City

What you'll study

This honours degree blends core nursing theory, evidence-based mental health practice and professional skills development across biological, psychological and social approaches to mental health care. Teaching typically covers mental health assessment and formulation, therapeutic communication, psychopharmacology, risk assessment and management, recovery-oriented practice, safeguarding and law and ethics relevant to mental health nursing.

• Foundations of nursing practice and professional standards, including anatomy, physiology and common mental health presentations.
• Psychopathology and therapeutic interventions, spanning cognitive and behavioural therapies, family interventions and trauma-informed care.
• Pharmacology and physical health in mental healthcare, emphasising holistic assessment and comorbidity.
• Research methods and evidence-based practice, preparing students to appraise and apply research to clinical decision-making.
• Service user involvement, recovery principles and lived-experience perspectives integrated through teaching and co-produced learning activities.
• Practice-focused modules delivered through supervised placements in inpatient wards, community mental health teams, crisis and liaison services and other partnered settings.

The course structure alternates academic semesters with practice placements so students gain the required number of supervised practice hours to meet professional registration standards. Clinical skills are practised in simulation suites and through interprofessional learning opportunities with other health and social care disciplines.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a secondary school qualification equivalent to UK A-levels (for example ABB–BBC profile depending on the year) or an appropriate level 3 vocational qualification. Typical requirements include passes in English and often science subjects at GCSE or equivalent. Mature applicants with relevant healthcare experience are considered on an individual basis.

All offers are conditional on satisfactory occupational health screening, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and two satisfactory references. Applicants whose first language is not English will need to meet recognised English language requirements. Prior experience of caring or volunteering in health or social care settings is advantageous but not always essential.

Career prospects

Graduates qualify to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as Registered Mental Health Nurses and typically begin careers within the NHS, local authority mental health services or charitable and private sector organisations. Early roles include staff nurse posts in acute inpatient wards, community mental health teams, early intervention services, crisis teams and liaison psychiatry.

• Progression pathways include specialist community practitioner roles, nurse consultant, advanced clinical practitioner, leadership and service management positions.
• Graduates also move into forensic, child and adolescent mental health services, substance misuse services and prison healthcare.
• Opportunities exist for postgraduate study (for example MSc in Mental Health, psychological therapies or advanced clinical practice), research careers and training in psychotherapy or prescribing (where regulatory requirements permit).

Why study at City

City, University of London is known for its vocationally focused health programmes and close partnerships with NHS Trusts and community providers across London, ensuring diverse, real-world placement opportunities. The School of Health Sciences provides contemporary simulation facilities, interprofessional teaching and support from academics active in clinical research and service development.

Students benefit from dedicated practice allocation teams, strong links with multidisciplinary services in an urban setting and opportunities to engage with service users and carers as educators. The programme is designed to meet professional registration standards, emphasise employability and prepare graduates for the practical and ethical demands of contemporary mental health nursing.