Overview
Are you self-aware, empathetic and patient? Join us to harness your strengths and meet the demand for mental health nurses as issues in this area skyrocket. You’ll become part of a community curious about how the mind works. As well as providing physical care, you’ll learn to create connections that help people on the road to recovery.
From year one of this programme, you’ll specialise in mental health nursing. We’ll unpick vital questions: How should we care for people with mental health issues? What’s the impact of substance misuse? Why is person-centred care important?
After you graduate, you’ll be able to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a mental health nurse. Our course follows the standards set by the NMC and also offers you option modules so you can explore specialist areas like mental health nursing of children and young people.
King’s nurses are highly sought after thanks to their cutting-edge knowledge, well-rounded skills and thorough understanding of the challenges in the sector. That’s why you can find our graduates in top clinical positions and leadership roles across the country and around the world.
Key benefits
- You will be studying at the #1 university for nursing in the world (2025 QS World University Rankings).
- Specialise in mental health nursing with teaching delivered by practitioners with extensive experience in this field
- Learn from active clinicians working in top London hospitals and expert researchers writing the textbooks taught across the country
- Benefit from two world-class academic health science centres and our links to renowned London teaching hospitals providing nursing care to a diverse population
- You'll have the options to take an elective placement in the UK or abroad during Year 2
- A training grant of £5,000 from the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF), and financial support for excess placement travel for accommodation costs
Studying mental health nursing has been an incredible journey, blending academic learning, practical placements, and a vibrant social life.
Course essentials
When you graduate, you won’t just have a professional nursing registration with the NMC but also hold a degree from a world-leading university.
As the largest provider of nursing education in the Russell Group, we have high expectations of you, but we also provide an exceptionally high level of support. As well as your peers, you can always turn to your personal tutor and other members of staff like cohort lead and the many support services at King’s.
Everything you learn on this course will be taught in the context of mental health nursing, preparing you to provide psychological, physical and social care through the most mentally challenging times of their lives. The majority of teaching is delivered by academics dedicated to this area or mental health nurses with extensive experience.
Being in London, you’ll also have the chance to work in fast-paced situations with diverse populations in prominent NHS trusts. Your combination of practical experience and knowledge of theory will help you feel confident in your practice, and able to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care.
People of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds join us because nursing at King’s will give them a great start to their careers. To reflect this and the patients we care for, we’ve embedded diversity and inclusion in our teaching. You’ll discuss specific populations, such as the LGBTQ+ community, and the needs of people from different ethnicities and cultures. We also address health inequalities and stigmatisation.
Course aims
- Achievement of the outcome proficiencies (NMC 2018) evidenced through clinical and academic work
- Demonstrate an evidence based critical understanding of health care as it is delivered in different health care contexts and to diverse patient groups
- The ability to understand research process and research findings and to apply research findings to the delivery of sensitive nursing care
- The ability to lead others in the development and delivery of mental health nursing care in a variety of contexts
- The ability to communicate clinical complexity whilst retaining a patient centred approach to care delivery and an awareness of the importance of holism in care delivery
- The development of a pro-active approach to their own continuing professional development
- The fulfilment of the academic requirements of King’s College London for the award of Degree (BSc Hons)
Key Information
Course type:
Single honours
Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full time
Required A-Levels:
BBC
Duration:
Three years
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2026
Application deadline:
18 September 2025
Administrative bodies
Awarding body
King's College London and Affiliates
Regulating body
Base campuses
Waterloo Campus
Our Waterloo campus is home to the Florence Nightingale Faculty Nursing & Midwifery, and a vibrant hub for health, social science, and law students. Located moments from the iconic landmarks of South Bank and just a short walk to the Stand campus.
Guy’s Campus
As a potential student, Guy’s Campus feels dynamic and focused—perfect for health and science studies. Located near London Bridge, it blends cutting-edge labs with a close-knit community, all in the heart of one of London’s most vibrant areas.
Denmark Hill Campus
Denmark Hill, in Southwark, London, is a vibrant area known for its historical landmarks and green spaces. Home to King's College and the Maudsley Hospitals, it also features Ruskin Park, named after John Ruskin, and the Camberwell College of Arts.