Mental Health Nursing (pre-registration)

Entry requirements

• An honours degree 2:2 or above in a health-related subject.
• GCSE Grades 4/C or above in English and maths.
• Satisfactory health clearance, confirmation of vaccination status and enhanced criminal record disclosure.

All learners who meet the admission criteria are interviewed following a values-based recruitment process.

There is a requirement to demonstrate completion of 600 practice hours in relevant health/care settings through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process to meet the NMC standard of nursing education of 2,300 practice hours. The RPL process will credit you for 600 hours to meet the stated NMC criteria. You will be supported in the RPL process.

Non-UK degrees will be accepted if healthcare-related and accompanied by a 'Certificate of Comparability' which you can obtain from www.enic.org.uk.

Months of entry

January

Course content

Mental health (MH) nursing supports recovery and wellbeing across all ages through high-quality, holistic, person-centred care. This course trains you to build therapeutic relationships, promote patient involvement in decisions, and address psychological, physical and social needs while ensuring safeguarding.

• This course aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to independently address diverse mental health needs across the lifespan. It prepares you to analyse, develop, and deliver effective care to individuals, focusing on mental health and wellbeing, physiological and social needs with an emphasis on evidence-informed practice, care, and compassion.
• Learn the clinical and personal skills required to provide autonomous, compassionate, and person-centred care. Learn to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams as a mental health nurse to coordinate safe, evidence-based care.
• Through recognition of your previous care experience and completion of four practice placements organised by Coventry University during your course, you should achieve 50 per cent practical placement training needed for registration as a mental nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
• Study one module at a time, with five weeks of learning followed by one week of assessment per module.

Why you should study this course

The course aims to develop high standards of person-centred care, complex care coordination, decision-making, leadership, and mentoring. It prepares you to be an accountable professional, excel in multidisciplinary teams, and demonstrate leadership through relationship management and emotional intelligence. The course is ideal for graduates of health-related disciplines, psychology, criminology or sociology degrees with some experience in health and social care. It is also suitable for existing nurses looking for dual qualification. Theoretical course aspects will be further developed through simulation and clinical placements relevant to the mental health nursing field.2,5All eligible students on this course can apply for a minimum training grant payment from the government of £5,000 per year, with additional payments for students incurring childcare costs.

Studying in the School of Health and Care

Gain the skills and experience to transform lives, communities and the future of healthcare delivery. We aim to empower you to become a stand-out healthcare professional, capable, competent and confident in your field and role within the wider healthcare team.

While continuously developing your sense of professional identity as a nurse from day one, you'll also collaborate with learners from other School of Health and Care fields, learning in an environment that puts inclusivity, diversity and dignity at its heart.

Accreditation and professional recognition

Nursing and Midwifery Council

This course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) from the January 2026 intake.

The Becoming a Professional Practitioner and Leading for the Future as a Health and Care Professional modules meet the criteria set by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice. Students who successfully pass these modules and meet the CMI learning outcomes will be eligible to gain the award as an additional qualification at no additional cost.

Please use the official Coventry University website as your main source of information as our courses are subject to change throughout the year.