BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children)
Course Overview
The University of Bolton's NMC-approved BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children) degree, offered in partnership with local NHS Foundation Trusts, is designed to prepare you for a successful career caring for children and young people. Also known as a paediatric nurse, a children's nurse is a key member of a multidisciplinary team of professional and medical staff that includes doctors, health visitors, health care support workers, hospital play staff, social workers and psychologists. There is a shortage of qualified nurses in the UK, so career opportunities are excellent.You'll spend 50% of your time in practice learning experience at our partner trusts. The rest of your studies will be based at the University, increasing your theoretical understanding and practical knowledge in a way that complements and enhances your learning in the workplace. We'll support you as you learn to care for children with acute and long-term illnesses, in hospital and at home, and gain expertise in health promotion and disease prevention.
Together with our partner trusts, we'll work to prepare you to become a confident, professional nurse able to deliver and lead the care of children within the ever-changing health and social care environment. On successful completion of the nursing qualification, you'll possess the knowledge and skills you need to perform as an independent, highly competent, compassionate nurse who can be trusted to maintain professional standards and assure the protection of the public.
If you're an ambitious nursing associate or assistant practitioner, you may be able to join this course at Level 2 (HE5) and top-up your existing foundation degree to achieve the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children) in two years or less. This is a popular route for healthcare practitioners that recognises and values prior learning and experience. The top-up option is a well-recognised pathway to career advancement.
Highlights
- The course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and on successful completion, you'll be eligible to register as a qualified nurse.
- After successfully completing and gaining the nursing qualification, you'll be given the opportunity to apply for a Band 5 Nursing post.
- Your practice learning experience will be in a range of clinical environments in our partner NHS Foundation Trusts, and local organisations in the private, voluntary and independent sectors.
- Our expert team deliver teaching across the University’s sites, which includes the modern state-of-the-art facilities in Bolton One. We currently have four clinical skills suites and plan to expand this provision further across the University’s sites. We take a blended learning approach using a range of different teaching and learning methods, including lectures, seminars, problem/enquiry-based learning, e-learning, and peer learning and assessment. Clinical skills and simulated learning are also embedded throughout the programme.
- Our Nursing courses are in the top 20 in the UK and first in Greater Manchester for student satisfaction, according to the Complete University Guide 2023.
Key Features
- We'll work to enable you to learn an extensive range of nursing skills and techniques so that you can care effectively for children in a variety of healthcare environments. Our ambition is for you to become a nurse leader in the future.
- You'll gain first-hand work experience and have the opportunity to develop an invaluable network of professional contacts during your extensive time (50%) gaining practice learning experience.
- The theory elements of the course are delivered by professional expert academic tutors who come from a wide range of clinical and academic backgrounds.
- Qualified healthcare practitioners contribute to each of the modules and are invited as guest speakers so that you have the opportunity to learn from their first-hand examples of current practice.
- We also work to help you appreciate the views of health and social care service users and carers by involving them throughout the course.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Nearby Manchester is one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, and the Northwest of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline, and heritage.
Entry Requirements
- Please note that this course is only available to Home students.
- Your Level 3 subjects must include a health and social care related subject; for instance, A-level Biology or BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care. Science, Psychology and other related subjects may be acceptable – please contact us for details. General Studies and Critical Thinking are not acceptable.
- You must also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English, Mathematics and, preferably, Science. Please contact us for a list of acceptable GCSE equivalents.
- Qualifications gained outside England and Wales will be assessed on an individual basis according to guidance by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
- If you have successfully completed an FdSc Nursing Associate programme approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council or FdA Health and Social Care (Assistant Practitioner) qualification, you may be eligible to apply for exemptions towards the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children). If you apply to join the degree at Level 2 (HE5), you may make a claim for recognition of prior learning (RPL) up to a maximum of 50% of the programme. Please note that you'll be required to produce a portfolio of evidence towards this RPL claim.
- If your application is successfully short-listed, you'll be asked to attend an interview. The interview process will involve face-to-face interviews with academic staff, practice staff and service users. You'll also be assessed on your values, behaviours, communication and problem-solving skills, and undertake a numeracy and literacy assessment. We're seeking students who can demonstrate commitment to a nursing career, have excellent communication skills, and are caring, compassionate and courageous.
- If you're successful at the interview stage, you'll be asked to undergo occupational health screening and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- You'll be required to satisfactorily pass occupational health screening.
- You'll need to demonstrate that you are of good health and good character before enrolment and on an ongoing basis throughout your studies and career.
- We work with a number of partner NHS Foundation Trusts. Should your application be successful and you choose to take up our offer of a place, please note that your practice learning will be subject to rotation to ensure you can gain an appropriate range of experience. Practice learning experience is a compulsory component of the course that enables you to develop the necessary competencies required for registration and practice as a registered nurse. You will not be paid for this time, and travel expenses are not refunded as part of the course.
- This course involves working unsupervised with children and/or vulnerable young people and adults and you must gain an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting your studies. Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online Update Service.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- The University of Bolton recognises prior learning, whether gained through academic credit and qualifications or through your professional and employment experience. Previous learning may be used towards meeting the entry requirements for this programme or for exemption from part of this programme. It is your responsibility to make a claim for recognition of prior learning, and each claim will be considered in accordance with the University’s policy and regulations for the recognition of prior learning.
- Please note that it's not possible to join this course at Level 3 (HE6). Applications to join the course at Level 2 (HE5) will be considered.
- You'll need to ascertain if you're eligible for a student loan via Student Finance England or will need to be able to self-fund.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
Upon successfully completing the nursing degree, you'll possess the knowledge and skills you need to perform as an independent, highly competent, compassionate nurse and work within the field of children's nursing. As a graduate, one of the key abilities you'll possess is knowing how to communicate sensitively with children and their parents or carers. When working with young children, you'll need to use effective communication skills to understand how to interpret their behaviour and reactions to assess them fully, as they may be unable to explain how they're feeling.
Throughout the course, you'll gain key transferable skills, including the ability to work independently, adapt to changing circumstances, work in teams and groups, and listen and respond to individuals and their needs. You'll become adept at planning and time management, rational decision making, critical thinking, and physical assessment, and gain excellent communication skills during your time in both university and practice settings.
Our BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children) programme also offers a well-recognised pathway of career advancement for qualified nursing associates and assistant practitioners. If you already hold an appropriate foundation degree, you may be able to top up your qualification and become a children's nurse in two years or less (the maximum possible exemption is 50% of the programme). This popular option recognises your prior learning and experience and allows you to take on full nursing responsibilities more quickly. It also opens the door to postgraduate study and provides a route to achieve your career ambitions.
What can I do with this qualification?
As you gain experience, you could work towards becoming a matron or nurse consultant. You may wish to move into community children's nursing or undertake further study towards a career in health visiting, teaching or research. A range of postgraduate opportunities may interest you, including the University of Bolton's MSc Physician Associate Studies and MSc Clinical Practice.
Alternative career options
Graduates can use this qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Possible options include:
- Public health and health promotion
- Management
- Schools
- FE and HE teaching
- Clinical research
- Occupational health
- Overseas aid and development
- Universities
- Voluntary organisations
Professional Recognition
The University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children) is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Upon successfully completing the degree, you'll be eligible to apply for professional registration with the NMC.
As a professional body approves this programme, it will be subject to change as the professional body reviews and updates the standards.
Fees & Funding
Healthcare students starting and continuing their course from 1 September 2020 onwards can apply for additional funding support from the NHS Learning Support Fund. Please visit NHS Learning Support Fund web page for details.
Home/EU Fees
| Year of study | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Year | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | 2027/28 | |
| 2024-25 | £9,250 | £9,250 | £9,250 | - | £27,750 |
| 2025-26 | - | ||||
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2024-25 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
International Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Partner Organisation Applicants
Option currently unavailable.
Teaching & Assessment
Modern healthcare professionals require a range of skills and values. Our practice partners and tutors will help you gain experience in a range of clinical scenarios designed to develop your skills in a safe and supportive environment.
Your studies will be split with 50% dedicated to theory and 50% committed to practice learning experience at our partner NHS Foundation Trusts (please note, considerable travelling may be required). As you progress through the course, we'll guide and encourage you to draw on your practice learning experience while studying theory and apply the theory you've learned to your practice to understand how the two complement each other.
The course explores the concepts of health and ill-health in childhood, and the key sciences in nursing, including the biosciences, psychology, and sociology. Topics such as assessment, care planning, law, ethics and the importance of communication with service users and healthcare colleagues are covered. You'll have the opportunity to learn about the importance of research and how its application in healthcare can transform the lives of patients and their carers, how to access and assess the latest research, and how to incorporate your findings into care plans and intervention strategies.
We'll work to help you gain key transferable skills, including the ability to work independently, adapt to changing circumstances, work in teams and groups, and listen and respond to customers and their needs. You'll also be encouraged to develop planning and time management, rational decision making, critical thinking, physical assessment and communication skills during your studies. We aim for you to grow into a compassionate, kind and empathetic practitioner who respects and supports patient privacy, dignity and individuality, and makes safe and effective clinical decisions.
The theory-based modules will be taught using a blended approach that includes lectures, presentations, simulations delivered by tutors, seminar discussions, small group workshops, small group and one-to-one tutorials, and using virtual learning environments (VLE) and e-learning packages. You'll also need to undertake a significant amount of personal study, including general background reading, preparing for seminar activities, working on assignments and revising for examinations.
To help support your learning, the university also offers additional study skills sessions, such as essay writing, library skills and electronic searching, and numeracy.
A range of assessment methods will be used, including essays, reports, presentations, portfolios, set exercises via multiple-choice questions, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE), traditional examinations, and assessment of practice within the practice setting. The assessment of practice and theory are equally weighted in their contribution to the degree award as a whole.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Principles of Nursing Practice
- Managing Health Through All Stages of Life
- Accountability and Professionalism
- Mandatory Training and Preparation for HE4 Placement
- Wider Approaches to Global Health
- Enhancing Clinical Skills: Assessing Planning and Providing Evidenced Based Care and Procedures and Interventions
- Medicines Management
- Coordinating Integrated Healthcare
- Mandatory Training and Preparation for HE5 Placement
- Embedding Person Centred Care/Evidence Based Approaches
- Advanced Clinical Skills and Procedures
- Leadership, Management and Quality in Healthcare
- Mandatory Training and Preparation for HE6 Placement
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 56% Practical exams 23% Written exams 22% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 56% Practical exams 33% Written exams 11% |
| Level 3 | Coursework 50% Practical exams 25% Written exams 25% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 20% Placement/study abroad 50% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 30% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 20% Placement/study abroad 50% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 30% |
| Level 3 | Guided independent study 20% Placement/study abroad 50% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 30% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
