Nursing in Doncaster: Studying, working, and living guide
Find out about nursing in Doncaster - where nurses can find jobs, the hospitals they might work in, colleges & universities to study in, plus living information.
Doncaster is a city in South Yorkshire, England, named after the River Don. It is situated in the Don Valley, on the western edge of the Humberhead Levels and east of the Pennines.
Doncaster recently achieved city status and is the second largest settlement in its county.
For nurses, Doncaster could be a wonderful place to live, work and study. From cost of living and travel through to culture and nightlife, this is our comprehensive local guide for nurses of all levels interested in putting down roots in Doncaster.
Where do nurses work in Doncaster?
Throughout the city of Doncaster there are many healthcare sector employers, from NHS acute hospitals to GP practices and privately run care homes, which employ Newly Qualified and Registered Nurses:
Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Tickhill Road Hospital
Cheswold Park Hospital (mental health hospital)
Park Hill Hospital (private hospital)
The NHS Trust operating in the city is the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust’s main sites are the Bassetlaw District General Hospital and the Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
There are also numerous independent hospices and care homes which support adults, elderly people and children who are always looking for Registered Nurses and carers.
There are plenty of live vacancies for nurses throughout Doncaster for anyone wishing to live and work here.
Where can aspiring nurses study in Doncaster?
Anyone wanting to study as a health professional in Doncaster can study at Doncaster College and University Centre Doncaster. The latter offers courses in Adult Nursing, Midwifery and Child Nursing and Diploma in nursing, all of which start in September.
Another place which offers nursing related courses is Bierley Price Prior (BPP) University in Doncaster. Its nursing programmes are taught on hospital premises, offering Student Nurses the opportunity to gain experience in essential clinical skills in practical, simulated real life patient care situations. BPP University Doncaster also works closely with the NHS trusts in the area.
Alternatively, just half an hour away students can also study at the Sheffield Hallam University or apply for an apprenticeship at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Doncaster, therefore, provides many more learning opportunities than most comparable cities and towns.
Find our nursing university guide here.
The average monthly rental in Doncaster is around £650 which is very reasonable and far cheaper than living in other major cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, or London.
Where do nurses live in Doncaster?
There is a great selection of suitable places all over the city for nurses to live in Doncaster.
A few of the popular areas include:
Blaxton
A popular village on the outskirts of Doncaster (approx. 7m from the city centre) with access to great local shops and restaurants
Belle Vue
An ideal location just a 10-minute drive from University Centre Doncaster
Wheatley
Centrally located with numerous shopping options, including Wheatley Retail Park, plus numerous nightlife spots and restaurants
Doncaster city centre
Popular with both students and professionals due to its closeness to all amenities
What are the living costs for nurses in Doncaster?
Doncaster is a very affordable place to live in compared to most other cities across the UK.
Here is a general guide to some of the different costs of living in Doncaster:
The average price for a home in Doncaster is currently £185,000 which is lower than the national average of £293,000.
The average rental price for a property in Doncaster is £650 per month. But if you are looking to rent a room in a shared house, the average cost is just over £350.
Council tax costs vary across the city. But many people reside in a Band B property or similar, which means paying £1409 a year, which works out to just under £117 per a month.
Other bills like shopping and utilities are priced the same as the rest of the UK.
Eating out and entertainment are similar to the rest of the UK, but may be a little more expensive than average. This is dependent on where you visit.
Is travel easy in Doncaster?
Transport links in Doncaster provide easy access to cities and towns right across the country.
The M18, M1, M62, M180 and A1 motorways all connect Doncaster to multiple locations across the UK. Taking the A1 from London to Doncaster takes just over 3 hours.
Doncaster sits on the East Coast line providing fast train journeys and frequent access to London (two hours), York, Newcastle, and Edinburgh. Nearby Sheffield and Leeds can be reached within 20 to 30 minutes.
Doncaster is just one hour away from Humber Ports. The nearest airport is Leeds Bradford Airport, also only one hour away.
What to do in Doncaster: walks, culture, nightlife and eating out
The city of Doncaster has many fantastic places to visit and explore for your days off.
Culture and attractions
Doncaster is full of wonderful attractions for all ages. Conisbrough Castle boasts stunning views over Conisbrough, while two miles north of the city Cusworth Hall is a popular museum and park.
As well as this, Doncaster has many green places to visit for relaxed weekend walks. One such place is Brodsworth Hall and Garden, a beautiful Victorian country house with picturesque gardens, making it a perfect place for a family day out.
Doncaster market, a traditional market which has its origins in Roman times, is one of the biggest and most well known in the country with lots of shops, stalls, and stands to visit.
In the city centre you will find many fascinating art and music venues to explore, including the D31 Art Gallery and the Danum Gallery, Library and Museum.
You can visit the Woolpack (pub), meanwhile the Cast theatre and The Leopard, one of Doncaster’s oldest venues, offer a mix of live music and entertainment – ideal places for those with a love of music and the performing arts.
Doncaster racecourse is one of the oldest and most famous racetracks in the country and is host of the St Leger, one of flat racing’s five Classics, providing a lovely day out for racing enthusiasts.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club compete in League 2 of the EFL and play home matches at the Eco-Power Stadium. Doncaster Knights Rugby Union FC compete in the RFU Championship.
Nightlife and eating out
Doncaster has many places to offer for its nightlife from restaurants to bars.
Highlights include:
Canters Bistro and Wine Bar, located in Old Cantley, is best known for its fresh food.
Estabulo Rodizio Bar and Grill offers traditional old-style cooking.
La Boca Steakhouse is the number one TripAdvisor Restaurant in Doncaster.
Tweed at Wadworth is a popular family run cafe, with an emphasis on farm to fork ingredients.
As you can see, Doncaster is full of attractions and eateries for all tastes, budgets, and ages.
What are the school options in Doncaster?
Depending on where you are living in Doncaster, there are many schools catering to all your children’s needs.
Doncaster has 113 Primary schools, 41 Secondary schools and 2 private independent schools.
Out of these schools, 53 are Ofsted graded Outstanding or Good.
The perfect school for your children could be found in this city.
Population and demographics in Doncaster
Here are some of the stand-out population and demographic facts in Doncaster.
Doncaster has a population of 318,000.
Its population density is 2,800 per square mile.
Doncaster is the largest Borough in England by geographic area (220 square miles).
Doncaster gained City status on 1st November 2022.
In summary: is Doncaster a good place to be a nurse?
Doncaster is a friendly and inexpensive city, full of great areas to call home if you are looking to relocate, as well as lots of places for students to study to become nurses.
There is an extensive range of things to see and do, and places to visit no matter if you have family, are a student or an experienced nursing professional.
Travel to and from Doncaster is easy as there are numerous transport options.
Living costs are lower than the national average and there is lots of work on offer.
You can check out vacancies on our website here.
Nurses earn just over £29,900 per a year in Doncaster. So, your salary as a Registered Nurse goes much further there.
Here are a couple of examples:
As a Newly Qualified Nurse on an NHS Band 5 salary, if you rented a house, you would still have just over £900 left in your pocket each month for everything else. Your disposable income in the Southeast would barely reach half of this figure, for example.
As a Band 6 Nurse, you would easily be able to borrow enough money to buy a joint mortgage for an average-priced flat in Doncaster. In fact, in many parts, your salary would cover the cost of buying a house.
As a Student or Registered Nurse in Doncaster, you will have an excellent quality of life with lots of things to do and money in your pocket.
