Nursing - Mental Health Nursing - Kerry
The aim of mental health nursing is to promote mental health and wellness, to plan with, support and provide nursing care to people who suffer from mental illness and mental distress, and to support families and communities in dealing with mental health challenges. This care can be provided in acute care facilities such as hospitals, in peoples own homes and community care settings. Supporting on-going mental health recovery is an important role of being a mental health nurse.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Munster Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Munster Technological University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Score the necessary CAO points and meet Leaving Certificate Minimum entry requirements
6 Subjects
Subjects O6/H7 4
Subjects H5 2
Science Grade O6/H7
Maths Grade 06/H7
English or Irish Grade O6/H7
The O6/H7 Science requirement may be satisfied by any of the Leaving Certificate science subjects (chemistry, physics, biology, physics & chemistry (joint) or agricultural science)
Garda vetting required
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Minimum entry requirements may be satisfied by the results of more than one Leaving Certificate. The minimum entry requirements may be varied for non-standard applicants and holders of QQI-FET awards.
2nd Chance Maths Exam
Some students who apply for MTU courses may not achieve the required entry standard in Maths through the Leaving Certificate examination. For such applicants, the University offers a second chance to reach the required entry standard through a MTU Maths Exam.
This second chance facility allows applicants (depending on their results in the MTU Maths Exam) to gain entry to courses with an Ordinary Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard and (with a higher level of performance) courses with a Higher Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard.
Common Bonus Points Scale for Higher Level Maths
A bonus of 25 points is awarded to applicants who achieve a grade H6 or above in higher level (HL) Maths.
Formula:
All students presenting H6 or above in HL Maths will have 25 points added to their score for Maths.
The six highest subject points scores will then be counted to achieve a cumulative points score, as is normal practice. The bonus points will only be relevant in cases where the subject HL mathematics (including bonus points) is scored as one of the candidate’s six best subjects for points purposes. Consequently, if HL mathematics (cumulative points score) is not among these six subjects, the bonus points will not be included in the total points score. Bonus points will be awarded irrespective of the year in which the examinations were taken.
Foundation Maths
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
MT 571 BA in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 574 BA in Social Care
MT 654 HC in Arts in Hospitality Studies
MT 655 HC in Arts in Culinary Studies
MT 971 BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 974 BA (Honours) in Social Care
Maths is not required for entry to:
MT 575 BA in Community Development
MT 572 BA in Early Childhood Education & Care
MT 820 BA (Honours) in Contemporary Applied Art (Ceramics, Glass, Textiles)
MT 821 BA (Honours) in Fine Art
MT 822 BA (Honours) in Photography with New Media
MT 823 BA (Honours) in Visual Communications
MT 931 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Guitar
MT 932 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Bass Guitar
MT 933 BA (Honours) on Popular Music - Keyboards
MT 934 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Drums
MT 935 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Voice
MT 936 BA (Honours) in Music
MT 938 BA (Honours) in Musical Theatre
MT 939 BA (Honours in Theatre and Drama Studies
Although not a requirement, if an applicant achieves a minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths, this grade is recognised for entry and CAO points are awarded as follows: F1 = 20 points, F2 = 12 points.
Full details of the minimum entry requirements for courses are outlined on the relevant course webpage. Applicants are advised to check the relevant subjects, tests, portfolios, and dates very carefully. In particular, there are early assessment procedures for some courses.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Holders of the LCVP apply in the normal way through the CAO. Points are awarded on the same basis as for the Leaving Certificate. The link modules ‘subject’ may not be used to meet the minimum entry requirements.
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
The LCA subjects do not meet the minimum requirements for entry to MTU full-time courses. Holders of Leaving Certificate Applied qualifications may wish to proceed to a FET-QQI course and in turn apply to third level on the basis of their FET-QQI award.
Careers / Further progression
Career Options
There are many opportunities available to newly qualified mental health nurses after completing the BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing.
Mental health nurses work with individuals across the lifespan from children and adolescents, to adults and older people. They engage with these individuals in a wide variety of clinical settings such as acute psychiatric admission units, day hospitals, and day centres as well as community residential settings and individuals 'own homes.
Many employment opportunities exist nationally but also abroad where the nursing degree is recognized in countries around the world. Former Munster Technological University students have gained employment across Europe and in America, Canada, Australia, Africa, Saudi Arabia and other middle eastern countries.
Registered mental health nurses can develop career pathways in a number of ways such as:
• Clinical practice: Specializing in a wide range of clinical practice areas such as forensic psychiatry, community mental health nursing, child and adolescent mental health, older age psychiatry, drug and alcohol services, crisis intervention and psychosocial intervention, counselling services, prison service working with offenders, registered nurse prescribers. Additionally, there is opportunity for progression to clinical nurse specialist and advanced nurse practitioner Level.
• Management: Progression in nursing and healthcare management structures.
• Education: Progression to academic positions in nursing across the third level/university sector.
• Research: Joining the fast-developing field of nursing and healthcare research.
Further Studies
Suitably qualified level 8 honours graduates are eligible to progress to:
• Master of Science in Nursing
• Master of Science in Professional Nursing
• Master of Science in Advanced Practice Nursing
at MTU Kerry Campus or to research at either master or PhD level.
Further information
September 2026
27
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Overview
The aim of mental health nursing is to promote mental health and wellness, to plan with, support and provide nursing care to people who suffer from mental illness and mental distress, and to support families and communities in dealing with mental health challenges. This care can be provided in acute care facilities such as hospitals, in peoples own homes and community care settings. Supporting on-going mental health recovery is an important role of being a mental health nurse.
Our graduates work with individuals, families and communities to prevent mental health problems so that as many people as possible can live full lives in community settings. At the heart of the role of the mental health nurse is the ability to establish therapeutic relationships with individuals and their families.
The course consists of 76 weeks of classroom- based theory and practical learning, interspersed with 81 weeks of clinical placements. A 36-week continuous rostered clinical placement is also included. This can take place either locally or internationally and encompasses a very broad range of clinical settings, including acute mental health, care of the older person, specialist care, adult general nursing and working with voluntary and statutory bodies. When you complete this course, you will be eligible to have your name entered into the Psychiatric Division of the Register of Nurses maintained by Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann.
Our nursing programmes are taught in the purpose-built Sólás building at the MTU Kerry North Campus. This state-of-the-art facility has technology enhanced classrooms, lecture halls, practical skills laboratories and computer suites. Our partnership with the HSE offers students a wide range of exciting clinical placement facilities across counties Kerry, Cork and beyond. Throughout this programme, you will get great support from the University and from clinical staff, both in the classroom and on placement. ERASMUS opportunities are available for students studying mental health nursing at MTU.
What will I study?
First Year at a Glance:
• Professionalism in Nursing Practice: fundamental interpersonal, legal, ethical and regulatory dimensions of professional nursing practice
• Health and Wellbeing: provides a broad understanding of nursing and healthcare for both individual and population groups
• Skills for Safe Practice: fundamental knowledge and skills of nursing within the parameters of a safety culture in both general and mental healthcare settings
• Developing Competency in Mental Health Nursing Practice: encourages active engagement in evidence-based nursing practice
• Principles of Mental Health Nursing Care: introduces human anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology in conjunction with the evidence-based theory underpinning the nursing care and management of a person, from admission to discharge
• Caring in Context: introduces caring in the context of primary, secondary, and tertiary health care settings
• The Sociology and Psychology of Health and Illness: students develop an introductory knowledge of sociology and psychology as they apply to studies of health and wellness
Dr Gerardina Harnett
T: +353 (0)66 719 1695
E: geradina.harnett@mtu.ie