BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: Uxbridge
- Duration: Three or Four Years
- Start Date: September 2026 and January 2027
Embrace the opportunity to be an ambassador for mental health. This course not only allows you to become a vital part of a compassionate healthcare team providing physical and mental health care, but also positions you at the forefront of mental health advocacy and development in society and healthcare systems. You’ll acquire the expertise to offer the highest standard of person-centric care, guiding individuals through their most challenging moments and significantly enhancing their quality of life.
Our mental health nursing degree programme integrates academic study alongside practice-based learning. It is underpinned by a strong collaboration between the University, service users (experts by experience) and our NHS practice partners, in response to both Nursing & Midwifery Council policy and regulatory developments. Upon completing this degree, you will be qualified to register with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, beginning a distinguished career as a registered mental health nurse.
We have developed a comprehensive suite of facilities specifically tailored to enhance the learning experience in the field of mental health nursing, and designed to help with creating real-life scenarios.
Simulation plays a pivotal role in our nursing and healthcare programs, particularly in the context of mental health. Across our campuses, we have meticulously constructed simulation labs that replicate working wards and other relevant settings. These facilities are not just about practicing technical skills; they are designed to immerse you in scenarios that closely mirror the complexities and nuances of mental health care. This helps ensure that when you embark on your placements, you are well-prepared and confident in your mental health nursing abilities.
One of our unique features is a simulated living room environment. This space is crucial for practising scenarios that resemble community home visits or counselling sessions, areas of paramount importance in mental health nursing. In this controlled setting, you can hone your skills in conducting sensitive conversations, managing diverse emotional states, and applying therapeutic techniques, all under the guidance of experienced professionals.
Additionally, we prioritise the integration of the latest technologies and therapeutic approaches in mental health care. This means you’ll have access to cutting-edge tools and resources that are currently shaping the future of mental health treatment and support.
Our campuses also offer an inclusive, safe, and supportive environment, fostering an atmosphere where students can learn, experiment, and grow without hesitation. By spending regular time in these simulation areas, you will not only refine your technical competencies but also develop the critical soft skills essential for effective mental health nursing, such as empathy, communication, and ethical decision-making.
Throughout the course, you’ll allocate approximately half of your time to clinical practice and the remaining half to University-based learning. Our strong partnerships with various NHS Trusts and independent care providers in the region ensure that students have diverse and enriching clinical placements.
BNU works closely with a range of practice partners across Buckinghamshire and London. You will be allocated to one or more of the following to experience hospital and community based care and specialist mental health care:
- Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust - Including in Uxbridge, Harrow and Northwick Park Hospital, Ealing, Milton Keynes
- West London NHS Trust - Including Hounslow and Broadmoor
You may also have the opportunity to placement in a number of private health care providers, prisons, nursing homes or GP surgeries. On placement you’ll be supported by trained assessors and supervisors to learn, build up your confidence and put your learnt skills to practice.
Whilst nursing is a rewarding career, we also understand studying mental health nursing at university can be challenging at times. Throughout your time on the course you’ll gain direct support both in the classroom and on placement, as we provide a personal tutor who will check in with you on a regular basis and practice visitors to support your learning in practice.
On campus you can find further support in the form of our Student Wellbeing Centre and our Student Learning Achievement Centre. Here we will be able to help you with a range of areas such as academic writing and building your CV.
To financially support your studies, the UK Government are continuing to provide mental health nursing students with a payment of at least £5,000 a year which will not need to be paid back. Find out more about the NHS Learning Support Fund and the eligibility criteria.
What will I study?
Mental health is a critical element of overall wellbeing; mental health challenges and problems deeply affect individuals and communities. This essential aspect of health is now receiving the recognition and understanding it merits, leading to more effective recognition of mental ill health, leading to improved diagnosis and treatment strategies. Our society depends on the dedication of professionals who offer empathetic and expert care to those facing mental health challenges.
Choosing to study Mental Health Nursing is a decision to embark on a deeply rewarding and increasingly vital profession. This field is not just about understanding the complexities of mental health conditions, but it's also about fostering a deeper empathy, developing strong communication skills, and learning to offer holistic care that respects the dignity and individuality of each patient.
This course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate degree.
As a Mental Health Nurse, you'll be equipped to meet the growing need for professionals who can navigate the intricate landscape of mental health care. You'll learn how to work in diverse settings, from hospitals and community health centres to schools and private care environments, providing essential support to people of all ages and across all walks of life. In this role, you will be instrumental in advancing mental healthcare and providing the best treatment options available. Join us in making a profound and lasting impact in the field of mental health.
This course offers a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. You'll explore the latest research and treatment approaches in mental health, while hands-on clinical placements will provide you with real-world experience under the guidance of experienced professionals. This combination ensures that you graduate not only with knowledge but with the confidence and competence to make a real difference.
Furthermore, studying Mental Health Nursing opens doors to a range of career opportunities. From clinical practice to research, policy-making, and advocacy, the skills you gain will be transferable across various roles, empowering you to shape your career in a way that aligns with your passions and goals.
Led by a dedicated teaching team of professional nurses and educators, you’ll have access to their wealth of clinical expertise and research activity. This will allow you to benefit from their experiences, insights and perspectives to enhance your learning.
The teaching is incredible, we have a 72 hour turn around on responses which is great to know that your lecturers will get back to you so quickly if you have any problems. They’ve done amazingly at making sure everyone is able to access the teaching, no matter what difficulties they may have.Jasmine Ashraff
Throughout your university mental health nursing course, we focus on your personal and professional development, giving you the option to personalise your course with a choice of option modules. Eligible students will also have the opportunity to undertake an elective learning experience of their choice.
As part of your BSc Mental Health nursing degree you will also complete authentic theory assessments which reflect real life nursing practices, such as presenting cases, medicines administration and report writing, preparing you for your future profession.
We’ll help develop, encourage and nurture you throughout your studies. You’ll be supported in gaining the skills and knowledge to meet and manage the holistic, person-centred care needs of individuals across the lifespan in relation to the mental health-illness spectrum.
With a focus on personal and professional development, you’ll learn how to perform a range of mental health nursing skills with proficiency, predicated on contemporary knowledge and the understanding of best practice. These techniques will help you put solutions in place before a situation may escalate.
From understanding and being able to refer to policies and procedures, to pharmacology and making the right care-decisions for a person, you’ll learn how to work as critically reflective, resilient practitioners, with an ability to learn from experience and solve problems.
The curriculum includes shared and field specific learning and teaching. This allows students from adult, mental health and children’s nursing courses to be taught and learn together, so you can benefit from their individual experiences, share insights and offer competing perspectives. You’ll be able to demonstrate your awareness of, and competence in working within, the multi-disciplinary teams within practice environments.
This innovative curriculum reflects Buckinghamshire New University’s core values of creating a learning environment that is inclusive, challenging and promotes collaboration, professionalism, and confidence in our students.
How will I be taught and assessed?
This full-time pre-registration nursing programme seamlessly blends academic and practical learning, fostering collaboration between the University and practice partners. Embracing a student-centred philosophy, the course enables you to gain essential knowledge, skills, and professional values necessary for the delivery of compassionate, safe, and effective mental health nursing care.
Throughout the course, you’ll allocate approximately half of your time to clinical practice and the remaining half to University-based learning. Our strong partnerships with various NHS Trusts and independent care providers in the region ensure that students have diverse and enriching clinical placements.
When you’re on campus, your academic study will be undertaken through varying including seminars, lectures, exploring authentic scenarios and case studies as well as online learning.
Simulation is valued within the College of Health and Society as supportive in enabling our nursing students to acquire skills and behaviours through practice. Nursing simulation incorporates the use of human patient simulators in a virtual ‘real-life’ healthcare environments and situations. Within this learning environment, real-time evolving clinical situations can be simulated, repeated, evaluated, and reflected, reducing the risk of patient harm.
To help build your digital skills, online teaching and digital learning opportunities, such as discussion boards and interactive web-based activities, will also be integrated throughout many modules within this programme. This helps you to develop and enhance the necessary digital skills required to work in today’s health care environments.
We include assessments which reflect real life nursing practices and, across the three years, you will be assessed through a number of means, such as:
- reflective assignment
- presentations
- exams
- academic poster development
- assignments
- literature review
- oral exams.
You are also required to complete the knowledge skills and behaviours included in the Practice Assessment Document in each year of practice.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 112 - 136 (Full-time) or 48 - 88 (Foundation Year)
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
The requirements for this course are equivalent to:
- A level grades at BBC or above
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma at DMM
- International Baccalaureate at 30 points
- FETAC / QQI 5 Distinctions in health care-related subjects
- Access to HE Diploma in Nursing qualification
- T levels: Minimum Merit overall in Health pathway subject (Health, Healthcare Science, Midwifery and Science)
You will also need 5 GCSE’s including Maths, English and Science at grade 4/C or above or equivalent.
All applicants should be able to demonstrate evidence of academic study within the last five years and Health Care experience is an advantage but not essential.
Foundation Year
Our BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing course is also offered as a four-year programme in September, including an initial Foundation Year. Studying at our High Wycombe campus, the foundation year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto the undergraduate programme.
If you are looking to apply for the Foundation Year, you will need to have GCSE grade C or grade 4 or equivalent in Maths and English.
Professional checks
Professional checks (DBS, Occupational Health, and character and suitability) are not required when you join the Foundation Year. They are only required when you move into Year 1, and you must pass these checks to progress.
English language requirements
For those whose first language is not English, there is a requirement to demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English through application and interview. An IELTS score of 7.0 overall with no section below 6.5 or an equivalent is also required. Find out more on our general entry requirements page.
Using an NMC-approved pre-registration qualification
If you have completed an NMC-approved pre-registration nurse, midwife or nursing associate programme, we will accept this as evidence that you have the necessary knowledge of English.
Interviews
As well as meeting the stated academic requirements, shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an online interview (Subject to current Government Guidelines) as part of the selection process to ensure that your values match those of the NHS Constitution.
All offers are subject to Academic, satisfactory Occupational Health and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
APL is an opportunity for prospective students to gain credits for their previous study. It avoids you having to duplicate your previous learning, whilst ensuring students have attained the learning outcomes appropriate to their awards.
You might be considered for APL if you have successfully completed any of the following programme in the last 5 years. Please refer to our Credit Accumulation pages for further guidance.
- FDSc Nursing Associate with NMC Accreditation (Apprenticeship or UCAS entry route)
- FDSc Assistant Practitioner (Apprenticeship or Direct entry route)
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
Students starting in September 2025 will have the flexibility to choose their modules in the second and third years, complemented by a subject-specific curriculum in your first year.
What are the tuition fees
Home
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Home Foundation Year, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £9,790 *
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Home, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £9,790 per year *
International
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Overseas/International Foundation Year, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £15,910 *
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Overseas/International, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £15,910 per year *
Please note all of the 2026/27 fees stated are subject to parliamentary procedure. Tuition fees are expected to increase each academic year in line with the maximum permitted value set by the Government for that academic year. The expected rise for Home undergraduate students (including those on a foundation year course), may impact both new and continuing students.
Additional costs
Your tuition fees cover most course costs, but you may need to budget for additional expenses. These can include specialist equipment, project materials, professional memberships, field trips or placements, as well as everyday student costs like printing, books and stationery.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the fees above, contact our enquiries team by completing this form.
What are my career prospects?
On successful completion of the programme, you will be eligible to register as a registered mental health nurse with the Nursing & Midwifery Council. With this qualification, you may find employment within the NHS or with private healthcare providers.
As a Mental Health Nurse, the scope of your career opportunities is both broad and dynamic, encompassing a range of settings where your expertise can make a significant impact.
The following are just a few examples of where a Mental Health Nurse can thrive:
- Hospital-Based Staff Nurse: specialising in areas such as intensive care, psychiatric wards, or rehabilitation units, focusing on acute mental health conditions and recovery processes.
- Acute or Rehabilitation Centre Nurse: providing specialised care in facilities dedicated to the treatment and recovery of individuals with acute mental health issues or ongoing rehabilitation needs.
- General Practice Nurse: employed in a GP surgery, offering initial consultations, mental health assessments, and ongoing support within a community healthcare setting.
- Community Mental Health Nurse: functioning similarly to a district nurse, this role involves visiting patients in their homes, offering tailored care and support in familiar environments.
- Nursing Homes: focusing on the mental health needs of elderly or long-term care residents, often dealing with dementia, depression, and age-related mental health issues.
- Prison Mental Health Nurse: working within the correctional system to provide mental health care and support to inmates, a role that requires a unique set of skills given the challenging environment.
- Military Mental Health Nurse: serving in the armed forces, addressing the mental health needs of military personnel, including PTSD and other service-related mental health conditions.
- School Mental Health Nurse: operating in educational settings, focusing on the mental health and developmental needs of children and adolescents.
- Mental Health Nurse Researcher: conducting research in various aspects of mental health nursing, contributing to the development of best practices and new therapeutic approaches.
- Occupational Health Mental Health Nurse: working within corporate or industrial settings, focusing on the mental wellbeing of employees, stress management, and workplace mental health initiatives.
- Crisis Intervention Nurse: specialising in crisis response, providing immediate care and stabilization in emergency mental health situations.
- Telehealth Mental Health Nurse: utilizing digital platforms to provide remote mental health care and consultation, a rapidly growing area in the healthcare sector.
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Nurse: specializing in the treatment and support of individuals dealing with substance abuse and addiction issues.
Each of these roles plays a crucial part in the wider mental health care landscape, offering diverse and fulfilling career paths for those passionate about making a difference in the field of mental health nursing.
- Associate Professor Education and
- Professional Practice/Head of Practice Learning Institute of Health and Social Care
- Associate Professor for Nursing and Midwifery Education Leadership
