Nursing – Mental Health

Year 1

You will study the core themes of nursing, sciences, health, and practice learning. You will explore values-based professional, compassionate and family-centred care, health and wellbeing across the lifespan, and learn the essential skills to deliver safe nursing practice in a variety of settings in today’s multi-cultural environment.

Year 2

The core themes advance to a more complex level. Students in all fields will develop their ability to link and apply theory to practice, providing care to people who may be at any stage of life and who may have a range of mental, physical, cognitive or behavioural health challenges.

Year 3

The final year allows students to focus on integrating the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for working autonomously in their primary chosen field. The themes from years 1 and 2 will be explored at a more complex level. You will also cover management, leadership and research skills in the healthcare environment.

Student stories

Hear from our students and graduates about their experiences studying this course:

Learning Methods

How long is a BSc Nursing (Mental Health) course?

The BSc Nursing (Mental Health) degree is taught over three years and each year has three terms, with 45 weeks of the year either in university or on placement in health and social care settings.

In each year you will study 4 modules, one practice learning module and three theory modules, which are divided up throughout the year and distributed equally in terms of time.

All modules are cumulatively assessed and must be passed to progress through the course.

Activity Summary

• Lectures - 220 students per group, on campus or online, 6 hours per week
• Tutorial - 30 students per group, 6 hours per week
• Practical class or workshop - 30 students per group, 6 hours per week
• Directed / Private Study - 18 hours per week
• Placement / Work Based Learning - Students per group varies on placement, equivalent to 37.5 hours per week

Independent Study

Self-study, including learning in practice, is an important factor in your success. The modules of this course are delivered face-to-face and online. You will be expected to engage with online learning, access and complete all elements, and work independently through guided directed study. Strong organisation and self-direction skills are essential.

Clinical Simulation

A key part of the course is experiencing real-life clinical situations in a realistic and safe simulated environment. Using volunteer patients and a range of facilities across campus, you can practice your nursing care and deliver within various scenarios.

Watch our video on simulated learning: 

Staff Delivering on This Course

A large percentage of Lecturers who teach on this course are registered Nurses themselves. They have a wide-range of experience from varied healthcare settings and have educational and research experience. As 50% of the course is delivered in practice, the School has strong links with all practice partners and some of the university teaching will be undertaken by nursing and healthcare staff who work locally. We also have Technology Enhanced Advisors who support all our teaching and learning activities.

Many of our staff contribute nationally to enhance nursing and within the university are recognised by students within the STAR awards.

Assessment

Typically students are assessed each year:

Year 1

• 2 written assignments, including essays
• 1 practical skills assessment

Year 2

• 1 written exams, typically for 2.5 hours
• 1 written assignment, including essays
• 1 oral assessment
• 1 practical skills assessment

Year 3

• 1 written exam, typically for 2.5 hours
• 1 written assignment, including essays
• 1 project output
• 1 practical skills assessment

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Academic Support

The Inclusion Centre advises and supports students who disclose a sensory or mobility impairment, chronic medical condition, mental health issue, dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-entry visit to discuss any concerns and to view the facilities.

Online Learning & Support

All undergraduate and postgraduate students, whether you are learning on campus or by online learning, benefit from using our collaborative virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle. You will be provided with 24/7 online access to your learning material and resources, along with the ability to interact with your class members and tutors for discussion and support.

Study Skills Support

The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in:

• Academic writing
• Study skills (note taking, exam techniques, time management, presentation)
• Maths and statistics
• English language
• Information technology support

Library Support

The Library offers support for your course, including the books, eBooks, and journals you will need. We also offer online reading lists for many modules, workshops and drop-ins on searching skills and referencing, and much more.

Placements

You will undertake practice learning experiences from year 1 and gain an awareness of the varied and advancing nature of nursing. Practice learning will take place in a range of healthcare settings, across a range of geographical locations in Grampian, Highland, Orkney and Shetland, and each placement is the equivalent of 37.5hrs a week.

You will have the opportunity to learn within dynamic collaborative working teams which may consist of Doctors, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Radiographers, Social Workers, Social Care Workers, Carers, Charities and Volunteers.

• Year 1 has 3 placements
• Year 2 has 3 placements
• Year 3 has 2 placements

Study Abroad

In years 2 and 3 there are opportunities to have an overseas experience such as an exchange visit to one of our overseas partners or attending an overseas conference. This is a perfect opportunity to experience healthcare provision and education in a different country and meet other students.

Job Prospects

Mental Health Nurses work with people of all ages and in a variety of environments both in the community, hospital and custodial settings.

Is Mental Health Nursing a good career choice?

There are a number of specialist areas within this exciting field of nursing such as:

• Forensics 
• Problematic substance use 
• Eating disorders 
• Elderly 
• Child and adolescence mental health.

Contemporary mental health nurses are part of multidisciplinary teams working alongside social workers, police, custodial officers, occupational therapists and midwives.

What is needed for a BSc Nursing – Mental Health course?

Standard Entry Requirements

• SQA Higher: BCC. Higher English and a science subject are recommended.  English, Maths or Applications of Maths and a science subject are required at National 5 grade C or above if not held at Higher.
• GCE A Level: CC. A Level English and a science subject are recommended. English, Maths and a science subject are required at GCSE grade 5/C or above if not held at A Level.
• Irish Leaving Certificate Higher: H3H3H4. Higher English and a science subject are recommended. English, Maths and a science subject are required at grade O3 or above if not held at Higher.
• IB Diploma: 24. Higher Level English and a science subject are recommended. English, Maths and a science subject are required at Standard Level grade 3 if not held at Higher.

Minimum Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements for widening access applicants are:

• SQA Higher: CCC. Higher English and a Science subject are recommended. English, Maths and a Science subject are required at National 5 grade C if not held at Higher.

Alternative Qualifications

For entry to year 1 we welcome applications from those with equivalent qualifications to those stated. These include:

• HNC/HND in a related subject e.g. Healthcare Practice, Social Services, Applied Science, Social Sciences
• Advanced (SCQF Level 6) Healthcare (NESCOL) or NC Level 6 in Health and Social Care (other college providers) plus 1 Higher at B or above
• QQI/FETAC level 5 – at required grade and in relevant subject area
• SWAP Access – in relevant (nursing) subject area
• SVQs/NVQs (level 3 and above) Accepted in combination with other qualifications
• Equivalent overseas qualifications.

We welcome applications from those with equivalent qualifications to those stated, including SVQs/NVQs, access programmes and overseas qualifications. Applications from students with non-standard qualifications or work experience will be considered on an individual basis.

International Students

International students who do not meet our direct entry requirements for this course can gain additional entry points through our International College at Robert Gordon University.

English Language Requirements

All applicants whose first language is not English are required to have an Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) overall score of 7.0 with a score of 7.0 in all elements apart from writing where minimum score is 6.5. Appropriate equivalents will be considered.

We accept a variety of in-country and secure English language tests, find out more:

Please note, some courses may require a higher standard of English than stated in this page. Contact admissions@rgu.ac.uk for further information.