Are you a compassionate individual with an interest in caring for children? Our Children’s Nursing BSc (Hons) course expertly supports you in gaining the knowledge and skills to deliver professional and compassionate Family Centred Care.
The University is commissioned to deliver one of the UK’s largest cohorts of nurses every year, so you’ll benefit from studying at one of the country’s biggest nursing schools and be part of a community of student nurses in a diverse and vibrant city.
Successful completion of the course will make you eligible to apply for professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Our aim is to develop you into a graduate nurse who is able to work flexibly across a range of settings and meet the health needs of the whole person throughout their lifespan. We will work with you on your development to help you become a skilled, knowledgeable, emotionally intelligent nurse, able to lead and co-ordinate compassionate, evidence-based, person- and family-centred care while working as an integral member of interdisciplinary teams.
The university-based elements of the first two years of your course are integrated, with all fields of nursing working together. In your final year, the theory you learn will be specific to child nursing. You will study five modules each year. In year one, you will complete a year-long practice module which will prepare and support you to develop your confidence and competence in practice as you work towards independently leading and co-ordinating care.
In your first year, you will gain theoretical and practice knowledge to develop a range of key skills. This will include: exploring the evidence that underpins person- and family-centred care; professional values; self-leadership; and the role of the registered nurse. Second year modules will further enhance your first-year learning and explore evidence-based complex care incorporating a wide range of research, skills, team leadership and principles of co-ordinating care. During your third year you will continue build on your previous learning and develop proficiency in child nursing. The modules you study will develop you as a leader who uses research-informed critical thinking to co-ordinate care, supervise other health professionals and gain confidence in the safe management of medication. You will also have access to personal tuition throughout the course which will enrich your learning experiences and will enable to reflect meaningfully on your practice and the development of your individual field identity.
Your practice placements will be specific to your field, child nursing, throughout the three years. To help you become a more rounded nurse, you will also have opportunities to learn across the four fields of nursing. Your placement learning experiences may be within community, hospital or home environment settings and at a location anywhere within the West Midlands and potentially into neighbouring counties. While on placement you will be supported, supervised and assessed by practice and academic staff to develop your knowledge and skills.
We are committed to providing excellent, innovative, learning, teaching and assessment experiences through the use of technology, which we use to enhance your learning, through lectures, seminars, skills simulation and virtual learning. Engaging with practice partners and service users is also integral to our approach.
Our BSc (Hons) Nursing course has been designed to comply with the new Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards (2018) meaning that successful completion of this course makes you eligible to apply and be entered onto the NMC register in one of the four fields of nursing: Adult, Child, Learning Disabilities or Mental Health.
“I knew I would enjoy working with children, but when I started placement I was surprised how satisfying it was, even after a 13 hour shift. Honestly placement for me is the best part of my course, because you get to put into practice what you have learnt.”
Sarah Gyamfi
Meet or beat our entry requirements and you could be eligible for an achievement scholarship worth £1,000.
*Terms and Conditions apply - some undergraduate courses are not eligible for this scheme. The £1,000 scholarship is made up of an £850 scholarship and £150 free credit to spend in an online shop.
We now recruit to the values of the NHS constitution. This influences our selection criteria and especially the values we are seeking to be demonstrated in both your application and interview, which we view as essential in any individual involved in patient care.
The entry requirements here show our standard UCAS tariff points. However we review applications on a case by case basis and so some flexibility may be possible.
Level 2 qualifications which must be achieved PRIOR to application for all applicants except Access Students (Please see Access entry requirements below): |
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A minimum of three GCSEs at Grade 4 or above (formerly Grade C), must include English Language, Mathematics, Health and Social Care, Biology, Chemistry, physics or Science double/triple award or equivalent. Acceptable Science GCSE Equivalents:
or |
Irish Leaving Certificate A minimum of five Ordinary Levels at Grade B3 or above, must include English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. or |
Scottish qualifications A minimum of five Intermediate Standard 2 or above, must include English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. |
Plus one of the following Level 3 qualifications which you may be working towards: (Except Access students - please see entry requirements below) |
GCE A/A2 Level 120 UCAS points from a maximum of three A/A2 Level passes, which must include one of Health and Social Care, Human Biology, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Applied Science, Psychology or Social Science at Grade B. A typical offer would be BBB. General Studies, Critical Thinking and Extended Project are not accepted. |
GCE AS/A2 Level 120 UCAS points from a maximum of two AS/A1 Level passes, plus a maximum of two A/A2 Level passes at Grade C or above, which must include one of Health and Social Care, Human Biology, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Psychology or Social Science. General Studies, Critical Thinking and Extended Project are not accepted. |
GCE/AVCE Double Award in Health and Social Care 120 UCAS points from A*, A* profile or combined with UCAS points from a maximum of one GCE A/A2 level. General Studies, Critical Thinking and Extended Project are not accepted. |
BTEC National Certificate (NQF) in Health and Social Care, Society, Health and Development, Science or equivalents Acceptable only when combined with other Level 3 qualifications. |
BTEC National Diploma (NQF) in Health and Social Care, Society, Health and Development, Science or equivalents 120 UCAS tariff points from DDM profile. |
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) in Health and Social Care Society, Health and Development, Science or equivalents 120 UCAS tariff points from DDM profile. |
BTEC Diploma (QCF) in Health and Social Care Society, Health and Development, Science or equivalents 120 UCAS points from D*D* profile. Plus one AS/A2. |
BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF) in Health and Social Care Society, Health and Development, Science or equivalents Acceptable only when combined with TWO other Level 3 qualifications. |
City and Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma (1080) in Health and Social Care at Distinction. |
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Minimum Grade 30 points required. Acceptable on its own or combined with other level 3 qualifications. |
Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced diploma Core plus combined other Level 3 qualifications CACHE Diploma in Child Care and Education Minimum Grade B required (120 UCAS tariff points). |
CACHE Diploma in Child Care and Education Minimum Grade B required (120 UCAS tariff points). |
CACHE Diploma in Health and Social Care |
CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care |
The Open University K101 – An Introduction to Health and Social Care or equivalents Completion of full year (transcripts will be required). K101 is acceptable with another level 3 qualification. |
Irish Leaving Certificate 120 UCAS tariff points from a maximum of 5 Highers at Grade B2/H3 or above |
Scottish Qualifications – Advanced Highers Achieve a minimum of 120 tariff points achieved in either three Advanced Highers or from a combination of two Advanced Highers plus two Highers. |
NVQ Level 4 in Health and Social Care Full award required, plus GCSE English Language and Mathematics at Grade C or above. |
14-19 DIPLOMAs in Society Health and Development To be achieved in Advanced Diploma or Progression Diploma 120 UCAS tariff points from an A Grade. |
OCR National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care or Science 120 UCAS tariff points from an M1 Grade. |
Access to HE Diploma in a Health and Social Care Subject If an applicant is studying an Access qualification or has already achieved an acceptable Level 3+ qualification, but is missing an acceptable Level 2 qualification, then they will be asked to complete Functional Skills Level 2 Maths and/or English Language (as applicable) by the 31st July alongside the GCSE they are studying. |
Foundation Degree Foundation degrees will be reviewed on an individual basis and will require a transcript of the content of the course. |
Other qualifications:
Qualifications that are not listed will be considered on an individual basis.
Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website.
International candidates:
Those who meet residency/academic requirements of UK students but whose language is not English will need to hold IELTS with an overall score of at least 7.0.
I really want to become a nurse but do not meet your entry requirements. What advice can you give me?
You could apply for a foundation course or a course at our International College. These routes have lower entry requirements and act as the bridge to a full degree. To find out more, please select your status:
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2020
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Jan 2021
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2020
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Jan 2021
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
UK and EU students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying for a course and preparing for an interview can be a daunting process, so we have created a series of films to help you through the process, including what to put in your personal statement.
How will I know what has happened with my UCAS application when I have submitted it?
You'll be notified via UCAS if your application is unsuccessful. If your application is successful you'll be invited to attend an interview from our Health Admissions department.
What will the interview consist of?
You'll have a face-to-face interview with academic and clinical staff.
How will I know the outcome of my interview?
You'll be notified via UCAS track.
If I'm not offered a place, can I have some feedback?
Yes, you can request feedback from NMSW.Admissions@bcu.ac.uk
We offer a wide range of professionally accredited and vocational courses that require the purchase of, among other things, uniforms, equipment, subscriptions, professional body memberships and DBS checks, and may require you to pay to attend conferences or participate in placements.
The link below provides our estimate of the possible costs associated with key activities on specific courses. Please bear in mind that these are only estimates of costs based on past student experience and feedback. The actual costs to you could vary considerably (either greater or lower than these estimates) depending on your choices as you progress through the course. We set out where we can, based on experience, where these indicative costs are for activities that are optional or compulsory.
All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
Find additional costs for your course
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
From 1 November 2017 you may be able to apply for elements of the learning support fund if:
If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.
We offer further information on possible undergraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
Student loan finance - have you already studied an undergraduate degree but would like to do a second one in Child Nursing? You may be eligible for funding.
In order to fully complete this course and be eligible for application for entry onto the NMC register, a student must successfully achieve all 360 credits. |
What is Nursing?
20 credits
|
Assessing Needs and Planning Care
20 credits
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Providing and Evaluating Care
20 credits
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Introduction to Leadership and Teamwork
20 credits
|
Professional Practice 1
40 credits
|
Complex Care 1: Assessing and Planning
20 credits
|
Complex Care 2: Providing and Evaluating Care
20 credits
|
Improving Quality and Safety in a Global Context
20 credits
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Leadership and Co-ordinating Care
20 credits
|
Professional Practice 2
40 credits
|
Nursing Care: Children and Young People
20 credits
|
Medicines Management and Applied Physiology in Children and Young Peoples’ Nursing
20 credits
|
Leadership and Decision Making in Children and Young Peoples’ Nursing
20 credits
|
Delivering High Quality, Safe Nursing Care for Children, Young People and their Families
20 credits
|
Professional Practice 3
40 credits
|
The course is delivered using a modular approach and divides the course into manageable elements of study and practice learning opportunities.
The first year prepares you for further study and facilitates the understanding of the principles which underpin nursing. This is supported by numerous placement learning experiences.
In year two there is an increasing field-specific focus. Core modules help to contextualise nursing whilst Field Specific modules prepare you for placement experiences.
In year three all the modules are Field Specific but there are opportunities for shared learning with the other fields of nursing and you will complete placement experiences.
You'll experience a mixture of teaching, self-directed study and practice-based clinical placements, spending half of your time each year on placement.
Upon successful completion you will graduate with a BSc (Hons) Nursing degree worth 360 credits and be eligible to apply for Registered Nurse status with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) works with partner organisations to set and maintain high standards of nursing and midwifery education across the UK.
This course has been approved and monitored by the NMC to make sure that the education and training on offer meets their standards.
To work as a nurse or midwife, you must pass an NMC approved course at a higher education institution (HEI) in pre-registration nursing and midwifery, leading to registration with the NMC.
You'll have the opportunity to take part in overseas trips and visits. For example, nursing students travelled to Pittsburgh University as part of an exchange programme, opening up opportunities to share academic, clinical and cultural experiences.
Nursing provides the opportunity for lifelong learning and the BSc (Hons) Nursing award forms the basis for progression onto further study.
Many opportunities exist for post-registration and postgraduate study. As a graduate, you may progress to a masters degree, eg Masters in Advanced Nursing Practice, PhD.
A comprehensive portfolio of post-registration courses called Continuing Professional Development is available. These courses allow for academic and/or clinical development.
Many of the courses are taught as part-time flexible modules to fit around your work and domestic commitments.
Check out what our student's get up to on their Theory Into Practice sessions at Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Filled with state-of-the-art equipment, our SPACE (Skills Practice and Care Enhancement) area is the perfect place for you to practise a wide range of skills at your own pace.
Watch our video to see how access to SPACE has helped our students to succeed.
Once qualified and registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council you can practice in the UK and many countries overseas. As a qualified nurse you could find yourself working within the NHS, the private sector, in the community, at GP surgeries, at schools, plus many more - the options are endless.
Placements take place across a range of settings. You may experience care in acute, critical care, long-term care and community settings which are related to your Field. During your second year there will also be the opportunity to undertake a placement learning experience elsewhere in the UK or abroad* (*subject to selection criteria).
A placement is your chance to be a part of the working world of health and social care as it really is: your first taste of your career. For most of our courses, it's a compulsory part of your training; it's that important.
Placements help you with your confidence, by putting theory from the classroom into practice. We make sure you get a quality experience and that you are fully supported by a workplace mentor on hand throughout your placement.
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Through our courses we give you the skills and experience needed to get a head start when applying for jobs. But we offer something extra too – Graduate+.
Our unique programme gives you the chance to develop valuable skills outside of the more formal classroom learning. We award points for Graduate+ activities (including firewalking!) and these can be put towards a final Graduate+ award.
98%...of students are in graduate level employment or full time study six months after graduating2016/17 DLHE Response
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
The UK remains one of the world's leading study destinations for international students.
The first-class experience offered by universities are reflected in the world’s largest survey of international students. International students are more likely to recommend the UK than any other leading English-language study destination.
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £260 million on new learning facilities.
We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that medical staff may come across.
These resources are essential in offering students a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice. Much of our teaching is carried out within our state-of-the-art, £30m Seacole Building, which houses cutting-edge learning facilities.
Take a virtual tour of our skills suites at Seacole
In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that students learn using the most up-to-date equipment available. These include a mock operating theatre and a cutting-edge radiography virtual clinical training facility, virtual ward and virtual case creator.
Our mock wards enable you to get a feel of what a ward is really like before you head out for your first placement. They contain ‘Sim Men’, which are demonstration dummies that develop ailments, allowing you to treat them as you would a real patient and build your confidence in reacting to the changing needs of patients.
The Hospital Ward can be adapted from a low care to high dependency care environment with the necessary monitoring equipment.
Part of the package is our SIM baby, SIM man and Mega code kid. There are also nursing manikins for fundamental skills teaching and various equipment to support essential skills teaching, such as blood pressure monitoring venepuncture and cannulation equipment.
We have recently installed new laboratory facilities to help you explore understand the scientific principles underpinning many of our courses. The physiology laboratory is equipped to help you learn about the way the human body works by performing investigative experiments. The biomedical science laboratory is undergoing an upgrade over the summer and will allow you to learn about anatomy, cellular processes, immunology and enzymology in a hands-on way that links directly to day-to-day health care.
We have several Simulation men (SIM men) and Simulation babies (SIM babies) which are leading edge, anatomically correct mannequins used for teaching specific techniques such as advanced adult and paediatric life support skills, acute and high dependency clinical skills, first aid and communication skills.
The SIM men and SIM baby mannequins are complete with software, which is used to replicate real symptoms, and are enhanced by the manipulation of for example blood pressure, pulse and heart rate for extra realism. SIM Man can also “talk” to the students which adds another dimension to their use in teaching clinical skills and in simulation exercises.
The SPACE (Skills Practice And Care Enhancement) learning facility lets you further practice the skills taught in class, at your own pace and convenience.
It is fully stocked with the specialist items and equipment needed for procedures such as taking blood pressure, giving an injection, abdominal examination of a pregnant woman and caring for ill babies in an incubator.
The Seacole library, based at City South Campus, is one of the UK's largest specialist health education libraries. The state-of-the art facility offers an extensive range of range of information and reference materials set out in a relaxing environment, conducive to studying. There are comfortable seating areas, group study areas, a silent study area and private study rooms.
You will have access to all of the University’s libraries, including the main Kenrick Library on the City North Campus, which is open for almost 90 hours a week and holds more than 320,000 books, 2,000 print journals and carries more than 4,000 electronic journals online.
The Seacole building houses a large open access IT Suite which comprises 96 PCs, full colour printers, photocopiers and scanners. Our PCs use the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:
Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.
The IT Suite offers extended opening hours and is supported by a specialist Open Access Assistant during term time. In addition to the open access PCs within the IT Suite, there are 12 networked student PCs available within Seacole library.
As Associate Head of School, Lisa is a proud advocate of Nursing and Midwifery at BCU. Throughout her 15 years working here, Lisa has enjoyed a variety of roles including Head of Department for Children’s and Young People’s Health, Deputy Programme Leader for Children’s Nursing, Senior Lecturer and Lecturer Practitioner. Lisa works collaboratively to both create and achieve a clear vision for the School, at strategic and operational level, striving for excellence. Lisa is known for an optimistic and fair approach to leadership, aiming to inspire trust within good working relationships.
Sue Ward-Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Neonatal Nursing.
Her career in neonatal care began in the 1980s, shortly after Sue qualified as an adult nurse. Accepting a placement on a neonatal unit, Sue began to specialise in the subject and completed a City & Guilds teaching course at the turn of the 1990s. She was then offered the opportunity to run the neonatal award at Birmingham City University, which led to a permanent offer of employment. Sue has also gained experience as a child field admissions tutor, expanding her experiences and broadening her skills.
The Dimensions in Health Care Neonatal Award has recruited staff from neonatal units across a wide geographical area, and continues to receive positive feedback from managers and students alike.