Overview
Mental Health Nursing is a challenging yet rewarding profession where you can make a real difference to people’s lives.
Mental Health Nursing offers strong job opportunities across the NHS, independent and private sectors. The demand for mental health nurses is projected to increase in Scotland. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan aims to increase mental health nursing training places in England by 93% by 2031/32 (Source: King's Fund, 2023).
Stirling is a superb place for you to learn the skills of modern Mental Health Nursing. Our BSc / BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing courses will teach you to provide care for patients with mental health conditions. Both Mental Health Nursing degrees are approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
We combine high-tech training with theoretical study and clinical experience. Our courses are shaped by our course partner, NHS Forth Valley and the latest research. Our teaching is informed by people who have lived experience of mental ill health.
Our Mental Health Nursing courses foster excellence. We've won Student Nursing Times Awards multiple times going back to 2012. We believe that Mental Health Nursing must always respect people and value their individuality. Our values-based approach will inspire you to become a reflective and resilient mental health nurse. You’ll be ready to join a health and social care team upon graduation.
Placements and practical training
You will develop your skills and experience with placements at NHS Forth Valley and third sector partnerships. Diverse clinical placements and specialised experience include:
- adult hospital and community
- older adult hospital
- community and long term
- specialty settings such as forensics
- secure placements
- prison nursing.
You will also gain practical experience in our Clinical Skills Lab. You are assessed and supported by a team of practice assessors, practice supervisors, and academic assessors.
Supporting your mental health and wellbeing
Our BSc / BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing courses focus on the mental health and wellbeing of our students. Course modules will equip you with tools to boost your self-confidence and self-reliance. You will also have access to our student support services.
Nursing is global: international opportunities
Global health is an important part of our nursing degree. Our students take part in international health projects, including the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health. They also have chances to study abroad and gain valuable experience in different healthcare settings.
BSc (Hons) and BSc Mental Health Nursing: what's the difference?
Our BSc course in Mental Health Nursing is three years, and our BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing course is four years. Both courses are approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Both courses lead to professional registration upon successful completion.
In their final year, Honours students complete additional modules, including a dissertation and their NMC-required final placement.
Students can apply to switch between BSc (Hons) and BSc Mental Health Nursing during their course.
Top reasons to study with us
Professional accreditation
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approves both our BSc (Hons) and BSc Mental Health Nursing degrees in Scotland.
Each year, the courses meet the NMC requirement of 50% theory and 50% practice.
Following successful completion of the course, students are eligible to achieve professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Professional registration allows you to practice across the UK.
Prizes or awards
Students can be nominated for The Student Nursing Times Awards.
These awards celebrate the very best in student nurses and nurse education. They recognise those who are committed to developing new nursing talent.
The University of Stirling has won Student Nursing Times Awards in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
| Entry requirement | BSc Nursing - Mental Health | BSc (Hons) Nursing - Mental Health |
|---|---|---|
| SQA Highers | BBC | BBBB |
| GCE A-levels | CCC | BBC |
| IB Diploma | 28 | 28 |
| BTEC | MMM | DMM |
| Essential subjects | One Higher or A Level (or equivalent) in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics |
Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.
Care-experienced applicants will get a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements and pass an interview.
Other Scottish qualifications
Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
Access courses
If you don’t currently have the relevant qualifications to apply to either university or an HNC, you can apply for an access course. The University of Stirling runs an Access to Nursing Studies course.
Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP)
You can complete a SWAP Access to Nursing course to gain entry to our BSc Adult and Mental Health nursing degrees.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B
Other qualifications
English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions
English access course
Access to Higher Education Diploma - 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3. Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
International entry requirements
Advanced entry
Advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications. We can only consider advanced entry applications for Year 2 and not Year 3 entry.
Additional information
What other criteria are required for BSc and BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing?
The personal values and qualities that you’re able demonstrate in your personal statement will be considered. Explaining why you’re choosing mental health nursing should be evident. Voluntary or paid experience in a care setting would be useful.
We advise you to show the links between the knowledge, values and skills gained in these experiences and how they might fit with the attributes of a mental health nurse. Other experience, which demonstrates your commitment and your ability to work in a team, is also valuable.
References required
References are required. Please provide an academic reference. If this is not possible we can accept an employer’s reference. Friends as referees are not accepted. If you’re applying to transfer from another institution we require a reference and a transcript from that institution.
Practical experience
You must be committed to go on practice learning experiences in conjunction with our practice partners. These may cover an extensive geographical area. You should be expected to be able to travel to all practice areas within NHS Forth Valley It is expected that you make your own arrangements to accessing these experiences. There is some reimbursement from SASS for travel costs.
You should also be aware that holiday periods are pre-determined within the course.
Will there be an interview?
If your application proceeds, then you will be invited to attend a compulsory interview.
Disclosure Scotland check
All applicants are subject to a Disclosure Scotland check. This will show all spent and unspent criminal convictions including (but not limited to):
- cautions
- reprimands
- final warnings
- bind over orders or similar and, to the extent relevant to this course, may also show details of any:
- minor offences
- fixed penalty notices
- penalty notices for disorder.
Previous criminal convictions may not exclude you from entering the course, but all convictions must be declared. Some may result in your application being unsuccessful.
Fitness for taking part in practical placements
All applicants must be passed fit by our occupational health team. We’ll ask you to fill out a questionnaire and also to visit our team on campus.
To protect your privacy, neither of these checks will normally be carried out until an offer has been made to you.
This process is subject to change.
Other routes of entry
Some applicants may have varying levels of prior certificated or experiential learning. You’ll be assessed on an individual basis, according to the current University of Stirling Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy. RPL is facilitated within the Faculty and this may result in a shortened programme of study for you. Please get in touch to discuss any prior learning with a member of our recruitment team. We can only consider advanced entry applications for Year 2 and not Year 3 entry.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 7.0 in speaking, listening and reading.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 67 overall with a minimum of 62 in writing and 67 in speaking, listening and reading.
- IBT TOEFL 94 overall with 19 in reading, 24 in writing, 20 in listening and 22 in speaking.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses
Course details
Students on our Mental Health Nursing courses study alongside Adult Nursing and Paramedic Science students during Year 1 of the course. You will gain insight into how healthcare professionals work together for patient-centred care.
Our degree will develop your critical and reflective thinking. You will also improve your self-awareness, self-confidence and personal resilience.
We’ll introduce you to the fundamentals of nursing. You'll then progress to specialist areas such as:
- therapeutic skills
- recovery
- trauma-informed
- leadership skills.
Placements in a diverse range of health and social care organisations will give you the opportunity to put theory into practice. Your allocated practice supervisor and practice assessor will facilitate and support your learning.
You’ll be allocated a personal tutor who will support and guide your studies.
In the theory learning, you will gain a knowledge of the life sciences and relational and trauma informed care approaches. You'll examine the skills and theory of leadership in practice. You'll demonstrate these skills in your final practice learning experience. Clinical skills teaching are tailored around mental health scenarios.
In Year 2, you’ll study two mental health modules. In Year 3, you will study one mental health specific module, and shared modules with Adult Nursing students.
For those studying for an Honours, there is an additional 4th year. In your fourth year, you'll will enhance your research knowledge and skills culminating in a dissertation project. Alongside this, you'll explore wider perspectives of healthcare. To allow you the time and space to focus on this, the fourth year focuses on academic work with no formal clinical placements.
Mental Health Nurses must continually incorporate new research findings into their practice. We embed this in our course. Your ability to incorporate evidence-based, outcomes-orientated practice is part of our course philosophy.
Modules
Course details
Teaching
We've been awarded five-star excellence for our teaching in the QS Stars University Ratings 2024.
A wide range of approaches to learning are used on this course.
We take a student-centred approach which uses:
- small group teaching (enquiry and scenario-based learning)
- lectures
- seminars
- group work
- clinical skills teaching.
Assessment
Each semester you’ll be assessed by a range of methods including:
- exams
- essays
- reports
- clinical skills assessments
- presentations
- assessments of practice.
You need to pass these before progressing to the next semester.
Work placement opportunities
Our placements go beyond standard hospital placements. Find out more about how nursing placements are a key foundation of studying Nursing at Stirling.
Study abroad
There are opportunities for students to study abroad and gain valuable experience. These opportunities include exchange trips with partner universities or via the Work the World Scheme.
There is collaboration and partnerships with:
- University of South Florida
- University of Salisbury Maryland
- University of Minnesota
- University of Indiana
- University of Navarra
You can also meet, collaborate and learn with visiting students, and in virtual classrooms.
Contact
For any course related questions, please contact +44 (0)1786 466340 or nursingrecruitment@stir.ac.uk.
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
Scottish students
This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, if you are domiciled in Scotland you can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on your behalf.
You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. Students from the Republic of Ireland are eligible for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,535 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
We also offer additional funding – such as our Honours Year Scholarship – for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. See our funding opportunities section below for more information.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy and terms and conditions.
International students (including EU)
Eligible students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course. See our range of generous scholarships for international undergraduate students.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding
Students domiciled in Scotland
All SAAS-eligible students receive a £10,000 bursary each year for the first three years of study. They can get an extra £7,500 if they complete an Honours year.
Find out more about paramedic, nursing and midwifery funding from SAAS.
Students domiciled in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Our Nursing Scholarship and Access to Nursing Bursary provides students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland a £2,000 cash award per year (for Years 1-3 of study).
The scholarship can also be combined with our Honours Year Scholarship, which covers the full cost of tuition fees in students’ Honours year of study.
The University also covers the costs of:
- occupational health consultations
- criminal record checks
- compulsory uniforms
- inoculations for undergraduate nursing students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
These benefits represent a cost saving of around £430.
There’s no need to apply for these awards. The admissions process will automatically identify eligible students.
International (including EU) students
Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course. Find funding opportunities for international students.
Mature students and students with family
Extra funding is available to help with the costs of childcare. SAAS provide funding for students domiciled in Scotland. This includes Dependant’s Allowance, Single Parent’s Allowance and Childcare Allowance for Parents. You can find full information can be found on the SAAS website.
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.
After you graduate
Careers in Mental Heath Nursing are attractive with clear progression pathways (Mental Health and Wellbeing - Workforce Action Plan 2023-2025).
You can enjoy a wide-ranging and rewarding career, full of development opportunities that make a real difference to people’s lives. Stirling graduates can expect job opportunities thanks to our strong links with NHS Forth Valley and other providers.
Mental health nurses receive competitive salaries and benefits including pension schemes, paid holidays, and sick leave. The NHS also provides support for further education and training. You can progress along a career pathway to senior, advanced, or consultant level.
Registered mental health nurse can specialise in:
- substance misuse
- early intervention
- dementia care
- children and young people's mental health
- community mental health
- forensic mental health
- clinical research
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