The BSc Nursing (Mental Health) is a three-year degree that prepares you to support people with a wide range of mental health needs. You will learn how to build therapeutic relationships, communicate with empathy and provide care that supports a person’s overall well-being. The course combines university teaching with practical experience in clinical settings, giving you the knowledge and confidence you need to become a registered mental health nurse.
Why this course
As many as one in three people in the UK have issues with their mental health at some stage of their life. Nurses who specialise in mental health, a complex and demanding area, work with GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists, and others, to help care for patients with mental illnesses.
As a mental health nurse, you focus on the therapeutic relationship with those with mental ill health, and with their families. You provide the support and treatment to meet their physical, psychological, social, mental and spiritual care needs. More than anything else, mental health nursing requires empathy, to care about the people you are working with.
Who should apply
There's never been a better time to train as a nurse! Not only is public appreciation for nurses growing, so is the funding. You can now apply for a £5000 grant that you won't need to pay back! Mental Health Nursing has been confirmed as a shortage group which means you will be eligible to apply for an additional £1000. There is also an extra £3000 funding available depending on your personal circumstances.
There are four main types of pre-registration nursing degree – child, learning disabilities, adult and mental health. At Essex we specialise in adult and mental health nursing courses, as well as offering apprenticeships for those already in employment in a healthcare setting and CPD courses for those who already have professional registration. For a full list of our undergraduate and research nursing courses, take a look at our subject pages.
The cost of required uniform will be fully covered by the school.
This course is a good fit for people who:
want to support others with patience, empathy and understanding
can listen carefully and communicate clearly with individuals and families
feel comfortable working with people during challenging or emotional moments
are able to build trust and form therapeutic relationships
enjoy working as part of a wider team that includes nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists and other professionals
are interested in the emotional, psychological and social aspects of health
want a career where they can make a meaningful difference to a person’s wellbeing
If you care about helping people through difficult times and want a role centred on compassion and connection, Mental Health Nursing could be the right choice for you.
What you’ll learn
During the course you will learn how to support people experiencing a wide range of mental health needs in a safe, compassionate and person centred way. You will develop the confidence to build therapeutic relationships, understand an individual’s experiences and work with them to plan and deliver the right care.
You will learn how to:
assess a person’s mental health needs and work closely with them to plan their care
communicate calmly and clearly during challenging or emotional moments
build trust with individuals and families and support them through their recovery
work as part of a team that includes psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and other professionals
promote dignity, choice and wellbeing in every aspect of care
understand the social, emotional and psychological factors that affect mental health
Throughout your studies you will also learn directly from members of our Service User Reference Group. Their lived experiences bring real insight into the impact of mental ill health and help shape your understanding of person centred practice.
Your learning experience
During your degree you will learn through a mix of classroom teaching, practical skills sessions and real experience in clinical settings. You will build confidence through simulation activities and work closely with staff, practice partners and members of our Service User Reference Group.
At Essex, your learning experience includes:
learning on our Colchester Campus using specialist facilities
hands on sessions in our clinical skills labs and simulation spaces
teaching that supports you in building strong communication and therapeutic skills
opportunities to learn alongside students from other health professions
support from academic staff, practice partners and service users
literacy and numeracy support to help you feel confident in all areas of your studies
preparation for placement through supervised skills practice and simulation
Placement opportunities
Half of your studies will be spent working in clinical settings – for example, in a ward, a health centre or in client's homes. You will be working alongside nurses as you practice and perfect your skills.
Placements are based in NHS, private and voluntary settings throughout Essex. You will work shift patterns whilst in placement equivalent to approximately a 37.5 hour week. This includes early shifts, late shifts, night shifts, weekend and bank holiday working.
Careers and employers
Mental health nursing can lead to many rewarding roles in a wide range of health and social care settings. Qualified nurses are needed in:
acute hospital wards
community nursing teams
GP surgeries
specialist services
care homes
private healthcare organisations
voluntary and charity sector services
This course gives you a strong foundation for a meaningful and people focused career, with the chance to progress and develop as you gain experience.
Graduates from this course go on to work with a variety of employers, including:
NHS Trusts across Essex and the wider region
community health and social care providers
private hospitals and clinics
voluntary and charity organisations
primary care settings such as GP practices
Making your application
Before you make your application, take a look at our frequently asked questions section at the bottom of our undergraduate department pages. Here you will find hints and tips on what we are looking for, as well as useful resources to help you prepare for interviews.
DBS and Occupational Health Checks
This course requires a satisfactory Occupational Health Check and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check (including child and adult barred list check) - both of these are organised by the University. Please contact our DBS team or Occupational Health team if you have any questions in relation to these checks.
A satisfactory Overseas Criminal Record Check/Local Police Certificate is also required, in addition to a DBS Check, where you have lived outside of the UK in the last 5 years for 6 months or more. Further information about how to obtain an Overseas Criminal Record check can be found on the Gov.uk website.
Vaccinations
We continue to recommend Covid and flu vaccination. This is to protect both yourself and the vulnerable people that you may meet throughout your placement.
Professional accreditation
Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of registration as a qualified nurse (mental health).
Why we're great.
Much of your study is spent in a variety of clinical settings, working alongside nurses and other professionals.
We'll nurture you, so upon successful completion of the course you'll be a highly skilled, knowledgeable practitioner who is sought after by employers.
You’ll learn in purpose-built simulation environments, including realistic clinical suites and immersive scenario training that prepare you for the demands of modern nursing practice.
Our expert staff
A unique feature of our School is that many of our staff work with local NHS Trusts and other local agencies, which enhances our grasp of the contemporary links between academic research, the major issues of the day and practice.
We specialise in applied, multidisciplinary research that addresses issues of national and international concern to health and social care policy and practice and related fields. We also host the NIHR Research Design Service for the East of England.
Specialist facilities
The School of Health and Social Care is based in the Kimmy Eldridge building at our Colchester Campus.
We have purpose-built nursing skills labs at Colchester designed to support your learning and reflect real clinical environments. View our image gallery and find out more about our nursing facilities.
Our dedicated support tutor will help you develop your academic literacy and clinical numeracy skills, enabling you to confidently apply these essential areas of study to real-life practice.
Your future
Successful completion of our BSc Nursing (Mental Health) Work-Based Learning, leads to eligibility to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) on the Professional Register as a “Registered Mental Health Nurse” allowing you to practise as a nurse in the UK.
86% of our graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024).
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
Our published entry requirements are a guide and we welcome applications from those who have achieved one of the below qualifications with lower grades but meet our GCSE Mathematics and English (or equivalent) requirement.
GCSEs: Mathematics and English Language C/4. Acceptable alternatives are listed further down this page
Plus one of the level 3 qualifications below:
A-levels: BBB - BBC or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
BTEC: DDM - DMM or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels.
Other UCAS tariff qualifications, and combined qualifications: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list on our undergraduate application information page.
IB: 30 - 29 points in the IB Diploma or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of 2 Higher Level subjects.
IB Career-related Programme: We consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications.
QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points.
T-levels: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points. We consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core.
We also consider vocational level 3 qualifications for entry. If you are taking or have achieved any qualifications that are not listed here, email Undergraduate Admissions.
GCSE/level 2 requirements
All applicants must have, or be working towards, acceptable level 2 Mathematics, and English qualifications such as GCSE grade C/4 or equivalent.
We accept OFQUAL regulated level 2 maths qualifications, including Functional Skills level 2, Key Skills level 2 or numeracy units taken as part of an Access to HE Diploma.
If you don't need a Student visa and are either a first language English speaker or have a lived in the UK for over three years, we can accept OFQUAL regulated level 2 English qualifications, including Functional Skills level 2, Key Skills level 2 or literacy units taken as part of an Access to HE Diploma.
Additional requirements
This course has additional requirements including pass of an interview, a satisfactory reference, Occupational Health Check and Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check. For more information see the Health and Social Care Undergraduate page
Contextual Offers:
We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. We make Contextual Offers, of up to two A-level grades (or equivalent) below our standard conditional offer, to applicants from underrepresented groups residing in the UK. Our Contextual Offers policy outlines the full eligibility criteria.
For further information about what a Contextual Offer may look like for your specific qualification profile, email ugquery@essex.ac.uk.
If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page or get in touch with our Undergraduate Admissions Team at ugquery@essex.ac.uk.
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Undergraduate Admissions team at ugquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.
English language requirements
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 7.0 in all other components, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept can be found here
If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
English language shelf-life
Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.
If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Pending English language qualifications
You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.
If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk.
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College
Structure
Course structure
Our Nursing programmes consist of three terms per year. This structure adopts a developmental approach to the mastering of nursing skills and development of knowledge and understanding. It has a 50:50 split between theory and practice which means that for 50% of your programme, you undertake clinical practice by working with nurses in a variety of settings. Service user-centred care planning emphasises the holistic nature of health and illness. Alongside this experience, you are given the opportunity to rehearse practical skills in a controlled environment further preparing you for working in the practice environment.
As you undertake a significant part of your programme in placement areas we work in partnership with the NHS and the independent health and social care sector across Essex where you will spend your placement hours so that you gain the best clinical learning experiences. Whilst on placement you will have a mentor allocated to you and contact with a member of the academic team linked to that placement. You will work shift patterns whilst in placement equivalent to a 37.5 hour week. This includes early shifts, late shifts, night shifts, weekend and bank holiday working.
Attendance at all parts of this programme is compulsory (as are the modules you study) and must be evidenced in order to register as a nurse.
These carefully selected modules will give you the chance to explore, question, and create powerful ideas. Picked to give you an extensive and in-depth education, they'll equip you with the specialist knowledge, vital transferrable skills, and the confidence to make a genuine difference to the world around you.
We're reactive, we're pioneering, we never stand still, so modules might change from year to year in response to new developments and innovation. Those listed below show how a typical course might look, but more detail on course structure, including details of all optional modules, is available on our Programme Specification.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.
Components and modules explained
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
Status
What this means
Core
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
HR
100
4
FY
The department or school the module will be taught by.
In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.
Applying knowledge of behavioural sciences provides the foundations for understanding people’s lived experiences of mental and emotional wellbeing and distress, enables nurses to deliver person-centred nursing care, and supports practices that encourage environmental and behavioural changes. This module prepares students in the fundamentals of behavioural sciences as applied to nursing. It recognises the interaction of environmental and individual circumstances that shape and influence behaviours and ‘choices’.
The module introduces and applies best practice approaches to managing situations where students observe mental and emotional distress, neglect, abuse, aggression, self-harm and suicidal ideation in a range of contexts and settings.
Applying knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology provides the foundations for understanding people's lived experiences of physical health, physical deterioration and distress. This knowledge also enables nurses to deliver person-centred care and initiate interventions that reduce distress and restore homeostasis. This module prepares students in the fundamentals of life sciences as applied to nursing. It recognises the interaction of the external and internal environments that shape and influence people's experiences of physical health. The module introduces and applies best practice approaches to managing situations where students observe physical ill health, distress, and deterioration in a range of contexts and settings.
This module prepares students for practice-based learning and to assess, plan and deliver person-centred care. Students will develop confidence and competence in the range of fundamental nursing knowledge, proficiencies and procedures and develop an understanding of their professional accountability as a registered nurse. Students will also be introduced to fundamental research capabilities so that they can locate, identify and incorporate evidence from a range of sources with their emergent practice.
Recognising the political, social and environmental determinants of health and wellbeing are fundamental in allowing nurses to challenge health inequalities and discrimination. This module prepares students in the fundamentals of health promotion and protection, within the context of these determinants. It takes a critical public health perspective to identify how political and social structures have consequences for the health and wellbeing of people and populations. The module applies this emergent understanding to the role of nurses in health promotion and health screening to improve and maintain the health, wellbeing and welfare of the people, communities and populations they work with.
This module has been designed to enable students to integrate their subject knowledge with an understanding of sustainable development, acquiring the skills and competencies essential for addressing the urgent sustainability challenges of the 21st century.
Advocacy is a central tenet of the philosophies and practices of healthcare provisioning and central to the critical study and engagement with global public health.
Drawing on the principles of social justice, this module encourages you to critically consider what it means to be an advocate for the right to health of people who are seeking to access and use health services, and to explore strategies to constructively and actively resist those practices and policies that have detrimental consequences for groups of people.
You will be able to choose between this module and HS958 - Public Mental Health
This module prepares students to participate in practice-based learning, reasoning and decision-making to deliver person-centred care. Students will develop confidence and competence in the range of enhanced nursing proficiencies and nursing procedures.
Students will develop and demonstrate emergent leadership, collaborating with service users and other professions to make decisions about how person-centred care is provided to an individual or small group of people.
Relationship-based practice is central to the provision of safe and compassionate person-centred care. This module comprehensively prepares students in relationship-based practices that provide the foundations for person-centred nursing care. Students will develop proficiency in approaches to skilled communication and relationship management (Annexe A Section 2), NMC standards, and approaches for providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions (Annexe A, Section 3)
Students will consider how these approaches apply in different situations and fields of practice.
This module allows students to review and appraise the resources, interventions and therapies at the disposal of registered nurses and to select appropriately from these to provide safe and effective care in the complex situations that nursing can operate within. The delivery of any intervention or therapy requires careful consideration in terms of both the evidence base for that intervention and safeguarding people's autonomy in the decision-making process. The module will draw upon experiences of working with people with a range of physical and mental health co-morbidities.
Monitoring and evaluating the quality of care practices and services, and making subsequent service changes are fundamental for improving the safety and quality of care. Improvements in care and treatment that enhance the outcomes that people experience can be transformative when the people whose experiences matter most are involved in the design of the service.
This module offers students the opportunity to work closely with people with lived experience, citizens and service users to consult on, develop, co-design and lead participatory quality improvement initiatives. Students will select questions and issues that are important to people, and co-design a proposal to address these issues in partnership with people with lived experience, quality and education leads in partner organisations, and the support of an academic supervisor.
This module prepares students to lead, manage and coordinate care during practice-based learning experiences. Students will develop independence in the range of enhanced mental health nursing proficiencies and procedures.
Students will demonstrate critical, reflective, and person-centred leadership when working with others, and demonstrate proficiency in managing the complexities and ambiguities of challenging and conflicting episodes of mental health care.
Preparation in the principles of supervision and feedback ensures that students are ready to act as practice supervisors and are ready to learn to become practice assessors at the point of registration. Students will consider approaches to clinical and practice supervision and how these contribute to the development of peers and learners. Students will have the opportunity to supervise and coach less experienced students in both practice and university-based/simulated settings (e.g. in Person-Centred Care 1 and selected other modules.)
Students will enhance and develop an awareness of cultural competence, processes of constructive feedback, reflective appraisal, and formative and summative assessment. They will be encouraged to develop approaches to coaching and supervision whilst considering how to challenge circumstances that impact upon the quality of a learning environment.
The Autonomous Practitioner - Mental Health Nursing
(20 CREDITS)
This module consolidates learning around compassionate, clinical leadership in mental health nursing. Students will consider the accountabilities and human consequences associated with their own and others' leadership decisions at the point of care.
They will be supported to explore the complexities and uncertainties of clinical situations. Students will critically examine how the 'quality' of care is defined, measured and audited, and the impact of these measurements on the lived experiences of people. They will reflect upon their own professional development needs and proactively plan their own development.
Nursing students undertake 50% of the programme on placement in clinical practice and 50% undertaking campus-based study. On a typical week when on campus , nursing students will undertake 37.5 hours of study, this is usually made up of 30 hours of on-campus teaching and 7.5 hours of self-directed study. On placement in clinical practice, nursing students will work a shift pattern equivalent to approximately 37.5 hours per week, including early shifts, late shifts, night shifts, weekend and bank holiday working. Nursing students are required to gain experience of the range of hours that nurses work and will be expected to follow the shift patterns worked in a range of clinical departments.
Lectures inform you of the most important topics, with classes allowing you to consolidate your learning through discussion
We work closely in partnership with the NHS and the independent health sector to provide placement opportunities
Modules have their own accompanying webpages on Moodle where you can download relevant readings, power-points, podcasts and YouTube clips, and contribute to online discussions
Assessment
You will be assessed through presentations, coursework and assessments of practical settings
You will also undertake two written exams, one in year one and the other in year two
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£9,790 per year
International fee
£24,360 per year
Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
If your course has the option to include a placement year or study abroad, and you choose to do so, you will pay the following:
Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer.
You have the chance to:
tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff
Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.
Our UK students, and some of our EU and international students, who are still at school or college, can apply through their school. Your school will be able to check and then submit your completed application to UCAS. Our other international applicants (EU or worldwide) or independent applicants in the UK can also apply online through UCAS Apply.
The UCAS code for our University of Essex is ESSEX E70. The individual campus codes for our Loughton and Southend Campuses are ‘L' and ‘S' respectively.
You can find further information on how to apply, including information on transferring from another university, applying if you are not currently at a school or college, and applying for readmission on our How to apply and entry requirements page.
If you receive an undergraduate offer to study with us in October 2026 and live in the UK, you will receive an email invitation to book onto one of our Open Days. These events provide the opportunity to meet your department, join interesting taster sessions, tour our campus and accommodation, and chat to current students. You can visit our Open Days event page for more information, including terms and conditions.
Interview
Undergraduate students who apply for our health-related courses are required to pass a compulsory interview before an offer can be made. If you are shortlisted for interview based on your application, you will be invited to interview with us via Microsoft Teams. We use the interview as an opportunity to get to know you, to find out about your ambitions, and assess how prepared you are for the course. It's important for us to be sure that you know what you're signing up for, so we'd expect you've done some research about the course and the associated careers it may lead to. We have some more information about how to demonstrate you have what it takes at the bottom of our undergraduate page
If you're successful at interview, you will receive an email invitation to book onto one of our Applicant Days after your offer is made. Our Colchester Campus Applicant Days run from February to May 2023 on various Wednesdays and Saturdays, and our Southend Campus Applicant Days run from March to June 2023 on various weekdays and Saturdays. Applicant Days provide the opportunity to meet your department, tour our campus and accommodation, and chat to current students. For further information, please head to our Applicant Days webpage.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and
Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.
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