Program Overview

Introduction to Mental Health Nursing BSc

The Mental Health Nursing BSc program is offered by the School of Health Sciences at the University of Dundee. This program is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become registered mental health nurses.

Teaching and Assessment

The teaching for this program reflects the 24/7 nature of hospitals and nursing. Students will work 40 hours a week, with shifts in hospital and community placements, which may involve significant travel. The academic year for nurses is 45 weeks long, with annual leave built into the program instead of a summer break. A typical week consists of time spent in lectures, clinical skills centre, small tutorials, and private study.

Assessment Methods

Assessment methods include:

• Portfolio development
• Essays
• Exams
• Objective structured clinical examination

For the BSc version of this course, students are not required to complete an honours project or dissertation. Students will be supported in practice by a practice supervisor, and practice placement performance is assessed by a registered nurse assigned as the practice assessor.

Core Modules

The program consists of several core modules, which are essential parts of the course. These modules are divided into three levels:

Level 1

• Fundamentals of Mental Health and Care (NM12201)
  • Module code: NM12201
  • Credits: 20
  • Semester: Semester 2
• Professional and Academic Skills and Knowledge 1 (NU10203)
  • Module code: NU10203
  • Credits: 20
  • Semester: Runs across both semesters
• Nursing Skills and Practice 1 (NU10204)
  • Module code: NU10204
  • Credits: 40
  • Semester: Runs across both semesters
• Fundamentals of Health and Care (NU11205)
  • Module code: NU11205
  • Credits: 30
  • Semester: Semester 1
• Student Selected 1: Improving and maintaining health and well-being (NU13207)
  • Module code: NU13207
  • Credits: 10
  • Semester: Runs during the summer

Level 2

• Developing Healthcare Practice in Mental Health Nursing 1 (NM21203)
  • Module code: NM21203
  • Credits: 20
  • Semester: Semester 1
• Developing Healthcare Practice in Mental Health Nursing 2 (NM23205)
  • Module code: NM23205
  • Credits: 20
  • Semester: Runs during the summer
• Professional and Academic Skills and Knowledge 2 (NU20203)
  • Module code: NU20203
  • Credits: 20
  • Semester: Runs across both semesters
• Nursing Skills and Practice 2 (NU20204)
  • Module code: NU20204
  • Credits: 40
  • Semester: Runs across both semesters
• Developing Healthcare Practice (NU22205)
  • Module code: NU22205
  • Credits: 10
  • Semester: Semester 2
• Student Selected Module 2 (NU23209)
  • Module code: NU23209
  • Credits: 10
  • Semester: Runs during the summer

Level 3

• Enhancing Healthcare Practice in Mental Health Nursing (NM30208)
  • Module code: NM30208
  • Credits: 40
  • Semester: Runs across both semesters
• Professional and Academic Skills and Knowledge 3 (NU30203)
  • Module code: NU30203
  • Credits: 20
  • Semester: Runs across both semesters
• Nursing Skills and Practice 3 (NU30204)
  • Module code: NU30204
  • Credits: 40
  • Semester: Runs across both semesters
• Enhancing Transition to Registration (NU32205)
  • Module code: NU32205
  • Credits: 10
  • Semester: Semester 2
• Student Selected Module 3 (NU32208)
  • Module code: NU32208
  • Credits: 10
  • Semester: Semester 2

Date of Entry

The date of entry for the Mental Health Nursing BSc program is September 2026.