BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children) with foundation year

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge Campus

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children) with Foundation Year at Anglia Ruskin University is perfect for students who want to become compassionate, skilled children’s nurses but need a strong foundation before starting degree-level study. Over four years, you’ll develop academic knowledge, practical nursing skills, and clinical confidence through real-world placements, preparing you to care for children and young people in a variety of healthcare settings.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation Year – Getting Started:
Your foundation year gives you the essential knowledge and skills to succeed in the nursing degree. You’ll study subjects like Core Maths, Biology: Physiology, Preparing for a Career in Caring, Psychology, Embracing Diversity, and Health and Wellbeing, building confidence and academic ability before moving into your main nursing studies.

Year 1 – Foundations of Nursing:
In your first degree year, you’ll explore the fundamentals of nursing. Modules such as Foundations of Communication and Professionalism for Nursing and Fundamental Skills and Procedures for Nursing help you develop clinical and communication skills, while Applied Health Science for Nursing Across the Lifespan and Epidemiology, Inequality, and Health Promotion for Nursing give you insight into how health and society affect children and young people.

Year 2 – Developing Clinical Skills:
Year two focuses on deepening your practical knowledge and confidence. Through modules like Supporting a Patient Safety Culture in Nursing and Assessing and Planning Care Across the Lifespan, you’ll learn to provide safe, coordinated care, and Contemporary Nursing Practice 2 and Coordinating and Leading Integrated Care in Interprofessional Settings help you work effectively in healthcare teams.

Year 3 – Specialist Practice and Leadership:
In your final year, you’ll specialise in children’s nursing and leadership. Modules like Clinical Decision Making in the Acutely Unwell Child and Young Person and Applying Public Health to Children and Young People’s Nursing develop your clinical judgement and understanding of child health. Leading and Managing Quality in the Care of Children and Young People and Managing the Care of Children and Young People with Complex Care Needs prepare you to take on responsibility and deliver high-quality, child-centred care.

Focus areas:
Paediatric nursing, communication and professionalism, clinical decision-making, public health, integrated care coordination.

Learning outcomes:
Deliver safe, child-centred care; communicate effectively with children, young people, and families; assess and plan interventions; work in multidisciplinary teams; lead quality care for complex child health needs.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
Validated by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), ensuring eligibility for professional registration as a children’s nurse in the UK.

Reputation (employability rankings):
ARU was named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023 and holds a Gold rating in the UK Teaching Excellence Framework, reflecting high-quality teaching and excellent graduate outcomes.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Anglia Ruskin University, learning to become a children’s nurse is all about doing as much as learning. From the very first year, you’ll get hands-on experience both on campus and in real healthcare settings, helping you build confidence and practical skills while caring for babies, children, and young people. On campus, you’ll practise in purpose-built skills labs that simulate children’s wards, using realistic equipment and life-like mannekins, while smaller group sessions and supportive tutors ensure you get the guidance you need. You’ll also benefit from virtual simulation exercises that let you practise clinical decision-making safely before stepping into placements.

Here’s what your practical learning journey looks like:

Purpose-built nursing skills labs – practise essential clinical skills like patient monitoring, communication, and movement assistance in simulated children’s ward settings.
Realistic equipment and mannekins – use life-like models of babies and children, including simulators with vital sign monitors, to prepare for real clinical scenarios.
Structured clinical placements – join NHS healthcare trusts from early in your degree, caring for real patients under supervision and applying your knowledge in hospital wards, community clinics, and schools.
Simulation and virtual practice learning – engage with digital platforms to practise decision-making, patient care, and problem-solving in realistic scenarios.
Group work and peer learning – collaborate with your cohort in labs and simulations to build teamwork, communication, and shared problem-solving skills.
Guidance from experienced clinicians – learn directly from registered nurses who bring real-world insight and expertise into every session.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from ARU’s Nursing (Children) programme opens the door to a career where you can truly make a difference in the lives of babies, children, and young people. Many of our graduates step straight into rewarding roles in healthcare, confident in their clinical skills and ready to provide safe, compassionate care. Typical career paths include Registered Children’s Nurse, Paediatric Community Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, School Health Nurse, Health Visitor, and Care Coordinator:

Careers and Employability support: From your very first term, ARU’s Careers and Employability team helps you with CVs, interview practice, access to job fairs, and connections with employers — providing support that continues even after graduation.
Excellent employment outcomes: 100 % of our Nursing (Children) graduates find employment within six months, with many starting roles in the very NHS trusts where they completed their placements.
Competitive salary potential: Graduates typically earn around £31,400 in their first year, with opportunities to grow as you gain experience and specialise.
University–industry partnerships: Your degree includes structured placements with NHS healthcare trusts, giving you real-world experience and valuable professional contacts before you graduate.
Accreditation that counts: The programme is fully approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), meaning you’ll be eligible to register as a qualified children’s nurse in the UK — a credential respected nationally and internationally.
Positive graduation outcomes: Many graduates report that their work feels meaningful and fulfilling, reflecting the real-world impact of the skills and knowledge they developed at ARU.

Further Academic Progression:
After your degree, you have lots of options to continue learning and developing your career. You could pursue postgraduate study in areas like Advanced Clinical Practice, Child Health, Public Health, or Nursing Leadership, or complete NMC-approved specialist qualifications to become a Clinical Nurse Specialist or take on leadership roles. Some graduates also go on to research degrees (MSc/PhD) or professional roles in education, policy, or healthcare service development, helping shape the future of children’s health.