Program Overview

Nursing (Children and Mental Health)

Overview

Train to work with children and young people in hospitals, community settings, and mental health services.

Course Options

• 4 years full-time
• September start
• Chelmsford and Cambridge locations

Key Facts

• STUDY OPTIONS: 4 years
• START DATES: September
• LOCATION: Chelmsford and Cambridge
• ENTRY: UCAS code: B737
• FEES: £9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

Teaching and Assessment

• Year 1:
  • Into ARU
  • Foundations of Communication and Professionalism
  • Fundamental Skills and Procedures for Nursing
  • Applied Health Science for Nursing Across the Lifespan
  • Epidemiology, Inequality, and Health Promotion for Nursing Across the Lifespan
  • Contemporary Nursing Practice 1
• Year 2:
  • Supporting a Patient Safety Culture in Nursing
  • Supporting Learning and Professional Development in Nursing
  • Contemporary Nursing Practice 2
  • Assessing and Planning Care Across the Lifespan
  • Coordinating and Leading Integrated Care in Interprofessional Settings
• Year 3:
  • Clinical Decision Making in the Acutely Unwell Child and Young Person
  • Applying public health to children and young people’s nursing
  • Contemporary Children and Young People’s Nursing Practice 3
  • Leading and managing quality in the care of children and young people
  • Managing the Care of Children and Young People with Complex Care Needs
• Year 4:
  • Assessment in Mental Health Nursing
  • Developing Approaches to Planning Care in Mental Health Nursing
  • Contemporary Mental Health Nursing Practice 4
  • Reviewing and Evaluating in Mental Health Nursing Care
  • Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing

Facilities

• Purpose-built nursing skills labs
• Sophisticated equipment for experiential learning
• Registered, practising tutors and lecturers

Accreditation

• Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)

Careers

• Specialist children’s nurses can build careers in various fields
• Opportunities for further education and research
• Eligible to apply for registration with the NMC

Entry Requirements

• 120 UCAS Tariff points
• A Levels, T Levels, BTECs, OCR, Access to HE, and most other qualifications within the UCAS Tariff
• 3 GCSEs at grade C, or grade 4, or above, including English and Maths
• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure
• Satisfactory Occupational Health clearance

Fees and Paying for University

• £9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)
• Tuition Fee Loan available for UK students
• Maintenance Loan available for living costs
• Training grants of at least £5,000 a year for eligible nursing students

Apply

• Apply through UCAS
• Applications accepted between September and January for the following intake year
• Late applications considered if places available

Taster Days

• Book a place at one of our Taster Days to learn more about nursing at ARU
• Meet lecturers and current students, explore the role of the nurse, and pick up tips for your application and interview.