BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing
Course
options
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Science
- UCAS Course Code
- B760
- Typical Offer
- BBB
- Contextual Offer
- BCC
- Course Length
- 3 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2026
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Why you should choose us
95%
Of graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 months after the course
Graduate Outcome Survey 2020Course Overview
Join UEA’s BSc Mental Health Nursing programme and take the first step toward a rewarding and impactful career. With one in four people experiencing mental health challenges at some point in their lives, mental health nursing has never been more vital. We’re committed to delivering a world-class education that will equip the next generation of mental health professionals to address the evolving landscape of mental health.
With a strong reputation for healthcare education, state-of-the-art facilities, and innovative research, this is the ideal place to launch your career in this field of nursing. You'll benefit from research-led teaching as well as access to clinical expertise. You'll undertake placements in diverse settings such as NHS hospitals, community mental health teams, crisis intervention units, and rehabilitation centres.
The programme covers both foundational nursing skills and specialised mental health topics, working across the life span from birth to death, supporting individuals with a variety of mental health presentations including more complex conditions such as eating disorders, psychosis, PTSD, and personality disorders. The curriculum is built around contemporary mental health concerns, such as digital mental health interventions, the impact of social media on well-being, and the growing need for trauma-informed care.
At UEA, our curriculum emphasises compassionate, holistic care. You'll learn how to address mental health issues by considering psychological, sociological, and biological factors, alongside medical treatment. As well as employing service-users/ex-service users wherever possible to support your learning in the classroom, our patient-centred approach helps reduce stigma and promotes long-term recovery and well-being.
We provide a supportive and inclusive learning environment, with small class sizes and personal tutors who ensure you feel valued throughout your studies.
Graduates of our Mental Health Nursing programme are highly sought after by employers. With strong connections to the NHS and private healthcare providers, you'll be well-positioned for a range of careers in hospitals, community settings, and specialist mental health services.
The UEA Nursing Excellence Framework
At UEA, we are committed to developing nurses who excel in every aspect of their profession through our core values of: Collaboration, Ambition, Respect, and Empowerment (CARE).
Our Nursing Excellence Framework shapes reflective, evidence-based, and values-driven nurses - ready to make a real impact in healthcare.
Why Choose UEA Nursing?
At UEA, we believe in equipping nurses with the tools to transform lives and shape the future of healthcare. Our simulation-based learning, dynamic practice placements, and inclusive educational environment ensure that every graduate achieves their full potential.
UEA Nurses Lead the Way—Empowered, Skilled, Inspired.
Ready to start your journey?
Accreditations
This programme is validated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). All students must complete an annual declaration that they’re of Good Health and Character to meet the NMC requirements to continue on the programme.
Study and Modules
Structure
The course follows a traditional degree structure and is spread over three years. You'll study alongside students from child and adult nursing, allowing you to benefit from interprofessional collaboration and the sharing of knowledge and clinical expertise.
In each year of the mental health nursing degree, you'll engage with both theory and practice learning. The degree alternates between academic terms and blocks of clinical practice.
In your first year, you'll explore the nature of nursing and develop your clinical and communication skills, which will be assessed in both the university and practice settings. You’ll also study the biological and behavioural sciences that inform nursing practice. As well as drawing on psychiatric literature, you’ll look at mental illness as a social construct and learn about mental wellbeing as well as mental ill health.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our degree programme employs a range of learning methods, designed to link the theory and practice of nursing.
Throughout the course, you'll cultivate your ability to learn autonomously and in partnership with others, including wider healthcare teams. In academic modules, you'll learn through small-group teaching, lectures (in person and online) and self-directed study. In your clinical practice placements, you'll gain hands-on experience working alongside registered nurses and members of the multi-disciplinary team. Your clinical practice placements are designed to reflect the typical working patterns of a qualified nurse.
Assessment
You'll be assessed using a range of methods, carefully chosen to reflect your ability to apply the relevant theory to practice.
Year one assessments include a range of contemporary approaches including written assignments, presentations, and posters.
Your performance during clinical placements will be assessed to evaluate your practical competency over the course of the three-year programme.
Structure
In year two, you’ll continue to build your skills and knowledge in professional practice. You’ll start to develop the principles of mental health nursing and gain an insight into the clinical settings in which nurses work such as public health, acute services, community, and research. Learning to adapt and respond to changes in society and developments in care, you’ll be able to stay on the front line of contemporary thinking and practice. You’ll also explore therapeutic skills for use in practice with clients.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You'll have plenty of educational resources at your fingertips, including presentations, workbooks, and posters, as well as online platforms like virtual classrooms and other digital learning tools. You'll also have the chance to learn firsthand from individuals who have experienced healthcare services.
In your clinical practice placements, you'll learn with the support of registered nurses, healthcare team members, and service users. Your theoretical studies will complement your practical learning, enabling you to develop evidence-based practice skills essential for delivering safe and effective nursing care.
Assessment
In your second year, you'll be challenged with assessments aimed at linking theory and practice, including examinations, case studies and written assignments.
Structure
In your final year, you’ll continue to specialise in the field of mental health nursing and will focus on more complex patient and client needs.
In the final year of your studies, you can pursue a five-week placement of your own choosing, including the opportunity of an international placement. In addition to this, you'll choose one option module to study which will provide you with insight into a specific area of nursing.
You'll also complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice and begin to develop management and leadership skills as you prepare to enter professional practice.
Throughout the three years, you’ll encounter a strong emphasis on recovery and involving people in their care, with the aim of maximising achievements and social integration, positive mental health, values-based care, and reflective practice.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You'll be closely involved with individuals facing mental health challenges, as well as their families and caregivers. This hands-on experience will give you the confidence needed to start your career as a mental health nurse after graduation. By the end of your studies, you'll have compiled a personal learning profile, demonstrating your fulfillment of the requirements for professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
One of our primary objectives is to enhance your ability to learn independently and collaboratively with others, including within the broader healthcare team. You'll be encouraged to engage with a wide range of resources to support your learning and develop effective self-directed study techniques.
Assessment
In the final year, you'll complete a project which will illustrate your deeper understanding of the relationship between the theory and practice of nursing. The project encompasses a traditional dissertation alongside a service improvement initiative, highlighting your nuanced understanding of the intersection between nursing theory and practice.
In relation to your optional module, you'll create a poster and written explanation related to the module. Additionally, you'll keep an audio diary to show professional growth and learning.
Each year, you'll be assessed in practice during your placement, and you'll complete an online medicines calculation exam.
In your final year, you'll engage in a comprehensive capstone project, providing you with an opportunity to delve deeply into a subject area of personal interest.
Employability
After the Course
As a UEA Mental Health Nursing graduate, you'll be a highly sought-after healthcare professional. Your placements will mean you’ll have accrued enough time in practice to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You’ll graduate ready to start your career in any number of demanding yet rewarding environments, such as mental health in-patient areas, child, adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), and community mental health teams. You can specialise in areas such as eating disorders, ADHD, substance abuse, or perinatal mental health, or even work in places such as schools, prisons, or research environments. Mental health nurses also work in areas where nurses from other fields of practice are based – for example, emergency departments and GP surgeries.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- UK NHS Health care providers from inpatient to community settings.
- Private organisations
- The voluntary sector
- International nursing opportunities
- Research institute
- Higher Education Institute
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider:
- Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics
- Essential Skills Wales L2 Application of Number
- Essential Skills Northern Ireland L2 Application of Number
In place of English Language GCSE we can also consider:
- Functional Skills Level 2 English
- Essential Skills Wales L2 Communication
- Essential Skills Northern Ireland L2 Communication
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
BBB
Contextual offer: BCC
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual offer: DMM
See BTEC / OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 section below for further information on accepted subjects.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers.
Access to HE Diploma
Pass Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 45 credits at Level 3.
Contextual offer: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 30 credits at Level 3 and Pass in 15 credits at Level 3 in Health, Care or Science subject.
T levels
Obtain an overall Merit. Accepted subjects: Health, Healthcare Science, Science.
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
- Non-Academic Entry Requirements
Offers will be made to applicants after completion of successful interviews, and will be subject to a satisfactory occupational health check (including evidence of appropriate immunisations), an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Where applicable, an Overseas Police Check may be required. We will let you know what you need to do (and when) to meet these conditions if you are successful in gaining an offer.
If you have previously studied at degree level in a health based subject, we will want to see that you have passed all of the study that you have undertaken. We’ll be unable to consider you for this course if you’ve obtained an academic fail from a previous health based degree programme, including where an exit award has been achieved.
- Interviews
The strongest applicants will be invited to interview. Please note that meeting (or being predicted to meet) the minimum academic entry requirements will not guarantee that you will be selected for interview.
Interview invitations will be sent by email. Please keep a close eye on all emails from UEA after you submit your UCAS application. For more information on the application process and what to expect at each step, take a look at our handy Applying to HSC infographic, which explains the application journey from start to finish.
- Placements
During the course, no less than 50% of your time will be spent on practice placement. This might be in a variety of settings that include hospitals, community services, general practice, social services and voluntary or private organisations. Placement allocation occurs throughout the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
As this course includes patient facing placements in health or social care settings, and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement, or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- Recent Study
We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.
- Age on Entry
Applicants for this course need to be aged 18 or over by 31 December 2026. This is owing to the integrated nature of placements within the first year of the course and safeguarding implications. In view of this, applicants who will not be 18 years old or over by this date, should consider applying for deferred entry.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider:
- Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics
- Essential Skills Wales L2 Application of Number
- Essential Skills Northern Ireland L2 Application of Number
In place of English Language GCSE we can also consider:
- Functional Skills Level 2 English
- Essential Skills Wales L2 Communication
- Essential Skills Northern Ireland L2 Communication
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
A levels
BBB.
Not accepted: Critical Thinking and General Studies.
International Baccalaureate
31 points overall.
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.
- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, UEA International Study Centre offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 7.0 overall (minimum 7.0 in reading, speaking and listening and 6.5 in writing)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
-
- Non-Academic Entry Requirements
Offers will be made to applicants after completion of successful interviews, and will be subject to a satisfactory occupational health check (including evidence of appropriate immunisations), an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Where applicable, an Overseas Police Check may be required. We will let you know what you need to do (and when) to meet these conditions if you are successful in gaining an offer.
If you have previously studied at degree level in a health based subject, we will want to see that you have passed all of the study that you have undertaken. We’ll be unable to consider you for this course if you’ve obtained an academic fail from a previous health based degree programme, including where an exit award has been achieved.
- Interviews
The strongest applicants will be invited to interview. Please note that meeting (or being predicted to meet) the minimum academic entry requirements will not guarantee that you will be selected for interview.
Interview invitations will be sent by email. Please keep a close eye on all emails from UEA after you submit your UCAS application. For more information on the application process and what to expect at each step, take a look at our handy Applying to HSC infographic, which explains the application journey from start to finish.
- Placements
During the course, no less than 50% of your time will be spent on practice placement. This might be in a variety of settings that include hospitals, community services, general practice, social services and voluntary or private organisations. Placement allocation occurs throughout the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
As this course includes patient facing placements in health or social care settings, and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement, or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- Recent Study
We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.
- Age on Entry
Applicants for this course need to be aged 18 or over by 31 December 2026. This is owing to the integrated nature of placements within the first year of the course and safeguarding implications. In view of this, applicants who will not be 18 years old or over by this date, should consider applying for deferred entry.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You can find information regarding additional costs associated on our Fees and finance webpages.
How to Apply
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Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: