Top Nursing Schools in 2018

As of 2016, the QS World University Rankings by Subject includes a ranking of more than 100 top nursing schools in the world. Ranked based on factors such as their academic and employer standing, here is this year’s list of the world’s top 10 universities for nursing.

Top nursing schools in the US and Canada

The US dominates quite a large area in the list of World Rankings by Subject, and that includes the field of nursing – it occupies almost half (four) of the top 10 and 29 of the 101 overall. This is an increase from last year, with five US universities joining the top 101. In addition to the top 10 (shown above), the most sought-after US universities for nursing this year include the University of Michigan (ranked 12^th), the University of California, San Francisco (13^th), the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (at 14^th place) and the University of Pittsburgh (ranking 16^th).

Alternatively, Canada has exactly 10 of the best nursing schools, with the University of Toronto still in the top 10 but boasting an impressive second place this year, up four places. Other notable Canadian institutions for a nursing degree include the University of Alberta, which remains in the top 20 (ranking 17^th), McMaster University, which climbed a remarkable eight ranks from last year to rank 19^th, and the University of British Columbia, which retains its position of joint 20^th.

Top nursing schools in Europe

As was the case last year, this year’s ranking of top nursing schools seems to be rather dominated by European institutions and their number has increased (from 26 in 2017 to 31 in 2018). 15 of these universities are located within the UK and aside from its three entrants in the top 10, other top nursing schools in the UK include the University of Nottingham (28^th), the University of Edinburgh (30^th) and Ulster University (joint 33^rd).

Fellow European countries such as Sweden, Ireland, and Finland also offer some of the top 50 universities for a nursing degree, with Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet placed 11^th and Ireland’s Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin ranked joint 25^th, while Finland’s two entries are in the top 50: University of Turku (joint 44^th), University of Eastern Finland (49^th).

Some of the top 100 schools for a nursing degree in Europe are also located in Spain, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands, with Universitat de Barcelona, University of Basel, Ghent University and Utrecht University all ranked 51-100.  

Top nursing schools in Asia

11 of the top nursing schools in the subject rankings are situated in Asia, five of which are in the top 50, including the National University of Singapore (NUS) at 10^th place, National Taiwan University (NTU) ranking 22^nd and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) sitting at 29^th.

Amongst the top 100 nursing institutions, China, South Korea and Japan also claim respectable positions in the 51-100 range, with Fudan University and Peking University in China, Seoul National University and Yonsei University in South Korea and the University of Tokyo as Japan’s only ranked nursing school.

Top nursing schools in Australia & New Zealand

Heading south-east, Australia and New Zealand occupy 18 places in the nursing school ranking – 15 of which are claimed by Australia, with University of Technology Sydney holding seventh position as one of the top 10 nursing schools in the world, followed by the University of Sydney (15^th) and Monash University (18^th) in the top 20.

New Zealand has one entrant in the top 50: the University of Auckland (joint 41^st), while Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and the University of Otago are both ranked 51-100. 

Top nursing schools in Latin America

Latin America features less prominently in the nursing school ranking, with only two  institutions in the top 100: Universidade de São Paulo and Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), both ranked 51-100.

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