2025/26 entry
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) - Top Up
Why study Nursing (Mental Health) - Top Up at Liverpool John Moores University?
- Join our multi award-winning School - 'Nurse Education Provider of the Year (pre-registration)' 2021 Winner and 'Best Student Experience' 2020 Winner.
- £5,000 a year pro rata grant for Nursing students living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland plus another £2,000 for students with dependent children (eligibility criteria apply).
- Approved by the Nursing Midwifery Council.
- The programme aims to develop Registered Mental Health Nurses who are accountable, safe, and proficient and who are able to safely deliver holistic person-centred, evidence based and effective care across the lifespan.
- A variety of authentic assessments will prepare you for nursing practice.
- Learn in state of the art professional-standard clinical practice simulation suites complete with cutting edge technology
- 95% of students surveyed said the academic support on our nursing courses was good or very good (National Student Survey 2024)
About your course
Studying on our NMC accredited BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) top up degree will give you the opportunity to complete practice learning placements in a variety of settings, acute inpatient mental health settings and out of hospital placements, and in simulated practice learning placements.
Mental Health nurses engage in and develop therapeutic relationships with service users and their families through the use of effective communication and interpersonal skills. They care for people of all ages in both acute and long-term care in wide variety of settings. On the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) top up degree, you will gain the skills, experience and confidence to be an effective healthcare professional.
You will have plenty of opportunities for practice learning experiences within a variety of settings, which may include secure, forensic and hospital environments, and in the community in places like home environments and clinics, as well as civic engagement placement learning. This range of experience will give you vital skills in assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating patient care and needs.
The programme is delivered over 18 months (+ 18 months Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)*) and is full time.
You will undertake two theoretical assessments in the first six months, and five in the final academic year: one for each theoretical module, in addition to one practice module per year. You will be assessed utilising a variety of authentic assessment methods that will enable you to achieve across a range of assessment styles. You will have access to a variety of digital resources to support your learning and wider experience.
On successful completion of the programme, you will obtain an Honours Degree and will be able to register with the NMC as a Mental Health Nurse.
*If you are a Nursing Associate or Assistant Practitioner your previous qualification may cover the first 18 months of the BSc (Hons) nursing programme. Do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
You may also be interested in our BSc (Hons) Top Up Child Nursing or BSc (Hons) Top Up Adult Nursing courses.
Professional accreditation/links
This programme is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and aligned to the Standards for pre-registration nursing programmes (NMC, 2023).
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Additional fees you may need to factor in are travel costs to placements and parking if using a car whilst on placement. However, you may be able to claim reimbursement of travel costs through the Learning Support Fund provided by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
Students who would like to buy extra uniform items, further to their standard uniform which is included in the course fees, have the option to do so. International experiences may incur costs.
Employability
Successful completion of the course allows you to apply for registration on the Nursing and Midwifery Register, regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This can lead to careers in the health sector at home or abroad and in the private and voluntary sectors, e.g. schools, CAMHS, clinics, prisons, acute mental health in patient and secure settings, older persons and residential care to name a few.
There are a growing number of nurse specialist posts in some clinical areas too. Some graduates prefer to pursue careers in teaching, research or management, or continue their studies with a masters programme.
95% of our mental health nursing graduates go on to employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (Source: discoveruni.gov.uk)
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
All modules in the programme are core. The modules ensure that all of the professional requirements for registered nurses are met.
Level 5 modules:
- Assessment in Mental Health Nursing
- Complexities in Mental Health Care
- Developing Practice Learning
Level 6 modules:
- Person Centred Care Planning in Mental Health Nursing
- Leadership and Quality Enhancement
- Health Economics and Health Policy
- Managing Risk in Mental Health Nursing
- Nursing Interventions and Prescriber Readiness
- Advancing Practice Learning
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 5
Core modules
Assessment in Mental Health Nursing
20 credits
This module will develop your understanding of assessing, monitoring and planning care in mental health nursing. You will also explore underpinning research methods and ethics and the application of an evidence-base to your practice. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Complexities in Mental Health Nursing Care
20 credits
This module will develop your critical understanding of the complexities of care in mental health nursing, including end of life, commonly encountered challenges, and prioritising care. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Developing Practice Learning
20 credits
The aim of this module is to support students in achieving proficiencies for registered nurses that are aligned to Part 2 of the Practice Assessment Document. In addition, students will be directed and supported to develop an understanding of the theory that underpins the NMC Standards of Proficiency Annexe B Nursing Procedures.
Level 6
Core modules
Leadership and Quality Enhancement
20 credits
This module will equip the student with the underpinning knowledge required for leading and managing care, including delegation and supporting staff. They will also develop skills to monitor risk and evaluate and enhance quality of care.
Health Economics and Health Policy
20 credits
This module will enhance the students understanding of health legislation and current health and social care policies and their influence quality of care, patient safety. They will also develop an understand of the principles of health economics and their relevance to resource allocation in health and social care organisations .
Nursing Interventions and Prescriber Readiness
20 credits
This module explores the nurse's role in the instigation of appropriate investigations their interpretation and the implementation of appropriate interventions when meeting individual care needs. This module will also prepare the student to progress to a prescribing qualification following registration
Managing Risk in Mental Health Nursing
20 credits
This module will enable you to understand the concept of risk and to identify and appropriately respond to risk within individuals and organisations in Mental Health Nursing. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Person Centred Care Planning in Mental Health Nursing
20 credits
This module will explore decision making within the context of individualised care in mental health nursing. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Consolidating Practice Learning
20 credits
The aim of this module is to support students in achieving proficiencies for registered nurses that are aligned to Part 3 of the Practice Assessment Document. In addition, students will be directed and supported to develop an understanding of the theory that underpins the NMC Standards of Proficiency Annexe B Nursing Procedures.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
Your learning journey has been designed to be inspiring and motivating, provide tailored support, and to meet the specific NMC requirements for registered nurses.
You will learn through a mix of:
- lectures
- seminars
- group work activities
- simulation skills development sessions
- practice placements in a range of settings
- tutorials.
We use an active blended learning approach. This means you will attend face to face teaching on campus - usually at the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice, based in the Tithebarn Building (part of our City Campus), along with independent learning and work online. Examples of online activity include asynchronous tutorial discussions, discussion boards and collaborative or individual projects such as wikis, padlets, blogs and e-portfolios.
You will be taught by a team of professionally qualified and experienced academic staff, who have experience in designing, developing and delivering professional programmes.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
As soon as you enrol at LJMU, you will be assigned your own personal tutor. Your tutor will give you feedback on how well you are progressing with your studies and encourage you to plan for your educational and career development.
During your practice learning experiences, you will work alongside experienced nurses and be supervised by practice assessors, as well as having the support of academics and Practice Education Facilitators. Additional support is always available within the Faculty or from student services if you need it.
We encourage students to take advantage of the study skills support available through Library Services. This covers everything from how to find the books or journals you need, through to the correct way of referencing them in your assignments.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
You will have both formative and summative assessments throughout the programme.
Formative assessments are diagnostic in nature and focus on your development, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, in addition to providing you with feedback on your progress during the learning process.
The feedback may come from several sources, including academic staff, practice supervisors and assessors, service users and wider university support staff. You may receive this verbally or in written format. Formative feedback and feedforward are helpful in your development throughout the modules.
Examples of formative activities include discussion boards to develop learning networks, a reading log, article reviews and group presentations.
Summative assessments are the module assessments that you need to pass to receive the credits for the module. Learning outcomes for the module will describe the knowledge, skills or expertise that you will need to demonstrate you have acquired to pass the assessment. As an undergraduate student, the pass mark for your assessments is usually 40%.
The assessments for each module have been designed to align with the learning outcomes and be authentic to Nursing practice. This means that assessments will require you to use the same competencies, or combinations of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that you will need to apply in your professional life.
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
Part of the City Campus, the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice is based in the Tithebarn Building, adjoining the Avril Robarts Library, which is open seven days a week. In addition to specialist clinical practice suite facilities, you will find high quality seminar rooms, IT suites and lecture theatres, plus a café and social spaces.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications:
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
English and Maths GCSE at grade A* - C / 4-9 (please contact our Admissions team if you have equivalent qualifications)
Alternative qualifications considered
Advanced standing from a FdSc Nursing Associate Programme.
Applicants to this top-up programme will need to demonstrate they have met the following learning outcomes via prior certificated study to the value of 120 level 4 credits and 60 level 5 credits.
Level L01 Apply a critical understanding and application of the knowledge, skills and proficiencies outlined in NMC Standards of proficiency for Nursing Associates.
LEVEL L02 Demonstrate competency in delivery of key proficiencies, meeting the health needs across the lifespan as outlined in NMC Standards of proficiency for Nursing Associates.
LEVEL L03 Display the ability to work effectively within the limits of their knowledge, the boundaries of professional Nursing Associate practice in the delivery of professional compassionate care.
LEVEL L04 Apply understanding and evaluation of evidence-based Nursing Associate practice in the delivery and monitoring of safe care provision.
LEVEL L05 Utilise effective communication skills with service users, families, and the care delivery team to facilitate the delivery of holistic care, which is non-judgemental, inclusive and promotes equality.
LEVEL L06 Effectively use skills for employment that include professional written & spoken communication; numeracy skills and digital capability and team working and collaboration.
LEVEL L07 Demonstrate skills of a reflective practitioner with the ability to engage in life- long learning.
Additional requirements
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Interview required
Participation in values-based recruitment
International requirements
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IELTS
International applicants will be required to have IELTs scores of 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each component
Further information
- DBS, Occupational Health requirements
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RPL
Recognition of prior learning that is capable of being mapped to the Standards of proficiency for registered nurses and programme outcomes, up to a maximum of 50 percent of the programme, is permitted (NMC Standards for pre-registration nursing programmes, 2023: 1.5).
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
Faq Items
Full time - Home Undergraduate
Full time - International Undergraduate
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.