The best universities for Adult nursing
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
Birmingham Newman University, followed by York St John University and University of Ulster make up the leading three for Adult nursing in our 2026 student-view ranking.
Unlike a conventional university guide, this list makes one narrow comparison: how positively recent students described their course experience. The score gives equal influence to the 26 questions shared across all three NSS files and averages 2025 with 2026 wherever both are published. Because this subject has 90 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why Birmingham Newman University leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 90 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
Birmingham Newman University
It is new to the current table because it has eligible 2026 data but no comparable prior position. It is position 1 when every current provider is included.
- Organisation and managementCourse is well organised
87.5% positive—25.3 percentage points above the 62.2% all-provider peer average.
- Student voiceStudent feedback is acted on
91.7% positive—23.8 percentage points above the 67.9% all-provider peer average.
York St John University
Where it stands out: Fair marking and assessment is 100.0%, which is 21.0 points above the 79.0% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 2 when all 90 providers are included. It has climbed 8 places from 10 in the previous table.
University of Ulster
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 88.3%, which is 26.2 points above the 62.2% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 3 when all 90 providers are included. It has climbed 1 place from 4 in the previous table.
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 89.0%, which is 26.8 points above the 62.2% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 4 when all 90 providers are included. It has fallen 2 places from 2 in the previous table.
Kingston University
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 85.7%, which is 23.4 points above the 62.2% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 6 when all 90 providers are included. It has climbed 10 places from 15 in the previous table.
“Above average” compares each provider with every other current provider in this subject. It describes relative NSS strength, not course content, admissions or graduate outcomes.
Top 10 for Adult nursing
Current positions use the 2025+2026 window. Previous positions use 2024+2025; “New” means no eligible prior comparison.
| Current pos.2025+2026 table | Previous pos.2024+2025 table | Change | University | Score | Current score data | Questions | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | —Not ranked | New | Birmingham Newman University2026 only | 96.54% | 2026 only | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 102024–2025 average | ↑ 8 | York St John University2025–2026 average | 93.70% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 42024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | University of Ulster2025–2026 average | 91.93% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 22024–2025 average | ↓ 2 | Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh2025–2026 average | 91.77% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 152024–2025 average | ↑ 10 | Kingston University2025–2026 average | 90.24% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 142024–2025 average | ↑ 8 | Middlesex University2025–2026 average | 89.83% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 52024–2025 average | ↓ 2 | The University of Sheffield2025–2026 average | 89.75% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | 72024–2025 average | ↓ 1 | Southampton Solent University2025–2026 average | 89.69% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | 122024–2025 average | ↑ 3 | University of East London2025–2026 average | 89.37% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 252024–2025 average | ↑ 15 | University of York2025–2026 average | 89.35% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 |
Universities are shown by default. The site-wide switch can include every current NSS provider in this live top ten.
See the complete Adult nursing ranking →One source. One clear point of view.
The National Student Survey asks final-year undergraduates about teaching, learning opportunities, assessment and feedback, support, organisation, resources, student voice, their students’ union and wellbeing information.
We do not add research output, selectivity, institutional spending, staff ratios or graduate salary data. Those measures may be useful elsewhere, but they cannot change what former students said about studying this subject.
Read the complete methodology →About this Adult nursing ranking
What leads the Adult nursing ranking in 2026?
Birmingham Newman University is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 96.54%. The result reflects student opinion across the common questions, not a prediction of which institution will suit every applicant.
Why average two NSS years?
Averaging 2025 and 2026 makes the result less sensitive to one unusual cohort. A provider must have published 2026 data to enter the current table; a 2026-only entrant is included and labelled “New”.
Where can I see every university?
The full Adult nursing ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.