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Mental Health Nursing at University of the West of Scotland - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.

Course summary

Overview Get your career as a mental health nurse off on its best foot forward with UWS’s BSc Mental Health Nursing – 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 programme consists of 50% theory and 50% work-based learning; allowing 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. Programme highlights • Upon graduation, you’ll achieve registration as a Registered Nurse in Mental Health with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). • This programme will provide you with the knowledge, skills, practical experience and confidence to become a mental health nurse. • You’ll be prepared for a career in one of the most complex and fascinating fields of healthcare. • An emphasis on work-based learning means you’ll spend a 50% of your time in clinical settings putting what you’ve learnt in university into practice. • You will learn in an interprofessional context with colleagues studying adult nursing. • There is a focus on integrated practice and the programme content is evidence-based and delivered by experienced lecturers, researchers and colleagues from clinical practice. • Support is offered throughout your academic and professional studies from a wide range of lecturers, university support services and colleagues in clinical settings. Programme details 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 local healthcare partners: • NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde • NHS Highland • NHS Lanarkshire • NHS Dumfries & Galloway • NHS Golden Jubilee NB: Professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council will be linked to an exit award of BSc Mental Health Nursing. Careers This intellectually stimulating programme will prepare you for a successful career in a wide range of mental health settings, including: • Older Adult and Dementia Care • Adult Mental Health • Child and Adolescent Mental Health • Community Mental Health • Forensic Mental Health • Drugs and Alcohol Services 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, Nursing, Advanced Clinical Practice, Drug and Alcohol Studies and/or mental health research degrees.

Modules

Year 1 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. Year 2 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. Year 3 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: • dementia • forensic services • child and adolescent mental health • addictions • community or hospital based services As well as spending time on placement you will undertake an individual research project on a related topic of your choice.

Assessment method

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 the degree provides a strong set of additional skills, such as presentational and communicative skills. The degree uses a variety of assessment methods. The below list provides a guide to the types of assessment methods you can expect: • Written examinations • Written reports • Coursework • Practical assessment

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Nursing and Midwifery Council

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

29Jan

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

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

International applicants

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS: For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level in accordance with guidelines from the UK's Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). These are shown below.

Entry requirements

Standard Qualification Requirements

SWAP (BBB) in Access to Nursing; Access to Medical Studies; Access to Integrated Health & Social Care; Access to Paramedic Sciences awarded within the past 2 years FETAC: Complete and pass FETAC level 5, plus GCSE English Language/Literature and Maths at Grade C/5

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Additional entry requirements

Admission tests

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

Health checks

Interview

Institutions Own Test (IOT)

A numeracy test may be provided for applicants who do not meet the course Maths requirement

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7IELTS 7.0 with no less than 7.0 in Reading, Listening and Speaking components and 6.5 in the Writing component

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. However, for Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) (eg. BSc Adult Nursing, MSc Adult Nursing, BSc Mental Health Nursing, MSc Mental Health Nursing, BSc Midwifery and MSc Midwifery), applicants are require to have a higher English language ability than the majority of other courses at UWS; this requirement is governed and controlled by the NMC. The reason for this is that it’s essential that you are able to read, speak and understand the English language to get the most out of your time at UWS and in placements. All international applicants are required to meet minimum English language standards, with the exception of: // Native speakers of English // Erasmus students (unless advised otherwise) // non-Erasmus students from EU partner institutions (your institution must provide confirmation of your English language ability in the absence of a formal qualification) The qualifications above must have been gained within two years prior to the start of your course at UWS.

UWS's English language requirements

https://www.uws.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements/

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
90%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

International £18000 Year 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

Tuition fees are charged per year of the programme

Sponsorship information

Two new scholarships are available for application for eligible students on this degree. // The Men into Nursing Bursary will see one male nursing student being awarded £5,000 annually to support the student experience in the first the first two years of undergraduate study on our BSc Adult Nursing, BSc Mental Health Nursing or BSc Midwifery degrees. // The Myra McMurdo Nursing Bursary will see £750 being awarded to seven students, who have received a conditional place on our BSc Adult Nursing, BSc Mental Health Nursing or BSc Midwifery degrees. These will be delivered on an annual basis and will support them through their nursing placements. Visit UWS course entry for more informaiton on both bursaries.

Mental Health Nursing at University of the West of Scotland - UCAS