Every year a number of places on degree programmes are reserved for mature students. An applicant must be 23 years of age or older by 1 January of the year of entry in order to apply.

NMBI sets criteria for Mature applicants which includes that they must sit an assessment test for admission to a Nursing of Midwifery programme.

Mature applicants must be successful in the assessment test for the current year before being considered for an offer but success in the test does not guarantee an offer of a place. The assessment test is year specific and results may not be carried forward to a future year (unless a deferred entry has been granted by a HEI).

The assessment comprises three separate tests which are:

• Verbal Reasoning: This test measures the ability to understand written passages and the logical evaluation of an argument.
• Numerical Reasoning: This test measures the ability to make correct decisions or inferences from numerical data.
• Job Simulation: This exercise attempts to identify your likely response when presented with scenarios typical of what could occur in a job situation. It measures a range of skills and qualities required in the student nurse role, ranging from taking care of someone, through to taking responsibility in a situation. In this test you will be required to read through a number of scenarios and then choose which action you would take, based on the information presented in the scenario. You will be given a list of possible actions and will be required to select only ONE.

The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is no longer administering the assessment test on our behalf. Instead, mature applicants must apply directly here to NMBI to take the tests. The CAO will remind all mature applicants about the NMBI assessment test in an email after the 1 February deadline.  

Registration for the assessment tests will be provided directly on the NMBI website.

The online tests can be taken any time during the testing window which opens on 22 April 2021 at 10am and closes on 28 April 2021 at 1pm. Applicants taking the tests will be supervised using a remote proctoring system.  

You can register and complete the tests at a time and place convenient to you during this testing window.

NMBI will provide familiarisation material for applicants from 15 April 2021 to help you prepare for the tests and to ensure that you are comfortable with the testing format. Practice tests will also be made available in advance of taking the tests.  

Further information can be found on the careers section of our website.