Key information
UCAS code:
B760/Non-UCAS
Typical offer:
112-120 UCAS points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent, with 32 UCAS points from a Science or Social Science subject
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
Empathy, compassion, commitment – become a Mental Health Nurse with our BN (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) degree and make a positive difference to people’s lives every day.
On this course developed and delivered with local NHS partners, you’ll benefit from extensive time spent working with patients in real healthcare settings, building key skills in mental health assessment and care.
Course highlights
- Explore what mental health nurses do and work on communication with simulated patients in our Centre for Simulation in Health and Care, one of the country’s leading teaching healthcare environments
- Observe, assess and engage with patients in professional and local community environments
- Study a nursing course approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- Be eligible to register with the NMC as a mental health nurse on graduation
Access extra funding for your nursing degree
Receive additional funding through the NHS Learning Support Fund bursary.
UK students on this course may be eligible for additional funding of at least £5,000 a year.
Approved by:
This course has been approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), meaning the course meets the standards of education, training, conduct and performance required for nurses in the UK.
For pre-registration nursing, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018, Part 1: Standards Framework for nursing and midwifery education, 5.12, page 12) state that there is no compensation between theory and practice learning.
This course will prepare graduates to be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). It is your responsibility to seek registration with the NMC, on completion of your course. This registration must be sought within 5 years of successful completion of your course.
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What's the difference between BN Adult and Mental Health Nursing?
Our BN (Hons) Adult Nursing course focuses on how the human body works and supporting patients with acute or lifelong physical illnesses, while BN (Hons) Mental Health Nursing is more to do with supporting those with mental health conditions and building skills in mental health assessment and care.
Learn more about what mental health nursing is and what mental health nurses do
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsClearing is open
This course is available through Clearing.
How to apply for accommodation
We have a variety of accommodation options, including studios, en-suites, catered, self-catered and private rental options. See how our housing team can help you find a place to call home.
Clearing FAQs
To work out your UCAS points, use our UCAS Calculator to work out how many UCAS points you have.
The tariff calculator will allow you to see what grades you need to get into your preferred course at Portsmouth.
You can apply through Clearing if:
- You don't meet the conditions of your offer for your firm (first) or insurance (second) choice courses
- Your exam results are better than you expected and you want to change your course or university
- You don't hold any offers
- You've accepted an offer but changed your mind about the course you want to do
- You're applying for the first time after 30 June 2024
After we make you an offer we'll send you a confirmation email. This email will let you know what you need to do next and it will tell you what you need to provide us. In some instances we may ask you to send us copies of certificates or you may need to send us a portfolio.
If you've previously applied through UCAS you'll need to use your UCAS Hub to accept our offer by adding us as your Clearing choice.
If you're having issues, please contact us on +44 (0)23 9284 8090 or admissions@port.ac.uk
Once you've accepted your Clearing course offer, we'll be in touch with details of available accommodation in the area. This will include our latest hall availability and support to find local rented accommodation via portsmouthstudentpad.co.uk
See our accommodation page for more information.
No, it's not too late and you should make your application for student finance as soon as possible. You don't have to wait for your results. You can make your application now and just amend it when you know where you're going to be.
If you've already applied for your student loan, you'll need to log into your account and update details about your new course/university. If you haven't applied for your student loan yet, don't panic. Apply today – it only takes 30 minutes.
Find out more in our Student finance for Clearing guide.
If you're an EU or international student and you need a visa to study here, you need to start the process quickly as visas can take some time to come through. Get in touch with our visa support team if you have a question or problem.
See more on visa advice.
If you would like further information or guidance, please contact our international office or call our International Clearing Hotline on +44(0)23 9284 8785.
Entry requirements
BN (Hons) Nursing Mental Health entry requirements
Typical offers
- A levels - BBB-BBC
- UCAS points - 112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent, with 32 points from a Science or Social Science subject.
- T-levels - Merit. Acceptable T Level Subjects:
T Level in Health (Acceptable Occupational Specialisms: Supporting the adult nursing team, Supporting the mental health team), T Level in Healthcare Science (Acceptable Occupational Specialisms: Assisting with healthcare science), T Level in Science (Acceptable Occupational Specialisms: Laboratory sciences, Metrology sciences) - BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
- International Baccalaureate - 25
You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.
Selection process
- All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview in support of their application.
- If successful, applicants will be required to declare if they have been subject to any disciplinary procedures of fitness to practice by any other regulator, professional body, employer or educational establishment.
- Applicants must pass Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational Health checks before starting the course.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 7.0 with a minimum component score of 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking, and 6.5 in writing.
See alternative English language qualifications.
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
We look at more than just your grades
While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.
Values and the NHS Constitution
We embed the principles and values of the NHS Constitution in all our health and social care courses. When you apply for this course, we’ll expect you to demonstrate how your values align with the values of the Constitution.
Your facilities
Centre for Simulation in Health and Care
Explore mental health care scenarios in our Simulation Centre, complete with wards, GP clinic and care home area.
Careers and opportunities
Mental Health Nursing plays an important role in healthcare and the need for mental health services is growing.
The NHS is seeking 27,000 people to join the mental health sector by 2023/24, and the coronavirus pandemic is likely to mean even more people need mental health support moving forward.
Providing care that changes lives
On this Mental Health Nursing degree, you'll discover how to become an effective mental health nurse and develop the skills, confidence and understanding to support people in need. You'll learn how to make difficult decisions based on evidence and build the fundamental skills needed for personal nursing care.
You'll be ready to start a challenging yet hugely rewarding career by becoming a mental health nurse, and you can choose to work with people from certain age and vulnerability groups, such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), or Older People’s Mental Health (OPMH). With experience, you could work in GP liaison, nurse education, or leadership and management.
NMC registration
When you graduate, you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which allows you to work as a Registered Nurse in the UK.
Potential salary
As an NHS nurse in 2021, you could expect a starting salary of £25,655 moving up to £31,534 (Band 5).
With more experience as a senior mental health nurse, you could earn from £32,306 to £39,027 (Band 6) and with a role in management or consultancy, you could make up to £90,387 (Band 8d).
What jobs can you do with a Nursing (Mental Health) degree?
Once you graduate, you'll be ready to start your mental health nursing career and take on a mental health nurse role within a variety of settings, including:
- Adult Mental Health (AMH)
- Older People's Mental Health (OPMH)
- Community Mental Health
- Crisis Mental Health
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
- Assessment and Recovery
With more experience, you could then develop your mental health nursing career further and move into roles such as:
- Practice educator
- Specialist practitioner
- Advanced clinical practitioner
- Crisis team leader
- Clinical researcher
- Leadership and management
- Nurse education
- Nurse prescriber
- GP liaison
Ongoing careers support
After you graduate, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability Service as you advance in your career. Other graduates have continued their studies at postgraduate level or set up successful businesses with help and support from the University.
Clinical placements
You'll spend a large amount of time on this course in clinical practice placements. These placements give you practical experience in caring for people with acute and long-term physical and mental health conditions of all kinds, in many settings. Together with our partner trusts, we'll develop you into a confident, independent, adaptable and professional Mental Health Nurse.
Placement destinations
Our placement partners include Solent NHS Trust, Southern Health, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, Inclusion (Sub-Misuse), and Liaison and Diversion (Custody).
Recent students have completed placements that link theory to practice in the following areas:
- community mental health services
- dementia and older persons services
- urgent treatment/care – such as crisis resolution home treatment teams (CRHTT)
- inpatient settings
- acute mental health units
- forensic inpatient units
- children and young people’s mental health services
- early intervention services (EIS)
- perinatal mental health services
So that you're fully prepared for practice in the mental health sector, a key element of your work experience will be working shifts at weekends and at night, as there's demand for mental health care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Attending these work experience opportunities may require a lot of travel.
Modules
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
You'll need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits in each year. For example, 4 modules worth 20 credits and 1 module worth 40 credits.
What you'll study
Core modules
All modules in this year are core.
As you gain academic awareness and an understanding of different perspectives, you'll be able to identify your own personal learning needs, formulate a development plan, identify and retrieve evidence and outline the concept of evidence based practice. By summarising evidence about a specific area of practice, you'll learn to critique health inequalities, understand public health, and the delivery of health and social care. When you finish, you'll confidently apply your study skills to key public health issues.
Through lectures about clinical and academic support, you'll develop resilience strategies for the workplace. You'll participate in practice-based learning and demonstrate your expertise and professional attitude – applying classroom theory to real nursing scenarios and cementing your knowledge, values, and skills in nursing practice. This module contributes to meeting NMC Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses. You'll also need to complete the requirements for the 'Passport to Practice' before attending placements.
Learn to view patients as equals when planning, developing and monitoring care and gain knowledge around legal, professional and ethical patient issues that impact nursing scope and boundaries. You'll build your understanding on the benefits and challenges of personalised care through reflective exercises of your values, attitudes and assumptions. By successfully applying your learning, you'll demonstrate NMC standards of proficiencies.
You'll develop the communication skills needed to obtain patient histories and convey assessment findings to teams. You'll demonstrate a strong understanding on anatomical structures and physiological processes, including the major organ systems and learn to perform accurate physical checks, applying your abilities when evaluating and planning care. By gaining knowledge in the science that informs practice, you'll take steps towards meeting NMC and HCPC standards.
Core modules
All modules in this year are core.
You'll continue to participate in practice-based learning and demonstrate your expertise and professional attitude. You'll showcase your knowledge and skills in medicine management as you identify your learning and development needs through an action plan.
By evaluating the challenges faced by interprofessional teams in delivering safe, person-centred care, you'll be prepared to reduce and manage errors and near misses. Reflecting on human factors and behaviors that enable safety, you'll analyse the role of organisations and professional bodies, and how they deliver effective and quality improved care. When you finish, you'll confidently understand the individual and professional responsibilities in delivering safe and effective care as a healthcare professional.
Build on your existing scientific and nursing knowledge and analyse how a range of tools are used to support a mental health diagnosis. Examine how the Mental Health Act can be applied to specific case studies and how mental health services can support people at various stages of their lives. By developing your specialist nursing knowledge, you'll learn to confidently deliver person centred mental health assessments and interventions, as required.
By exploring ethical considerations and selecting appropriate approaches, you'll explore the stages involved in the design and planning of a project in health or social care. You'll discuss the strengths and weaknesses of published evidence that inform practice and consider the barriers, enablers, and contextual factors surrounding evidence based decision-making.
Examine psychological therapies that support recovery while mitigating risks and considering cultural, political and biopsychosocial influences. Through seminars and simulation, you'll develop compassionate care planning abilities and consider how this is is applied to practice. You'll also explore the development of self awareness and the therapeutic use of self and psychodynamic phenomen.
Core modules
All modules in this year are core.
You'll explore collaborative practice models that enhance patient experiences and consider the term 'poly pharmacy' in relation to prescribed medication, potential side effects, illegal substances and alcohol. By examining the relationship between physical and mental health, you'll assess how the Mental Health Nurse's awareness of this ensures that needs are identified and addressed. You'll apply this knowledge during a clinical placement, cementing your understanding of guiding policies and legislation that inform and guide mental health practice.
You'll enhance your skills in care planning, medicines management and emergency priorities – including supervising junior staff. By compassionately managing caseloads and reflecting on patient-centred care, you'll be prepared to take on the responsbilities of a registered nurse and adopt the attitudes and values expected of the role.
Through engaged discussion and critical evaluation, you'll apply ethical, legal, and professional frameworks to manage care efficiently. You'll develop your understanding of clinical governance and quality improvements by examining clinical leadership qualities and how they apply to personalised care. You'll discuss the importance of supporting equality and diversity when responding to legal and professional challenges. With strengthened abilities for reflective practice, clinical judgment, and supportive communication, you'll confidently overcome challenges in team based working and successfully deliver safe care.
You'll get the opportunity to independently analyse a specific area of nursing practice and design a quality improvement project that solves a clinical issue. Drawing on evidence-based practice, you'll generate innovative solutions for enhancing service delivery in your chosen area of interest and build your knowledge on methods that introduce change in clinical practice. You'll be equipped with crucial skills to implement these changes, including critical thinking, project planning, stakeholder engagement, and measuring outcomes. When you finish, you'll have the valuable capabilities to proactively and collaboratively lead and influence change in practice.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- independent study
- workplace simulation
How you're assessed
You’ll be assessed through:
- Academic work including essays, reports, case studies and reflective accounts
- Performance-based clinical practice assessments including objective structured clinical examinations and activity in simulation
- In-class tests and examinations
- Presentations and scientific posters
- Work-based projects
- Online learning activities
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select.
How you'll spend your time
One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.
We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.
Term dates
The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.
Supporting you
The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
You'll have help from a team of faculty learning support tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
- Full-time UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,535 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
This course isn't currently open to International and EU students.
Funding your studies
Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.
Additional funding for your nursing degree – at least £5,000 a year
As a student on this course, you may be eligible for extra funding for your nursing degree through the NHS Learning Support Fund. The bursary is non-repayable and is in addition to any other support you are eligible for, including Government student loans.
For more information, including eligibility criteria, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Your uniform is included as part of your course fee, but you’ll need to pay £20–£50 for extra or replacement uniforms. You won’t need to pay for a replacement due to fair wear and tear. You’ll also need to supply your own suitable footwear for placements.
You’ll need to purchase clinical items over the course of your study. You should budget around £50 for this.
You’ll need to pay the travel costs associated with your placement, though the NHS may meet some of these costs.
You may have an opportunity to undertake a placement. There are several options for this placement, and you may choose to go abroad. If you want to go abroad or travel within the UK, you need to budget between £1000–£5000. You'll need to cover all your expenses for this placement.
Apply
How to apply
To start this course full-time in 2025, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
- the UCAS course code – B760
- our institution code – P80
If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
EU and international students
Sorry, this course isn't currently open to international or EU students.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.
For pre-registration nursing, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, (2018, Part 3: Standards for pre-registration nursing programmes, page 8), indicate that recognition of prior learning that is capable of being mapped to the Standards of Proficiency for registered nurses and programme outcomes, is permitted, up to a maximum of 50% of the programme.
Common questions
Can't find the answer to your questions about this course or anything else about undergraduate life? Contact us.
Mental health nursing involves working with and supporting people with mental health conditions.
Mental Health Nurses are able to use a wide range of nursing skills in the assessment, care planning and delivery of both physical and mental health care needs.
The role of a mental health nurse includes caring for and building positive relationships with patients, their families and carers, focusing on recovery and helping patients to live fuller and more independent lives.
Mental Health Nurses work as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team to provide holistic (biopsychosocial) care for patients and service users within a range of environments and across all age ranges – from pregnancy to end of life care.
The main route to become a Mental Health Nurse is by completing a Mental Health Nursing course at a University.
At Portsmouth, our Nursing courses have been co-created with our NHS Trust partners and service user groups to ensure that your studies reflect the needs of both the community and local employers.