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Salford or MMU for Nursing Degree as a mature student and parent

8 replies

pearl25 · 12/08/2026 13:31

If anyone has any experiences of studying nursing at Salford Uni or Manchester Met could they please share them. I've last minute applied through early clearing and I've been accepted at both.
I'm a mature student with 2 small children, I know where ever I study its going to be difficult. If anyone has been in a similar situation I'd love to hear about it.
From what I've gathered so far Manchester Metropolitan has a slightly easier commute and has a few more weeks of annual leave a year. The admissions tutor who I spoke to when I was interviewed put a lot of emphasis on how well I would be supported as a parent studying, and said she herself studied there as a parent of children at a similar age. They have a broader range of trusts they partner with for placements, including a hospital a 5 minute walk away. However, placement locations are changed every placement and students arent placed based on distance, just within an hour commute. they have excellent simulation and skills labs, but so do Salford.
When I was interviewed for Salford it was by a man, so I dont take it wholly that they wont be as supportive as MMU, maybe the other interviewers experience at a mother just meant she knew what to say. He simply said 'uni would be no issue, but theres no budging on placement'. They try to give placements as close to the student as possible, but generally the hospitals they partner witrh are further away. They keep students at the same hospital throughout, but move departments. He said they sometimes have placements at the hospital near me, but not always. They also allow for students to study at home within reason, as all course material is online. He said as long as attendance was kept high enough theyre happy for home study. Another positive is that they keep assignments and placements as seperate so you wont have deadlines on weeks youre doing full time work and night shift.

If anyone has done this please give me any advice, what would win you over if you where to study again and why? Have you been to either uni and had a good or bad experience trying to get extra support? any information that could help me decide would be greatly appreciated, thankyou

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 12/08/2026 13:32

Where do you live?

pearl25 · 12/08/2026 13:40

Soontobe60 · 12/08/2026 13:32

Where do you live?

Wythenshawe

OP posts:
Airelles · 12/08/2026 13:48

Why not Uni of Manchester? It is one of the top places in the country for nursing and in clearing I think.

pearl25 · 12/08/2026 13:59

Airelles · 12/08/2026 13:48

Why not Uni of Manchester? It is one of the top places in the country for nursing and in clearing I think.

Did you go there? As a parent?

OP posts:
Airelles · 12/08/2026 14:19

No I have a dd studying nursing elsewhere but Manchester was one of the places we looked at and nursing was housed in a modern building and is highly ranked.

LoyalGoldMentor · 12/08/2026 14:22

Just to make you aware. It's quite typical wherever you go for placement locations to be changed every placement.

pearl25 · 12/08/2026 14:35

LoyalGoldMentor · 12/08/2026 14:22

Just to make you aware. It's quite typical wherever you go for placement locations to be changed every placement.

Yeah, I think thats why its a selling point for Salford, they keep you in the same hospital, community placements are obviously that. He reeled off Salford Royal, Bolton, Stepping Hill and Tameside. Then when I said the closest is Stepping Hill but its still a while away, he said the do get Wythenshawe but less often.

OP posts:
LoyalGoldMentor · 12/08/2026 14:44

pearl25 · 12/08/2026 14:35

Yeah, I think thats why its a selling point for Salford, they keep you in the same hospital, community placements are obviously that. He reeled off Salford Royal, Bolton, Stepping Hill and Tameside. Then when I said the closest is Stepping Hill but its still a while away, he said the do get Wythenshawe but less often.

Yes, it's a lot to consider especially with shift work etc etc and all these boroughs cover such a huge area

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