Nursing - Mental Health Nursing
The BSc Nursing (Mental Health) programme is designed to ensure that you graduate with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to deliver recovery focused compassionate care, responsive to the mental health needs of individuals and communities within evolving healthcare settings.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | University of Limerick |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | University of Limerick | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Min requirements: 2 H5 & 4 O6/H7
English: O6/H7
2nd language: O6/H7
Maths: O6/H7
Science: O6/H7 grade in one of the following Laboratory Science subjects: Biology; Physics, Chemistry; Physics with Chemistry; or Agricultural Science.
Additional info:
• Student Vetting
• Fitness to Practise
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Minimum Entry Requirements
Degree
At the time of an offer, an applicant is required to hold the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent), with a minimum of six subjects. Results must include:
• Grade H5 (Higher Level) or better in at least two subjects and
• Grade O6 (Ordinary Level)/H7 (Higher Level) or better in at least four subjects
Notwithstanding the above, an applicant must have a minimum of an F6 in Mathematics, an O6/H7 in English, and an O6/H7 in another recognised language. Applicants must also ensure that they meet course-specific entry requirements.
For the purpose of satisfying minimum entry requirements
• An F6 (Foundation Level) grade in Mathematics can be used as an alternate to an O6 (Ordinary Level) grade and can be used to satisfy the Mathematics subject requirement.
• Foundation Irish and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) are not recognised.
Special Mathematics Entrance Examination
The University holds a Higher Level Special Mathematics Entrance Examination in August each year for students who achieve sufficient CAO entry points and satisfy all other entrance requirements, but who do not achieve the requisite grade in Higher Level Mathematics in the Leaving Certificate for Faculty of Science and Engineering undergraduate degrees. Candidates who pass this special examination are deemed to have satisfied the Higher Level Mathematics entry requirement for all courses run by the Faculty of Science & Engineering. Further information and an application form is available from www.scieng.ul.ie
Specific Subject Requirements for Individual Courses
Specific subject requirements for individual courses are detailed above. It should be noted that candidates may continue to fulfill minimum and specific subject requirements from more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate.
Competitive Entry
Due to the number and calibre of applicants, qualified candidates to all undergraduate degree courses who satisfy the minimum and specific entry requirements outlined above, are placed in order of merit based on a points system. The system operates as follows:
• Points are awarded for all Leaving Certificate Higher and Ordinary Level Subjects based on the grades achieved in each subject with the exception of the following subjects
• Foundation Mathematics
• Foundation Irish
• Points are awarded for the best six subjects.
• Where applicable the LCVP can be considered for points purposes provided the minimum entry requirements and specific subject requirements are satisfied.
• The six subjects must be taken at any one sitting of the Leaving Certificate.
• An additional score of 25 points is awarded for grades H1 to H6 in the Higher Leaving Mathematics. The additional scores apply only where it is included as one of the applicant’s best 6 subjects.
The following rules apply to combinations of subjects when computing an applicant’s point score. These rules also apply in fulfilling minimum entry requirements:
• Physics, Physics & Chemistry count as one subject.
• Chemistry, Physics & Chemistry count as one subject.
• Physics, Chemistry & Physics, and Chemistry count as two subjects.
• Home Economics (Scientific and Social), Home Economics (General) and Home Economics (Single course), any combination counts as one subject.
• English, English Composition count as one subject.
• Music, Music and Musicianship, Music and Musicianship A, Music and Musicianship B, any combination counts as one subject.
• Agricultural Economics, History, Economics, Economic History count as three subjects.
• Any two or three subject combination of: History, Economics, Economic History, Agricultural Economics, counts as two subjects except when Agricultural Economics and Economics are combined in which case they count as one subject.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
Career Opportunities
The B.Sc. Nursing (Mental Health) programme provides graduates with the knowledge, skills and competencies to enable people with mental health problems develop coping skills to maximise their potential for recovery. Upon registration with NMBI, there are many different employment and career opportunities available to Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPN). On registration nurses can work as a staff nurse in inpatient and community settings. Nurses can also specialise and become a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP). Specialist areas include, for example, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Addictions, Forensic Psychiatry. Mental Health Nurses may progress their careers through advanced nursing studies, thus enabling them to assume roles as clinical nurse specialists and advanced nurse practitioners in mental health as well as roles in nursing education and research.
Follow-On Study
Follow-On Study
• MSc Perinatal Mental Health
• MSc Nursing (Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Care)
• MSc Nursing (Older Person)
• MSc Nursing (Dementia Care)
• MSc Nursing Advanced Practice
Further information
Mature Pathways. Please refer to the course web page link below.
Note: Applicants who wish to be considered for a place on the grounds of mature years must satisfy the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) as to their suitability by means of an assessment test. Mature applicants must apply directly to NMBI to take the assessment test. Mature applicants should be 23 years old on or before January 1st of the year of enrolment. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February. Mature applicants may also be considered on the basis of educational qualifications. Such applicants should also consult the booklet: Nursing and Midwifery A Career for You, published by the Nursing Careers Centre, An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann Tel +353 (0)1 6398500 Website www.nursingcareers.ie
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 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 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
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 2024 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
About You
Are you interested in working with people who are experiencing mental health problems and helping them towards recovery? Are you interested in caring for people? Do you have good communication skills and enjoy working as part of a team? Are you willing to learn, practise and take on the responsibilities of providing skilled mental health nursing care? If so, then this course might suit you.
Why study Mental Health Nursing at UL?
The B.Sc. Nursing (Mental Health) is a fulltime four-year degree programme offered by the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive West (Limerick, Clare, Tipperary North). On successful completion of the programme, you will be able to present for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) and practice as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (R.P.N.). The Department of Nursing and Midwifery has received approval from NMBI for the programme.
As a student Of the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick you will combine theoretical study with practice placement experience. In practice you are provided with opportunities to gain real-world experience working with service users and diverse populations in Mental Health Care practice placements within the Mid-West region of Ireland.
The BSc Nursing (Mental Health) programme is designed to ensure that you graduate with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to deliver recovery focused compassionate care, responsive to the mental health needs of individuals and communities within evolving healthcare settings. The graduate will be able to work collaboratively and in partnership with service users, their families/carers, the wider community and other health professionals in providing a proactive, evidence-based quality holistic service.
What you will study
The programme is offered full time over four years and is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. The curriculum encompasses the development of theory and practice simultaneously, with the programme structured as follows:
• 63 weeks Theory (minimum)
• 45 weeks unrostered Clinical Placement
• 36 weeks Internship
Nursing is a demanding profession both physically and emotionally. Successful applicants must be of good physical and mental health and have the ability to achieve the required competencies of a nurse. Offers of places on the nursing programmes are subject to satisfactory completion of a garda clearance, a health declaration/medical assessment and vaccination programme.
Course Director: Dr. Louise Murphy
Enquiries
Email: nm@ul.ie
Tel: 00 353 61 202015
www.ul.ie/admissions-askus