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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100%

of our Child Nursing students were in high-skilled or graduate level employment 15 months after finishing their course.

Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024

Why study BSc Child Nursing at CCCU?

Entry requirements

Qualification type

Grades

A Levels

BBC

BTEC

DMM

Access

15 Distinctions and 30 Merits 

International Baccalaureate

29 Points

Combinations

A combination of qualifications totalling 112 UCAS points

GCSE English language and mathematics grades A-C / 4-9 or equivalent. Functional Skills Level 2 accepted.

A typical offer would be BBC at A2 Level, or equivalent.

Find out more information about entry requirements.

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.

International students 

If English is not your first language you require IELTS overall score of 7, with scores of at least 7 in reading, listening and speaking, and at least 6.5 in writing. International students should be aware of their specific entry requirements.

Find out more about IELTS requirements. 

If you have any questions about entry requirements for this course, please contact our Course Enquiry Team.

112
UCAS Points

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

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.

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.

Apply now

Duration:

3 years

UCAS code:

B730

Location(s):

Canterbury, Medway
Apply via UCAS

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