Nursing (Adult and Child) (MNurs)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Southampton

Program Overview

The MNurs Nursing (Adult and Child) at the University of Southampton is designed for students who want to make a real impact across all stages of life — from caring for adults to supporting children and young people. It blends hands-on clinical experience with strong scientific and professional training, so you graduate fully prepared and dual-qualified.

Curriculum structure

Year 1
Your first year focuses on building a strong foundation in nursing. You’ll explore core subjects like Applied Health Science for Nursing Practice, Foundations of Health Sciences for Nursing Practice, Global and Public Health, and start shaping your identity as a nurse through Introduction to Professional Practice. Early placements help you understand what compassionate, safe care looks like in real settings.

Year 2
In the second year, your learning becomes more applied. You’ll move deeper into adult health — understanding how to plan care, support patients with long-term and acute conditions, and work as part of a healthcare team. Your placements widen, giving you experience in both hospital and community environments so you can start discovering which areas of care inspire you most.

Year 3
This year strengthens your adult nursing skills even further. You’ll learn how to assess complex conditions, make clinical decisions and understand the realities of caring for adults in acute, high-pressure settings. During placements, you begin taking on more responsibility, gaining the confidence and judgement expected of a soon-to-qualify nurse.

Year 4
Your final year shifts focus to child nursing. You’ll learn how to care for children and young people in a range of environments, from specialist hospital wards to community services. This is where everything comes together — your placements prepare you for dual registration, and you finish the course ready to support patients across the entire lifespan.

Focus areas:
“Adult and paediatric nursing, person-centred care, evidence-based practice, health assessment, clinical placements in hospital and community settings, interprofessional teamwork.”

Learning outcomes:
“Graduates will be able to deliver safe, confident and compassionate care to both adults and children, make informed clinical decisions, collaborate effectively with healthcare teams, and meet all professional requirements for NMC registration.”

Professional alignment (accreditation):
Fully accredited — you’ll be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as both an Adult Nurse and a Child Nurse.

Reputation (employability rankings):
Southampton’s nursing programs are highly respected, with the university ranked 3rd in the UK for Nursing in the QS World University Rankings 2025.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

One of the best parts of studying Nursing (Adult and Child) at Southampton is how quickly you get to apply what you learn. From your very first year, you’ll be practising in realistic clinical environments, using advanced simulation equipment, and spending time on real NHS placements. It feels like a gradual, supportive transition into the world of professional nursing — you learn the theory, you practise it safely, and then you take those skills into real hospital and community settings.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s what experiential learning actually looks like on this programme:

Simulated hospital wards and skills suites
You’ll train in purpose-built clinical spaces that look and feel like real hospital wards. They include working hospital beds, call bells, medical gases, emergency alarms, and high-tech adult and child manikins that can mimic breathing, heart rhythms and medical conditions — so you can practise procedures safely before doing them with real patients.
Extensive NHS placements
Throughout the course, you’ll rotate through placements across major NHS trusts in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You’ll experience a mix of hospital departments and community services, caring for both adults and children — giving you a solid understanding of where you might want to specialise after graduation.
Learning alongside other healthcare students
Southampton encourages interprofessional learning, meaning you’ll work alongside students from fields like medicine, physiotherapy and midwifery. It helps you build the teamwork and communication skills that are essential in real healthcare settings.
Teaching from active clinicians and researchers
Many of your lecturers are practising nurses or researchers involved in shaping the future of healthcare. This gives your learning real relevance — you’re taught by people who understand exactly what today’s nursing roles require.
Hands-on skills training from day one
You’ll regularly practise assessment, clinical decision-making, health planning, communication and technical skills in controlled simulation spaces before applying them on placement. It’s a very supportive way to build confidence.

Progression & Future Opportunities

When you finish the MNurs Nursing (Adult and Child) at Southampton, you’ll graduate with two professional titles — Registered Adult Nurse and Registered Children’s Nurse — which immediately opens up a wide range of career paths. The programme is designed to give you the confidence, clinical skills, and real-world experience to step straight into the NHS or community roles. Most graduates move quickly into professional nursing posts, and many return later for specialist training or leadership routes.

Typical roles you’d be ready for include:

Adult Nurse
Children’s (Paediatric) Nurse
Community Health Nurse
Early-career leadership or specialist practitioner roles later on

And here’s what Southampton puts in place to help you get there:

Strong employability support:
Your placements are built into the course and take place across six major NHS trusts in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. These include hospital wards, specialist units, and community teams — often leading directly to job offers after graduation.
Graduate outcomes and salary data:
According to official national data for nursing graduates, Southampton students earn around £29.6k one year after graduation, rising to £31.8k after three years and £32.8k after five years. Most graduates are in professional employment, primarily within the NHS.
Accreditation with long-term value:
Because the programme leads to dual registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), your qualification carries lasting professional recognition — giving you the flexibility to move between adult and child health settings throughout your career.
Strong clinical partnerships:
Southampton works closely with local NHS organisations, which enhances your placement experience and gives you access to a wide network of professionals, mentors, and potential employers.
Reliable graduate pathways:
The mix of simulation-based training, real placements, and academic teaching creates graduates who are highly employable, confident, and well-prepared for frontline nursing roles.