BSc Nursing Children and Young People

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Robert Gordon University

Program Overview

This three-year degree is designed to prepare you to become a registered nurse specialising in caring for children, young people, and their families. It’s perfect for anyone who’s compassionate, enjoys working with young people, and wants a career that blends hands-on care with meaningful relationships and professional growth.

Curriculum structure:

Year 1: You’ll start with modules like Sciences for Holistic Nursing Practice, Essential Concepts in Children and Young People Nursing, and Essential Skills for Initial Nursing Practice. Here, you’ll build your foundation in anatomy, health across the lifespan, and core nursing skills while learning how to provide family-centred, compassionate care in diverse environments.

Year 2: In your second year, the focus shifts to connecting theory with practice. Modules such as Nursing Care – Decision Making and Sciences 2 explore more complex health needs, including physical, cognitive, and behavioural challenges in children and young people. You’ll start taking a more active role in clinical placements, applying your knowledge in real-world settings.

Year 3: The final year is all about bringing it all together. Modules like Leading in Children and Young People’s Nursing focus on leadership, management, and research skills. You’ll refine your specialist nursing skills and prepare to step confidently into independent practice as a registered nurse.

Focus areas: Holistic nursing for children and young people under 16, working in partnership with families across hospitals, schools, community services, and home care.

Learning outcomes: Develop the skills, knowledge, and professional behaviours to provide safe, compassionate, evidence-based care, work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, and progress to autonomous nursing practice.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), so you graduate ready to register as a qualified nurse.

Reputation (employability rankings): Ranked 2nd in Scotland for graduate prospects in Nursing according to The Times & The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At RGU, you’ll spend a large part of your degree putting what you learn in the classroom into real-world practice. From the very first year, you’ll be on placement in hospitals, community services, and social care settings, working directly with children, young people, and their families under the guidance of experienced nurses. On campus, the Clinical Skills Centre and simulation suites allow you to practise in a safe environment using real-life scenarios, including volunteer patients and digital recordings for feedback. This combination of hands-on practice, classroom learning, and simulated experiences ensures you graduate confident, competent, and ready to make a difference.

Here’s what you can expect in terms of hands-on experience and facilities:

Practice placements: Starting in Year 1, you’ll work full-time hours in a variety of healthcare settings across Grampian, Highland, Orkney, and Shetland, gaining real-life experience with children and young people.
Clinical Skills Centre: Practise with volunteer patients, record your performance for feedback, and work through scenarios that mimic wards, homes, and community settings.
Blended learning: A mix of lectures, tutorials, practical workshops, and online tools via Moodle helps you combine theory with practice.
Teamwork experience: Collaborate with doctors, pharmacists, social workers, educators, and other professionals, giving you insight into the real-world multidisciplinary environment.
Opportunities for global perspective: Later-year exchanges, such as the Grampian Houston Exchange, allow you to observe how care is delivered in different contexts.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from this programme means you’ll be ready to take on a rewarding role caring for children, young people, and their families in hospitals, community services, schools, or specialist settings. Many graduates move into roles such as Children & Young People’s Nurse, Specialist Paediatric Nurse, School Nurse, or Community Children’s Health Practitioner. Here’s how RGU supports you as you start your career:

Careers support: The university’s Careers service provides tailored workshops, one‑to‑one guidance, CV and interview support, and helps you connect with employers in children and young people’s nursing.
Graduate outcomes: The programme is ranked 2nd in Scotland for graduate prospects in Nursing (GUG 2026), giving you confidence in your employability.
Industry partnerships: Close links with local health boards and children’s services offer valuable placement opportunities and help you build professional networks before you graduate.
Professional recognition: Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), so you’re eligible to register as a qualified nurse once you finish your degree.
Career versatility: Graduates can work in acute wards, neonatal units, community teams, school nursing, or specialist children and young people services, and can later move into leadership or research‑informed roles.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue learning, you could progress to postgraduate study such as an MSc in Advanced Practice or Community Children’s Nursing, or specialise further with certifications in areas like neonatal care or family nursing, preparing you for leadership and advanced clinical practice roles.