BSc (Hons) Children's Nursing
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: Uxbridge / Aylesbury
- Duration: Three or Four Years
- Start Date: September 2026
Children’s nurses care for children from birth to adulthood and support their families to care for them. Children’s Nurses bring a detailed understanding of children and young people’s health and wellbeing, clinical and technical skills and skilled communication to enable families to feel safe in their care. On our BSc (Hons) Children’s Nursing degree you'll learn the skills you need to be able to join a dedicated team committed to delivering exceptional child and family-centred care, whilst being a pillar of support.
Our children’s nursing degree programme integrates academic study alongside practice-based learning. It is underpinned by a strong collaboration between the University, service users (experts by experience) and our NHS practice partners, in response to both policy and regulatory developments.
On successful completion of the course, you’ll be eligible to apply for your , meaning you’ll then be able to practice as a qualified nurse.
During your time on the BSc Children’s Nursing degree, you’ll have the opportunity to go on placement in a range of our linked trusts and hospitals, including:
Throughout the course, you’ll allocate approximately half of your time to clinical practice and the remaining half to University-based learning. Our strong partnerships with various NHS Trusts and independent care providers in the region ensure that students have diverse and enriching clinical placements. Many of our students are employed by the Trust that they worked with during their time at the University.
Whilst children’s nursing is a rewarding career, we also understand studying children’s nursing at university can be challenging at times. Throughout your time on the course you’ll gain direct support both in the classroom and on placement, as we provide a link-lecturer for every placement to support students in practice.
On campus you can find further support in the form of our Student Wellbeing Centre and our Student Learning Achievement Centre. Here we will be able to help you with a range of areas such as academic writing and building your CV.
To support your studies, the UK Government are continuing to provide nursing students with a payment of at least £5,000 a year which will not need to be paid back. Find out more about the
At our three campuses, we have impressive facilities with state-of-the-art equipment. You’ll get to recreate real scenarios so when you’re out on placement you’ll be confident in your Children's nursing skills.
Our facilities offer a high-fidelity environment, which includes the use of NHS approved consumables, genuine functioning equipment and technology enhanced manikins. The essential element of de-brief in simulation is undisputed; audio/visual technology is available and widely used by the teaching teams to enhance feedback to learners.
You will also benefit from up-to-date PROMPT advanced models where you’ll practice resuscitation using authentic equipment. All the technology and equipment supplied to you enables you to become familiar with kit and techniques used within the local hospital trusts.
What will I study?
Becoming a is an extremely rewarding yet challenging career. You’ll have experiences from neonatal units to general children’s wards, children’s own homes to paediatric intensive care and everything in between, giving you a rounded view of children and young people’s healthcare and learn the theory and evidence that informs that care.
This course is also offered as a four-year programme, with an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate degree.
As a qualified children’s nurse you’ll have the opportunity to grow and take on a range of roles, providing plenty opportunities for career advancement.
During your time on the programme, you'll be working alongside experienced health care professionals who will help you to become a caring, confident, competent and practice-ready children’s nurse.
The programme develops and nurtures you as you gain the skills and knowledge you need to meet and manage the health needs of children, young people and their families.
You’ll learn how to perform a range of nursing skills with proficiency, predicated on contemporary knowledge and the understanding of best practice. You’ll also learn how to practice in a non- judgemental and anti-discriminatory way, prioritising the needs of children, young people and their families, respecting their choices and individual wishes and promoting health.
As well as this you’ll be taught how to assess and review mental, physical, cognitive, behavioural, spiritual and social needs to identify the priorities and requirements for evidence-based nursing interventions and support.
From understanding and being able to refer to policies and procedures, to pharmacology, treating, assessing and making the right care-decisions for a young patient, you’ll learn how to work within a team as critically reflective, resilient practitioners, with an ability to learn from experience and solve problems.
Our team of experienced and dedicated lecturers have a collective wealth of knowledge from working in a range of children and young people’s healthcare and clinical environments across the NHS and private sector.
Upon successful graduation you’ll be a compassionate, proficient, confident, and digitally able children’s nurse, who is able to adopt a child and family centred approach, working autonomously and accountably, within the integrated care system.
How will I be taught and assessed?
Our children’s nursing course seamlessly blends academic and practical learning, fostering collaboration between the University and practice partners. Embracing a student-centred philosophy, the course enables you to gain essential knowledge, skills, and professional values necessary for the delivery of compassionate, safe, and effective nursing care.
Throughout the children’s nursing course, you’ll spend half of your time in clinical practice and the remaining half to University-based learning. Our strong partnerships with various NHS Trusts and independent care providers in the region ensure that students have diverse and enriching clinical placements.
When you’re on campus, your academic study will be undertaken through varying modalities including seminars, lectures, simulation and virtual learning.
We include assessments which reflect real life nursing practices and, across the three years, you will be assessed through a number of means, such as:
- reflective assignments
- presentations
- exams
- academic poster development
- assignments
- literature review
- oral exams.
You are also required to complete the knowledge skills and behaviours included in the Practice Assessment Document in each year of practice.
I benefitted because nearly all our lecturers were nurses. I thought it would only be a few, but it was great having nearly all of our lectures being delivered by nurses who had been there and done it. It was a great help and support throughout my degree.Joe Rouse
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 112 - 136 (Full-time) or 48 - 88 (Foundation Year)
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
The requirements for this course are equivalent to:
- A level grades at BBC or above
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma at DMM
- International Baccalaureate at 30 points
- FETAC / QQI 5 Distinctions in health care-related subjects
- Access to HE Diploma in Nursing qualification (Minimum 60 credits overall with 12 Merits and 30 Distinctions at Level 3 and 15 Credits at Level 2 at Pass)
- T levels: Minimum Merit overall in Health pathway subject (Childcare and Education, Health, Healthcare Science, Midwifery and Science)
You will also need 5 GCSE’s including Maths, English and Science at grade 4/C or above or equivalent.
All applicants should be able to demonstrate evidence of academic study within the last five years and Health Care experience is an advantage but not essential.
Foundation Year
Our Children's Nursing course is also offered as a four-year programme in September, including an initial Foundation Year. Studying at our High Wycombe campus, the foundation year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto the undergraduate programme.
If you are looking to apply for the Foundation Year, you will need to have GCSE grade C or grade 4 or equivalent in Maths and English.
English language requirements
For those whose first language is not English, there is a requirement to demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English through application and interview. An IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no section below 6.0 or an equivalent is also required. Find out more on our general entry requirements page.
Using an NMC-approved pre-registration qualification
If you have completed an NMC-approved pre-registration nurse, midwife or nursing associate programme, we will accept this as evidence that you have the necessary knowledge of English.
Interviews
As well as meeting the stated academic requirements, shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an online interview (Subject to current Government Guidelines) as part of the selection process to ensure that your values match those of the NHS Constitution.
All offers are subject to Academic, satisfactory Occupational Health and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is an opportunity for prospective students to gain credits for their previous study. It avoids you having to duplicate your previous learning, whilst ensuring students have attained the learning outcomes appropriate to their awards.
You might be considered for APL if you have successfully completed any of the following programme in the last 5 years. Please refer to our Credit Accumulation pages for further guidance.
- FDSc Nursing Associate with NMC Accreditation (Apprenticeship or UCAS entry route)
- FDSc Assistant Practitioner (Apprenticeship or Direct entry route)
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
What are the tuition fees
Home
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Home Foundation Year, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £9,535 *
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Home, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £9,535 per year *
International
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Overseas/International Foundation Year, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 *
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Overseas/International, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 per year *
Following the Government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we will be increasing our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 per year from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Our part-time fees for UK undergraduate students will increase to £7,145 per annum. Please visit , on the Government’s website, for more information about the changes.
Tuition fees for Home undergraduate students (including with foundation year) may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Government.  
Tuition fees for both new and continuing international students may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year.  
Tuition fees for postgraduate courses and CPD may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year. This increase will apply to both new and continuing students.  
We understand, and really appreciate, the significant financial commitment our students make when they choose to study at BNU. We take our responsibilities to our students very seriously, and are ambitious for each to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career. Our fees help us to continue providing our students with a high-quality education, and to invest in the services and facilities which create an excellent student experience at BNU.
The following factors will be considered by the University when we set the annual fees: measures of inflation such as the retail price indices; projected increases in University costs; and any changes in the level of funding for teaching received from the Government.
NHS Learning Support Fund
To support your studies, the UK Government are continuing to provide adult nursing students with a payment of at least £5,000 a year which will not need to be paid back. Find out more about the
BNU provided careers support as well as open days for nurses to meet various trusts and engage in professional discussion. Throughout the nursing degree we were expected to complete 2300 hours of clinical practice within NHS trusts. While completing clinical practice I found that I very much enjoyed working in A&E and luckily enough they were looking for newly-qualified staff. I was encouraged and supported by lecturers to apply for these roles and how to prepare for nursing interviews.Michelle Ginnane
What are my career prospects?
On successful completion of the programme, you will be eligible to register as a Registered Children’s Nurse with the With this qualification, you may find employment within the NHS or with private healthcare providers.
Opportunities for children’s nurses are continually expanding and you'll have the chance to go into many areas, for example as a:
- staff nurse working in a children’s ward
- staff nurse in a specialist children’s hospital
- in the community caring for children with acute or long term health conditions
- in a children’s hospice
- in Accident and Emergency
- in children’s mental health services
- Supporting health in schools and residential settings
and with further education, as a school nurse, health visitor, or nurse researcher.
Course leader
- Associate Professor - Lead for Quality Assurance and Enhancement
- Associate Professor for Nursing and Midwifery Education Leadership
