BSc (Hons) Nursing (Child Health)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Brunel University

Program Overview

If you’re passionate about supporting the health and wellbeing of children, infants, and young people, the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Child Health) at Brunel University London is designed to give you the specialist skills and confidence you need. You’ll combine academic learning with hands-on clinical practice, preparing you to provide compassionate, family-centred care and to register as a qualified children’s nurse once you graduate.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 — Foundations of Nursing for Children and Families

Your first year focuses on building a strong foundation in nursing practice and the science behind safe care. You’ll study Developing Skills for Practice to gain hands-on nursing experience, Health and Wellbeing across the Life Continuum to understand health promotion across all ages, and Human Sciences to learn anatomy and physiology from infancy to adolescence. You’ll also begin practical placements through Nursing Practice Module for Year 1 and develop your academic and research skills with Research Methods (1).

Year 2 — Growing Clinical Confidence in Child Health

In your second year, you’ll expand your clinical skills with Enhancing Skills for Child Nursing, focusing on assessing and supporting the unique needs of children and young people. Nursing in Society (Child) explores your role in public and community health, including working closely with families to prevent illness. You’ll continue hands-on learning through Nursing Practice Module for Year 2, strengthen your knowledge of medicines with Pharmacology and Prescribing Ready, and build research skills with Research Methods (2).

Year 3 — Preparing for Professional Nursing Practice

Your final year prepares you to graduate as a confident, competent nurse. Nursing Practice Module for Year 3 lets you care for children and young people with increasingly complex needs. Skills for Registration (Child) equips you with all the professional competencies you’ll need, while Transition to Registered Nurse develops your leadership, teamwork, and decision-making skills. Reviewing the Literature to Inform Practice ensures you can apply evidence to guide everyday care.

Focus Areas:

Child and adolescent nursing practice, family‑centred care, clinical decision‑making, paediatric pharmacology, public and community health, evidence‑informed care.

Learning Outcomes:

Graduate ready to deliver safe, compassionate, age-appropriate nursing for infants, children, and young people; apply professional standards across diverse care settings; work collaboratively with families and healthcare teams; and integrate research evidence into everyday practice.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Completing this programme makes you eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a children’s nurse, which is the required step to practise in the UK and provides recognition for international practice as well.

Reputation & Employability:

Brunel’s nursing programmes are known for excellent student satisfaction and strong preparation for professional practice. Graduates leave confident, competent, and ready to enter one of the most respected professions in healthcare, with strong links to hospitals, community teams, and healthcare organisations.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Brunel, becoming a children’s nurse is all about learning by doing. You’ll spend roughly half your time in real healthcare settings, working alongside experienced nurses in hospitals, community teams, and other paediatric care environments, while the other half is on campus practising your skills in purpose-built facilities. You’ll train in simulation suites, work with life-like patient manikins, and take part in workshops and group sessions with other health students, giving you the confidence and teamwork experience needed before you enter real clinical placements. This hands-on approach ensures you’re ready to care for children and young people safely and compassionately:

Simulation suites: Practice nursing skills in realistic scenarios with multi-sensory patient manikins.
Clinical skills labs: Learn core techniques like measuring vital signs, administering medications, and other essential interventions in a safe environment.
Practice placements: Spend about half your programme in hospitals, community teams, and paediatric care settings to gain real-world experience.
Teamwork and group work: Collaborate with fellow health students through workshops, seminars, and case discussions to build communication and teamwork skills.
Digital learning tools: Use Brunel’s virtual learning platform for interactive activities, videos, and quizzes that support clinical reasoning.
Interprofessional practice: Take part in shared sessions and activities with students from other health disciplines, reflecting the collaborative nature of modern healthcare.

These experiences are designed to make you feel confident, capable, and ready to provide compassionate care for children and families from day one.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from Brunel’s Child Health Nursing programme opens the door to a meaningful career where you can make a real difference in the lives of children and young people. Many graduates move straight into roles that support children’s health in hospitals, community teams, or specialised care settings: typical positions include Children’s Nurse, Community Paediatric Nurse, Clinical Team Leader, and Health Education Specialist.

Here’s how Brunel helps you take that next step:

Careers support: Brunel’s Professional Development Centre offers one-to-one guidance, CV and interview help, and connections to employers, all tailored specifically for nursing and healthcare students.
Strong job prospects: A high percentage of graduates find work or continue their studies within 15 months, showing that your degree quickly translates into real-world opportunities.
Competitive starting salaries: Many graduates earn around £32,000 per year early in their careers, reflecting the demand for skilled paediatric nurses.
Industry connections: Your placements are aligned with NHS standards and take place in hospitals, community health teams, and other child-focused settings, helping you build professional networks as you learn.
Professional accreditation: Completing the course makes you eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), allowing you to practise as a children’s nurse in the UK and providing internationally recognised credentials.
Graduation outcomes: You’ll be fully prepared to work in skilled, degree-relevant roles across paediatric wards, community services, and specialised care units.

Further Academic Progression:
After gaining experience as a qualified nurse, you can continue your studies with postgraduate options like a master’s in advanced clinical practice, paediatric nursing specialisations, public health, or healthcare leadership. These pathways can lead to senior clinical roles, research, teaching, or leadership positions, helping you expand your impact across child health and community care.