Mental Health Nursing BSc (Hons)
Subject and course type
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Undergraduate
Make a real difference by supporting people towards recovery. Studying Mental Health Nursing at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ will give you the specialist knowledge and experience you need to become a registered mental health nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
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Help people live independent, fulfilling lives
Studying Mental Health Nursing at Kingston will give you a strong foundation for a rewarding career with life-enhancing impact.
Our graduates are highly sought after, with previous students gaining their first nursing jobs in everything from forensics and psychiatry to research and child mental health.
One in four people experience mental health problems every year, which means the skills you’ll develop on this course are more important than ever. You’ll learn from a team of expert nurses, lecturers and researchers, preparing to work in collaboration with service users, their relatives and carers towards happier, healthier lives.
50% of this course will be on placement or in our award-winning simulation suites. This offers the perfect blend of learning styles and settings to develop the practical and therapeutic skills you need.
During the course, you’ll study the core elements of all fields of nursing, as well as modules specific to mental health. You’ll learn first-hand from mental health service users and carers, benefitting from our partnerships with organisations like the Recovery College, the Sutton Carers Centre and the South West London Recovery College.
You’ll even receive a £5,000 per year, non-repayable NHS Training Grant to support your studies. Check out the to find out more.
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ. Not only are we ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, we’re also top in London for Nursing (The Times Good University Guide 2025).
A portion of your learning will take place at our award-winning simulation suite, which creates realistic environments to help you develop skills in clinical, community and practice health settings.
You’ll take part in innovative simulations, where role players and full-body manikins will offer unique opportunities to build the knowledge and behaviours needed for safe and effective patient care.
Outside of the University, you’ll spend time on placement. Our placement providers include South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust, Surrey and Borders Partnership Trust, South London and Maudsley (SLAM) NHS Foundation Trust, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and independent hospitals, including the Priory Group.
Some students choose to take a national or international elective at the end of Year 2. Previous graduates have worked at Broadmoor Hospital in the UK, while others have travelled to a range of countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and the USA.
You'll even have the opportunity to enrich your studies further by learning with and from people who have lived experience of mental health challenges at the Recovery College.
Kingston is ranked top in London for Nursing (The Times Good University Guide 2025).
Accreditation
This degree confers both an academic award and a professional qualification in nursing. On completion of the programme, students are recommended to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for professional registration.
Course content
You will study both generic modules – alongside students from all fields of nursing – and modules that focus on mental health nursing.
Year 1
You will study both generic modules – alongside students from all fields of nursing – and modules that focus on mental health nursing.
Core modules
30 credits
This module is designed to help you develop your knowledge and understanding of human anatomy and physiology across the lifespan in relation to nursing, which is an essential element of nursing proficiency.
Pathophysiology will be explored in relation to common conditions and you will also begin to develop your knowledge of pharmacological concepts in preparation for therapeutic interventions explored in Year 2.
The main features of the module are to enable you to apply scientific principles to nursing care. It will also support you to identify and understand current nursing practices underpinned by scientific theory.
30 credits
This module introduces you to the context of mental health nursing practice across a range of healthcare settings. You will learn about conceptual frameworks underpinning contemporary mental health nursing and the attitudes and qualities necessary for recovery-focused and socially inclusive practice. You will be introduced to The Code (NMC, 2018) to gain knowledge and understanding of its importance in guiding the nurse to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care, which is essential to develop respectful and collaborative therapeutic alliances with individuals, families and carers. A range of common disorders within mental health care and basic assessment processes will be explored.
30 credits
This module is a core requirement for all students across all fields of the BSc/MSci Nursing programmes. As an introductory module, it will enable you to develop knowledge and understanding of the principles of public health and health promotion. You will explore the global, social, political, economic and psycho-social forces on the population's health and well-being. In addition, you will explore the evolution of public health, the determinants of health and health inequalities.
Non-credit bearing credits
This module is the Practice Assessment Module which is designed to support you with the achievement of the NMC proficiencies and practice assessment requirements. The module focuses on practice preparation, reflection following practice experiences and the development of your numeracy skills.
Year 2
You will develop your understanding of the application of person-centred care, assessment, clinical reasoning and decision-making. You will examine holistic care across the life span and focus on acute and long term care within this field of practice.
Core modules
30 credits
This module focuses on knowledge and skills necessary to deliver safe and competent practice and recovery focused care. It will focus on assessment and implementing and evaluating a range of evidence-based care interventions within a variety of mental health settings. You will have the opportunity to develop, practise and reflect upon their knowledge and skills of key evidence-based interventions designed to meet the holistic needs of service users and carers. You will be able to explore the importance of measuring outcomes in care and evaluating the clinical effectiveness of your own performance through reflective practice.
30 credits
The module focuses upon the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to work collaboratively with mental health service users, in relation to mental and physical health and well-being. The concept of shared decision making and collaborative working will underpin all psychosocial approaches and interventions to improve both physical and mental health. You will explore the individual, social and service factors contributing to poorer physical health outcomes and inequalities experienced by people with serious and complex mental health needs.
30 credits
This module will provide you with the requisite skills and knowledge to understand the principles of evidence-based healthcare and how to apply them effectively to your clinical practice. The concepts and skills you will learn include those used to search for, review and critique evidence. You will also develop the clinical skills and proficiencies required for Part 2 of your programme, through skills and simulated practice learning activities. A key element of this will be developing an understanding of the digital technologies used for enhancing care in line with contemporary healthcare policy.
15 credits
This module will provide you with the foundational pharmacological and medicines management knowledge to enable you to safely develop your skills and knowledge in the administration of medicines to clients, patients and service users. You will develop your understanding of the regulatory, legal, and ethical frameworks that influence medicines management and the underlying pharmacological science. Issues such as concordance will be explored, and the skills required to access resources to support medicines management practice. Embedded within the module is simulated practice learning that will support the development of your clinical skills related to medicines management.
Non-credit bearing credits
This module is the Practice Assessment Module which is designed to support you with the achievement of the NMC proficiencies and practice assessment requirements. The module focuses on practice preparation, reflection following practice experiences and the development of your numeracy skills.
Option module
15 credits
In Year 2 of the course, you will have the opportunity to undertake an option module. Examples of modules available include: Global Health, Wound Management, Child and Adolescent Mental Health. You will be provided with details of all modules available at the beginning of Year 2 so you can make your decision.
Year 3
You will prepare for the transition to professional practice develop skills in management, leadership, team working and teaching and supporting learners. You will develop the critical thinking skills required to make informed decisions in clinical practice.
Core modules
60 credits
This module aims to explore the key areas that will enable you to transition and fulfil the role of a registered nurse. The module is designed to prepare you for professional nursing practice by further developing your knowledge and skills to enable you to be an accountable and compassionate registrant within the health and social care system. It focuses on the mechanisms that underpin care organisation and delivery, how nurses are integral to and can influence this and aims to develop your critical understanding of the factors influencing the environment in which you will be working. The role of politics in health and social care policy is critically explored and the module will provide you with the opportunities to explore these issues through a social justice lens.
30 credits
This module focuses on the collaborative learning and teaching of peers, people and families/carers. You will integrate your knowledge of learning theories, communication and relational skills to enable you to work collaboratively with others, critically reflecting on the challenges this can pose. You will also develop the clinical skills and proficiencies required for Part 3 of your programme through skills and simulated practice learning activities. You will have the opportunity to critically discuss inter and intra professional working alongside developing strategies for managing challenging communication. Your clinical communication skills will be refined building on your learning from previous modules, and you will have the opportunity to explore best practice approaches to communication for supporting people their families and carers in preventing ill health and managing their care.
30 credits
Navigating the transition from student to a professional practitioner who is skilled at leading teams is critically important to the delivery of safe, effective and high quality health care. This module is designed to prepare you as a mental health student for professional nursing practice by expanding your knowledge and skills to enable you to be an accountable and compassionate leader within the health and social care system. It focuses on leadership, team working, and performance management and enables you to reflect on your transition to registered practice and build the evidence base for a career development portfolio. Some sessions will be shared across fields as they are core for all fields.
30 credits
This module will provide you with the underpinning knowledge and skills required for your future leadership role in providing, leading and coordinating care that is compassionate, evidence based and group/person-centred across a range of organisations and settings.
Experts from practice will be involved in the learning and teaching, supporting students through a range of complex case studies and current socio economical and workforce challenges. You will build on your knowledge of partnership and collaborative working and examine the cultural, political, psychosocial and technological influences on nursing care, resource management and finances. It acknowledges that mental health nursing should take into consideration the individual's wishes, their culture and the services available within the current political landscape. It will expand your consideration of the care environment and service provision, to provide enhanced coordinated care delivery.
Non-credit bearing credits
This module is the Practice Assessment Module which is designed to support you with the achievement of the NMC proficiencies and practice assessment requirements. The module focuses on practice preparation, reflection following practice experiences and the development of your numeracy skills.
Nursing Foundation Year
If you would like to study one of our Nursing degrees at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ but are not yet ready to join the first year of a BSc (Hons) course, you can include an extra foundation year within your chosen field. Please see the Nursing Foundation Year course page for details of modules.
Future Skills and careers opportunities
Boost your employability
Every course at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ teaches a range of Future Skills. From problem-solving and adaptability to digital competency, these are the attributes you’ll need to get the edge in the job market and a head start on your career.
After you graduate
Recent Kingston graduates have gone on to work as staff nurses in mental health, forensics and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Others have gained roles in research or psychiatric liaison.
Links with the healthcare sector
- South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust
- Central and North West London Foundation NHS Trust
- Huntercombe Hospital
- The Priory Group
- Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Huntercombe Hospital
- Hexagon Housing Association
- Royal Hospital for Neurodisability (Putney)
- Cygnet Healthcare Woking
Students have opportunities to undertake a national or international elective at the end of year two. In the UK, students have worked at a wide range of settings including Broadmoor Hospital.
Mental health students have also travelled to:
- Ireland
- India
- Zimbabwe
- Zambia
- Gibraltar
- Hong Kong
- Texas
- Philippines
At ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it
For more information on how Kingston prepares you for the future job market, visit our Future Skills page.
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials. It may also include placements, project work, practical sessions, workshops, conferences and field trips.
Outside the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.
Our academic support team here at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ provides help in a range of areas.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, support you throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- Year 1: 53% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 2: 83% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 3: 66% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Types of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 75%; exams 25%
- Year 2: Coursework 75%; exams 25%
- Year 3: Coursework 75%; exams 25%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
We aim to provide feedback to you on your assessments within 20 working days.
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £9,535* |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2025/26): | £18,800 |
| Year 2 (2026/27): | £19,600 |
| Year 3 (2027/28): | £20,400 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2025/26 the fees for this course are above.
Please visit the Fees and Funding page for more information.
* For full-time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.
NHS Training Grant
Nursing students on pre-registration courses will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which doesn’t need to be paid back, subject to eligibility criteria. Please note, this is not available during the foundation year. For more information, please visit the NHS Business Service Authority.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying this course at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
Placements
Placement expenses for travel and accommodation may be reimbursed by NHS Bursaries where, for example, the requirement exceeds that of attending university; or requires additional accommodation to that of the usual term time location. These expenses may need to be covered initially by the student before any applicable reimbursement is received. Please note: EU and international students may not be eligible for support for travel and accommodation.
The University will pay for your application to be processed, but you’ll need to subscribe to the Update Service for £16 per year. This allows universities and potential employers to view any changes to your DBS.
We provide you with a uniform. You will need to purchase appropriate shoes (£20-£60) and a fob watch (£5-£20) for practice. Additional uniform items will be available for purchase if you want them.
You should arrange your own elective clinical placements in the UK or overseas. Kingston does not cover the practice costs of placements, which means you’ll need to cover things like travel, accommodation, visas and additional vaccinations.
Student membership with the is recommended; this is £10 for student nurses. Membership is required for undertaking an elective placement. When you qualify, it costs £120 to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council for a year.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
Key information
The scrolling banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
