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If you're looking for a traditional college campus with sprawling lawns and a buzzing social scene, Florence Nightingale College of Nursing (FNCON) will disappoint you. But if your priority is to become a clinically unshakeable nurse, trained in one of North India's busiest public hospitals for a fraction of the cost of a private degree, this is arguably one of the most direct paths. Located within the massive Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital complex in East Delhi, FNCON is a government institution that trades frills for an almost unparalleled volume of real-world patient care. It’s a place where the line between classroom and clinic blurs from day one. The college, upgraded from a school in 2005 and now offering a B.Sc. (Hons) Nursing degree under the University of Delhi, has built a reputation for producing nurses who aren't easily fazed. That's the core trade-off here.
The academic focus is singular and intense. The B.Sc. (Hons) Nursing program, introduced in the 2019-20 academic session, is the mainstay. With an intake of 77 seats, it follows the University of Delhi's Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) across eight semesters. The college has historically offered M.Sc. Nursing and GNM programs, but for the 2024-25 cycle, the verified flagship is the undergraduate degree.
What defines the academic experience isn't the syllabus—which is standard DU fare—but the delivery. The faculty, numbering around 25-30 with most holding M.Sc. or PhDs, are described by students as "strict but highly knowledgeable." With a student-teacher ratio hovering between 1:8 and 1:10, the environment is focused. The real classroom, however, is the 1500-bed GTB Hospital attached to the college. Clinical rotations here are not occasional visits; they are a core, daily component of training. You're exposed to a patient load and case variety that most private nursing colleges simply cannot replicate. It's a demanding schedule: long hours on your feet during postings, followed by lectures and theory. The grading is rigorous, and the expectation is professional readiness from the start.
Forget the concept of a corporate placement cell with campus drives. At a government nursing college like FNCON, the "placement" strategy is different. The curriculum and faculty preparation are geared towards helping students crack competitive government nursing exams like the NORCET (for AIIMS) and DSSB (for Delhi government hospitals). That's where the real payoff is.
The employment rate is exceptionally high, with 90-99% of graduates securing jobs within a year. The career paths split clearly. The top goal for most is a central government position as a Nursing Officer at institutes like AIIMS (Delhi and Rishikesh), Safdarjung Hospital, or Dr. RML Hospital. These roles come with a starting salary in the range of INR 70,000 to 85,000 per month under the 7th Pay Commission—a strong, stable financial beginning. The other path is the private sector, with recruiters like Max, Fortis, Apollo, and Medanta offering packages between INR 2.5 and 4.5 LPA, which is a standard starting range in that sphere.
The mandatory 6-month internship in the 4th year now comes with a significant update. While historically a token stipend of INR 500/month was common, students report a pending/recent increase to around INR 13,500 per month for 2024, which is a substantial improvement if fully implemented.
This is where FNCON's value proposition becomes stark. The affordability is its most powerful feature. The total course fee for the entire four-year B.Sc. (Hons) program is approximately INR 22,345, excluding mess charges. Break that down: annual tuition is between INR 6,000 and 8,000. The government-subsidized hostel fee is about INR 2,500 per year. You'll pay more for monthly mess food (INR 2,500 - 3,000) than for your annual tuition. Compare that to private nursing colleges where fees can easily cross INR 10-15 lakhs.
Scholarships for SC/ST/OBC and EWS categories are available through the Delhi Government's e-district portal and the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The refundable security deposit is INR 5,000.
Admission is a two-step, centralized process. First, you must appear for and qualify in the NEET-UG exam. It's mandatory. Second, you must participate in the counseling conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for University of Delhi-affiliated colleges.
Eligibility requires a 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English, with a minimum of 50% aggregate. A critical, non-negotiable point: the B.Sc. (Hons) Nursing program at FNCON is for female candidates only.
The cutoffs are relatively accessible, especially when compared to MBBS programs. For the 2024 Round 1 counseling, the closing rank for the General AI Female category was around 83,099. It's a decently achievable rank for a dedicated student, making this a realistic target for many. You can track the official counseling process and updates on the MCC website.
Let's be direct: there is no campus in the conventional sense. The college is integrated into the GTB Hospital complex. Your environment is a large, public hospital. The infrastructure is functional and government-grade. Labs for Nursing Foundations, Nutrition, and Community Health are well-equipped. The library has over 5,000 books and journal subscriptions. But you'll also hear complaints about uncomfortable wooden chairs and the occasional non-functional projector.
The hostel has limited capacity, with priority for outstation students. Rooms are typically shared between two. The rules are famously strict, with a 7:00 PM in-time being consistently enforced. The warden maintains tight control—no food deliveries, no late entries. It's a disciplined, almost austere living arrangement. The hostel food is routinely rated as average at best (students often give it a 3/10), leading many to rely on home-cooked food or local tiffin services. The social life is minimal. You are here to work.
The student sentiment forms a clear, consistent picture. This college is not chosen for an "experience" but for an outcome.
The positives are powerful and repeated across forums like CollegeDunia and Shiksha: Unmatched clinical exposure. Students constantly stress that the volume and variety of cases at GTB Hospital are irreplaceable. Extreme affordability. The near-free cost is a massive relief and a primary motivator. Serious, competent faculty. They are demanding, but they know their craft inside out.
The negatives are equally consistent and revolve around quality of life: Zero campus life. You are in a hospital, not a college. Exhausting workload. Clinical postings are physically draining, often 6-8 hours on your feet before academic lectures. Stringent hostel rules. The 7 PM curfew and strict warden are frequent points of friction. Bureaucratic administration. Getting things done can be slow, a hallmark of many government setups.
The consensus? It's a high-stress, high-reward model. Perfect for the relentlessly focused student. Miserable for someone wanting a balanced college life.
The answer depends entirely on what you're looking for. If your goal is to become a supremely confident, clinically experienced nurse with minimal educational debt and a direct pathway to a stable government job, Florence Nightingale College of Nursing is an excellent, almost unbeatable choice. The value-for-money is extraordinary, and the GTB Hospital training is a genuine career accelerator. It's best for disciplined, resilient female candidates who see nursing as a rigorous profession, not just a degree.
But you should probably look elsewhere if you prioritize a traditional campus experience, a vibrant social life, modern infrastructure, or flexible living conditions. The environment here is Spartan and demanding. You trade those comforts for a formidable professional foundation. For the right student, that's a trade worth making every single time.
Find a program, read its fee details and explore the admission requirements.
Summary of the programs shown below. Fee periods can differ by program. Check the note beside each amount before comparing costs.
| Course | Stream | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] (Nursing) | Paramedical | 6040 |
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Eligibility: 10+2
1 exam with cutoff data available - showing recent entries
No, the B.Sc. (Hons) Nursing program at Florence Nightingale College of Nursing is for female candidates only.
Yes, admission to the nursing program is strictly based on NEET-UG scores and subsequent MCC counseling.
Yes, a small stipend is provided during the 4th-year internship. The amount varies based on government implementation, typically ranging from approximately INR 500 to 13,500.
There is no mandatory service bond for the Delhi Government. However, students are encouraged to serve in state hospitals after completing their degree.
The hostel food is generally rated as average. Many students supplement their meals with home-cooked food or local tiffin services.
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