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Nursing (Child) BSc(Hons)

2025-26

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Start date

22 September 2025

Duration

3 years full-time

Entry requirements

A Level - BBB-BBC

BTEC - DDM-DMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

40

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About the course

Reasons to study

  1. Regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), this Nursing (Child) BSc(Hons) degree course could lead to a career working with children and young people. 
  2. Your time on the course will be divided between learning theory and applying your knowledge in a clinical environment, with clinical placements providing opportunities for you to put what you’ve learned into practice in a variety of settings.
  3. You'll be taught by a team who understand what it is like be a child nurse and are able to demonstrate the latest techniques and procedures, supporting you to put these skills into practice.

Providing care for children, young people, and their families is a rewarding career choice. If you’re keen to provide committed, compassionate and professional care for children and young people and their families, this Nursing (Child) BSc(Hons) degree course – which is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) – could be the course to help you pursue your future career.

From the very start of this child nursing course, you’ll get the chance to develop the vital skills, values, and confidence you’ll need to care for children, young people, and their families, whatever their circumstances. These includes those with acute illness, long-term conditions or those who need help to maintain their health.

Why study Nursing (Child) BSc(Hons)

On the course, you’ll develop key clinical skills in our fully equipped simulated children’s ward, using our patient simulators, as well as hearing first-hand experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.

You'll be taught by a team who understand what it is like be a child nurse and are able to demonstrate the latest techniques and procedures, supporting you to put these skills into practice. You’ll learn in an innovative environment, too, which is designed to give you the very best opportunities for in-classroom and hands-on learning.

Your time on the course will be divided between learning theory and applying your knowledge in a clinical environment, with clinical placements providing opportunities for you to put what you’ve learned into practice in a variety of settings. These include children's wards, children’s hospitals, accident and emergency departments and neonatal intensive care. Opportunities are also available to work with specialist nurses in a range of community settings, including health centres, children's hospices, and mainstream and specialist schools. You'll be supported throughout your practical experiences by academic staff and experienced practice assessors and supervisors.

In 2024, the University’s new Daphne Steele Building will open on the site of the National Health Innovation campus, too. To enhance your learning, this will allow child nursing students to benefit from specialist clinical teaching facilities and world-leading research facilities.

Following successful completion of this Nursing (Child) degree course, you’ll be able to register with the NMC and work as a Registered Nurse for Children.

Students on this course may be eligible to receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each year – find out more on the NHS Learning Support Fund website.

Not quite ready to start Nursing (Child) BSc(Hons)? Successful completion of our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree will equip you with the foundation knowledge to study Child Nursing.

Course detail

Core modules:

Becoming a Professional - Child Nursing

This module involves exploring your development as a professional, examining your personal and professional attitudes and beliefs, as well as relating these to your future professional role as a child nurse. You’ll gain an understanding about how you can develop as a learner and maintain your physical and mental health, so you are able to promote and support children and young people with their health. You’ll also learn how to manage the transition to university and explore ethical and professional codes underpinning child nursing.

Introduction to Child Nursing

This module provides the opportunity for you to develop the fundamental knowledge and skills required to care specifically for children, young people and their families, as well as people of all ages from conception to end of life, with a range of physical, mental health and cognitive care needs. You’ll learn about the principles of holistic assessment and management of well and sick people of all ages. You’ll gain an understanding of development through the lifespan by exploring the principles of anatomy and physiology. You’ll also be introduced to pharmacology and medicines administration.

Nursing Practice 1

This module provides the opportunity for you to develop the fundamental skills of nursing practice including personal hygiene, infection control, undertaking observations and basic life support. You’ll complete a practice learning experience where you’ll put the theory you’ve learnt into practice.

Nursing Practice 2

This module provides you with a further opportunity to develop the fundamental skills of nursing practice including personal hygiene, infection control, undertaking observations and basic life support. You’ll complete a practice learning experience, where you’ll put the theory you’ve learnt into practice.

Understanding Knowledge and Evidence for Nursing

This module introduces you to the nature of knowledge and how it supports evidenced-based nursing practice. You’ll learn how to search for and read evidence to identify its value and relevance to nursing practice. You’ll explore how to evaluate published research and will be introduced to the concept of ethics within healthcare research. You’ll also have the opportunity to develop and use a variety of transferable skills including literature searching, critical appraisal of evidence and application of evidence to your own and the nursing practice of others.

Entry requirements

BBB-BBCat A Level . If you are studying A Level Science, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course.

120-112 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications. If you are studying A Level Science, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course.

Merit at T Level

DDM-DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

  • NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma/Level 3 Extended Diploma at grade B.
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits, 15 at Distinction, and 30 at Merit.
  • 120-112 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.

In addition, you must have GCSE English Language or English Literature and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme, or Ofqual regulated Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree.

You must demonstrate that you have a broad understanding of child nursing, as well as relevant work experience (employment or voluntary) highlighting your transferable skills.

  • Offers will be subject to an interview and references. Please note all the information provided in support of your application may be checked and must be verifiable as a true record.
  • You also need satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health clearances prior to registration on the course. We arrange these as part of the application process. You'll be required to sign a self-declaration at the start of each year and at the end of the course. All police contact during the course must be reported to the course leader as a matter of urgency and may lead to suspension or termination. We will request an Overseas Police Check if you have lived in a country outside of the UK for 6 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years before applying to us and whilst aged 18 or over.
  • You may be eligible to gain accreditation for your prior learning towards this course. Please note that the course you are applying for is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) which allows a maximum of 50% of credits for the award to be conferred through accreditation of prior learning.

Placement providers for this course may require you to have received a number of vaccinations, unless medically exempt, and provide evidence of these. As a student on a course with a clinical or healthcare placement, we strongly recommend that you complete any courses of vaccinations required under current guidelines for your future profession. Failure to do so may result in your inability to undertake a placement in certain clinical settings, therefore impacting upon your academic progression, and may result in academic failure of your course.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

If you have alternative qualifications, including the nursing associate foundation degree, you may wish to contact us for advice before applying. Please note places are limited and attainment of the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an interview or offer. You must include details of any previous study. Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Please note places are limited and attainment of the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an interview or offer. You must include details of any previous study.

Daphne Steele Building

The Daphne Steele Building which is due to open in September 2024, will be the new home to our Health Professional degree courses. This will feature state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for our midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy, operating department practice, paramedic science, physiotherapy, podiatry and speech and language therapy courses. 

Watch the video to tour our new Daphne Steele Building, the first development on our National Health Innovation Campus in Huddersfield.

Placements

Nothing can really replicate working in the real-world, which is why practice placements are essential and a compulsory part of the course. The Nursing and Midwifery Council require you to complete the minimum of 2300 hours over the three years in order to obtain registration. Each year you'll complete two blocks of placement.

You'll have the opportunity to complete your practice learning experiences in a range of healthcare environments including NHS Trusts, a children's hospital, charities, hospices, schools and community settings. This may include Leeds Children's Hospital. You'll be supported throughout your practical experiences by a qualified professional who will provide you with any required help and advice. In order to provide you with the broadest professional experience possible, practice experiences are generally offered across West Yorkshire and occasionally beyond, covering 24 hour care including evening, weekend and nights.

Please note that you will be required to travel to and during your placements. Your placement areas could be anywhere within the wider Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield districts of West Yorkshire and include both hospital and community-based placements. You need to think very carefully about how you’ll travel across this region for your placements with awareness that when in placement you’ll often be required to start a shift at 7.00am and may not finish until 8.00pm. Your placements will also incorporate night-shift and weekend working. For more information visit our placements page.

“My placements have given me something to be proud about. I love seeing the journey and progress in families, where I’ve had the opportunity to use my skills and knowledge to help a child to get better, and know that I’ve played an important role in that.”  

Summer Earnshaw, Child Nursing Student

Summer Earnshaw, Currently studying Nursing (Child) BSc(Hons)

Your career

Our graduates have gone on to pursue careers within local and national hospitals.** 

Child nurses also work in the community, neonatal and paediatric intensive care areas, hospices, children’s community nursing teams and in regional children’s specialist centres.

After qualification there is also an extensive range of further professional development opportunities available, which may lead to possible careers as a health visitor or school nurse, as well as nurse specialist roles.


* Percentage of graduates from this course who go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 20/21, UK Domiciled)
** LinkedIn.

 

 

100% Graduates employed*

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Important information

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules:

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes:

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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