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Mental Health Nursing

  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 15/09/2025
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
Awarded by:
Solent University
More about Southampton, Solent University

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing has been designed to meet the future nursing proficiencies set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) and upon successful completion will allow you to register and work as a graduate mental health nurse.

We aim to develop your knowledge, skills and academic capacities, so that you can build a meaningful nursing career that balances your own continuous personal growth with doing public good for the varied communities you will care for across your working life.

The course will consider what it means and how to provide mental health care in a contemporary, culturally diverse context and what is needed for the profession to continuously improve and add value to the lived experiences of the populations we serve.

You will complete a series of theory modules over three parts, that analyse and critique modern mental health approaches and treatment modalities, including the medical model, psychotherapeutic approaches, anthropological understanding of health beliefs, public health approaches and the social determinants of health, amongst other ideas and concepts.

The clinical practice components of the course will consist of placements in all years of study, in a variety of primary and secondary mental healthcare services, such as community and hospital teams, forensics services, specialist providers of mental health care and every other place where mental health nurses can play a role in the prevention, treatment and recovery of people with mental ill-health.

In addition to becoming a graduate mental health nurse the course will enable achievement of recognised additional qualifications in skills such as mental health first aid and in suicide prevention. It is also possible to self-fund short volunteering experiences overseas.

Our overall aim as a nursing lecturing team and as a university is that you have access to the best of teaching, learning and clinical experiences, so that you can become a skilled, thoughtful and , authentic mental health nurse who is confident that they are making a positive difference to people lives and the wider communities that you work within.

This degree is currently pending NMC validation.

You will be taught by a friendly and experienced teaching team in excellent teaching and learning facilities.

What does this course lead to?
Registered Mental health Nurses can work within the National Health Service, private, voluntary and independent sector healthcare providers, education, policy and government sectors. UK educated and NMC registered Nurses also can work globally but may be required to take registration tests for other national nursing bodies.

Who is this course for?
Mental health nursing is suitable for people who want a career that has social value and has a keen interest in caring for others and enabling people to achieve the best outcomes they can.

Mental health nursing students often have or want to develop an open mind and be curious about the nature of the human condition and society and to be able to do something real that benefits both.

We welcome applications from people with all kinds of life experiences and stages of life.

Modules

YEAR 1 - CORE MODULES
Authentic Nursing Care
Delivering Public Confidence
Skilled Nursing
Public Health
Nursing Practice 1

YEAR 2 - CORE MODULES
Inclusive Nursing Care
Vulnerability and Society
Preventing Suicide
Global Health
Nursing Practice 2

YEAR 3 - CORE MODULES
Leading Nursing Care
Mental Health Nursing Futures
Being Theraputic
Developing Others
Nursing Practice 3

Assessment method

The theory modules on the course are assessed using different styles of essay such as reflective accounts and more formal academic written work, case studies, presentations, enquiry-based learning. The practice elements of the course are assessed using an online portfolio of proficiencies.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BSc (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 15/09/2025

Apply by
29 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
MHN1
Institution code:
S30
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Southampton, Solent University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
29 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:
MHN1
Institution code:
S30
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

For information about applying to Solent as an International applicant, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/how-to-apply/entry-requirements/help-for-international-students

Open days

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

104 - 120 points

A level

104-120 from a minimum of 2 A Levels

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

DMM
DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)

Access to HE Diploma

Pass in Access course with 60 credits overall including 45 Level 3 credits passed with a minimum of Merit, or 102-118 UCAS Tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit or Pass Grades

Scottish Higher

104-120 UCAS Tariff Points from a minimum of 4 Scottish Highers

AS

Accepted when studied alongside other Level 3 qualifications

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

D*D
D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)

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

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

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

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

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

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)

DMM

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)

D*D*

Pearson BTEC 90-Credit Diploma (QCF)

This qualification is accepted when taken alongside other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

Pearson BTEC Certificate (QCF)

This qualification is accepted when taken alongside other qualifications.

Scottish Advanced Higher

104-120 UCAS Tariff Points from a minimum of 2 Scottish Advanced Highers

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

28 - 31 points

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

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

Extended Project

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

HNC (BTEC)

P - D

HND (BTEC)

P - M

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

DMM
DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma

D*D
D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)

OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma

This qualification is accepted when taken alongside other qualifications.

OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate

This qualification is accepted when taken alongside other qualifications.

OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate

This qualification is accepted when taken alongside other qualifications.

T Level

M
Merit (120 UCAS Tariff Points)

• Direct entry to years 2 (Level 5) or 3 (Level 6)

We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses.

• Level 5 (year 2) entry

To directly enter the second year of this course you will need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 120 undergraduate credits at Level 4 or a CertHE in a related subject area.

• Level 6 (year 3) entry

To directly enter the third year of this course you need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 240 undergraduate credits (at Levels 4 and 5), a DipHE, Foundation Degree or HND in a related subject area.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Interview
Applicants will be required to attend an interview.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7with 7.0 in Speaking, Reading and Listening and 6.5 writing
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office. We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at this PDF document which outlines both Solent University and Home Office requirements for a number of language tests.

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.

We understand that each student is unique. At Solent we encourage individuality and have adopted a balanced approach to Admissions, by considering exam results alongside portfolios / interviews or auditions.

Our contextual offer scheme allows offers below our standard academic entry criteria to those who have faced challenges which has impacted their performance and predicted higher grades, by taking into account additional selection criteria such as a strong portfolio, interview or audition.

Learn more on the Southampton, Solent University 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.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535Year 1
EU£17750Year 1
International£17750Year 1

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

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Sponsorship information

Solent University offers a number of bursaries, grants and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/finance/grants-bursaries-scholarships/bursaries

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