Mental Health and Children's Nursing
- Entry year:
- 2026/27
- Start date:
- September
- Study mode:
- Full-time
- Course duration:
- 4 years
- Campus:
- City
Why study this course with LJMU?
- Qualify in two fields of nursing: Mental Health Nursing and Children's Nursing
- You will graduate with an Integrated Masters (MNurs), having studied at Levels 4, 5, 6 and 7.
- NHS Training Grant eligible course - receive £5,000 per year (eligibility criteria apply).
- Learn from highly experienced nurse academic practitioners, who will support you at each stage of your journey.
- Study in professional standard, technology enhanced clinical simulation suites in our Tithebarn Building.
- Excellent placement opportunities.
- Dual field NMC registration opens up more career opportunities than being registered in a single field.
- 95% of students surveyed said the academic support on LJMU's nursing courses was good or very good (National Student Survey 2024).
About your course
Qualify as both a Mental Health Nurse and Children's Nurse with LJMU's four-year integrated master's dual field MNurs degree.
Our MNurs Mental Health and Children's Nursing degree offers you a chance to gain NMC registration in two incredibly rewarding fields of nursing.
As an Integrated Master's degree, it combines undergraduate (levels 4 to 6) plus (level 7) study.
The first three years are all undergraduate level and focus on Mental Health nursing. The last year focuses on Children's nursing:
- Level 4 - year 1
- Level 5 - year 2
- Level 6 - year 3
- Level 7 - year 4
The MNurs course is four years full time.
At each level you will undertake an integrated placement. This a placement in a setting where you will potentially be involved with patients or service users from both fields, for example a GP's surgery.
Mental Health Nursing
As a mental health nurse, you will specialise in providing nursing care to individuals experiencing mental health issues or disorders.
You will be trained to assess and monitor patients’ mental and physical health. You will also offer support to patients' families and help with care and recovery plans.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will support patients alongside nurses, doctors, social workers, and other healthcare professionals, within hospital and community settings.
Children's Nursing
As a children’s nurse, you will provide nursing care to infants, children, and adolescents. You will care for children and young people in both acute and long-term care.
You will be trained to assess, treat, and manage a wide range of physical, emotional, and developmental health conditions in young patients.
Working alongside fellow nurses, doctors and other healthcare providers, you will ensure the well-being of children, offering support to both the child and their families.
Our Mental Health and Children's nursing MNurs course combines practice with theory, and there is lots of support available to help you achieve your potential and progress through your course successfully.
Degree Structure
Each year, you will undertake modules totalling 120 credits:
- In years 1 - 3 you will undertake five theory modules and assessments, plus one practice module.
- In year 4 you will undertake four theory modules and assessments, plus one practice module.
Placements form parts of your practice modules.
You will complete two to three placements a year, with a simulated placement each year in years 1, 2 and 3.
Scroll down to the Teaching and Learning section to read more about your placements.
Find out more about the programme
Course modules
What you will study on this degree
The modules you will undertake have been designed to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) programme standards and proficiencies. They ensure you will be capable of demonstrating the knowledge, skills and behaviours to provide safe, effective and kind care that improves health and wellbeing.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Professional Practice in Nursing
20 credits
20 credits
This module will enable you to understand, consider and demonstrate the professional principles that underpin your practice, specifically the NMC Code, your personal and others’ expectations as an ambassador for the role. The module will consider the legal and ethical frameworks underpinning practice, as well as how to care for yourself and others.
Professional Values in Nursing
20 credits
20 credits
This module will develop your understanding of the values and behaviours that are expected in nursing and to explore how the evidence base is used to underpin nursing practice, considering the provision of care in a non discriminatory manner.
Person Centred Nursing Care
20 credits
20 credits
This module will facilitate you to understand key anatomy and physiology and physical and psychological health across the lifespan. The module will explore the impact of medicines, develop your understanding of pharmacology, and how these link to your ability to deliver effective person centred care.
Partnership Working and Shared Decision Making
20 credits
20 credits
This module will introduce students to the principles of partnership working and shared decision making with service users, carers and families, considering communication, capacity and reasonable adjustments.
Promoting Health and Preventing Ill Health
20 credits
20 credits
This module aims to develop the underpinning knowledge to support the role of the nurse in health promotion, health protection and the prevention of ill health, considering health inequalities, social determinants and infection control.
Introduction to Practice Learning
20 credits
20 credits
This module will introduce and develop the principles professional practice and introduce the scope of competencies for the role of the nurse, guided by the NMC Standards of Proficiency for the Registered Nurse. This module will run alongside your practice placements and will introduce the skills required for nursing practice, enabling you to engage with care of individuals across different health and care settings.
Governance of nursing procedures (Annexe B) theory will reside in practice modules and will be delivered via a blend of directed and independent leaning with some face to face delivery
Core modules
Interprofessional Collaboration in Nursing
20 credits
20 credits
This module will develop an understanding of the nurses’ role in interprofessional collaboration across a range of health care settings. In addition there will be an exploration of individual roles and responsibilities when dealing with major incidents.
Health Promotion and Health Policy
20 credits
20 credits
This module will enable you to explore the factors that influence the health and wellbeing of individuals, and the health choices and policies that impact on health., taking into account the role of the nurse in facilitating access to care.
Nursing Practice within Legal and Ethical Frameworks
20 credits
20 credits
This module will develop explore the concept of risk, and the legal and ethical considerations and frameworks that underpin safe practice, including risk assessments, safe staffing, consent and information sharing.
Assessment in Mental Health Nursing
20 credits
20 credits
This module will develop your understanding of assessing, monitoring and planning care in mental health nursing. You will also explore underpinning research methods and ethics and the application of an evidence-base to your practice. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Complexities in Mental Health Nursing Care
20 credits
20 credits
This module will develop your critical understanding of the complexities of care in mental health nursing, including end of life, commonly encountered challenges, and prioritising care. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Developing Practice Learning
20 credits
20 credits
The aim of this module is to support students in achieving proficiencies for registered nurses that are aligned to Part 2 of the Practice Assessment Document. In addition, students will be directed and supported to develop an understanding of the theory that underpins the NMC Standards of Proficiency Annexe B Nursing Procedures.
Core modules
Leadership and Quality Enhancement
20 credits
20 credits
This module will equip the student with the underpinning knowledge required for leading and managing care, including delegation and supporting staff. They will also develop skills to monitor risk and evaluate and enhance quality of care.
Health Economics and Health Policy
20 credits
20 credits
This module will enhance the students understanding of health legislation and current health and social care policies and their influence quality of care, patient safety. They will also develop an understand of the principles of health economics and their relevance to resource allocation in health and social care organisations .
Nursing Interventions and Prescriber Readiness
20 credits
20 credits
This module explores the nurse's role in the instigation of appropriate investigations their interpretation and the implementation of appropriate interventions when meeting individual care needs. This module will also prepare the student to progress to a prescribing qualification following registration
Managing Risk in Mental Health Nursing
20 credits
20 credits
This module will enable you to understand the concept of risk and to identify and appropriately respond to risk within individuals and organisations in Mental Health Nursing. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Person Centred Care Planning in Mental Health Nursing
20 credits
20 credits
This module will explore decision making within the context of individualised care in mental health nursing. In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of Mental Health Nursing.
Consolidating Practice Learning
20 credits
20 credits
The aim of this module is to support students in achieving proficiencies for registered nurses that are aligned to Part 3 of the Practice Assessment Document. In addition, students will be directed and supported to develop an understanding of the theory that underpins the NMC Standards of Proficiency Annexe B Nursing Procedures.
Core modules
Research and Evidence-based Safety and Quality in Nursing Care
30 credits
30 credits
This module will enable students to demonstrate their research capabilities through the exploration of the factors which impact upon safe, quality nursing care. Students will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of the application of legislation and policy which informs nursing care. They will be able to evidence a critical awareness of human factors and how risk management is utilised to promote safe practice.
Managing Complex Care Delivery In Childrens Nursing
20 credits
20 credits
This module will prepare students to plan and evaluate complex care delivery within the context of Children's Nursing. This will include developing an understanding of how to support patients, and families, at the end of life. This module will further support students to develop a conceptual understanding of complex care delivery within Children's Nursing.
Planning and Evaluating Childrens Nursing Care
20 credits
20 credits
This module will equip students to apply patient centred care approaches to care planning across the lifespan. This will include an understanding of effective communication, identifying and reducing barriers to person centred care and how to evaluate current care. Students will be able to critically appraise how children's nursing processes support individualised care delivery.
In this module the indicative content will specifically be applied within the context of children's nursing.
Critical Enquiry in Health
30 credits
30 credits
This module will equip the student with the underpinning knowledge and skills required for their role in contributing to risk monitoring and quality of care improvement agendas. They will develop an understanding of health legislation and current health and social care policies, and the mechanisms involved in influencing policy . Students will also broaden their understanding of the principles of health economics and their relevance to resource allocation in health and social care organisations and other agencies.
Your Learning Experience
Excellent facilities and learning resources
Your learning journey has been designed to be inspiring and motivating, and to provide tailored support.
You will learn through a mix of:
- lectures
- seminars
- group work activities
- simulation
- practice placements in a range of settings
- tutorials.
We use an active blended learning approach. This means you will attend face to face teaching on campus, along with independent learning and work online. Examples of online activity include tutorial discussions, discussion boards and collaborative or individual projects.
The programme is 50% practice and 50% theory. You will undertake blocks of practice placements and blocks of theory-based learning. Each week covers 40 hours.
Placements
Placements cover a variety of settings, including:
- hospital environments
- community
- nursing homes
- home environments
- clinics and walk in centres.
You may also undertake civic engagement placement learning opportunities, such as working with charities. This wide range of experience will give you vital skills in assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating patient care and needs.
You will complete two to three placements per year, with one being an integrated placement. This is a single placement where you will get to experience nursing across both Mental Health and Children's nursing fields. Examples include on a specialist mental health ward or hospital, or a GP's surgery.
You will also undertake a simulated placement in years 1, 2 and 3 within the university’s state of the art simulation suites. These provide you with the opportunity to undertake and develop clinical skills whilst in a controlled, realistic environment that mimics real-world healthcare settings.
Your placements are all allocated to you via our Practice Learning Support Unit (PLSU).
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
Every undergraduate student at Liverpool John Moores has a designated personal tutor, who is there to help you stay on track to achieving your degree. You will find out who your tutor is during induction.
Your personal tutor will work with you on:
Personal Development Planning (PDP) appointments: This is a structured process intended to help you become a more effective, confident and independent learner. It will support you in gaining knowledge of your strengths, but also of areas in need of further development related to your academic, personal and professional aspirations.
Pastoral support: Your personal tutor will also be knowledgeable of wider LJMU support services. You you can approach them if you are having any personal, financial or social problems that are affecting your studies. Your personal tutor may be able to help with the problem themselves, but if not, they can refer you on to the appropriate support, either inside or outside of the university.
You will also be assigned practice supervisors and assessors for when you are out on placement, along with an academic assessor. They will support your learning and assessment in practice and confirm your progression.
We encourage you to take advantage of the study skills support available through Library Services and the Academic Achievement team. This covers everything from how to find books or journals you need, through to the correct way of referencing them in your assignments.
If you have a disability, there is lots of support available to you. There is the LJMU Disability Advice Team and the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice also has a Disability Co-ordinator (DisCo). The Disability Co-ordinator is a registered nurse who will be able to advise you on support available for the academic aspects of your course (implemented by the Disability Advice Team) and, as a medical professional, can discuss any reasonable adjustments that may be required for the practice elements of your course.
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
There will be a final (summative) assessment for each module and there are informal (formative) assessments throughout modules.
Formative assessments help you to focus on your development, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, in addition to providing you with feedback on your progress during your learning journey. Examples of formative activities include discussion boards to develop learning networks, article reviews and group presentations.
Feedback may come from several sources, including academic staff, practice supervisors and assessors, service users and wider university support staff. You may receive this verbally or in written format. Formative feedback and feedforward are helpful in your development throughout the modules.
Summative assessments are the module assessments which you need to pass to receive the credits for the module. As an undergraduate student, the pass mark for your theory assessments in years 1, 2 and 3 is usually 40% and in year 4 it is 50%.
The assessments will use methods that you will use in your professional life, including relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes.
Where you will study
The School of Nursing and Advanced Practice is based in the Tithebarn Building, which is part of LJMU's City Campus.
It's no exaggeration to say the school has some fantastic facilities! With hospital-grade clinical simulation suites, including nursing wards, intensive care, maternity and paramedic facilities, our students have access to the latest technology-enhanced learning environments.
There are also counselling suites for Mental Health nursing students. These can be used to simulate clinical assessment and treatment scenes or set up as various scenarios.
Check out our video introduction to the clinical practice simulation suites you'll be using!
You will recognise Tithebarn Building from the giant Superlambanana public artwork sculpture that sits outside and marks the entrance to the City Campus Library. This is where all the nursing resources are located.
There are a wide range of physical learning resources across all sites that you will be able to access, including flexible learning spaces and IT suites.
As an LJMU student, you also have access to our Student Life Building and Sports Centre, situated at Copperas Hill. Student Life is home to a range of student-facing services, such as Advice and Wellbeing, the Student Futures team, and the Students’ Union (JMSU).
Our preferred accommodations for nursing, paramedicine and midwifery students are based across the road from Tithebarn Street. You can visit our Accommodation webpages to see the halls specifically ringfenced for Nursing students.
Career paths
Successful completion of the Integrated Master's MNurs degree will allow you to apply for NMC registration in your two fields; as a Mental Health Nurse and as a Children's Nurse.
You can read more about the registration process and current fees on the NMC website.
You will then be able to apply for Band 5 nursing posts within the NHS, private sector and voluntary sector.
You will need to register your nursing qualifications within five years of completing your course. As a constantly evolving profession, the NMC requires you to revalidate every three years in order to maintain your registration.
Health service delivery is increasingly integrated. As such, there is a demand for nurses that can work with complex conditions, across the lifespan and within different settings. Your dual registration increases your versatility, which can lead to you being highly employable.
Some graduates prefer to pursue careers in teaching, research or management, or continue their studies. Your Integrated Master's degree shows you have studied at a higher level than a standard BSc (level 6) nursing degree, which means you may be able to access education linked to advanced roles more easily.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.
Tuition fees and funding
- Full-time per year:
- £9,535
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus Wi-Fi.
Financial Support
The University offers a range of scholarships to support students through their studies. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist funding pages, including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.
Additional Costs
In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:
- Accommodation
- Travel costs including those for placements, visas and travel for studying abroad and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
- Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament. In the event of such a change, any fee increase will be subject to a maximum cap of 10% of the total course cost as originally stated at the time of your offer.
- Full-time per year:
- £18,250
International Scholarships and payment plans
Liverpool John Moores University is committed to supporting international students by providing a range of scholarships and flexible payment plans to help students manage their tuition fees.
Scholarships
LJMU provides a variety of undergraduate scholarships to support international students. Scholarships are available to self-funded students who have accepted their offer and met all the conditions outlined in their offer letter. Students must also demonstrate that they can cover living costs, travel, and other expenses associated to studying at the university.
All self-funded international students are eligible for an automatic scholarship worth up to £3,000. For more details and to view our full list of scholarships, visit the international scholarship webpages.
Deposit
All students must pay a £5,000 deposit before they can receive their CAS letter.
For more information view our deposit page.
Tuition Fee Payment Plan
After paying their £5,000 deposit, students have the option to pay their fees in full or in three equal instalments minus any internal scholarships and discounts. There are two payment options available for international students. You can either pay your tuition fees in full before enrolment or opt for a payment plan. With the payment plan, you can pay your fees in three instalments after making your £5,000 deposit. The first instalment is due before enrolment.
All payments should be made through Flywire. Full details can be found in the How to Pay Guide.
The MNurs Integrated Master's degree is included in the NHS Training Grant scheme. This means if you are eligible, you will receive £5,000 per academic year as standard, plus an additional £1,000 specialist subject payment for Mental Health nursing per academic year. These payments are burseries, meaning you don't have to pay them back. You can spend the money however you want to - for example, to pay towards your fees, accommodation or cost of living.
You may be eligible for student finance. You can use the government’s student finance calculator to find out which loans and grants you could be eligible for.
Additional fees you may need to factor in are travel costs to placements and parking if using a car whilst on placement. However, you may be able to claim reimbursement of travel costs through the Learning Support Fund provided by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
You will be provided with a set of student nurse uniforms, which will consist of two tunics, two polo shirts and three pairs of trousers (quantities to be confirmed). These are included within your course fees.
If you wish to buy extra uniform items you have the option to do so via our Practice Learning Support Unit (PLSU).
International experience may incur costs.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: 120
Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Evidence of Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy
GCSE Equivalences accepted:
• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A levels
120 UCAS points
Number of A Levels: 2
Maximum AS UCAS Points: Maximum 20 points
BTECs
Extended Diploma DDM
Access awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications from a relevant subject.
Pass overall with a minimum of 120 points including relevant subjects.
International Baccalaureate
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications from a relevant subject.
OCR Cambridge Technical
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications from a relevant subject.
Irish awards
Irish Highers
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications from a relevant subject. We will also accept the Irish FETAC in Nursing Studies. The following modules must be achieved at Distinction: Anatomy and Physiology, Human Growth and Development, Introduction to Nursing
T levels
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.
Additional requirements
-
Interview required
If applicants pass the admissions assessment an interview will then form the next stage of the application process.
-
Assessment required
All applicants are required to pass an admissions assessment.
Further information
-
DBS, Occupational Health requirements
All applicants will be sent an admissions assessment that they must complete. Once assessments are submitted your application will be reviewed by the admissions team. Those who are successful with the assessment will be invited to the second part of the admissions process which is an online Microsoft Teams interview.
-
RPL
Advanced entry applications can only be received from students who are transferring from another Integrated Masters in Nursing programme in order to ensure that students have had exposure to the integrated learning that occurs in level 4 within both theory and practice. This will need to be evidenced through recognition of prior learning process.
International requirements
IELTS
International applicants will be required to have IELTs scores of 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each component
Further information
-
DBS, Occupational Health requirements
All applicants will be sent an admissions assessment that they must complete. Once assessments are submitted your application will be reviewed by the admissions team. Those who are successful with the assessment will be invited to the second part of the admissions process which is an online Microsoft Teams interview.
-
RPL
Advanced entry applications can only be received from students who are transferring from another Integrated Masters in Nursing programme in order to ensure that students have had exposure to the integrated learning that occurs in level 4 within both theory and practice. This will need to be evidenced through recognition of prior learning process.
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
Applicants are required to evidence that they have met the required occupational health standards for entry onto the programme.
An Enhanced DBS clearance is required to be evidenced as part of the application process.
Applicants who hold, or expect to gain the entry requirements, will be sent a link to take a Nursing Aptitude Assessment via our online assessment service Clevry.
There are two elements to the assessment: the first part focuses on personality and is based on psychometric testing. It is designed to evaluate your behavioural traits and characteristics and is multiple choice.
The second element focuses on situational analysis - you will be presented with a number of scenarios that you may encounter as a student nurse. There will be multiple choice options for you to select an answer from.
Important: For both elements, please do not select the answers you think we are looking for - this is likely to impact negatively on your result and may not give a true reflection of personality and decision-making processes.
Our admissions team will review the results of both elements when making their decision about progressing your application.
Those who pass this assessment will be invited to an online Microsoft Teams interview. There may be an option for face to face in person interviews, but times and dates for these will be limited.
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The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.