Nursing and midwifery
A field of study in health and welfare
Vocational or degree?Both routes3 in 10 train through vocational routes in the EU: 262,000 finished vocational training and 527,000 higher education in this field (2024). Figures for the wider field.Eurostat
Do graduates use it?81% in a matching jobof health and welfare graduates with a degree in the EU work in a job that matches what they studied. After vocational training: 73%.All health and welfare fields · Eurostat 2024
Do they find work?87% in workof people who finished higher education in the last 1 to 3 years in the EU (2025). Vocational training: 80%. General upper secondary only: 67%.All fields · Eurostat
What you'd learn
First aidProfessional documentation in health careInfection controlFirst responseResuscitationTechniques of blood-samplingClinical reportsEmergency casesNursing scienceNursing principlesChildbirthIntracranial hypertension+ 13 more
The knowledge areas ESCO files under this field, those most needed by jobs first. Actual programmes vary by school and country.
Where it can lead
19 jobs use what this field teaches.
| Job | Prospects | Pay | Usual study | AI exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced nurse practitioner | Good | Well above average | Degree | Very low |
| Specialist nurse | Good | Well above average | Degree | Very low |
| Phlebotomist | Average | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Maternity support worker | Good | About average | Post-secondary | Very low |
| Nurse responsible for general care | Good | Well above average | Degree | Very low |
| Hospital porter | Average | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Community health worker | Good | About average | Post-secondary | Very low |
| Emergency ambulance driver | Good | About average | Post-secondary | Very low |
| Clinical trial assistant | Good | About average | Post-secondary | Low |
| Paramedic in emergency responses | Good | About average | Post-secondary | Very low |
| Healthcare assistant | Good | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Anaesthetic technician | Good | About average | Post-secondary | Low |
| Midwife | Good | Well above average | Degree | Low |
| Temperature screener | Good | About average | Post-secondary | Low |
| Sterile services technician | Average | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Coastguard watch officer | Limited | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Clinical perfusion scientist | Good | About average | Post-secondary | Very low |
| Emergency response worker | Limited | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Doctors' surgery assistant | Good | About average | Post-secondary | Some tasks |
Jobs that need the knowledge this field teaches (ESCO), closest match first. This is not a record of where graduates actually end up: no EU-wide data says that per field.
Where to study
946 institutions in the EU offer health and welfare bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.