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Nursing (Mental Health) - Clifton Campus BSc (Hons)

UCAS code: B760

Start year

Information for 2025

About this course

Mental health nursing is central to the NHS Workforce Plan (2023), and to meeting the health needs of the nation. It is a unique profession providing care to people across the lifespan who are experiencing mental distress, and promoting mental wellbeing for the entire population.

Mental health nurses work in a diverse range of settings including the community, hospitals and the the voluntary sectors. They also work across boundaries to support people they care for with physical comorbidities.

Our teaching is delivered by experienced practitioners with input from patient and carers. By doing this, we help students develop the technical skills, critical thinking, problem-solving and compassion required to provide high-quality mental health care.

We also offer:

Progressing from the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship (R2RN)

You can also join this course by progressing from our Level 5 Nursing Associate Apprenticeship. At NTU this route is known as R2RN, and you can learn more about this option at the bottom of this page.

  • You'll taught by a dynamic team of lecturers who are also qualified nurses. Becoming a nurse is an exciting journey we are privileged to take you on.
  • Our amazing facilities in the Health and Allied Professions Centre allow you to learn effectively and become part of the NTU Nursing community.
  • 91% of our Nursing (Mental Health) students believe the course has improved their career prospects (National Student Survey, 2024).
  • Service users and carers are involved in the development of our curriculum and take part in face-to-face sessions.

Accreditation

  • NMC Logo

What you’ll study

Our facilities allow us to promote learning using traditional, creative and innovative teaching methods. This ensures you will be able to relate to the theory you encounter at University, and apply it to clinical practice while you are on placement.

This course provides you with the opportunity to engage with a wide and diverse curriculum including:

  • a holistic view of a person's psychological and physical needs to support recovery
  • an understanding of person-centred care
  • the Mental Health legislation.

Introduction to Nursing Practice

This module introduces you to the values and responsibilities of mental health nursing, as set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You’ll cover a wide range of key foundational areas – from professional accountability to reflective practice and emotional intelligence. This module is the perfect introduction to your studies in person-centred mental health care.

Integrative Nursing Practice

This module builds on your general healthcare knowledge with learning that’s specific to mental health nursing. You’ll focus on the biological, psychological and social processes that maintain people’s health, as you learn from experts who’ve worked throughout the sector. You’ll also study body systems to help you understand physiology and development. This module gives some valuable context and background to the key role nurses play in alleviating mental health problems. It will help you to understand the various drivers of mental health problems.

Foundations of Applied Nursing Practice

This module helps you develop your therapeutic nursing skills – you’ll continue to work on your own reflective practice as you build your independence and confidence. Through a range of practical sessions and workshops, you’ll learn how to deliver fundamental nursing care, whilst developing your communication skills. This will help you to develop effective therapeutic relationships with people who use mental health services.

Evidence in Nursing Practice

To begin your second-year studies, we’ll be exploring research methods and evidence-based practice in greater detail. This will help you to understand how evidence – alongside clinical expertise – drives quality in mental health nursing care and service development. We’ll also be looking at how to build resilience as a nursing professional – one of the field’s most important and valued attributes.

Biopsychosocial Approaches in Nursing Practice

This module explores a number of social and psychological models, helping you to understand a wide range of perspectives on the development of mental distress in different populations. You will also study anatomy, physiology and body systems, as well as the effect of medications on the body. Supported by experienced professionals from across the sector, you’ll examine the impact of mental health conditions on individuals, families and communities.

Applied Nursing Practice in Complex Care

In this module you will take a deeper look at delivering care to individuals with complex needs – as well as their families. To do this, you’ll explore a range of therapeutic skills within the classroom, our simulation environment, and real-world practice settings. Through this, you’ll develop your understanding of the kinds of interventions – such as psychological therapeutic techniques – that can improve service users’ health. You’ll also explore the planning, delivery and evaluation of mental health care for people with complex and / or long-term conditions.

Innovating and Improving Healthcare Practice

This module looks at the strategies that help mental health nurses to maintain and improve quality in healthcare – including a focus on managing change within the healthcare setting. You’ll also develop your knowledge of evidence-based nursing practice to a deeper level: with the support of our academic team, you’ll undertake an independent written project to generate your own recommendations for healthcare practice education or research. In turn, your work will provide new learning opportunities for your peers and colleagues in mental health nursing.

Leadership in Nursing

The module examines the role and responsibilities of registered mental health nurses as leaders in healthcare, and mangers of interprofessional teams. You’ll examine the key concepts that underpin successful leadership, drawing on the reflective skills you’ve developed throughout the course to develop your own leadership style. This will prepare you effectively for the role of Practice Supervisor, once you are a registered practitioner. You’ll benefit from our “interprofessional” approach, as you learn from – and work directly with – experts across the healthcare sector.

Managing Applied Nursing Care

This final module consolidates everything you’ve learned throughout the course – combining the hands-on experience you’ve developed on placement to the theoretical and academic skills you’ve acquired in the classroom. With this approach, you’ll be fully prepared to practice as a registered mental health nurse. By completing this module, you should be able to show values-based, evidence-informed decision making within multidisciplinary teams, ahead of your registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Gabby Robinson-Durant

Nursing (Mental Health) - Clifton Campus

My highlights of the course are the placements I’ve been on and the experiences you have on them!

Elizabeth Hughes

Nursing (Mental Health) - Clifton Campus

NTU lectures and the team around them have always operated an individual personal-centred approach. Lectures are very approachable and make you feel you are part of the NTU family.

Steph Lloyd

Nursing (Mental Health) - Clifton Campus

"I chose to study Mental Health Nursing because it’s challenging, varied, and rewarding. I love how no day is ever the same and there are so many opportunities to work with and advocate for a range of people."

Adam Njarita

Nursing (Mental Health) - Clifton Campus

The most memorable moments are when someone can see something in you that maybe no one else has been able to see. Just hearing patients or nurses saying that you will become a great nurse if you put your mind to it, is a comfort to me.

Hannah Wilson

Nursing (Mental Health) - Clifton Campus

I chose NTU for many reasons. The interview for the course was amazing and I could tell how passionate the university and the staff were about the subject.

Mayowa Ayodele

Nursing (Mental Health) - Clifton Campus

The best advice I can give is to be open-minded and set reasonable goals. Be eager to learn, ask questions and make yourself useful on the wards.

Take a look around the HAP Centre

 

How you're taught

The BSc Nursing (Mental Health) course is taught by experienced staff used to working with students from a range of backgrounds and with varying levels of skill and experience.

To provide you with a first-class learning experience and to guarantee you have an opportunity to make the most of your time at university, you will receive contact time through a diverse range of delivery methods that include lectures, seminars, clinical skills sessions, workshops, and one-on-one supervision.

Core lectures and seminars

Core lectures are in person and introduce the up-to-date evidence, underpinning policy, theory and guidelines, and expert opinion. Lectures are complimented by small group seminars and clinical skills sessions that provide a safe space to apply this learning to healthcare provision.

Each year you will study 3 modules; 2 short modules and one that is a yearlong module.

Virtual learning environment

You'll use our virtual learning environment NOW, which is a flexible web-based system that allows you to have 24-hour access to module learning materials and reading lists. It allows you to discuss work with tutors and other students and submit coursework electronically. The VLE provides you with the opportunity to further develop knowledge on areas of interest outside a formal learning environment.

Personal tutor groups

You are allocated a personal tutor for the full duration of your course and from the welcome week we meet with you to help you settle into University life and highlighting key activities that are needed for you to be able to progress on the Nursing course (for example DBS and Occupational health clearance which is required for placement). Your personal tutor is your key ‘go to’ person during the course.

Clinical placements

The course is fifty per cent in clinical practice and these placements are organised by our placement team. During your placement you will always have a practice assessor, a registered Nurse, in the clinical area where you are working to help you achieve the necessary elements during your experience.  We use a variety of placements from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, North Leicestershire and South Yorkshire. We offer a placement choice once in the programme, during the third year. Students can self-arrange an international placement to further broaden their practice experiences.

Clinical skills sessions

Learning and practicing your clinical skills in our excellent facilities at the University is a key part of our programme. This allows you to learn safely and then be able to transfer these skills when you are on placement.

How you're assessed

Year One

  • Written work (total of 4 essays)
  • Exams (total of 2 exams)
  • Poster Presentation (total of 1)
  • Practice Assessment document

Year Two

  • Written work (Research diary, Essay)
  • Exams (total of 2 exams)
  • Presentation (a recorded presentation)
  • Observed Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)
  • Practice Assessment document

Year Three

  • Written work (Dissertation, 2 essays)
  • Exams (1 exams)
  • Microteach (recorded teaching session)
  • Practice Assessment document

Contact hours

The Nursing and Midwifery Council state you need to successfully achieve 2,300 hours of theory and 2,300 hours of practice to be able become a registered practitioner.

Your practice hours will be met through a variety of different placement environments and experiences.

The theory is a mixture of classroom / clinical skills based with you taking accountability to explore the topics as outlined on the VLE for each module. This will enable you to complete the 2,300 hours of theory which includes passing all of the assessment points in the programme.

Careers and employability

Nurses are part of the multidisciplinary team that provide healthcare across the lifespan. They work in a diverse range of settings to promote health and support individuals to meet their health needs.

Our nursing graduates have secured employment in community and inpatient settings both within the NHS and the private sector.

NTU works closely with local healthcare providers to ensure our students graduate with the skills required by employers and are prepared for a career in nursing.

The NHS have produced some videos that you may find useful to find out more about life as a student nurse, and your future career in nursing:

Our Employability team

Our dedicated Employability team are available to help you alongside your studies. They can give you advice and guidance on everything you need to stand out from the crowd – from voluntary and work experience opportunities to bespoke, specialised support for student nurses. They also help to coordinate our Acceler8 Award which you make decide to take part in to help you to develop a broader range of transferable skills, knowledge and experience.

If you’d like to know more about NTU’s groundbreaking Employability Promise, and the support you’ll receive both during and after your course, visit our Careers and Employability page.

Campus and facilities

You’ll mainly be studying in the purpose-built Health & Allied Professions (HAP) Centre.  The 34,000 square foot building features mock hospital wards, consultation and counselling rooms, creative teaching spaces and specialist equipment.

Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep our students busy between lectures. Catch-up with your coursemates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in chic and stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!

You’re also right next to the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. All through termtime, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.

Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.

Entry requirements

UK students

Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications

Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications

Other requirements: An interview, and GCSE English, Maths and a Health or Science related subject at grade C / 4.

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

International students

Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four A levels. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

Other requirements: An interview, and GCSE English, Maths and a Health or Science related subject at grade C / 4.

Please note: Due to the mandatory teaching and placement requirements of this course, we are unable to accept applications from individuals with a Tier 2 Skilled Worker Visa.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£9,535 per year

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including NTU bursaries and scholarships.

NHS Learning Support Fund

As an NTU student you would be eligible to apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund (NHS LSF) which offers eligible students additional support while studying for their degree.

The new package includes:

  • training grant of £5,000 per year
  • parental support payment of £2,000 per student per year to help with childcare costs
  • specialist subject payment of £1,000 per year for students on degrees that struggle to recruit, including mental health and learning disability nursing
  • help towards additional travel and accommodation costs to clinical placements over your normal daily travel costs
  • an exceptional hardship fund of up to £3,000 per student per academic year.

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees, including the placement year and study abroad options are subject to government policy and may change in future years of study.

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but we don’t want you to feel anxious or confused about it. Visit our fees and funding pages if you have any concerns.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.
  • £17,500 per year

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees might increase from the second year of your undergraduate course, in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

Scholarships

We offer international scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for a scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money and the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment of £6,000 when you've accepted your offer to study at NTU. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, before the start date of your course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about advance payments, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Most modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) - meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, you can email our Student Money Team or phone us on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

How to apply

If you want to be a registered nurse in Adult or Mental Health, apply today by clicking the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Writing your application and personal statement

This is your opportunity to sell yourself by telling us who you are today and who you want to be in the future. Write about why you want to be a nurse and why your knowledge, skills and previous experiences are important to this profession. What subjects have you studied that are important to you and to nursing; what work experience have you had that has made an impact on you and may help you in nursing; what hobbies and interest do you have. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!

Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.

Fees and funding

Preparing for the financial side as  a student nurse will be very important as you will be studying for 45 weeks of the year, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494

Additional costs and funding

The government revised the funding stream for nurse training in 2017 where student nurses would be eligible for student loans toward their education as the bursary system is no longer in place within England. Students will be funded for and provided with NTU’s practice learning placement uniforms although: additional items may incur a cost; and some placement providers may not require uniform but professional clothing that will not be funded.

Assistance with funding, scholarship and financial awards may be available via independent sponsors, please visit:

- Top Universities - Nursing- Scholarships - Around the World

You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.

Application advice

Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example.  After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Writing your personal statement

Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.