BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements

96-120 tariff points. Also to include GCSE English Language and Maths grade C or above. Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English, Adult Numeracy and Literacy Level 2 are also accepted.

Selection criteria

Successful recent study within last 5 years at GCSE level or higher (NVQ3 accepted and NVQ2 not accepted). 

Alternate qualifications accepted for entry include:

• Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits overall to include 45 graded Level 3 credits; 24 at Distinction and 21 at Merit.
• Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma MMM- DDM
• CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma
• OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma MMM - DDM
• 96-120 tariff points from a maximum of 4 Scottish Highers.
• 96 -120 tariff points from a maximum of 4 Irish Leaving Certificate Highers.
• Old NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care (pre 2014), plus minimum 2 years' experience in health care setting.

Equivalent qualifications other than those listed above may be accepted. Contact ugadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk for more information.

Experience of health/social care-related setting such as a hospital or primary care health centre prior to interview is desirable.

As part of the application and selection process, you will need to demonstrate commitment to mental health nursing.

All places are offered subject to successful interview, as well an Enhanced Criminal Background check, medical fitness to practise and proof of qualifications.

Fitness to practise and health requirements

All offers of a place are subject to satisfactory health screening.   Further information will be provided following the offer of a place.

Please note that Professional Bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) have certain requirements regarding health and character status of applicants and their ability to meet the required core professional competencies and to practise safely without direct supervision. Please read the NMC and HCPC information to find out more. Please ask us for advice and/or support as early as possible in the application process if you have any questions about this requirement.

For more information about core competencies and medical fitness to train please click here. There are fitness standards provided here for most programmes of study: health professions, social work and teaching.

In some instances, an applicant may be invited to attend a professional practice panel to discuss any recommended reasonable adjustments, and whether or not core professional competencies are achievable.

In order to be admitted and continue on the course, students must be deemed as medically fit for both practice and theory by the Occupational Health Department. If you have any concerns about a health condition/issue and its impact on your ability to undertake the course please contact the Occupational Health Department as early as possible in the application process.

• Industrial Diagnostics Company (IDC)
• Phone: 01530 239 190
• Email:  occupationalhealth@industrial-diagnostics.com

Disclosure and Barring Service check

If you are offered a place we require you to comply with an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background clearance check. Please see the DBS Policy for more details.

Values Based Recruitment

* From 1 April 2015, all Higher Education Institutions delivering NHS training programmes will be required to assess students for their values using the core requirements set out in the Values Based Recruitment (VBR) framework. This assessment will take place as part of our recruitment process.

Application information

Full-time courses

Apply online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), between September and January; they will send your application on to us. Applications submitted after this date will be considered late and the course you have applied for might be full by this time; however, we will consider you for alternative suitable courses.

Their website provides all the information you need about universities, courses, locations, entry requirements and financial support. You are allowed to select up to five course choices. You need to use the correct UCAS campus and course codes as not all courses are offered at every campus. You will be asked for the following information when you apply online:

Institution code name: UoC

Institution code: C99

Campus location:

• A Ambleside
• B Brampton Road, Carlisle
• E University of Cumbria at Energus, Workington
• F Fusehill Street, Carlisle
• L Lancaster
• T University of Cumbria in London
• Y University of Cumbria at Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness

Part-time courses

Applications should be made online directly to the university; visit our website or contact enquirycentre@cumbria.ac.uk for details and guidance. There is no official closing date but we would encourage you to apply as early as possible, as many courses are competitive.

What makes a good application?

We consider all aspects of your application, not simply your qualifications and grades. We look at your academic background and performance, relevant experience (particularly for professional courses where some voluntary or paid experience is required) and your reference. Above all, we look for motivation, commitment and potential-evidence that you can benefit from study at higher education level.

Make sure you include:

• Relevant qualifications/evidence of ability: check our website for the specific entry requirements required for each course. Tell us your previous academic results and your projected grades.
• A supportive reference, from an employer or your school or college.
• A good personal statement.
• Explain clearly what attracts you to the course and tell us about your wider interests and experience. If you are applying for a course that incorporates professional training and placements, you should include any relevant experience or visits you have made in the workplace. Highlight your individual strengths and qualities, personal skills, capacity for teamwork, contribution to the community and your enterprise, originality and determination. Select some activities which bring out these qualities.

What next?

When we receive your application, we will send you an acknowledgement and if you are successful at this stage you will get either an offer (with an invitation to visit the campus to which you have applied), or an invitation to interview on a particular date. If we are not able to offer you a place on your chosen course we will usually try to offer you a place on a similar course and will contact you to discuss this. Alternatively, if we think you are suitable, but cannot offer you a place on your preferred campus because of the level of competition, we will offer you a place at another campus if one is available.

And if I accept?

The admissions team will contact you and send further information from February onwards about accommodation, and from May/June onwards about preparing to join the university. If you have any other queries, please telephone the admissions offices for information and advice on 0845 6061144.

Deferred entry

We welcome applications for deferred entry on some courses. If you have specific plans during your year out, indicate these on your personal statement as they may be relevant to your course and could enhance your application.

International students

Applications for full-time undergraduate study are made through UCAS. Please see the international pages of our website for full details of our entry requirements (including English-language skills) as well as contacts for advice and support.

From 2009 the UK Border Agency introduced a Points-Based Immigration System (PBS) for students coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Students entering higher education will need to obtain a Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) plus finance confirmation to obtain a Tier 4 student visa. UK education providers are licensed by the UK Border Agency. When students apply for their visa (or entry clearance) they will need a valid Certificate of Acceptance of Studies from the university. Please note that a CAS is not a guarantee that a visa will be issued.

See the following websites for further details: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk