course page.
Before you enrol: nursing applicant checklist
- Choose the nursing branch you intend to apply for.
- Shortlist several universities.
- Check whether they accept Access to HE for that nursing course.
- Record the required Access grade profile.
- Check the English and Maths requirements.
- Confirm whether Functional Skills are accepted.
- Check whether Science GCSE is required.
- Check whether particular Access units are required.
- Note the relevant UCAS deadlines.
- Check interview, experience, DBS and occupational health requirements.
- Contact admissions if the published requirements do not answer a question.
Our guide to which universities accept Access to HE for nursing explains how to research courses and includes examples of published requirements.