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Nursing (Mental Health)

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Plymouth Site

Course summary

Ready to make a difference? As a mental health nurse at Plymouth, you'll build therapeutic relationships and gain valuable clinical and communication skills. Work in a number of settings, supporting people on their recovery journey.

Simulation and support
At Plymouth, our cutting-edge simulation suites let you immerse yourself in healthcare environments, so you can confidently practise complex clinical scenarios in a safe and supportive setting.

Real experience where it matters
You will gain diverse practical experience by working with healthcare providers across coastal and rural communities in the South West, giving you first-hand knowledge of challenges in healthcare, working as a valued member of the team.

Shape future healthcare
You'll get the opportunity to study with students from other healthcare professions, giving you insight into how real teams come together to care for people. Play your part in shaping contemporary healthcare initiatives and latest research to shape the future of mental health.

This course is for you if...

  • you're committed to making a profound impact on individuals' mental health

  • you are good at building relationships with empathy

  • you're keen to develop clinical and communication skills for mental health care

  • you're a team player ready to shape positive change for people through healthcare.

Modules

Year 1
Your first year introduces you to being an accountable professional, whilst developing the knowledge and skills required to become a confident, academic and independent learner. You will gain an understanding of human development, key body systems and their relationship to nursing care. A range of effective therapeutic interpersonal skills to promote engagement and helpful collaborative person-centred conversations will be nurtured within the theory and the two practice components during the year. You will be introduced to the importance of assessing, planning, providing and evaluating health and wellbeing in a broad range of contexts. You will learn and develop the values, knowledge and skills required for the successful achievement of the standards of proficiency required for the first NMC progression point. Modules will have field specific application.

Year 2
In your second year you will be introduced to research methodology and methods in order to develop your knowledge of the application of research-based evidence to professional practice. You will study the pathophysiological processes involved in commonly encountered health conditions to support nursing interventions. Your knowledge and understanding of co-ordinating care for complex health needs will be developed, as well as in relation to public health, policies and legislation. You will become a knowledgeable practitioner with an understanding of pharmacology and safe practice in the management of medicines. The theory and two practice components of the year will develop your values, knowledge and skills required for the successful achievement of the standards of proficiency required for the second NMC progression point. Modules will have field specific application.

Final year
Year three allows you to critically explore the concepts of management, leadership and working in teams. You will extend your knowledge around critical appraisal and the importance of research evidence to professional practice. Within four field specific modules you will develop knowledge and skills in a range of key therapeutic approaches for working with people with serious mental health problems or complex needs, and appropriate service approaches. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the ‘lived experience’ of those engaging with mental health and social care services and develop your competence in nursing clients with complex needs in a range of care settings. You will build on and develop the values, knowledge and skills required for the successful achievement of the final NMC progression point. Your final module will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to perform as a capable and autonomous practitioner, fit for registration in your field of nursing practice.

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

Assessment method

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Nursing and Midwifery Council

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
B761
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Plymouth Site
Campus Code:
P

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

International applicants

The University of Plymouth has a dedicated International Student Advice (ISA) service who will support you from the day you accept an offer at the University, right through to graduation. They will offer help and advice so you can get the most out of your studies, and your time in the UK, visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/services/international-students/international-student-advice for more information. Once you have applied through UCAS, your conditional offer letters will also be sent to you by email, so be sure to enter your current email address on your application and to check this email regularly. You'll need your unconditional letter, and the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) that we'll send you, when applying for your student visa to the UK. A tuition fee deposit will be required before we'll send you the CAS. We're a licenced Sponsor under the Points Based System. To comply with our duties as a Sponsor, we're required to check other aspects of your application in addition to your academic achievements, for example any previous studies, financial status and your immigration history in the UK. For course entry requirements (inc. English requirements) please refer to the specific page for the course you are interested in (www.plymouth.ac.uk/study). A recognised English language qualification (e.g. IELTS) would be required or successful completion of one of the University's pre-sessional English Language courses. Check our country pages to find out more about application from your specific home country www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/study/international-students-country-guides. International fees, please visit our fees and funding pages www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees. If you have any questions please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 104 points

104 points to include a minimum of 2 A Levels - science subjects preferred.

A level

104 points to include a minimum of 2 A Levels - science subjects preferred.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM

Health / Science subjects preferred

Access to HE Diploma

Pass with 33 credits at Merit or Distinction including 15 at Science / Social Science . Grade C/4 at GCSE English and Maths required. Please note applicants studying Access courses, we only require GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4 or above alongside not 5 GCSE’s in total. Please make contact with our Admissions Team for further advice

Scottish Higher

Considered in combination with Advanced Highers

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

considered in combination

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

considered in combination

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

considered in combination

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

considered in combination

Scottish Advanced Higher

104 to include CC at Advanced Highers. Science subjects preferred.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 26 points

Science, Health or Social Science is preferred English and Maths accepted within as GCSE equivalent

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales - C

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - C

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

Extended Project

Accepted in combination with other qualifications

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

104 to include Highers. Science subject preferred. English and Maths accepted within as GCSE equivalent

T Level - P

Pass overall with C in Core Component. Accepted pathway: Health.

5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above, including English, Maths, and Science. Functional Skills Level 2 Numeracy will be accepted in lieu of GCSE Mathematics. Functional Skills Level 2 English will be accepted in lieu of GCSE English Language

In addition to the above, evidence of academic study within the last five years is required. Ideally this should be at level 3 study however the academic admissions team will assess on a case by case basis.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
Interview

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7With 6.5 in all elements.
Full details of English Language requirements can be found on our website.

English Language Requirements https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At the University of Plymouth, we believe in building a welcoming and inclusive community that supports every student to achieve their full potential.

With our contextual offer scheme, we may extend offers below our standard entry criteria to those applicants whose circumstances and experiences could have impacted their education and academic performance. You can check your eligibility for a contextual offer using our online postcode checker.

Learn more on the University of Plymouth website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Data from:
This course and 6 other nursing and midwifery courses
Date range:
2022-2024

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

53% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

95 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

95 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For all information about tuition fees, please visit our fees and funding pages at www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees

  • Fees are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.

Sponsorship information

The Government is issuing Nursing students on courses from 2020 a payment of at least £5,000 a year, which they will not have to pay back. A further £3,000 of funding a year is available for eligible students. Find out more about the bursary at www.gov.uk/government/news/nursing-students-to-receive-5-000-payment-a-year

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