For decades, India has been known for its medical professionals and institutions. The country has a large, regulated nursing education system that includes diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, post-basic diploma, and doctoral routes.
Many Indian universities and colleges admit students from India and abroad. For international applicants, the main attractions are English-medium instruction, a wide range of health-science programs, and tuition that varies from low-cost government institutions to higher-fee private universities.
Studying nursing in India can help students prepare for a career in hospitals, clinics, community health organizations, and other healthcare settings. Graduates who want to work outside India should check the licensing and registration rules of the destination country.
What Degrees are there for Nursing in India?
India recognizes several nursing education routes, including Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM), General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM), B.Sc. Nursing, Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing, M.Sc. Nursing, M.Phil., Ph.D., and post-basic diploma programs. For students who want to become registered nurses and midwives, the most common entry routes are the GNM diploma and the B.Sc. Nursing degree.
The GNM is a diploma route, while B.Sc. Nursing is a four-year degree. Diploma routes can be shorter, but degree and registration requirements matter for higher study, teaching, and some advanced roles.
Students who want to enter an M.Sc. Nursing program generally need B.Sc. Nursing, B.Sc. Hons. Nursing, or Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing, registration as a nurse and midwife, and relevant work experience. GNM graduates may be eligible for Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing or selected post-basic diploma programs, depending on the institution and current council rules.
Cost of Studying Nursing
The cost of studying nursing in India varies substantially by institution, program level, campus, and whether the university is public or private. Instead of relying on a single national average, applicants should check the latest fee schedule on each university’s official website.
For example, SRM Institute of Science and Technology lists its B.Sc. Nursing program fee as ₹2,40,000, while SGT University lists B.Sc. Nursing tuition at ₹1,62,500 per semester. Application fees are usually listed separately; SRM’s Health Sciences UG application page lists an application fee of ₹1,200 per phase. Hostel, mess, examination, security deposit, and other charges may also apply.
Full or partial fee waivers may be available, but they are not automatic. Study in India states that institute-driven scholarships or tuition fee waivers can range from 10% to 100%, depending on the student’s academic scores and the institute’s discretion.
For current examples, see SRM Institute of Science and Technology’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences UG admissions pages.
Requirements to Study Nursing in India
For undergraduate B.Sc. Nursing, the Indian Nursing Council’s general eligibility criteria include being at least 17 years old by December 31 of the admission year and passing 10+2 with Science subjects, including Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English, with the required aggregate marks. Individual universities may set higher marks or additional selection steps.
For example, SRM lists a minimum of 60% aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, plus a pass in English, for its B.Sc. Nursing program. SGT University lists 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English and admission based on its Nursing Common Entrance Test.
For M.Sc. Nursing, applicants generally need to be registered nurses and registered midwives, hold B.Sc. Nursing, B.Sc. Hons. Nursing, or Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing with at least 55% aggregate marks, and have the required work experience. Foreign qualifications may also need equivalence confirmation and approval under the relevant institutional and council rules.
Admission procedures vary. Some programs use merit, e-counseling, or university entrance exams, while some central or government-linked admissions may use national or centralized counseling processes. Applicants should always follow the current admissions notice for the specific university and academic year.
In What Languages Do You Study Nursing?
Most nursing education in India is conducted in English. The Indian Nursing Council has stated that the medium of instruction for all nursing courses except ANM is English because nursing courses are technical.
Universities commonly require English as part of the entry qualification. However, knowledge of Hindi or the local state language can still be useful during clinical placements, community postings, and everyday life in India.
Best Nursing Schools in India
1. Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER)
- Nursing Program Link
- Degrees offered: bachelor’s, master’s, post-basic diploma, and doctoral nursing programs.
In its long history, JIPMER has made major contributions to teaching, patient care, and research. The hospitals within the institute are an important part of training, giving students access to clinical learning throughout their studies.
JIPMER’s College of Nursing lists B.Sc. Nursing, M.Sc. Nursing, Post Basic Diploma in Nursing, and Ph.D. Nursing. Its post-basic diploma route is a one-year program, and listed specialties include areas such as critical care nursing, operation room nursing, and neonatal nursing.
2. SRM Institute of Science and Technology
SRM Institute of Science and Technology offers nursing programs through SRM College of Nursing. Its current nursing pages list B.Sc. Nursing, Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing, M.Sc. Nursing, diploma, and post-basic diploma options, along with research activity connected to nursing.
The B.Sc. Nursing program is listed as a four-year undergraduate program with a mandatory six-month internship included in the program structure. SRM’s M.Sc. Nursing options are two-year postgraduate programs, and applicants generally need B.Sc. Nursing, B.Sc. Hons. Nursing, or Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing, registration as a nurse and midwife, and at least one year of relevant work experience.
3. Doon Institute of Medical Sciences (DIMS)
DIMS aims to provide tutoring, mentorship, and practical training for students attending the institute. This nursing school in India focuses on the balance between theory and practice, helping students build their knowledge and clinical understanding of nursing.
The B.Sc. Nursing program at DIMS is listed as a four-year, INC-approved program affiliated with HNBMU. The curriculum covers core areas such as nursing foundations, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and medical-surgical nursing, with clinical training included as part of the program.
4. Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary (SGT) University
- Nursing Program Link
- Degrees offered: diploma, bachelor’s, post-basic bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
SGT University’s Faculty of Nursing, formerly Dashmesh College of Nursing, aims to produce competent nursing professionals with ethical values. The university highlights facilities such as community and child-health nursing labs and a National Reference Simulation Centre.
The university lists a four-year B.Sc. Nursing program, a two-year M.Sc. Nursing program with multiple specializations, Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing, GNM, and a Ph.D. in Nursing. Its nursing programs should be checked against the current Indian Nursing Council and Haryana Nurses and Nurse-Midwives Council recognition lists before applying.
5. Amity University
The final institution in this list of nursing schools in India is Amity University Gurugram. Amity lists a four-year B.Sc. Nursing program and postgraduate nursing courses, and Ph.D. Nursing options should be confirmed through the current Amity doctoral admissions page before applying.
Amity University Haryana’s campus has LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, and the university states that it was the first university campus in India and the second in Asia to achieve LEED Platinum status. The university also emphasizes training, research, infrastructure, and personality development as part of student preparation.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Scholarships Page and Available Courses for International Students.
