Nursing (Mental Health) BSc

Course overview

Are you passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of others? You’re in the right place to be the best mental health nurse you can be.

We need mental health nurses who are compassionate, committed and motivated to engage proactively with those experiencing mental health issues. This includes the ability to work with the entire family unit, maximising and promoting the wellbeing of others and enabling people to make a positive difference in their own lives.

This course will enable you to become a future-focused mental health nurse who has the competence and confidence to think critically and deliver high-quality, compassionate, and evidence-informed care. We’ll support you to develop resilience and excellent communication skills. These skills are vital in promoting and supporting individuals’ mental health while working as part of a healthcare team including GPs, social workers, carers, and psychiatrists.

We work closely with health and social care organisations to ensure this course provides education which fully meets the changing health needs of the population.

We’re top 10 in the UK for nursing (The Complete University Guide 2025). Become a nurse with us and change lives today.

NHS funding is available for nursing students. Find out more here.

Leeds has 100% employability for our nurses who wish to continue into employment.

Course highlights

• Ranked 6th in the UK for Nursing (Complete University Guide 2025), we'll provide you with the outstanding education you need to flourish as a mental health nurse.
• The mental health teaching team works in close partnership with service users and carers as well as practitioners. These ‘experts by experience’ support course content development and programme recruitment. This enhances your learning and ensures an appreciation and understanding of lived mental health experience.
• For some students able to meet specific criteria, there’s an opportunity to undertake a short international placement experience in year 3. You could also add a study abroad year. Find out more about options to study abroad.
• You’ll have access to simulation facilities and engaging online learning packages, while still gaining essential experience on campus and in-practice environments. Our clinical skills suite recreates a variety of healthcare settings, including a community flat, intensive care unit and hospital ward.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Students who successfully complete this programme will be able to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Course details

Taught by supportive and inspirational staff, this course has been designed to give you a stimulating student experience. It’ll provide you with innovative and inclusive teaching methods and a broad spectrum of learning opportunities. You’ll acquire and apply the knowledge and practical skills needed to care for service users in today’s complex and ever-changing healthcare environment.

Your studies will be equally split 50:50 between university and a range of clinical placements and healthcare settings.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to provide complex care for people and their families, work effectively within a team, supervise others, and be a qualified leader of care.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Nursing (Mental Health) BSc in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 2 compulsory modules

Year 3 compulsory modules

Year 1 compulsory modules

Nursing: Key Concepts of Health and Wellbeing (40 credits) – You’ll learn how to search for, identify and use sources of evidence, recognising that nursing practice is an evidence-based discipline. By exploring core elements of health and wellbeing, and applying this knowledge to your field of practice, you’ll build your personal and professional abilities. You’ll also reflect on your own experience in relation to the recognised professional, ethical and legal frameworks that guide nursing practice.

Mental Health Nursing: Applying the Key Concepts of Health and Wellbeing (40 credits) – On your first assessed placement, you’ll practice in accordance with the recognised professional, ethical and legal frameworks that guide nursing practice, learning how to maximise the mental health and wellbeing of people and their families, while developing fundamental clinical skills. Working in partnership with others, you’ll study the strengths and limitations of the evidence base, while ensuring that equality and diversity are fully respected.

Nursing: Working in Partnership to Promote Health and Wellbeing (40 credits) – In accordance with the recognised professional, ethical and legal frameworks that guide nursing and recognise your own limitations, you’ll apply the concepts of health and wellbeing to partnership working; including a consideration of barriers. This immersive module allows you to reflect on practice, consider different approaches to delivering care, and identify how particular research designs answer different research questions. You’ll also undertake guided independent work as preparation for Year 2.

Year 2 compulsory modules

Nursing: Providing Quality Care (40 credits) – Practicing in accordance with the recognised professional, ethical and legal frameworks that guide nursing practice and recognise your own limitations, you’ll evaluate measures of quality, while studying new technologies and their impact on health, including genomic data, digital technologies and artificial intelligence. This module focuses on being part of an effective team, enabling you to explore individual patient care and develop your delegation skills.

Mental Health Nursing: Health Promotion and Facilitation of Recovery Through Empathic Engagement (40 credits) – A crucial component of health care, you’ll discuss the attitudes, values and conditions that promote and restrict health and wellbeing for people, and the impact on their quality of life. By critically appraising the influence culture and diversity have on health, you’ll access research evidence in conjunction with service user, carer and family narratives to critically evaluate the impact of interventions on health and wellbeing.

Nursing: Promoting Health and Wellbeing in Challenging Situations (40 credits) – You’ll work effectively with members of inter-professional teams, non-statutory agencies, and families to provide high-quality, safe care across a wide range of integrated care settings. Critically evaluating the principles of partnership working with hard-to-reach groups, you’ll gain invaluable experience in working with challenging situations. In an ever-changing care environment, this module allows you to explore digital and innovative technologies to meet identified needs in protecting and promoting health and wellbeing.

Year 3 compulsory modules

Nursing: Dissertation (40 credits) – Identifying and critically analysing an area of nursing practice, you’ll formulate a clear and appropriate research question, conducting a robust and structured literature search and critically appraising the evidence. You’ll have the opportunity to present a robust and coherent academic discussion, making recommendations for practice based on the available evidence, understanding the implications for nursing practice and recommending areas for further research and development.

Mental Health Nursing: Providing Complex Care (40 credits) – You’ll critically evaluate the care requirements for individuals with complex needs to facilitate optimal recovery or end-of-life care, and recognise and respond to the mental and physical deterioration of a person demonstrating evidence-based decisions. This module will equip you with the skills to critically evaluate the impact of interventions for people and their families, and you may choose to undertake a non-assessed international placement.

Nursing Leadership and Role Transition (40 credits) – This module will allow you to critically analyse and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses that need addressing in terms of role transition, while demonstrating effective leadership skills in managing self and others to ensure the continuity and coordination of care. You’ll critically reflect on the dominant culture within an organisation and/or team and articulate the impact this could have on the quality and safety of patient care.

Learning and teaching

We use a range of learning and teaching methods including face-to-face activities and online digital technologies. Methods of teaching and learning are highly participative, with a combination of tutor-led input and support, learning through group work and discussion, and individual exercises and practice.

Our experienced lecturers will support you to develop specialised knowledge and skills, enabling you to play key roles in the workplace and communities.

Our clinical skills suite recreates a variety of healthcare settings – including a community flat, intensive care unit and hospital ward – and is complete with computerised patient manikins. Here, you’ll be able to practice clinical skills such as measuring vital signs, managing medical emergencies and medications management.

We utilise blended learning, giving you the opportunity to engage in a variety of stimulating approaches to teaching and learning. For example, we use simulated practice, small group tutorials, and flipped classroom approaches, where you are introduced to content at home and then practice working through it at University or in a clinical setting.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

In clinical practice, you’ll be assessed by registered professionals who are responsible for your learning and development whilst on placement. Assessment takes many forms, including individual and group assignments, written and oral exams, and practical assessments.

You’ll be supported to demonstrate knowledge and application of nursing concepts and techniques, and to develop abilities, skills, and competencies to provide person-centred care. We’ll help you develop the skills to produce work that is both evaluative and creative and show you can conduct independent, in-depth enquiry within the discipline. You’ll be able to draw on a wide variety of evidence-based material, such as academic journals, textbooks, policy, and national health-related guidelines and be able to evaluate and critique received opinion.

Some of our assessments are developed in partnership with service users and carers for example, using their real-world experiences to develop case studies. Assessments will enable you to meet the standards set out by the NMC and prepare you to be life-long learners managing future challenges.

Entry requirements

A-level: BBC preferably including one of the following subjects: Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics, Psychology, or Sociology. General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.

GCSE: 5 GCSEs at Grade C or 4 including English (Language or Literature), Maths and a Science. Level 2 Functional Skills Maths and English at a Pass are accepted as equivalent to GCSE grade 4 or C. Courses requiring a higher grade in GCSE maths or English may not accept Level 2 Functional Skills in its place. Please check with the course admissions team before applying.

Other course specific tests:

• In your application, you will need to show evidence of study in the last five years.
• You are also required to provide an academic reference, which includes a statement which attests to your character and good standing, and suitability to enter the profession for which you have applied.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. All successful applicants will also need to pass disclosure and barring screening. The University has a policy statement on students with criminal records. For the vast majority of students who are resident in the UK the record will be checked via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The DBS check can only include background checks on your time in the UK. A criminal record check from other countries in addition to the UK DBS check may be required. Abroad this may be referred to as a "Certificate of Good Conduct" (CoGC), but the name varies.
• Occupational health assessment. Any offer of a place to study Nursing (Mental Health) BSc is conditional upon a satisfactory confidential occupational health assessment, which will include a health questionnaire, and if necessary further telephone consultation and/or an appointment with an occupational health clinician. Screening for serious communicable disease, (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and a review of immunisation status and needs, which includes COVID-19, will also be arranged before beginning your studies.

You can find out more about our application and interview process on our Applicant Journey page.

Alternative qualification

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds offer

A level: CCC preferably including one of the following subjects: Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics, Psychology, or Sociology. General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.

GCSEs: Five GCSEs at a Grade 4 / C, including English (Language or Literature), mathematics and a science subject. Level 2 Functional Skills Maths and English at a Pass are accepted as equivalent to GCSE grade 4 or C. Courses requiring a higher grade in GCSE maths or English may not accept Level 2 Functional Skills in its place. Please check with the course admissions team before applying.

Access to Leeds: Pass

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0 overall, with no less than 7.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

International: £32,250 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 are available on individual course pages. Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

All applicants need to ensure cognisance of the financial implications before applying to the School of Healthcare and that there may be a requirement to provide a financial guarantee of funding for three years. The status of a student as being a home or overseas student is based upon residential status and not nationality. Where a prospective student is an overseas citizen living within the UK they should contact the Admissions Team at the School of Healthcare, admissions@healthcare.leeds.ac.uk regardless of their residential status, to verify their fees status.

Other additional costs associated with the programme, which require consideration include visas and travel to and from placement. Applicants for all Undergraduate programmes at the School of Healthcare require a Criminal Record check, which will be undertaken as part of the visa application.

Additional cost information

All students

You will be provided with 3 sets of uniforms. Additional uniforms, if required, can be purchased at a cost of £25 per uniform (subject to change).

Additional costs for all students

• Students may wish to purchase recommended text books and digital devices/laptops.

• Students will need to purchase black shoes for placement.

• Students will be required to pay for printing of assessment work and photocopying of articles if needed.

• Students will have to pay for travel costs to and from placement.

• If a study abroad module is chosen, there will be additional costs for travel, visas and accommodation whilst abroad.

Additional costs for home students

• Signing up to the DBS update service (currently £13 per year).

Additional costs for international students

• After accepting a place on the programme international students will have to do a police check in their country of origin.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

NHS Learning Support Fund

The Learning Support Fund includes a non-repayable grant of £5,000 per year plus additional financial support for students with parental responsibility (for a child under the age of 15 years or under 17 years if they are registered with special educational needs). Plus you can get a £1,000 Specialist Subject Payment (SSP) for studying Mental Health Nursing. There is also support for practice placements travel expenses and students who find themselves in unforeseen financial hardship. Find out more and check your eligibility here.

Applying

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

For a guide on how to apply for a place and what to expect, please read our Applicant journey page.

The School of Healthcare does not normally participate in the UCAS Extra scheme for entry onto the Nursing (Mental Health) BSc degree course. You must tell us in your UCAS application if you want to defer entry and if you have any prior criminal convictions.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Selection

We shortlist applicants against agreed criteria, using the information you submit on your UCAS form only. You must meet the academic entry requirement for the programme. Your academic background and personal statement help us to assess your interest in the academic subject and are an important part of the process. The reference you provide on the UCAS form must also support your application, this should be an academic reference, which also includes a statement which attests to (your) character and good standing.

Interviews

If your UCAS application meets our shortlisting criteria, you will be invited to undertake a virtual interview. This may take place via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Blackboard Collaborate.

Recruitment events take place between December and April.

You’ll be allocated to one of the events; if the date is not suitable you need to contact the student education support officer and request an alternative date (admissions@healthcare.leeds.ac.uk). Non-attendance at an event without explanation will result in your application being automatically rejected.

Admissions policy

School of Healthcare Undergraduate School Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Healthcare

Contact us

School of Healthcare Admissions Team

Email: admissions@healthcare.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

Find the right path for you

We know the first job you take after graduation is career-shaping. That's why we're confident our strong industry connections will lead you to bright beginnings and beyond.

This course will give you the foundation for a career in mental health nursing. Mental health nursing has a structured career pathway with a multitude of opportunities such as, research, management, clinical specialisms and teaching.

You’ll be in an excellent position to pursue the many mental health employment opportunities, in the NHS, social services, voluntary sector and private sector. This may include specialised areas of primary care, dementia care, acute/ forensic services, crisis/home treatment teams, eating disorders and addiction services.

In today’s complex health system, Leeds will prepare you for what comes next.

For advice on nursing as a career choice read NHS careers.

Prepare for your career as you study

Learning and development opportunities can also present during the Mental Health Nursing programme as one of our 2023 nurse graduates discovered.

Kimberley Guy, who recently graduated from the School of Healthcare and now works as a nurse in A&E at St James's Hospital in Leeds, gained a place on the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme during her studies which allowed her to offer mentorship to young people in disadvantaged schools across Leeds.

Recognised with a LUU Partnerships Award and shortlisted at the Student Nursing Times Awards alongside fellow nurse graduate Rachael Blackmore for her contribution to student experience, Kimberley credits the Laidlaw scholarship for opening up a range of opportunities to her as a student nurse.

Read more about Kimberley and Rachael's achievements.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.

Study abroad and work placements

Study abroad

For some students able to meet specific criteria, there’s an opportunity to undertake an international placement experience in year 3.

Horizion study abroad year: think outside the box

There’s also the option to undertake a year out of the programme (year 3) and study in another country as part of the Horizon programme. The Horizon study abroad year is a unique University of Leeds programme that allows you to develop key employability skills, such as linguistic and intercultural competencies at selected partner institutions in Morocco, Israel, South Korea, Japan and China. The year abroad does not count towards any of the NMC requirements for registration. The fourth year of your programme would be equivalent to the third year of the three-year programme.

These optional, self-funded, experiences could help you to build on your awareness of cultural competence and consider the global issues in healthcare.

Visit Horizon year abroad to find out more.

Clinical placements

Clinical placements are integral to the programme and are included within each year. These allow you to gain expertise in care throughout a person's life and include in-patient, community and specialist mental health care.

Our hospital partners, including Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and other health and social care settings, support the health and wellbeing of Yorkshire. We’ll make sure you’re allocated placements to suit your learning needs, interests and nursing career goals without taking you miles away from home.

50% of the programme is undertaken in practice and you will undertake a range of clinical placements working with service-users both in hospital and in community settings. Placements are allocated within each of the three years of study. Your final practice placement will be a long placement to enable you to consolidate your knowledge, clinical skills competence and prepare you to transition to a qualified practitioner.

Nursing requires heart and soul

A nurse cares for their patients. But who cares for the nurse? At the University of Leeds, we know the combination of academic learning and clinical placements can be challenging. That’s why we offer every Mental health Nursing student a personal tutor and an academic supervisor to support them during their time with us. We care for you, keeping you caring for longer.