University course · real outcomes from HESA / Discover Uni · part of Careermash

University degree

Mental Health Nursing

Southampton Solent University

Qualification

Degree

Length

3 yrs

UK fees / yr

£9,535

Study

full-time

Robin · your guide

Here's the honest picture on this course - what you'd study, whether you'd likely get in, what it pays, and where it leads. Everything's real data.

About this course

Mental health nursing is a branch of nursing focused on supporting people experiencing mental health difficulties, from acute crises to long-term conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. Mental health nurses work in some of the most complex and sensitive clinical environments in healthcare, building therapeutic relationships with patients, providing assessment and intervention, and working as part of multidisciplinary teams that include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and occupational therapists. The profession is both demanding and deeply rewarding, and demand for qualified mental health nurses in the UK has never been greater.

This three-year full-time programme at Southampton Solent University leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a mental health nurse. You will study mental health conditions and their treatment, therapeutic communication skills, pharmacology and medicines management, risk assessment and crisis intervention, legal and ethical frameworks including the Mental Health Act, and the broader determinants of mental health. Clinical placements are central to the programme, placing you in inpatient mental health wards, community mental health teams, crisis services, and other settings where mental health nurses work.

The placements are supervised and progressively demanding, building your confidence and clinical competence across the three years.

Mental health nurses work in NHS inpatient units, community mental health teams, crisis resolution teams, early intervention in psychosis services, prison healthcare, and the independent sector. Career progression leads to roles as community mental health nurse, team leader, clinical nurse specialist, nurse prescriber, and consultant nurse. Many mental health nurses also move into leadership, management, and teaching roles.

The profession is in significant shortage across the UK, and qualified mental health nurses are in consistent demand with strong career prospects.

Could you get in?

The grades students arrived with

48-63 pts10%

96-111 pts10%

112-127 pts20%

128-143 pts20%

144-159 pts25%

160-175 pts10%

224-239 pts10%

How they qualified

50% got in with A-levels. The rest came in a mix of ways:

A-levels50%

another degree25%

an Access course10%

Other10%

other higher education5%

Could I get in? Try your grades

120 UCAS pts

Pay & prospects

70%

In work or further study after

90%

Continue past first year

89%

Student satisfaction

What graduates actually go on to do % of leavers

Administrative occupations10%

Nursing ProfessionalsHighly skilled30%

Sales occupations5%

Managers, directors and senior officialsHighly skilled5%

Elementary occupations5%

Natural and social science professionalsHighly skilled5%

Science, engineering and technology associate professionalsHighly skilled5%

Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation5%

What students say National Student Survey

89%

of students are satisfied with the course overall

Teaching96%

Assessment & feedback89%

Academic support89%

Well organised85%

Learning resources85%

Student community94%

In students' own words

★★★★★

Would do it again

I was sceptical before starting — now I'd recommend it to anyone. The best part: the course strikes a good balance between theory and practical application. If I'm honest, would like to see more industry guest speakers in later years. On th…

Final year · Part-time

★★★★☆

Worth it overall

It's been a mixed experience, but mostly positive. The best part: small-group tutorials really push your thinking. If I'm honest, admin can be slow to respond, especially at start of term. On the city — good transport links make it easy to …

Class of 2022 · Full-time

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