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Get your career as a mental health nurse off on its best foot forward with UWS's BSc Mental Health Nursing.
This is an NMC-accredited programme with BSc Honours pathway, providing a competitive, optional additional year to progress to Honours degree qualification.
You’ll gain the knowledge, skills, practical experience and confidence to treat complex health and mental health needs, with a recovery-focused approach.
This degree consists of 50% theory and 50% work-based learning. It allows you to put the theory you learn into practice in real life clinical environments. Theory is delivered via a flipped classroom model, blending online and campus-based delivery, to support your application of theory to clinical practice.
Upon graduation, you’ll achieve registration as a Registered Nurse in Mental Health with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
You'll undertake a combination of mental health field specific and shared modules in each year of your studies.
Work-based learning is built into many modules and makes up 50% of the BSc Mental Health Nursing programme. You'll spend time on placement with our local healthcare partners:
Study abroad is extremely beneficial to personal and professional development. Research has shown that worldwide employers value graduates with intercultural awareness and global competences.
In Year 2 you will have the option to take part in a study trip abroad, typically lasting 3 to 5 days in total. During Year 3, you'll have the option to study abroad and gain credit towards your degree at one of our 80 university partners.
(The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024)
We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Please visit our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page for information on our different entry requirements, including country-specific details for EU and non-EU qualifications.
All applicants must satisfy the entry requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) including having the capability to meet the numeracy requirements of the programme and proficiency in English language and literacy (NMC Future Nurse Standards 2023).
An offer to study is also dependent on the outcome of the selection process and background checks:
All academic degrees/awards at UWS are taught in English. For applicants whose first language is not English*, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. All English language qualifications must have been gained within two years of the start of your UWS course.
* applicants who are exempt from english language requirements include:
In general terms, if you are applying to study a course at, or above, Year 1 (SCQF Level 7) bachelor’s degree level, then the UKVI’s minimum level of English proficiency is Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR) at B2 (Upper Intermediate).
At UWS, we define our general English language requirements using the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training) as follows:
These are minimum requirements and some courses may require a higher standard for admission†.
† Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see IELTS Score Exceptions section below for more information).
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (BSc Adult Nursing, MSc Adult Nursing, BSc Mental Health Nursing, MSc Mental Health Nursing, BSc Midwifery and MSc Midwifery), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
Our BSc Paramedic Science degree leads to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); it has different IELTS requirements than other Health-related courses. Although it is not possible to apply for this degree directly as an international student, for applicants who meet SAAS residency requirements and for whom English is not their first language, then the following IELTS scores are required:
For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science degrees, which may lead to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
Our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work degrees are professionally recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council and applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
In additional to IELTS, we also accept a number of alternative English language for application and admission to our courses for both home/EU and international students at bachelor's degree study at Year 3 (SCQF Level 9), and above. From Cambridge to TOFEL iBT qualifications the number of these qualifications is extensive.
Find out about non-IELTS English Language Tests
UWS has also reviewed a range of High / Secondary School qualifications studied by non-EU applicants that can be used as a basis of entry to a UWS. These range from Botswana GCSEs to USA High School Graduation Diplomas, the number of these qualifications is extensive.
Find out more about international English Language high-hchool qualifications
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
In Year 1 you will receive a broad introduction to mental health nursing, understanding the inter-relation of physical and mental health and the importance of treating the person, not just the illness. You will develop knowledge and clinical practice through modules in health and human development, values in practice and academic & professional development. In addition you will complete modules which focus on your own area of specialism, exploring mental health and understanding self and society.
In Year 2 you will complete modules on health & human development, promoting mental health, partnerships in mental health, and building healthy communities. You will also spend time enhancing your clinical skills on placement.
In Year 3 you will develop your knowledge, decision-making and practical skills as you develop the professional standards required for registration as a Registered Nurse in mental health. You will study modules in management in mental health, leadership in mental health and carry out an evidence led enquiry. You can also elect a placement in an area of personal interest such as:
As well as spending time on placement you will undertake an individual research project on a related topic of your choice.
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical workshops and guided laboratory work.
There will also be group work, literature reports and research projects in order to ensure our degrees provide a strong set of additional skills, such as presentational and communicative skills.
Our nursing degree uses a variety of assessment methods. The below list provides a guide to the types of assessment methods you can expect:
Programme Specification and Module Descriptors for Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses are available to download (PDFs). These provide you with core information concerning your chosen subject.
This intellectually stimulating programme will prepare you for a successful career in a wide range of mental health settings, including:
UWS offers opportunities to develop further skills in mental health practice through its MSc Mental Health Practice and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programmes, Forensic Mental Health, Leading People-centred Integrated Care, Dementia Care, Nursing, Advanced Clinical Practice, Drugs and Alcohol Studies and/or mental health research degrees.
For more information on undertaking a career in Mental Health Nursing click here.
If you are ordinarily resident in Scotland, you may be eligible to receive £10,000 worth of funding in each of the first three years of your BSc programme, and £7,500 if you study an honours year, for tuition and living costs. This funding is available through the Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery student bursary scheme (PNMSB) which comes from the Scottish Government Health Directorate but is administered by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
You can find out more on the webpages below:
£1,820 cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750
£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750
£18,000 per year of study
£1,820 cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750
£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750
£18,000 per year of study
Ready to apply? All UK & EU Undergraduate applications should be made through UCAS. Further information for international, part-time and exchange applications can be found below.
Apply on UCASAll UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The on-time application deadline for 2025/26 entry is 29 January 2025, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2025. Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.
Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide for domestic & EU/EEA to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.
You can find out more about applying for this undergraduate course on UCAS.
Students from non-EU/non-EEA countries can apply directly to UWS via our dedicated online application system. The latest we can process your application is 6 weeks before the course start date to allow for visa processing times. For more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS please refer to our International Undergraduate Application Guide.
For part-time & online study, you should apply directly to the University through our online application system, not through UCAS. Please select the part-time mode of study when submitting your application. Before you begin your application, it is important to read the part-time application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.
To come to UWS as a visiting student on a study abroad or exchange programme, you must apply entirely through our online system.
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
Going to university is about much more than getting a qualification, it’s also the chance to enjoy an exciting social life, gain some independence and make the most of the new opportunities available.
DiscoverWe will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.