Overview
Why choose Nursing (Mental Health) BSc Honours at Middlesex?
We will give you exceptional support as you study for this challenging and fulfilling role. We have exceptional teaching staff, state-of-the-art facilities and placements at London's leading hospitals.
This highly respected mental health nursing degree is based at our Hendon Campus and includes teaching at the brand new £23 million West Stand facility at StoneX stadium, which features one of the UK's best skills training centres including high-tech simulation suites.
Our placements with our London NHS partners, including Camden & Islington and Barnet, Enfield & Haringey NHS Trusts, will give you opportunities to practise your skills in some of London's most forward-thinking hospitals.
What you will gain
Once you complete the course, you will have developed the skills needed to be a professional mental health nurse and you'll become a qualified professional with registration to work across a variety of settings.
There's a shortage of mental health nurses in the UK which means you'll have a high chance of securing work immediately after graduation.
After graduating, you can register as a mental health nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and start your career helping to make the world a better place.
This course will also help you to develop on a personal level. You will be supported to increase your confidence and communication skills, learn valuable critical thinking skills and become an effective problem solver.
You will become proficient working with information technology and in the academic and practice setting you will be part of teams that will build your expertise in understanding leadership and management. These accomplishments will stay with you throughout your career and support your continued success.
We have 145 years of experience delivering professional, creative and technical education that prepares students – like you – for success in global careers.
What you will learn
Our highly experienced tutors will build on your empathy for others and help you develop nursing skills and confidence in applying them.
The unique skillset you’ll develop will open up opportunities within mental health nursing, teaching, research, educational outreach, public health, the voluntary sector and the armed forces.
This course will reinforce your classroom learning with practical experience:
- You’ll develop a holistic approach to assessing, treating, care planning and supporting people to recover and live their best possible lives
- You will experience high-fidelity simulations in areas such as resuscitation and dealing with the seriously ill
- Through placements and hands-on experience, you’ll also gain the observation and communication skills needed to confidently collaborate with service users, families, carers and colleagues
You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to projects at our research centres, including our Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (DARC), our Research Centre for Transcultural Studies and our Centre for Coproduction.
3 great reasons to pick this course
- Prestigious placements
Placements include leading NHS Mental Health organisations such as Barnet, Enfield & Haringey and Camden & Islington Trusts and many more - Brand new facilities
You'll be based at our West Stand facility at StoneX Stadium featuring some of the most advanced health equipment in the UK - Ranked 2nd
Our Nursing and Midwifery courses were ranked 2nd in London (Guardian University Rankings 2022)
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Department
Adult, Child and Midwifery Mental Health, Social Work and Integrative Medicine
Did you know
94%
of our students were satisfied with this programme (NSS,2021)
About your course
Our course values the practical application of skills in real-life settings as a vital part of nursing training. Therefore, 50% of your study time is spent on placement. You will develop a detailed understanding of severe and enduring mental health conditions, which include dual diagnosis, psychoses, child and adolescent mental health and dementia.
Year 1
In year one, you'll cover the main scientific and biological underpinnings of mental health nursing such as anatomy and physiology and core communication skills. You'll also have your first placement experience, for which you'll be fully supported and prepared.
You'll be introduced to the fundamentals of mental health and wellbeing and consolidate your development through the Expansive Learning module which is designed to put your professional learning in a personal and social context.
Year 2
In year two, you'll begin to develop your skills in mental health assessment and treatment. You'll have the opportunity to put into practice the interventions – such as psychosocial and medication management skills – you'll be learning.
Year 3
In your final year, we'll support your preparation for employment by ensuring you are equipped with leadership and management skills. You'll consolidate the expertise you have built over the last three years and will be prepared for job applications and interviews.
Modules
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Year 1 - Compulsory
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Foundations of Expansive Learning (15 Credits)
- To equip students to develop their self-awareness through critically reflective activities.
- To offer students the opportunity to develop a range of applied skills through active enquiry, synthesis and reflection on their personal and professional identities
- To encourage a broad understanding of the context and complexity of the health and social care issues that students may encounter in their learning journeys and professional careers.
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Practice Learning 1 Mental Health (30 credits)
You will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills in meeting the fundamental care needs of people across their lifespan, with a range of physical, mental, cognitive and behavioural health challenges.
During the module, you'll be able to demonstrate high standards of professional conduct in line with the NMC code in all aspects of practice and be able to carry out a range of procedures, under supervision, that are expected of you at this level, in a variety of health and social care settings.
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Foundations of Mental Health Nursing Knowledge (30 credits)
This module aims to start developing the role and function of the graduate mental health nurse in health and illness.
It will provide the fundamental nursing knowledge required to undertake basic nursing assessment, support and enable people across different life spans in managing and improving physical and mental health, as well as preventing ill health.
Theories, evidence and models to support the art and science of nursing will be introduced to develop knowledge and understanding about the nature of nursing, the person, health, society and the environment.
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Foundations of Scientific Principles for Mental Health Nursing (30 credits)
This module will introduce and expand on the scientific principles underpinning mental health nursing practice.
It is a comprehensive module and introduces principles which draw on scientific areas of biopsychosocial and behavioural sciences as related to all areas of nursing with a focus on mental health nursing.
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Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice (15 Credits)
This module aims to provide the student with a foundation to enable the development of appropriate professional attitudes, values, knowledge, skills and conduct to be a graduate adult nurse.
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Year 2 - Compulsory
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Developing Expansive Learning (15 Credits)
- To support students to develop their self-awareness through critically reflective activities, gain competence in evaluating their own learning needs and plan to address them.
- To scaffold student learners with tools to develop their professional presentation and expand their interpersonal and communication skills with increased independence.
- To provide students with an opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge of a subject of their choice and to encourage a broader understanding of the context and complexity of current health and social care.
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Practice Learning 2 (30 credits)
During this module, you will demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills to meet more complex care needs of people across the lifespan with a range of mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural health challenges, across a range of health and social care settings in line with the new standards of proficiency.
You will be expected to demonstrate increasing independence in your own field of mental health practice whilst maintaining high standards of professional conduct in line with the NMC Code, showing awareness of the implications of The Code for self and others.
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Developing Nursing Knowledge in Mental Health Nursing (30 credits)
This module aims to develop the knowledge and skills required of the graduate mental health nurse to assess, plan and evaluate care across the lifespan during illness that is person centred and evidence-based.
It will focus on interventions to address physical, cognitive, mental, spiritual, behavioural and social health needs during illness.
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Developing Scientific Principles for Mental Health Nursing (30 credits)
This module will build upon the scientific module of year 1 to further develop principles and deepen the knowledge and application to all fields of mental health nursing.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
- Discuss the pathophysiological processes of tissue destruction, carcinogenesis, degeneration and trauma and deviance for effective mental health nursing care,
- Appraise scientific evidence to explain an acute and long term disease progression in relation to body tissues and systems, morbidity and mortality progression in relation to morbidity and mortality,
- Describe the aims, mechanisms and nursing responsibilities of pharmacological therapy and drug calculations in relation to disorders in general within mental health nursing,
- Outline and justify the contribution of genetics in disease aetiology and the role of screening,
- Elaborate discursively the concept of stress explaining experiences of ill health, behaviour and personality social and physical disease effects, and
- Analyse and illustrate the process and features of death and dying and related mental health nursing priorities.
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Developing Professional Nursing Practice in Mental Health Nursing (15 credits)
The module aims to enable you to develop your professional knowledge in Mental Health nursing practice.
You will be facilitated to building on theoretical knowledge to enhance clinical and professional judgements with awareness and sensitivity applicable to the wider perspective of health and social care economics.
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Year 3 - Compulsory
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Consolidating Expansive Learning (15 credits)
This module will support you to develop your skills in understanding your own learning needs and respond professionally to those of others. Support you as a student learner to creatively evaluate, investigate and respond to complex problems. And will provide you with in-depth knowledge of a subject of your choice and to encourage critical, questioning and socially engaged nursing practice.
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Practice Learning 3 (30 credits)
Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to work autonomously in the mental health field of practice caring for all people across the lifespan with a range of physical, mental, cognitive and behavioural challenges. The student will display advanced clinical skills and have the ability to integrate leadership in all aspects of care management. Students will utilise a critical and reflective approach in delivering high standards of professional conduct in line with the NMC Code as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
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Consolidating of Nursing Knowledge in Mental Health Nursing (30 credits)
The aim of this module is to enable the student to critically engage with the coordination and management of care delivery for those individuals who are severely ill with life-threatening or limiting illness, or have complex physical/mental health needs requiring long-term care in a range of healthcare settings, working in partnership with the individual, their families where relevant and the multi-disciplinary team to evaluate whether the care is effective and meets desired outcomes. It will focus on encouraging the student to build on prior learning in relation to critically applying nursing knowledge, evidence/research and the nursing process in the planning and co-ordination of care for the individual with complex needs.
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Consolidating Scientific Principles for Mental Health Nursing (30 credits)
This module will build upon the scientific module of year 2 to consolidate scientific principles and deepen the knowledge and application.
It also aims to extend knowledge and application of pharmacological principles especially to underpin mental health nursing care within your own field of practice and future potential prescribing practice.
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Consolidating Professional Nursing Practice in Mental Health Nursing (15 credits)
The module aims to build upon and consolidate knowledge and skills to manage and lead as an accountable, responsible, emotionally intelligent registered Mental Health nurse within health and social care environments.
The module will facilitate critical examination of key concepts and theories of effective leadership and management.
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See the course specification for more information:
- Course specification
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
To find out more about this respected course, please download the Nursing (Mental Health) BSc Honours specification (PDF).
We review our courses regularly to improve your experience and graduate prospects so modules may be subject to change.
Placements
Work Placements
Placements are an integral part of the course – half of your time as a student is spent on placement and many graduates go on to get their first job in their placement locations.
We have excellent relationships with mental health trusts in London such as Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust, and Camden and Islington Mental Health Trust.
We work in partnership with practice placement providers to ensure that your individual learning needs as a nursing student are met and that a robust process of quality monitoring of the learning environment is in place. Each practice area has a link lecturer and practice placement information to support your learning.
Placements and internships greatly improve graduate employment prospects, and those who take part achieve excellent academic results through applying their learning in a professional setting.
Our specialist employability service and London location ensure that every year our students and graduates gain prestigious placement opportunities.
Entry requirements
- UK entry
- International entry
- How to apply
At Middlesex, we're proud of how we recognise the potential of future students like you. And how we can support you to succeed in your future career.
We make fair and aspirational offers because we want you to aim high, and we’ll support you all the way. Together we can achieve great results.
We’ll always be as flexible as possible and take into consideration any barriers you may have faced in your learning. And, if you don’t quite get the grades you hoped for, we’ll also look at more than your qualifications. Things like your work experience, other achievements and your personal statement.
Qualifications
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. Our most common entry qualifications can be found below:
112 UCAS Tariff points including GCSE Grade C/4 in English and Maths or equivalencies such as level 2 Functional Skills
A Levels
BBC
BTEC
DMM
Access requirements
Overall pass: must include 45 credits at level 3, of which all 45 must be at Merit or higher
Combinations
A combination of A-Level, BTEC and other accepted qualifications that total 112 UCAS Tariff points
Our general entry requirements page outlines how we make offers where we have given a range (e.g. BBB – BBC in A levels), and how we’ll make you an offer if you are studying a combination of qualifications (e.g. BTEC and A level). In both cases, we’ll base this on the information you provide on your application.
Further requirements
- You are required to demonstrate that you have work experience. This does not have to be in the field of healthcare
- You are also required to provide evidence of study within the last 5 years
- To begin the course you must also complete a satisfactory enhanced DBS Check, Occupational Health Check, and provide suitable references
- We are unable to accept applications for deferred entry or defer existing offers for this programme to the next possible start date.
Applicants must be digitally literate as all recruitment processes and many teaching and learning activities within the programme involve the use of technology and digital processes, reflecting the realities of healthcare practice.
Mature students (over 21)
We welcome applications from mature candidates, including those without formal qualifications, provided you can demonstrate relevant experience and ability.
Occupational health vaccination requirements
Please be aware of the recent UK Government policy update about the need to be fully vaccinated before you commence your programme with us in September. View guidance for Nursing, Midwifery and Nursing Associate Students.
All nursing and midwifery students are required to have the necessary blood tests, screening and vaccinations to ensure you comply with the Department of Health guidelines on immunisations and screening to protect both you and your patients. You will not be able to attend a clinical placement until you are fully assessed and cleared by occupational health advisors.
Our occupational health screening processes are designed to assess your medical suitability to work in a variety of healthcare settings.
If it is decided that you are unable to safely work in a clinical setting due to medical reasons the University will endeavour to guide you to a more suitable programme.
Academic credit
If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.
Interviews
Interviews will be held virtually or at our Hendon campus depending on what is convenient for you.
If you are successful at interview, you will then be offered a place on the course subject to academic, health and DBS requirements.
Please find more information here about our application process.
You must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years at the beginning of the year when your course starts and have afull settled status.
Qualifications
112 UCAS points
In addition to qualifications such as A level and International Baccalaureate, we accept a wide range of international qualifications.
Find out more on the relevant country support page. And if you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest regional office.
English language
You'll need good English language skills to study with us. The most common qualification we accept is the IELTS 7.0 (with a minimum 7.0 in all sections). We also normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements. And, don’t worry If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, as we offer an intensive pre-sessional English course.
Visas
To study with us in the UK, you will need astudent route visa.
Please apply via UCAS using this UCAS code B760.
Need help with your application? Check out our undergraduate application page.
Help with your application
Undergraduate application
International students
Support in your country
Fees
The fees below refer to the 2024/25 academic year.
UK students1
Full-time: £9,250
International students2
Full-time students: £16,000
The following study tools are included in your fees:
- Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
- Free e-books and e-journals for key course texts
- Free access to everything on your reading list
- Free specialist software for your course
- Free printing for academic paperwork
- Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.
Scholarships and bursaries
To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:
- MDX Excellence Scholarship offers grants of up to £2,000 per year for UK students
- Regional or International Merit Awards which reward International students with up to £2,000 towards course fees
- Our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.
Find out more about undergraduate funding and all of our scholarships and bursaries.
Fees disclaimers
1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.
Careers
How can the BSc Nursing (Mental Health) degree support your career?
Nursing today is more flexible and varied than ever. Mental health nurses have the opportunity to work across a broad range of fields and the skills that make you a good mental health nurse are transferable to many other areas.
Nurses work in services for children and adolescents right up to the groundbreaking work that is going on in dementia care. Mental health nurses are needed in secure facilities like prisons and special hospitals, in specialist mental health wards, across a host of community settings and in health settings like GP surgeries and emergency departments in general hospitals.
There are specialist roles for mental health nurses which range from nurse prescribers to managers and consultants. Mental health nurses are involved in teaching, research, educational outreach, and public health, and work with a range of employers from the voluntary sector to the Armed Forces. You can also travel and work abroad as a mental health nurse and some nurses work in social care and set up their own businesses.
Nursing is a 24hr profession – many nurses have flexible hours and shift patterns may include early, late, night, weekend and bank holiday work. With planning, you can shape your career to suit your needs and ambitions.
You will need to remain up to date to be an effective practitioner and you may continue your education after you graduate with CPD (Continuing Professional Development). This expectation helps with career progression as nurses have the opportunity to specialise in areas such as dual diagnosis, dementia or child and adolescent mental health.
Find out more about mental health NHS Careers.
MDXworks
Our employability service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.
Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has put us in the top 10 UK universities for students who want to be CEOs and entrepreneurs (Hitachi, 2021).
Global network
You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.
Life at Middlesex
Work and career
Facilities and support
We have recently launched our outstanding new clinical health facilities in the West Stand at StoneX Stadium.
Our high-tech simulation suites link the theories of the classroom with the practice of treating patients in a hospital environment with:
- The latest simulators for you to practice realistic emergency care situations and hospital scenarios
- Life-like mannequins that can simulate symptoms, diseases and conditions you’ll encounter as a working nurse
- Video recorders so you can receive evidence-based feedback from students and teachers watching you practice.
The high-tech nursing and midwifery simulation suites allow you to link the theories of the classroom with the practice of treating patients in a hospital environment.
The high-tech nursing and midwifery simulation suites allow you to link the theories of the classroom with the practice of treating patients in a hospital environment.
Student support
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.
Additional needs
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.
Wellness
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Work while you study
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.
Financial support
You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.
We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.
Contact us
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We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circ*mstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
