No applications for courses in nursing refused as yet - university

No applicants have been refused a place to date on the B.Sc. [Hons] Nursing and the Preparatory Course for the Diploma in Nursing, the University said.

It said in a statement numbers on both nursing courses could not be finalised at present as the university had to wait for the results of the MATSEC resits which were normally published at the end of September.

The total number of 165 applicants would be accepted on the two nursing courses (B.Sc. [Hons] Nursing and the Preparatory Course for the Diploma in Nursing), it said adding that this figure was based on the number of clinical placements and the number of mentors available to the student nurses.

Clinical placements in paediatrics and maternity were particularly difficult to fulfil and such placements were being used to the absolute maximum. But to stretch these placements any further would jeopardise the standard of the education provided to students, the university said.

The University clarified that applications were received up to the published deadline of July 23 at 12.30 p.m.

Only those who tried to apply online after the deadline, for any course with a limited number, were informed that applications could no longer be accepted.

It said that 228 individuals submitted their application for nursing courses up to the deadline, is contrary to what the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses had stated, that when the limited number of 140 was reached, the university refused any further applications online.