BSc Hons Nursing - Dual Registration in Children and Young People and Mental Health

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Robert Gordon University

Program Overview

This four-year nursing degree gives you a unique advantage: you’ll graduate ready to register in both Children & Young People’s nursing and Mental Health nursing, opening up a wide variety of career options. If you’re compassionate, adaptable, and passionate about supporting young people and mental wellbeing, this programme equips you with the knowledge, practical skills, and hands-on experience you need across both fields.

Curriculum structure:
Year 1
Your first year is all about the foundations. You’ll study modules like Fundamentals of Nursing Practice and Health & Wellbeing across the Lifespan, while your first Practice Learning placements introduce you to real-world clinical environments. This gives you early experience of delivering safe, person-centered care.

Year 2
In year two, you’ll begin applying theory to practice with modules such as Developing Nursing Practice and Sciences 2. Longer placements allow you to care for patients with a range of physical, mental, and behavioral needs, helping you connect classroom learning with real-world situations.

Year 3
Year three focuses more on Children & Young People’s Nursing. You’ll practice more independently, take on leadership tasks, and study modules on healthcare research and advanced clinical practice for young patients, shaping your professional identity.

Year 4
In your final year, the focus shifts to Mental Health Nursing. You’ll consolidate everything you’ve learned, take on more responsibility in placements, and refine your leadership and research skills, preparing you to work confidently in both fields after graduation.

Focus areas:
Person-centred care in children & young people and mental health; leadership, research, and autonomous nursing practice; cross-field nursing in acute, community, and specialist settings.

Learning outcomes:
Graduates will deliver safe, compassionate, evidence-informed nursing care across children & young people and mental health fields; lead and collaborate in multidisciplinary teams; think critically and adapt practice across diverse care settings.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
Approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), meaning you can register and work as a nurse in both fields.

Reputation (employability rankings):
RGU is ranked 2nd in Scotland for graduate prospects in nursing, giving you a strong start for a rewarding career.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At RGU, your learning goes far beyond lectures—you’ll gain real, hands-on experience from the very start. You’ll practise nursing in safe, realistic simulated environments and then apply your skills in actual clinical settings, building confidence and competence in both children & young people’s care and mental health nursing. Digital tools, online learning platforms, and reflective exercises support you throughout, so you’re always connecting theory with practice. Here’s how your practical learning comes to life:

Clinical Skills Centre – Practise procedures and patient care in purpose-built labs and simulation rooms before stepping into real-life placements.
Simulated Ward Area – Experience a realistic hospital environment, including care equipment, patient flow, and teamwork, helping you feel prepared for live settings.
Extensive Practice Learning Placements – Spend roughly half of your course in placements across hospitals, community clinics, home care, and rural settings, giving you a broad and varied experience.
Digital Learning & Reflection Tools – Use online modules and interactive platforms to review your placements, collaborate with peers, and strengthen your theoretical knowledge.
Diverse Inter-professional Experience – Work alongside doctors, therapists, social workers, and other health professionals in children & young people and mental health settings, giving you real-world teamwork skills.

These experiences ensure that by the time you graduate, you’re not just knowledgeable—you’re confident, skilled, and ready to step into professional nursing roles in both your fields.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from this dual-registration programme gives you the flexibility to build a meaningful and rewarding nursing career. You could work as a Children & Young People’s Nurse, a Mental Health Nurse, a Specialist Nurse supporting adolescents, or take on leadership roles like a Clinical Team Lead. RGU provides strong support to help you step confidently into the workforce:

Career support services – One-to-one guidance, CV and application help, interview coaching, careers fairs, and the online eHub ensure you’re fully prepared for your first job.
Employment stats and salary – Around 96 % of RGU nursing graduates move into work or further study within 15 months, with typical starting salaries around £33,200 and rising to £35,800 within a few years.
University‑industry partnerships – Placements and training are closely linked to hospitals, community services, and rural healthcare providers, giving you real-world experience that employers value.
Long-term accreditation – Dual registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) means you’re qualified to work in both children & young people and mental health nursing, greatly enhancing employability.
Graduation outcomes – You’ll be ready to work in hospitals, schools, community health teams, mental health services, home-care settings, or rural outreach, giving you a wide range of career options.

Further Academic Progression:
After qualifying, you could pursue postgraduate study to specialise further, such as a Master’s in Advanced Nursing Practice, Paediatric Mental Health, or Nursing Education and Leadership. Postgraduate certificates in areas like community children’s nursing or adolescent mental health services can also help you advance into roles that influence care systems and training.