Nursing (Child) BSc

Our nursing is child-focused and family-centred and we need people who want to keep children healthy and safe, and who are caring, courageous and compassionate. Throughout your degree, we’ll help you develop the qualities that define a Leeds child nurse – intuitive, empathetic communicators who are committed advocates for children, young people, and families.

We’re proud to have an innovative team with a range of clinical, academic and research interests, who deliver an exciting and engaging degree.

Studying at Leeds means you’ll experience our state-of-the-art clinical skills facilities with a dedicated children’s ward to prepare you for rewarding placements in some of the best teaching hospitals in Europe, including St James’s University Hospital and on our doorstep, Leeds Children’s Hospital at Leeds General Infirmary, in areas such as neonates, oncology, neurology and children’s A&E.

We’re also a research intensive school, meaning you’ll have access to cutting-edge research before it’s in the wider domain, giving you a distinctive advantage in your professional life.

Accreditation

Students who successfully complete this programme will be able to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

This programme meets the NMC (2018) Future Nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses and ensures the guiding principles of pre-registration education for nurses of “fitness for purpose” and “fitness for practice” are satisfied. It consists of not less than 4,600 hours of study (2,300 hours in the practice setting and 2,300 hours theoretical study), which results in 360 credits across three levels:

Part 1: 120 credits at level 1 leading to progression point one of the programme

Part 2: 120 credits at level 2 leading to progression point two of the programme

Part 3: 120 credits at level 3 enabling registration with the NMC.

This is an integrated programme that incorporates 4 key strands into each of the modules; applied practice, professional practice, the five dimensions of health and well-being (physical, emotional and intellectual, social and spiritual); and evidence-based practice. This enables you to view the child or young person and their family holistically recognising a range of issues that impact their health and well-being. Each module builds on the preceding ones enabling you to expand your knowledge and understanding and consider ever increasing levels of complexity.

Year 1: The nurse as an instrument of fundamental care and caring.

By the end of year 1 you will be able to demonstrate, apply and reflect on the fundamental knowledge, skills and attitudes required for holistic care and caring

In year 1 you will be introduced to fundamental concepts required to be a healthcare professional and key concepts related to children’s nursing. You will also consider who you are, your role as a nurse and ways in which you can enhance your own resilience. Throughout the year you will develop your skills in working with children, young people, and their families as well as members of the nursing team, the multi-disciplinary team, and wider agencies.

Year 2: the nurse as an instrument to support and promote optimal health and well-being across the life-span.

By the end of year 2 you will be able to apply knowledge and skills to patients with increasingly complex conditions to enable optimal health and well being

In year 2 there is a focus on working with individuals with long-term health conditions and children and young people with co-morbidities. You will consider how health promotion and health education can be used to empower individuals and their families to maximise their level of health and well-being. Care delivery throughout the lifespan will be considered including supporting children, young people and their families who are living with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and end of life care. You will also begin to develop your peer coaching skills.

Year 3: the nurse as a leader and co-ordinator of care and caring

By the end of year 3 you will be able to evaluate and determine priorities for care delivery

In year 3 you will apply your knowledge and understanding to children and young people who have complex and critical care needs. A range of advanced skills will be taught and practised during this year. Leadership and team working skills will be further developed and you will be supported in your transition to the role of registered nurse. There is a 10,000-word dissertation that enables you to critically focus on an area of patient care where there is scope for development. During the first placement in year 3 there is an opportunity to undertake a non-assessed placement abroad.

Clinical placements are integral to the programme and are included within each year. These enable you to gain expertise in different clinical environments including medicine, surgery, community and high dependency/critical care. Your placements will be within a variety of organisations including Leeds Children’s Hospital and Leeds Community Healthcare Trust.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Nursing (Child) BSc in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Learning and teaching

School of Healthcare courses are designed to allow you as much choice as possible in the way that you study and methods of learning and teaching are highly participative, with a combination of tutor-led input and support, learning through group work and discussion, and individual exercises and practice.

The School works closely with health and social care organisations, including Leeds Children’s Hospital and Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, to make sure that it provides education and training which fully meets the changing needs of health and social care and develops the appropriate knowledge and skills, enabling our students to play key roles working with children, young people and families.

Our Kevin Kendrick clinical skills suite recreates a hospital ward, with beds, patient manikins, ancillary equipment and washing areas. Students have the opportunity to use these facilities to practise nursing skills in a safe environment.

Broadening your academic horizons

At Leeds we want you to benefit from the depth and breadth of the University's expertise, to prepare you for success in an ever-changing and challenging world. On this course you broaden your learning through core modules. Find out more on the Broadening webpages.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

We use a range of assessment methods, including essays, posters, practical skills examinations and multiple choice questions.

You’ll need to demonstrate the knowledge and application of standard concepts, information and techniques, as well as your emerging abilities, skills and competencies.

You’ll need to produce work that is typically both evaluative and creative and show you can conduct independent, in-depth enquiry within the discipline. You need to be able to draw on a wide variety of material and be able to evaluate and critique received opinion.

Entry requirements

A-level: BBB including a science subject (biology, human biology, chemistry, physics or applied science)

Not general studies or critical thinking.

GCSE: 5 GCSEs grade C or above / 4 or 5 (if taken after 2016) including Maths, English Language or English Literature and 2 science subjects

Other course specific tests:

You will need to show evidence of study in the last 5 years. You are required to provide an academic reference, which also includes a statement which attests to (your) character and good standing.

All Foundation degree modules must be listed on your UCAS form or else your application will be rejected.

• Access to HE Diploma

  45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at distinction and include 15 credits from science subjects + 5 GCSE’s A* to C grade in Maths, English, a Science plus two others. The remaining level 3 credits must be at merit level or above. For Access to Higher Education Diplomas completed before September 2014, applicants are required to have 45 credits at level 3 at distinction and include 12 credits from biology. All Access modules must be listed on your UCAS form or else your application will be rejected.

• BTEC

  We have reviewed our BTEC requirements in light of the changes made to the BTEC specification. This only applies to candidates studying the new BTEC courses first taught in 2016. BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Distinction/Distinction/Distinction in: Health and Social Care and must include 4 science focused modules from:

  Unit 1 Human Lifespan Development

  Unit 4 Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care

  Unit 9 Infection Prevention and Control

  Unit 13 Scientific Techniques for Health Science

  Unit 14 Physiological Disorders

  Unit 15 Microbiology for Health Science

  Unit 21 Medical physics Applications for the Health Sector

  Unit 22 Genetics

  Unit 23 Biomedical Science

  Unit 24 Biochemistry for Health

  We would not insist on this if you are also studying another science-focused course in addition to the Health and Social Care course.

  BTEC Applied Science at grade Distinction/Distinction/Distinction.

  All BTEC modules must be listed on your UCAS form or else your application will be rejected.

  For candidates studying on the old BTEC specifications please see the alternative list of modules below. Candidates must study 6 of these to be eligible for consideration:

  BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF): Distinction/Distinction/Distinction in: Health and Social Care (Health Sciences); Health and Social Care (Health Studies) and must include 6 science focused modules, from:

  Unit 4 Development through the life stages

  Unit 5 Anatomy and Physiology for health and social care

  Unit 13 Physiology of Fluid Balance

  Unit 14 Physiological Disorders

  Unit 15 Biochemistry for Health

  Unit 16 Science for Health

  Unit 21 Nutrition for Health and Social Care

  Unit 31 Physiology of Co-ordination

  Unit 33 Physical Science for Health

  Unit 34 Human Inheritance for Health Social Care

  Unit 35 Introduction to Microbiology for Health Social Care

  We would not insist on this if you are also studying another science-focused course in addition to the Health and Social Care course.

  All BTEC modules must be listed on your UCAS form or else your application will be rejected.

• International Baccalaureate

  34 points overall (15 at higher level) including 3 higher level subjects at minimum of grade 5, plus a science subject at standard level or below.

• Irish Highers (Leaving Certificate)

  (Leaving Certificate): BBBBBB including B in English, maths and science (chemistry, biology, physics, applied science)

• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

  BB at Advanced Higher and BBBBB at Higher, one of which should be a science (biology, chemistry, physics or applied science).
  
  For non-AH applicants: BBBBBB at Higher, one of which should be a science (biology, chemistry, physics or applied science).

• Welsh Baccalaureate

  Overall pass

• Other Qualifications

  CACHE

  • NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Health & Social Care

  • NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Certificate in Health & Social Care

  • NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care

  6 science modules if undertaking Level 3 Extended Diploma (3 A-level equivalent). Applicants will be considered who take the Level 3 Award (1 A-level equivalent) or the Certificate (2 A-level certificate) but one of their other qualifications would need to be the equivalent of an A level in the Physical Sciences (Biology, chemistry or Physics).

  Students will need to have completed 2 mandatory modules and 3 from option group 1 and 1 from option group 2. Grade A (overall) is accepted.

  All CACHE modules must be listed on your UCAS form or else your application will be rejected

  HSC CM6 Infection prevention and control in health and social care	Mandatory
  HSC DM3.1 Anatomy and physiology for health and social care	Mandatory
  HSC CM 02 Biochemistry for health	Option Group 1
  HSC CM 07 Genetics in health and social care	Option Group 1
  HSC CM 011 Microbiology for health	Option Group 1
  HSC CM 013 Physiology of coordination	Option Group 1
  HSC CM 015 Science of nutrition	Option Group 1
  HSC DM 09 Pharmacology	Option Group 2
  HSC DM 010 Physiology of ageing	Option Group 2

  Other Qualifications:

  Interdisciplinary Science Foundation Programme (CFGO): Successful completion of the year with an overall score of at least 60%.

  Interdisciplinary Foundation Programme (PHE): Successful completion of the year with an overall score of at least 60%.

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds offer

A level: BCC with a Grade 5 (B) in a Science.

GCSE: All subjects at Grade 4 (C) including English, Maths and Science.

Access to Leeds: Pass.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0 overall, with no less than 7.0 in any component.. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

For a guide on how to apply for a place and what to expect, please read our Applicant journey page.

You must tell us in your UCAS application if you want to defer entry and if you have any prior criminal convictions.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK/EU students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Selection and Interview

We shortlist applicants against agreed criteria, using the information you submit on your UCAS form only. You must meet the academic entry requirement for the programme. Your academic background and personal statement help us to assess your interest in the academic subject and are an important part of the process. The reference you provide on the UCAS form must also support your application, this should be an academic reference, which also includes a statement which attests to (your) character and good standing.

Recruitment events will take place between December and April. These will take place remotely.

You will be allocated to one of the events; if the date is not suitable you need to contact the student education support officer and request an alternative date (admissions@healthcare.leeds.ac.uk). Non-attendance at an event without explanation will result in your application being automatically rejected.

International Admissions Process

All applicants for Nursing programmes must meet entry requirements, are required to be interviewed and undertake a short entry test. Interviews may be conducted via SKYPE and will be arranged with the applicant for a specific date and time. For nursing the test is a numeracy test. Tests for Nursing will be taken remotely, but under observation, immediately following the interview.

Following applicant shortlisting by the School of Healthcare Admission Tutors, applicants will be invited to undertake an interview and entry test (subject to relevant entry criteria attainment as identified below):

The numeracy test for Nursing and Midwifery is set around the European metric system of measurement and calculation. Information pertaining to the International English Language Testing System qualification “IELTS” is available above.

Admissions policy

School of Healthcare Undergraduate School Policy 2021

Fees

UK: See fees section below

International: £24,500 (per year)

UK undergraduate tuition fees for 2021 entry 
For UK full-time students starting in 2021, the fee for 2021/22 will be £9,250.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law. Fees for UK undergraduate students are decided by the UK government and may vary if policy changes.

EU students starting in 2021/22 
EU students starting their course in the 2021/22 academic year or later will now be classed as international students and so will need to pay the international student tuition fee.

UK undergraduate tuition fees for 2022 entry
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2022/23 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. In other years, the government has confirmed fee levels in the summer. When the fee is confirmed we will publish an update on all course pages.

Tuition fees for new international students for 2022 entry
Tuition fees for international students are published on each individual course page. These are usually published a year in advance, so 2022 course fees should be available from September 2021.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Brexit 
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.

International fees and additional costs

All applicants need to ensure cognisance of the financial implications before applying to the School of Healthcare and that there may be a requirement to provide a financial guarantee of funding for three years. The status of a student as being a home or overseas student is based upon residential status and not nationality. Where a prospective student is an overseas citizen living within the UK they should contact the Admissions Team at the School of Healthcare, admissions@healthcare.leeds.ac.uk regardless of their residential status, to verify their fees status.

The course length is 3 years. Students will have to pay for Occupational Health clearance and immunisations (cost will vary dependent on individual needs of student and course requirements as well as any additional Occupational Health appointments and treatment needed during the programme. Other additional costs associated with the programme, which require consideration include visas and travel to and from placement. Applicants for all Undergraduate programmes at the School of Healthcare require a Criminal Record check, which will be undertaken as part of the visa application.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

NHS Funding

Students in Nursing, Midwifery and allied health professions access (other than those subject to transitional arrangements) are able to access student loans to cover the cost of their tuition fees and means tested support for living costs. Find out more.

Once qualified as a nurse, you could work in healthcare environments in the NHS or private sector, hospital or community settings.

Past graduates have secured positions in children’s hospitals and children’s wards in district general hospitals all around the country, as well as here in Leeds. For advice on nursing as a career choice read NHS careers.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

Study abroad

For some students able to meet specific criteria, there is an opportunity to undertake an international placement experience in year 3. There is also the option to undertake a year out of the programme (year 3) and study in another country. This is part of the Horizon programme and you would apply for the four year BSc (Hons) Nursing (Child) (International) programme. The year abroad does not count towards any of the NMC requirements for registration. The fourth year of your programme would be equivalent to the third year of the three year programme.

Clinical placements

50% of the programme is undertaken in practice and students undertake a range of clinical placements working with children and young people, both in hospital and in the community. All of the placements blocks are between 11 and 13 weeks long. Your final practice placement will enable you to consolidate knowledge, clinical skills competence, and prepare for transition to being a qualified practitioner.