Postgraduate student funding
Your career as a healthcare professional starts here
The first-class new home for our healthcare teaching and research providing students with skills to meet the needs of 21st century careers.
Careers with this subject
Mental health nurses work with a wide range of conditions to help to improve patient’s health and overall quality of life, where possible.
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Addition issues
This relates to a range of substance misuse, it is possible to be addicted to anything. You may work with people with drug, alcohol, gambling, smoking, work, internet, solvent or shopping addictions. -
Anxiety disorders
This can have a debilitating effect on an individual’s day to day life. They may suffer from occasional anxiety or from repeated episodes that can be difficult to control. Some disorders you may work with include generalised anxiety, social anxiety, specific phobias or separation anxiety. -
Depression
Depression can affect people in many ways. Mental health nurses work with people who may be majorly depressed, have melancholy, suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder and many more. -
Eating disorders
Mental health nurses work with people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating disorder, OSFED, ARFID to help people create better relationships with food. -
Personality disorders
Someone with a personality disorder thinks, feels, behaves or relates to others very differently from the average person. Some disorders you might encounter include paranoid, schizoid, antisocial, borderline, dependent and many more. -
Obsessive-compulsive disorders
Mental health nurses work with a wide range of people that may be suffering from a form of OCD. Some of the most common conditions include excessive cleaning, checking, counting, ordering, arranging, hoarding and many more. -
Post-traumatic stress
This condition is triggered by a terrifying event for a person that has either experienced or witnessed it. Symptoms can include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts. -
Perinatal mental health issues
This relates to problems experienced right after and up to a year after the birth of a baby, and can affect both parents. Mental health nurses work with those suffering from postnatal depression and other conditions, to support new parents.
- people who may be suicidal
- people who may be isolated
- people who may be vulnerable
- people who may be homeless
- people who may be from minority communities
- veterans
- people who may be encountering relationship difficulties
- people with legal or financial problems
- people who are in poverty
- people with pre-existing medical conditions
- people who are unhappy
- people who may be experiencing family conflicts.
- NHS hospitals
- Public health and policy making
- Communities
- Patient’s homes
- Outpatient units
- Private practice
- GP surgeries
- Prisons
- Armed Forces
- Specialist units
- Secure residential units
- Community centres
- Education and academia
- Research
- Leadership roles
- Voluntary roles
Key features
- Experience a programme that teaches contemporary and innovative mental health practice.
- Focus on developing your interpersonal skills and the importance of building therapeutic relationships.
- Equip yourself with the knowledge and confidence to graduate with professional status as a registered mental health nurse.
- Qualify with outstanding employment opportunities in a profession that offers excellent career progression.
- Students in Plymouth can train and practice professional healthcare skills in an inspiring purpose-built environment,
InterCity Place . - Experience clinical placements across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset designed to maximise your range of experiences and clinical skills.
- Dedicated master’s level seminar and tutorial support time. Built around critical reflexivity (thinking deeply about the impact of our assumptions, values, and actions on others). The programme cumulates in a 40 credit systematic review module that prepares you to perform as a capable and autonomous practitioner, fit for registration in the mental health field of nursing practice.
Course details
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Year 1
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The first three modules will equip you with a range of knowledge and skills designed to settle you into the role of the student nurse. Following these three modules your programme will be integrated with other pre-registration nursing students in their second year of study.
Core modules
NRS703
Assessing Needs and Planning CareThis module introduces students to assessing and planning nursing care. It explores different models of understanding health, ill health and the interconnection between physical and mental health.
NRS704
Pharmacology and Medicines OptimisationThis module will advance student knowledge of medication, pharmacology and support of complex care medication optimisation.
NRS706
Developing Nursing PracticeThis module develops the students' values, knowledge and skills required for nursing practice in a range of settings.
NRS711
Nursing Care in ContextThis module will introduce students to the nursing profession, specifically broad aspects of professionalism, communication, and the development of knowledge and skills in relation to public health and health promotion.
NRS712
Human Biology and PathophysiologyThis module will develop students' understanding of human development, key body systems, pathophysiological processes involved in commonly encountered health conditions and their relationship to nursing care.
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Final year
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Core modules
MHN701
Lived ExperienceThis module will develop students knowledge and understanding of the `lived experience' of those engaging with mental health and social care services; fundamentally the module will enable development of skills to enhance well-being using value based frameworks.
100% Coursework
MHN702
Psychosocial Interventions to meet Complex Mental Health NeedsThis module develops knowledge and skills in a range of key therapeutic approaches for working with people with serious mental health problems or complex needs, and appropriate service approaches.
100% Coursework
MHN704
Developing Competence in Mental Health Nursing PracticeThis module develops the students' values, knowledge and skills required for nursing practice and meeting the needs of clients with complex mental health problems.
NRS708
Systematic ReviewThis module focuses on the appraisal and synthesis of evidence from research literature and documentary sources. Students' develop an understanding of systematic review methodology and will produce a systematic review of studies relating to an area of interest.
NRS710
Nursing Leadership, Management and Team WorkingThis module critically explores the concepts of management, leadership and working in teams. It examines the role of the nurse to act as a change agent in response to professional practice challenges.
Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.
The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:
Entry requirements
- A personal statement
- References
- Confirmation of academic attainment
- Have a strong GCSE profile of five GCSE or O level subjects at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).
- Have taken subjects that include English, Mathematics and a Science.
- Have a Bachelor (honours) degree from an Institution of Higher Education usually at a 2:2 or above.
- Usually have an A level or equivalent in a science or social science.
- Be currently employed in a relevant clinical practice area with achievement of a minimum of 750 verified hours in this role. Individuals with recent healthcare experience will be considered in some circumstances. Relevant experience includes, for example hospitals, GP surgeries, hospices, and other community settings (subject to RPL). Evidence of clinical hours are to be confirmed by a registered nurse and will be mapped against the stage one values and proficiencies for the Nursing programme.
- A copy of the your job description will be obtained to establish the appropriateness of the clinical experience.
- If the individual confirming practice hours is not registered as a nurse in the UK, additional evidence of the verifier’s registration credentials will be required.
- Evidence of academic study within the last 5 years.
- Please note you will be asked to provide a CV at the assessment stage of this process
Deferred entry
Fees, costs and funding
New student | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 |
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Home | £9,250 | £9,535 |
International | £19,000 | £19,550 |
Part time (Home) | £770 | £795 |
Tuition fee discount for University of Plymouth graduates
- 10% or 20% discount on tuition fees for home students
- For 2024/2025 entry, a 20% discount on tuition fees for international students (International alumni who have applied to the University through an agent are not eligible to receive the discount)
Postgraduate Merit Scholarship for international students
You may also receive:
- 10% off the successive years tuition fee if an overall grade of 60% or above is maintained
- achieve the equivalent of a good UK 2:1 degree classification.
- meet our standard
English language requirements
Additional costs
How to apply
Information required by UCAS
P60
There is no campus code
See UCAS website for deadline dates. The deadline for the receipt of international applications is 30 May 2025 for entry in September 2025.
http://www.ucas.com/apply
Help & enquiries
- Admission enquiries
- admissions@plymouth.ac.uk
- +44 1752 585858
- PlymUniApply
Entry interviews
- you to give the best account of your skills, experience and character.
- us to decide whether you will thrive in the University of Plymouth’s culture.
- us to explain more about the University, programme and how we work with our students.
Clinical Skills Resource Centre
- physical examinations
- patient and family interviews
- diagnostic skills
- washing hands
- manual handling
- observing and monitoring
- blood pressure reading
- injections
- medication administration.
People
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Mr Andrew Cashmore
Lecturer in Adult Nursing
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Dr Andy Nichols
Lecturer in Nursing Studies (Education)
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Mr Boikhutso Shianyana
Lecturer in Adult Nursing
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Mrs Caroline Jamison
Associate Professor of Nursing (Education)
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Ms Claire Butler
Lecturer in Adult Nursing (Education)
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Mr Daniel Clarke
Lecturer in Adult Nursing (Education)
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Miss Esme Elloway
Lecturer in Adult Nursing
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Dr Graham Williamson
Associate Professor in Adult Nursing
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Dr Jane March-McDonald
Lecturer in Adult Nursing (Education)
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Dr Jane Peters
Lecturer in Public Health Nursing (Education)
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Ms Jennie Aronsson
Lecturer in Adult Nursing (Education)
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Dr Kevin Hambridge
Associate Head of School (Student Experience)
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Mrs Lisa Attrill
Lecturer in Adult Nursing (Education)
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Mrs Lisa-Marie Rowe
Lecturer in Adult Nursing (Education)
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Mrs Louise Winfield
Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer)
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Ms Meriel Chudleigh
Visiting Specialist
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Mrs Pam Nelmes
Associate Professor in Clinical Education
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Ms Pollyanna Kellett
Lecturer In Adult Nursing
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Dr Rachel Pascoe
Lecturer in Acute/Critical Care Nursing (Education)
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Dr Sarah Tobin
Lecturer in Adult Nursing
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Mrs Sharon Evans
Lecturer in Adult Nursing
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Mrs Sharon Jones
Associate Professor Adult Nursing (Education)
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Mrs Suzi Robinson
Lecturer in Adult Nursing (Education)
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Dr Tracey Harding
Visiting Specialist
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Mrs Tracey Viney
Visiting Specialist
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Ms Valda Harding
Lecturer in Nursing - Adult (Education)
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Mrs Zoe-Louise Smethurst
Lecturer in Adult Nursing
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Ms Janet Kelsey
Visiting Specialist
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Mrs Lucy Jenner
Lecturer in Children's Nursing
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Dr Matt Carey
Associate Professor in Child Health Nursing - Acute Care
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Miss Nicola Fielding
Lecturer in Child Health Nursing (Education)
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Miss Rachel Carter
Associate Professor (Education)
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Mrs Rebecca Reynolds
Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning)
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Miss Sarah Howes
Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing (Education)
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Mrs Mary O'Toole
Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing (Education)
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Mr Francis Thompson
Associate Professor in Mental Health Nursing (Education)
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Dr Lisa Burrows
Associate Lecturer
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Dr Diane Carpenter
Associate Lecturer
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Mr Jonathan Perry
Associate Lecturer