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Nursing (Child)

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site - Highfield Campus

Course summary

Summary:

Make a difference from the very start of life. On this Children’s Nursing degree, you will develop the skills and knowledge to care for infants, children and young people, supporting them through illness, recovery and long-term health needs.

Children’s nursing is unique. You will learn how health needs change as children grow, and how to communicate effectively with both young patients and their families. Combining science with compassion, you will be prepared to deliver care that is both clinically effective and deeply personal.

At Southampton, ranked 3rd in the UK and 13th in the world for Nursing (QS World University Rankings, 2026), your learning is shaped by research and real clinical experience, preparing you for a career that makes a lasting impact.

Key features of the course:

Develop specialist knowledge in paediatric care, understanding how children’s health needs differ from those of adults.

Build advanced communication skills to support children, young people and their families in a range of healthcare settings.

Learn from experienced registered nurses and academics who bring real clinical insight into your teaching.

Gain hands-on experience through placements across a wide range of settings, including hospitals, clinics, GP practices, schools and hospices.

Train in modern facilities, including simulated practice environments that prepare you for real clinical situations.

Graduate with the opportunity to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse (Child).

Student support:

From day one, you will be supported on campus and during placements by your Personal Academic Tutor and a network of experienced staff.

You will also be part of a supportive student community, with opportunities to reflect on your experiences through initiatives such as Schwartz Rounds, helping you develop as a compassionate healthcare professional.

Further information:

On successful completion of the course, you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse (Child).

The NHS Learning Support Fund may be available to support your studies. If you are a UK applicant, you may be eligible for £5,000 per academic year, depending on your circumstances.

Modules

Our students study a range of modules that support them in their journey from student to healthcare professional. These modules establish and build upon the skills and experiences students benefit from on placement, which are integral to all our healthcare programmes.

For a full list of modules available please visit the course page.

Assessment method

Throughout your degree you'll be supported to achieve your best in assessments by our vibrant Health Sciences community, your Personal Academic Tutor, and your Practice Mentor.

You'll be assessed throughout this degree through a variety of assessment methods including: essays, written exams, and practical exams. In addition, your placement experience will also count towards your final degree classification.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Nursing and Midwifery Council

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
B735
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Main Site - Highfield Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
BBB

BBB. A pass in science practical is required where applicable

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDM

DDM in Health Studies or Science

Access to HE Diploma
D: 24 credits M: 21 credits

60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 24 must be at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit

Must be Science Based

Scottish Higher

We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject).

Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DD

DD from BTEC National Diploma and grade B in A Level subject

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
D

D from BTEC National Extended Certificate and grades BB from two A Level subjects

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
DDM

DDM in Health Studies or Science

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
DD

DD from BTEC Diploma and grade B in A Level subject

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)
D

D from BTEC Subsidiary Diploma and grades BB in two A Level subjects

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
30 points

Pass, with overall score of 30, with 15 points at Higher Level

International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP):
The University of Southampton accepts the IBCP for entry to their degree programmes, recognising the value of combining academic skills with practical skills, providing a solid preparation for university level work. Offers will be made on the individual components of the IBCP. Applicants not taking the full IBCP but presenting with a combination of a Level 3 vocational qualification and IB Certificates may still be considered.

Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements.

Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
B

BB from two A Levels and B from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

Extended Project
Not accepted

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H3, H3, H3, H3, H3, H3

Plus English and Maths Ordinary Level O4 or higher.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
M2, M2, M2

T Level
M

Health and Healthcare Science – An overall Merit with grade B in the Core element and Merit in Supporting the Nursing Team Specialism

GCSEs: Minimum of GCSE Maths and English Language (A*-C or 4-9). GCSE Science (A*-C or 4-9) also required if not offered as a level 3 qualification. Certain GCSE equivalent qualifications will be considered.

FETAC / QQI Level 5 120 Credits: Pass in every module, with distinction essential in at least 5 modules including Human Growth and Development (or Biology), Anatomy and Physiology and Nursing Theory. Applicants are also required to hold Ordinary Maths and English at O4 or higher. Certain FETAC modules will be accepted in lieu of these.

Recent relevant study within the last 5 years.

You may be required to attend a selection day and complete satisfactory Occupational Health and Police Checks.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
Interview

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7with a minimum of 7.0 in Listening, Reading & Speaking and with a minimum of 6.5 in Writing.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Most of the students who enrolled on this course in previous years met their offer conditions at our published entry criteria, securing their place on their chosen course.

We encourage all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, to apply to study with us. Applicants who qualify for contextual admissions will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Learn more on the University of Southampton website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Please see our website for further details and updates: www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/fees-funding.page

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