BSc (Hons) Nursing (Child)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of York

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Nursing (Child) at the University of York is a three-year program designed for anyone who wants to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people. You’ll gain the skills and confidence to care for patients from newborns to adolescents, while learning how to support their families and work as part of a healthcare team.

Curriculum structure

Year 1
In your first year, you’ll build a solid foundation in health and wellbeing, exploring how the body and mind work and how social and psychological factors affect children’s lives. Modules like Biological and Pharmacological Aspects of Health and Wellbeing and Psychological and Sociological Aspects of Health and Wellbeing introduce the science behind care, while Knowledge Applied to Nursing Practice 1 & 2 and Professional Development in Nursing: Introduction to Nursing Inquiry give you your first hands-on experience of working with children and families.

Year 2
Year two deepens your understanding of illness and health challenges across different stages of childhood. Through modules such as Biological and Pharmacological Aspects of Illness across the Lifespan and Psychological and Sociological Aspects of Ill‑health, you’ll learn how illness can affect children differently. Practical modules like Knowledge Applied to Nursing Practice 3 & 4 and Evidence-Based Nursing for Practice help you apply theory to real-world care, so you can deliver safe and compassionate support tailored to each child.

Year 3
In your final year, you’ll focus on children with more complex or long-term health needs. Modules like Person-centred Consultation and Physical Assessment Skills, Applying Psychological and Sociological Aspects to Complex Care, and Professional Development in Nursing: Leading and Managing Change, along with Knowledge Applied to Nursing Practice 5 & 6, will help you develop confidence, advanced skills, and professional judgement. By the end of the year, you’ll be ready to step into your first role as a qualified children’s nurse.

Focus areas

Biosciences & pharmacology, psychological & sociological aspects of child health, evidence-based practice, child-centred and family-centred care, practical nursing skills across all stages of childhood.

Learning outcomes

You’ll be able to provide safe, compassionate, evidence-based care for children and young people, assess and plan care for complex needs, communicate effectively with children, families, and healthcare teams, work in multidisciplinary teams, and reflect responsibly on your practice.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

Graduates are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which qualifies you to work as a registered children’s nurse in the UK and internationally.

Reputation (employability / rankings)

The program is highly regarded, ranked joint 5th in the UK for Children’s Nursing in the Guardian University Guide 2025.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At York, studying Children’s Nursing is all about learning by doing. From the very first year, you’ll gain hands-on experience that goes beyond lectures — practising real nursing skills in a safe, realistic environment and gradually working with children and families under professional supervision. This approach helps you build confidence, understand what caring for children truly involves, and connect the theory you learn in class with the practical skills you’ll need in your career.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Clinical Simulation Unit (CSU): A state-of-the-art simulation space designed to feel like a real hospital ward, including multi-bed bays, an ICU suite, and even a bedsit. Here, you can practise assessments, procedures, and patient interactions safely while receiving detailed feedback from tutors.
Real-world placements: Each year, you’ll spend time in hospitals, community clinics, and other child-focused health settings. This hands-on experience lets you work with children at different stages, alongside qualified nurses and healthcare teams.
Small-group learning and mentoring: You’ll benefit from close support through small seminars, reflection sessions, and one-to-one mentoring, helping you grow both as a nurse and as a person.
Integrated theory and practice: The course is designed so that what you learn in lectures — from biology to psychology — is directly applied in placements and simulation sessions, giving you a well-rounded, practical understanding of child nursing.

This combination of simulated practice, real placements, and supportive teaching ensures that by the time you graduate, you’ll be confident, competent, and ready to make a difference in the lives of children and their families.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from York’s Children’s Nursing program opens the door to a variety of meaningful careers where you can make a real difference in children’s lives. Many graduates move straight into roles caring for children in hospitals, community health services, or schools, and some progress into specialist or leadership positions over time. Typical roles include staff/registered children’s nurse, community paediatric nurse, school or health‑visitor nurse, and paediatric nurse specialist.

Here’s how York supports your journey into the workforce:

Careers support through York Futures: You’ll get tailored guidance on CVs, interviews, placements, and job searches, along with connections to NHS trusts and other child-focused health employers.
Graduate employment and salary: Around 75% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months, with starting salaries typically around £28,000–£29,000.
Professional accreditation: Graduates are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), giving you the official status to practise as a children’s nurse in the UK.
Diverse career pathways: Work in neonatal units, paediatric wards, community health settings, schools, or specialise in intensive care, chronic conditions, safeguarding, or community-based child health.
Long-term impact: Many graduates say their roles closely match what they learned at York and find their work highly rewarding and meaningful.

Further Academic Progression:
After your BSc, you can continue to postgraduate study in areas such as specialised paediatric nursing, clinical practice, community child health, public health, or nursing education and research. This can lead to advanced-practice roles, leadership positions, or careers influencing child health policy, research, and education.