The best universities for Children's nursing
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
Oxford Brookes University, followed by Cardiff University and Coventry University make up the leading three for Children's nursing in our 2026 student-view ranking.
Unlike a conventional university guide, this list makes one narrow comparison: how positively recent students described their course experience. The score gives equal influence to the 26 questions shared across all three NSS files and averages 2025 with 2026 wherever both are published. Because this subject has 63 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why Oxford Brookes University leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 63 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
Oxford Brookes University
It has climbed 1 place from 2 in the previous table. It is position 1 when every current provider is included.
- Organisation and managementCourse is well organised
100.0% positive—36.8 percentage points above the 63.2% all-provider peer average.
- Organisation and managementChanges are communicated well
100.0% positive—29.7 percentage points above the 70.3% all-provider peer average.
Cardiff University
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 97.6%, which is 30.4 points above the 67.2% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 2 when all 63 providers are included. It has climbed 4 places from 6 in the previous table.
Coventry University
Where it stands out: Changes are communicated well is 96.0%, which is 25.7 points above the 70.4% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 3 when all 63 providers are included. It has fallen 2 places from 1 in the previous table.
University of Northumbria at Newcastle
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 90.8%, which is 27.5 points above the 63.3% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 4 when all 63 providers are included. It has climbed 7 places from 11 in the previous table.
The University of Hull
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 88.8%, which is 21.4 points above the 67.3% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 5 when all 63 providers are included. It holds the same position as in the previous 2024+2025 table.
“Above average” compares each provider with every other current provider in this subject. It describes relative NSS strength, not course content, admissions or graduate outcomes.
Top 10 for Children's nursing
Current positions use the 2025+2026 window. Previous positions use 2024+2025; “New” means no eligible prior comparison.
| Current pos.2025+2026 table | Previous pos.2024+2025 table | Change | University | Score | Current score data | Questions | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | Oxford Brookes University2025–2026 average | 96.19% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 62024–2025 average | ↑ 4 | Cardiff University2025–2026 average | 95.38% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 12024–2025 average | ↓ 2 | Coventry University2025–2026 average | 94.53% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 112024–2025 average | ↑ 7 | University of Northumbria at Newcastle2025–2026 average | 93.90% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 52024–2025 average | — | The University of Hull2025–2026 average | 92.75% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 72024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | University of Lancashire2025–2026 average | 92.36% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 132024–2025 average | ↑ 6 | The University of East Anglia2025–2026 average | 92.32% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | 32024–2025 average | ↓ 5 | University of Hertfordshire2025–2026 average | 92.21% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | —Not ranked | New | University of York2026 only | 91.68% | 2026 only | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 172024–2025 average | ↑ 7 | University of Greater Manchester2025–2026 average | 89.43% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 |
Universities are shown by default. The site-wide switch can include every current NSS provider in this live top ten.
See the complete Children's nursing ranking →One source. One clear point of view.
The National Student Survey asks final-year undergraduates about teaching, learning opportunities, assessment and feedback, support, organisation, resources, student voice, their students’ union and wellbeing information.
We do not add research output, selectivity, institutional spending, staff ratios or graduate salary data. Those measures may be useful elsewhere, but they cannot change what former students said about studying this subject.
Read the complete methodology →About this Children's nursing ranking
What leads the Children's nursing ranking in 2026?
Oxford Brookes University is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 96.19%. The result reflects student opinion across the common questions, not a prediction of which institution will suit every applicant.
Why average two NSS years?
Averaging 2025 and 2026 makes the result less sensitive to one unusual cohort. A provider must have published 2026 data to enter the current table; a 2026-only entrant is included and labelled “New”.
Where can I see every university?
The full Children's nursing ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.