Overview

    Study mental health nursing and play a crucial role in helping people who are experiencing or recovering from a range of mental health problems. Mental health nursing is a diverse profession, meaning you'll have an array of roles to work in upon graduation. This innovative and hands-on Mental Health Nursing degree will teach you how to support people with different mental health problems, in different settings, making you an adaptable and person-centred practitioner.

    Your course will start with exploring the role of the nurse in contemporary healthcare and the fundamentals of compassionate person-centred nursing practice. Throughout the first year you'll study with nursing students from the other fields of nursing, taking part in simulated learning and undertaking clinical practice placements. Years two and three will focus on your chosen field and will ensure you become a professional and competent newly qualified nurse, ready for a graduate role.

    The best way to study mental health nursing is through a combination of practical experience and theoretical knowledge. From day one, you'll be immersed in nursing practice and supported by academics and professionals with vast experience. Practice placements and simulation will be an integral part to your studies. You'll learn in state-of-the-art simulation facilities, using the latest virtual reality technology to practise nursing in a safe and supportive environment.

    A degree in mental health nursing from CCCU offers a range of career development and education options, as well as the opportunity to specialise. Our course will help you to develop the skills you need to make a difference to the lives of people in mental distress and will give you eligibility for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

    We know employers are looking for dynamic, open-minded graduates who can adapt, innovate, and collaborate. So we have designed a new way of teaching and learning to ensure that you are work-ready for when you graduate.

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    100%

    of our Mental Health Nursing students were in work or further study 15 months after finishing their course.

    Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024

    Why study Mental Health Nursing at CCCU?

    Entry requirements

    Accepted qualifications

    We accept a wide range of general qualifications that attract UCAS Tariff points either on their own or in combination with others. Below are some common examples.

    Entry requirements needed to enroll on the course.
    QualificationGrades
    A LevelsBBC
    BTECDDM
    Access15 Distinctions and 30 Merits
    International Baccalaureate29 Points

    The grades in this table provide an indication of what is required to study this course. If you have qualifications that are not present in the table or want to tell us more about you specific situation then please contact our friendly course enquiry team. 

    Level 2 qualifications

    • GCSE English language and mathematics grades A-C / 4-9 or equivalent or
    • Functional Skills Level 2 accepted

    A typical offer would be BBC at A2 Level or equivalent.

    Your health interview and DBS

    Offers of a place can only be made after a successful interview and are subject to a satisfactory reference, health clearance and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

    Health clearance will include vaccinations for NHS placements, and evidence of vaccination status may be required by placement providers or the university.

    Find out more information about your health interview on our website.

    More information

    Contact us

    Any questions?
    Any questions?
    Contact our Course Enquiries Team

    Module information

    We know employers are looking for dynamic, open-minded graduates who can adapt, innovate, and collaborate. So we have designed a new way of teaching and learning to ensure that you are work-ready for when you graduate. Alongside the modules below you will choose from our new curriculum that will help you achieve student success.

    Core/optional modules

    *Modules subject to approval

    How you’ll learn

    Nursing is a full-time course and although you will not be in the classroom everyday, you will have plenty of learning to occupy the whole week. You will normally be in university 3 or 4 days per week. 

    Over the three years of the course, you will be undertaking 2300 hours of theoretical learning (including directed and self-directed study) and 2300 hours of practice (which includes 600 hours of simulated practice learning). 

    Each 30-credit module will include 66 hours of directed learning and 244 hours of self-directed study. 

    We use a variety of learning and teaching techniques to support you including, simulated practice learning, lectures, seminars, group work, problem-based learning and discussion. 

    Whilst in practice you will be working 37.5 hours per week and will experience the full range of shifts, including earlies, lates, nights and weekends. You will be supported by three key people whilst you are in practice; your practice supervisor, practice assessor and your academic assessor.  

    You'll be expected to carry out independent learning while completing academic modules and while on placement. This may be undertaken individually or within small groups, and will include problem-solving activities. Academic staff will provide guidance for your independent learning through the virtual learning environment.

    Our newly revalidated course brings together all fields of nursing, enabling you to learn from and with each other. We have a supportive and student focused course to help you develop your knowledge and skills. If you make the decision to join us for your nursing course, you will find a friendly and welcoming community ready to support you on this exciting journey.
    Dr Paula KuzbitAssociate Head of School: Undergraduate Studies

    Fees

    The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:

      UK Overseas
    Full-time £9,535 £15,500

    Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated. The fees represented here are for study with Canterbury Christ Church University. If you are looking to study at a partner institution, please visit their website for fees information.

    Please read the 2025/26 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding tuition fees and year on year fee increases.

    Home (UK) Fees

    The Government has announced that it will increase the tuition fee cap by 3.1%, in line with inflation, for the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to parliamentary approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 our undergraduate home tuition fees are expected to be £9,535.

    Overseas/International Fees

    Undergraduate / PGCE tuition fees for international students are not set by the UK Government.

    Extra funding for health students

    NHS Learning Support Fund

    Students on a nursing, midwifery and many allied health courses will be eligible to apply for an NHS Learning Support Fund of at least £5,000 a year to help with living costs. Eligible students may also be awarded additional funding up to £3,000 a year. This money will not need to be repaid.

    In addition to this, health students can apply and may be eligible for other University awards. Please visit our scholarships, bursaries and financial support page to find out what's available.

    CCCU Advantage Package

    For courses that qualify, the CCCU Advantage Package currently includes:

    • Uniforms
    • Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check
    • Occupational Health costs, including immunisation

    Uniform (appropriate to the course) and a placement badge are provided free of charge at the start of the course. If you wish to replace any item of uniform or secure additional items of uniform during the course (e.g. because it has been damaged or no longer fits) then you must order and pay for this directly with the supplier. There are certain exceptions to this, for example if you become pregnant and require a maternity uniform. You will need to purchase suitable footwear for practice. NHS Trusts require shoes (not trainers) that meet health and safety requirements. Advice will be given by the lecturers on what to purchase after you have enrolled on your course. Please see our uniform page for more details.

    We reserve the right to withdraw this package in the event of a student not successfully completing the enrolment process.

    Professional accreditation

    On completion of the course, you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Mental Health Nurse. Our newly approved course meets the NMC 2023 standards.

    Industry links

    Our course is designed in partnership with our local health and social care providers, and service users to ensure it meets the contemporary health care needs of our local community and beyond. 

    Practice placements are an integral part of the course and you'll spend 50% of your time studying in University and a further 50% of your time in a wide variety of acute, recovery and specialist placements, in hospital, community and forensic settings.

    During your practice placements, you'll work with children, adolescents, adults and older people with mental health and psychological problems, as well as people with learning disabilities.

    Regulated by the Office for Students

    The Office for Students (OfS) regulates Canterbury Christ Church University. The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Further details about its work are available on the OfS website.

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    Duration:

    3 years

    UCAS code:

    B760

    Location(s):

    Canterbury, Medway
    Apply via UCAS

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    *We are advertising this course as ‘subject to approval.’ When we add new courses or update existing courses, we advertise the course as ‘subject to approval’. We do this to let you know the University still needs to agree to run the course. It is rare for a course not to gain approval, but it is not guaranteed. There may be changes to course and module titles, content and assessment, but we will tell you about these if there is a change. You can still apply to study a course subject to approval. We have prepared some questions and answers to tell you more.