School of Nursing and Midwifery

BSc (Hons) Chidren's Nursing with Foundation Year

BSc (Hons) Full-time 4 years

New Year, New Career - Is Nursing your next adventure? Have you always wanted to be a nurse? Is now the time to shine?

New Year, New Career - Is Nursing your next adventure? Have you always wanted to be a nurse? Is now the time to shine?

Award
BSc (Hons)
Start date(s)
14 September 2026, 5 April 2027
UCAS Code
B731
Course specifications
Course length
Full-time (4 years)
Campus location
University: Walsall Campus
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

Ranked 21st in the UK for Children's Nursing (The Guardian University Guide rankings, 2025).

This programme gives students the opportunity to study a Health Professions Foundation Year which will support development of academic study skills and provide an introduction to a range of health professions. On successful completion of the Health Professions Foundation Year, you will progress on to the 3-year NMC approved BSc (Hons) Children’s Nursing Programme.

Our BSc in Children's Nursing prepares you to provide specialist care for infants, children and adolescents across a variety of settings. You will develop practical clinical skills, hands on placement experience and learn how to support children and families through illness, recovery and long-term care. You will work with a variety of doctors, healthcare assistants, play therapists and other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure family centred care to children and their families.  The course combines academic learning, gaining knowledge, skills and behaviours that align to the Nursing and Midwifery Council standards, with real-world practice to help you build confidence and professional expertise. 

Students who qualify for student finance will also be able to apply for a non-repayable training grant from the NHS Learning Support Fund which is a minimum of £5000 per year for eligible students. You may also be eligible for support with childcare and travel costs.

Our academic team has a wide range of knowledge and experience and strong links with practice partners and are able to share real world experiences to enhance your learning.

Whilst nursing can be challenging and emotionally demanding it remains a fulfilling and rewarding career. Making a difference one person at a time, choose a career that changes lives including yours. 

Clinical Skills Lab facilities:

We have simulated environments for all fields of nursing. We have state-of-the-art skills facility at both City Campus and Walsall Campus.

Both of our campuses have mock ward environments, fitted out with hospital beds and the equipment you will use in the labs to practice your skills is the same high specification as you will find in your clinical placements. We have high fidelity mannequins that we use to be patients, as well as other simulated teaching tools such as mannequins designed to let you pass a naso-gastric tube, and arms to practice venepuncture.

We have a skills lab at Walsall, which is designed to look like a children's ward for our Children's Nursing students, it has cots as well as beds and even child size high fidelity mannequins.

We also have simulated home environments. Mental Health Nursing students can practice skills in a caring for someone at home in the flat at our City campus. Learning Disability Nursing students can see how to support a patient with a learning disability in our adapted living space at our Walsall campus.

Who will teach you on this course?

You will be taught by experienced nursing lecturers, some of whom are also Registered Children’s Nurses (RCN) or Registered Sick Children's Nurse (RSCN) with a variety of different skills set and experiences in paediatric specialist areas. This includes lecturers with; acute general paediatrics, emergency paediatric nursing, safeguarding, paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), oncology nursing, dermatology, research nursing, school nursing and health visiting backgrounds.  Teaching will include lectures, simulation sessions, bootcamp and gamification. You will also get guidance and support whilst out in practice by a member of the teaching team based at the University, as well as a placement assessor who is a registered nurse in the area you are allocated. 

 

All of our BSc programmes offer a direct route professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and a career as a registered nurse.

The University of Wolverhampton School of Nursing and Midwifery is one of the few universities in the Region to offer programmes in all fields of nursing - Adult Nursing, Learning Disability Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Children’s Nursing.

What's unique about this course?

  • Ranked 21st in the UK for Children's Nursing (The Guardian University Guide rankings, 2025).
  • Direct progression on to the BSc Children’s Nursing programme on successful completion of the Health Programme Foundation year.
  • Following a course revalidation a new and exciting programme has been designed for future nursing students including the enhancement of field identity.
  • Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of registration as a qualified nurse.
  • During year 3 you will have an option module and will be able to choose from one of eight 'Healthcare Improvement and Innovation' topics. Find out more here add link for the option module page.
  • Our dedicated support team available from your first day to your last day providing access to mental health and wellbeing services.
  • State of the art, hi-tech simulated learning facilities designed to build your skills and confidence in a safe and nurturing environment.
  • Excellent partnerships with placement providers in local NHS trusts within Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell, Burton and Shropshire.
  • Opportunity to undertake an elective placement (subject to availability).

What happens on the course?

The Health Professions Foundation Year consists of 4 modules which introduce key concepts around health care. You will study a range of topics in the classroom, online and via self-directed study.

You will not be required to attend work experience placements during the Health Professions Foundation Year however there may be opportunities to volunteer in relevant settings.

The Health Professions Foundation Year gives you the opportunity to work with students from other professions and fields of nursing whilst developing your academic skills and learning fundamental knowledge to underpin your future career.

Following the Health Professions Foundation Year, you will progress to the 3-year NMC approved BSc in Children’s Nursing programme.

Our new BSc (Hons) Children’s Nursing degree will provide you with the expertise you will need to become a registered nurse.

The 3-year programme is 50% theory and 50% practice.

Theory

We use a blended approach to deliver theory-based content where you will have the opportunity to learn in a variety of different environments. We use classroom based, online teaching and gamification to explore opportunities to learn and grow. There are a wide variety of assessment methods giving students with diverse learning styles an opportunity to shine. The lived experience of people in our community is incorporated into our curriculum to support your understanding and awareness of real-world scenarios.

Practice

We offer a range of learning activities and clinical skills training within our state-of-the-art skills labs, at either Wolverhampton or Walsall Campus, to prepare you for your clinical placements. We offer opportunities to explore hospital and community nursing, in a wider range of settings, from NHS, voluntary and private sectors across a wide geographical area. During your third year you will have the opportunity for an elective placement of your choice (subject to availability).

Placements on the course

Placements include providing nursing care to some of society’s most vulnerable people including infants, children and adolescents, those who are physically ill or have a mental illness or learning disability. In order to ensure all the children you care for are protected and kept safe, you will be expected to abide by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) guidance for student nurses.

As a student nurse, you are required to work shifts, including nights, weekends and bank holidays this will ensure that you gain experience of the different types of care patients receive at different times of day. We understand that the demands of placement can be overwhelming and there is a variety of support available within placement and at the university from practice staff, academic staff and the wider university welfare infrastructure.

During your placements, you will gain an appreciation for the entire patient journey across all health and social care settings. This will enable you to evaluate and interpret person centre care by experiencing the surrounding circumstances, environment or background of the population that we serve transforming theory from an isolated idea into real world knowledge.

Strengthening Communities Through Partnership

At the University of Wolverhampton, we're proud to maintain strong collaborative relationships with our practice partners across Burton, Dudley, Sandwell, Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton. These partnerships ensure our nursing students receive exceptional clinical experience and professional development opportunities while contributing to the healthcare needs of local communities.

You will gain hands-on experiences in a variety of hospital, community and school settings, where you work alongside a range of healthcare professionals. You will experience opportunities for inter-disciplinary learning across all nursing pathways and with midwifery, social work and social care. with a range of healthcare professionals.

Placements will be undertaken in and around one of these six NHS Trusts:

Placements may be undertaken in private, voluntary and independent health or social care setting within these geographical areas.

Find out more information on nursing placements and locations.

All placements are with an approved provider, monitored in accordance with the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council ensuring you gain the hands-on professional experience required for Registration.

Employability on the course

School Vision:

‘The School of Nursing and Midwifery believe that its role is to provide graduates equipped to meet the present and evolving health needs of a individuals and populations both locally, regionally, nationally and internationally’

Underpinning Framework:

  • embedding graduate attributes throughout the curriculum
  • identifying, valuing and building an individual’s employability skills at all levels
  • building relationships with employers
  • Preparing students for both their first job and their future career
  • make the school the first choice for career building CPD

Aim:

To use the strategy to maintain and develop the skills of students at all stages of the journey from foundation to master’s level to build successful careers in their chosen fields of employment. To foster a sense of social connectiveness and an ability to link to professional cultures.

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Successful completion of the BSc (Hons) Children's Nursing will lead to the right to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

This course will build and develop upon your knowledge and skills as a nursing practitioner in a variety of settings. The management and organisation of service provision is constantly changing and developing in line with health and social care policy, and you are working with and being involved with such changes. Hence you need to develop the knowledge and skills to enhance your employability and to accept the greater responsibilities that these changes will bring and to be prepared for such changes.

Throughout your time here at the University of Wolverhampton, this course will enable you to develop specialist subject and academic knowledge in your chosen area, which is important for employers. However, they will also want to employ individuals who are able to:

  • communicate effectively
  • work in a team and have good interpersonal skills.
  • solve problems
  • work on their own using their own initiative and are able to adapt to changing situations
  • be self-confident
  • demonstrate flexible and transferable skills whilst working in a variety of settings

This course will also assist you in developing your skills to analyse practice by using appropriate evidence to improve service delivery.

Registered nurses continue to study after they have qualified, often in a specialist area, as they develop their career path within the UK or working abroad. 

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

If you've always wanted to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people but don't quite meet the entry requirements for our standard nursing degree, this course is your pathway in. The foundation year is designed to bridge that gap — giving you the academic grounding, confidence and skills to progress into a full BSc (Hons) qualification and ultimately register as a paediatric nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Nationally Recognised Excellence
We're ranked 21st in the UK for Children's Nursing in The Guardian University Guide 2025 — so you'll be joining a programme with a proven track record of producing high-quality graduate nurses. 

Learn from Specialists Who Care
Our course is delivered by a range of specialist lecturers committed to upholding the rights of children and young people, and to achieving high levels of quality healthcare through the education and development of student nurses. 

Real Clinical Experience from Day One
Half of your course will be situated in the university and half in a variety of practice areas, giving you genuine hands-on experience throughout your studies. Placements are undertaken with NHS Trusts including The Royal Wolverhampton Trust, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, University Hospital of Derby and Burton, and Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, as well as private health organisations. WhatuniWolverhampton

A Course Built Around Your Future
This is a professional vocational award that carefully integrates theory and practice, educating you to a high clinical, professional and academic standard, ready to practice in the 21st century. Ultimately, we are committed to developing nurses who can work with children and young people across a range of different health and social care environments, as well as contributing to care and interventions from other providers such as social care, education and youth justice.

Your Route In — With Full Support
The foundation year isn't a detour; it's a supported, structured step into a career that matters. You'll complete the compulsory Prepare for Foundation day before starting, where you'll meet staff, explore what the course involves, and show your passion for working with children. Successful completion of the foundation year allows you to progress onto the first year of a three-year NMC-approved pre-registration nursing course. 

Go Further
At the end of the third year, you may opt to undertake a placement overseas - a unique opportunity to broaden your clinical horizons and gain a truly global perspective on children's healthcare.

You will gain subject knowledge and understanding surrounding the professional and ethical conduct of a nurse, to deliver a high standard of appropriate nursing care and leadership and supervision of others, as well as being able to reflect on your personal and professional development.

You will explore health and social care policy trends and develop skills of enquiry to underpin your own practice with current credible evidence and evaluate the delivery of healthcare services.

You will learn decision-making and problem-solving techniques in order to provide quality care to patients and support their families.

By the end of the programme you will meet the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and will be able to register as a Registered Nurse.

This course is approved by the internationally recognised Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The course has been judged by the NMC to provide good learning experiences and outstanding placement learning opportunities.

It provides access to motivated, supportive and specialist lecturers who are active researchers and have a national and international profile.

 

Location Mode Foundation Year Fee Sep intake Fee Year
Home Full-time £9535 £9535 per year 2025-26
Home Full-time £9790 £9790 per year 2026-27
International Full-time N/A £15995 per year 2025-26
International Full-time £17600 £17600 per year 2026-27

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed.


If a tuition fee is not showing, we may not offer this intake for this course. Please check the start date information on the course finder for start dates.

Prepare for foundation pathway: 

Applicants who wish to access this course will be required to attend and pass a compulsory one day Prepare for foundation programme. This programme is where you will be able to showcase your keen interest or recent experience in the subject. As well as come to visit the university and meet the staff involved in the programme.

This compulsory programme is designed to introduce you to studying a health professional course, answer your questions, meet staff and fellow students. You will take part in a variety of exciting subject related activities that will prepare you to kick start your academic experience with us, should you secure an offer. 

Before attending the Prepare for foundation programme, we wish to make you aware that you will be asked to complete an assessment task which will be used as part of the event. Further information on the requirements of this task will be provided to applicants who have been shortlisted for this course.

Interview: 

If you are successful in passing this programme, you will be required to attend an interview with faculty staff.

GCSE requirements:

You are required to hold GCSE English language and maths grades 9-4/A*-C or equivalent. Equivalent qualifications include the following at Level 2: Functional Skills, Key Skills, Learn direct.

Equivalency Test:

If you have not achieved your Level 2 qualifications, you are eligible to take our University equivalency course. The course for this programme are free of charge and can be taken completely online. Our Admissions team will confirm in your offer if you are required to take one of these assessments.

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Further Information

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Please note that although you will apply for your preferred start date due to placement capacity you are not guaranteed the date you select. We would place successful applicants on the earliest start date we have available at that time. Applicants have the opportunity to be placed on a waiting list to be pulled forward as places become available.

Free Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational Health Check:

Due to the professional nature of some of our courses you may also be required to complete a Declaration of Health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check.  We will coordinate both of these non-academic conditions with you should your course require this and you receive an offer from us

There will be no cost for the DBS this is free to applicants who have secured an offer and have chosen to study at the University of Wolverhampton.

Student Visa Requirements:

Applicants who require a student visa to enter the UK are not eligible to be considered for this course. 

Skilled Worker Visa Requirements:

Applicants who are in the UK on a Skilled Worker Visa or are a dependent of a Skilled worker are not eligible to be considered for this course. 

Other Requirements: Applicants must be 18 years old or above at the start of the course.

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of registration as a qualified nurse (child).

Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

By studying an undergraduate or postgraduate pre-registration programme you are eligible for a Tuition Fee loan. of up to £9,535. The loan will support your studies and enable you to start a rewarding career in healthcare.


Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as Overseas (International) students for fee purposes. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) .


NHS Learning Support Fund

All eligible nursing , midwifery and most allied health professionals' students on pre-registration courses will also receive a Training Grant of at least £5,000 per year that is not means-tested and will not have to be repaid.

An additional payment of up to £3,000 per academic year will be available to eligible students;

• £2,000 for students with children towards childcare costs

• £1,000 Special Subject Payment on certain shortage specialism courses

Among others, the shortage specialisms have been confirmed to include:

• Mental health nursing

• Learning disability nursing

• Podiatry

Please note that this additional NHS funding is not available for students on the Foundation Year of a 4-year degree


Additional funding:

The Learning Support Fund also offers students additional support while studying for their degree. This includes:

• Additional travel and accommodation costs to clinical placements over their normal daily travel costs

• An exceptional hardship fund of up to £3,000 per student per academic year


You can find more information on the NHS Business Services pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

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