100%
of our Child Nursing students were in high-skilled or graduate level employment 15 months after finishing their course.
Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024
Overview
Start your career as a children's nurse with a Child Nursing degree from Canterbury Christ Church University. On this course, you'll care for children and their families, placing their wellbeing at the centre of everything you do. You'll develop a strong understanding of a wide range of health issues that children and young people may face and how to deal with them effectively, to intervene quickly and early enough, to reduce the chances of future health problems.
As you study child nursing, you'll explore the role of the nurse in contemporary healthcare and the fundamentals of compassionate person-centred nursing practice. Throughout the first year you'll study alongside nursing students from the other fields of nursing, taking part in simulated practice learning and undertaking clinical practice placements. Years two and three will focus on your chosen field and will ensure you become a professional and competent newly qualified nurse.
From day one, you'll be immersed in nursing practice and supported by academics and professionals with vast experience. You'll learn in state-of-the-art simulation facilities, using the latest virtual reality technology to practise child nursing in a safe and supportive environment.
We're passionate about contemporary, evidence-based nursing education and have developed this course with service providers and service users to ensure you gain the skills and knowledge relevant to modern nursing practice. On successful completion of all components, you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
We know employers are looking for dynamic, open-minded graduates who can adapt, innovate, and collaborate. So we have designed a new way of teaching and learning to ensure that you are work-ready for when you graduate.
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Watch on YouTubeEntry requirements
112
UCAS Tariff Points
Accepted qualifications
We accept a wide range of general qualifications that attract UCAS Tariff points either on their own or in combination with others. Below are some common examples.
| Qualification | Grades |
|---|---|
| A Levels | BBC |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access | 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits |
| International Baccalaureate | 29 Points |
The grades in this table provide an indication of what is required to study this course. If you have qualifications that are not present in the table or want to tell us more about you specific situation then please contact our friendly Course Enquiry Team.
GCSE-level qualifications
- GCSE English language and mathematics grades A-C / 4-9 or equivalent or
- Functional Skills Level 2 accepted
A typical offer would be BBC at A2 Level or equivalent.
Your health interview and DBS
Offers of a place can only be made after a successful interview and are subject to a satisfactory reference, health clearance and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Health clearance will include vaccinations for NHS placements, and evidence of vaccination status may be required by placement providers or the university.
Find out more information about your health interview on our website.
More information
Contact us
Module information
We know employers are looking for dynamic, open-minded graduates who can adapt, innovate, and collaborate. So we have designed a new way of teaching and learning to ensure that you are work-ready for when you graduate. Alongside the modules below you will choose from our new curriculum that will help you achieve student success.
Core/optional modules
*Modules subject to approval
How you’ll learn
Nursing is a full-time course and, although you will not be in the classroom every day, you'll have plenty of learning to occupy the whole week. You will normally be in university three or four days per week.
Over the three years of the course, you will be undertaking 2,300 hours of theoretical learning (including directed and self-directed study) and 2,300 hours of practice (which includes 600 hours of simulated practice learning).
We use a variety of learning and teaching techniques to support you including, simulated practice learning, lectures, seminars, group work, problem-based learning, and discussion.
Whilst in practice you will be working 37.5 hours per week and will experience the full range of shifts, including earlies, lates, nights, and weekends. You will be supported by three key people whilst you are in practice; your practice supervisor, practice assessor and your academic assessor.
Throughout your placement experiences, you'll be supervised directly or indirectly by a practice and academic assessor who assess your competency to practice. The degree of supervision will depend on your stage of learning and will allow you time to advance your skills at your own pace, whilst maintaining the safety of children and families.
Placements are varied to ensure you achieve the Nursing and Midwifery Council requirements for registration. During placements you are required to work the shift patterns (weekends, bank holidays and night duty) of your practice area. This ensures that you experience the full range of activity in your individual placement. Whilst on placement, you must conform to the rules of appearance and conduct as set out by your placement provider/organisation.
In your third year, you'll have an elective placement giving you the opportunity to arrange your own experience to enhance your practice learning. You may, for example, choose to go to a children’s hospital in London or elsewhere in the country, or a specialist service, such as paramedics. You could also choose to arrange an overseas experience.
You'll be allocated a personal academic tutor (PAT) who is there to support you over the three years of the course, and ensure that you have the opportunity to reach your full potential during your time as a student nurse. There are also other support services within the University that you can access to help you develop your academic and critical thinking skills.
You'll be expected to undertake independent learning to support your academic modules and practice experience. This may be undertaken individually or within small groups, and will include problem solving activities.
Each 30-credit module will include 66 hours of directed learning and 244 hours of self-directed study.
Academic staff will provide guidance for your independent learning through the virtual learning environment.
Our newly revalidated course brings together all fields of nursing, enabling you to learn from and with each other. We have a supportive and student focused course to help you develop your knowledge and skills. If you make the decision to join us for your nursing course, you will find a friendly and welcoming community ready to support you on this exciting journey.Dr Paula KuzbitAssociate Head of School: Undergraduate Studies
How you’ll be assessed
We use a variety of assessment methods including course work, exams, presentations, and practice assessment.
Practice is assessed each year using the ePAD online system, which is a validated assessment tool currently used by several universities across the country.
Your future career
On successful completion of the course, you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and become a registered nurse within the field of child nursing.
The course offers a good foundation to enter a career in children’s nursing in a variety of settings. Our students find jobs locally and nationally on children’s wards, children’s hospitals, Neonatal Intensive Care Units, short breaks and hospice services, community services, and research. Further study could lead to opportunities in management and leadership roles.
Additionally, there are opportunities within the Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Social Care to progress onto postgraduate study, including Continuing Professional Development courses, and MSc or PhD studies.
I have learnt so much during my time here, developed as a person, had so much fun, and made so many wonderful memories at CCCU.Katie
Related courses
Fees
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
| UK | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,535 | £15,500 |
Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated. The fees represented here are for study with Canterbury Christ Church University. If you are looking to study at a partner institution, please visit their website for fees information.
Please read the 2025/26 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding tuition fees and year on year fee increases.
Home (UK) Fees
The Government has announced that it will increase the tuition fee cap by 3.1%, in line with inflation, for the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to parliamentary approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 our undergraduate home tuition fees are expected to be £9,535.
Overseas/International Fees
Undergraduate / PGCE tuition fees for international students are not set by the UK Government.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Extra funding for health students
NHS Learning Support Fund
Students on a nursing, midwifery, and many allied health courses will be eligible to apply for an NHS Learning Support Fund of at least £5,000 a year to help with living costs. Eligible students may also be awarded additional funding up to £3,000 a year. This money will not need to be repaid.
In addition to this, health students can apply and may be eligible for other University awards. Please visit our scholarships, bursaries and financial support page to find out what's available.
CCCU Advantage Package
For courses that qualify, the CCCU Advantage Package currently includes:
- Uniforms
- Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check
- Occupational Health costs, including immunisation
Uniform (appropriate to the course) and a placement badge are provided free of charge at the start of the course. If you wish to replace any item of uniform or secure additional items of uniform during the course (e.g. because it has been damaged or no longer fits) then you must order and pay for this directly with the supplier. There are certain exceptions to this, for example if you become pregnant and require a maternity uniform. You will need to purchase suitable footwear for practice. NHS Trusts require shoes (not trainers) that meet health and safety requirements. Advice will be given by the lecturers on what to purchase after you have enrolled on your course. Please see our uniform page for more details.
Please note: We reserve the right to withdraw this package in the event of a student not successfully completing the enrolment process.
Industry links
Our course is designed in partnership with our local health and social care providers, and service users to ensure it meets the contemporary health care needs of our local community and beyond.
You'll experience a wide range of practice placements on this course and will work within a children’s ward, children’s assessment unit or children’s A&E department. During your community-based placements you'll experience the wide range of services available to children and their families.
You'll also have the opportunity to work interprofessionally with departments that also care for children and families, such as theatres, outpatients and special care baby units.
Professional accreditation
On completion of the course, you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Child Nurse. Our newly approved course meets the NMC 2023 standards.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The Office for Students (OfS) regulates Canterbury Christ Church University. The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Further details about its work are available on the OfS website.
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Duration:
3 yearsUCAS code:
B730Location(s):
Canterbury, MedwayAny questions?
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*We are advertising this course as ‘subject to approval.’ When we add new courses or update existing courses, we advertise the course as ‘subject to approval’. We do this to let you know the University still needs to agree to run the course. It is rare for a course not to gain approval, but it is not guaranteed. There may be changes to course and module titles, content and assessment, but we will tell you about these if there is a change. You can still apply to study a course subject to approval. We have prepared some questions and answers to tell you more.