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Welsh Government ‘very disappointed’ over Cardiff’s proposed nursing course cuts
This comes as UCAS data shows that applications to study nursing in Wales are on the rise
The Welsh Government has said it is “disappointed” about Cardiff University’s proposed nursing course cuts.
This follows Cardiff University’s announcement of proposed job and course cuts, including the potential closure of the School of Nursing, and the release of new data by UCAS which shows that applications to study nursing in Wales are on the rise.
The Welsh Government said that whilst universities are “independent institutions”, it is “very disappointed that nursing courses form part of these proposals and we are working urgently with HEIW (Health Education and Improvement Wales) to ensure we train the same number of nurses in Wales”.
According to WalesOnline, the Welsh Government also said that it was notified about Cardiff University’s proposed cuts a week before the news was made public.
According to UCAS, applications and acceptances to study nursing in Wales by higher-paying international students have soared since 2019 to 2024. Data from 2019 showed that out of 160 applications from international students, 15 were successful, a 6.9 per cent acceptance rate.
In 2024, the number of applications to study nursing rose to a whopping 1,180, with 175 being accepted onto the course, a rise to just over 14 per cent. In the same year 31 per cent of all applications to study nursing in Wales were successful, with candidates from Wales being twice as likely to take up places than candidates from elsewhere.
However, the Welsh Government has since pledged £19 million to the higher education sector, although there are no specifics yet on how this money will be used.
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In response to the government’s pledge, a Cardiff University spokesperson told The Cardiff Tab: “We welcome today’s announcement from Welsh Government. The precarious financial position of many universities in the sector is well documented. It is too early to say how this funding will affect Cardiff University, but it will be considered in our wider financial context. Additional capital funding to support our estate and digital infrastructure is always welcome.”
However, despite Wales’ 2024 nursing degree applications amongst international students increasing, there has been a decline in higher-paying international student applications to study across the UK, which has led to universities making financial cuts which impact job security and the sustainability of courses.
Cardiff UCU staged a protest in response to the situation outside the Senedd on 4th February and nursing students also held a demonstration at the Heath Park Campus on the 7th.
Nursing degrees are currently offered at Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Wrexham, the University of South Wales, and Swansea University.
According to the Royal College of Nursing, there is an estimated 800 to 1,000 nursing students at Cardiff University but a shortage of at least 2,000 nurses across Wales.
Speaking with WalesOnline, Helen Whyley, the executive director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Wales, said: “This proposal comes at a time when Wales is facing a severe nursing shortage, with thousands of vacancies placing immense pressure on an already overstretched workforce.”
Adding: “This decision has the potential to threaten the pipeline of registered nurses into the largest health board in Wales and undermines efforts to address the critical staffing crisis in the NHS and social care.”
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