Mental Health Nursing (with Foundation Year)

Accredited by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), this degree, with its strong focus on real-world experience, is an ideal choice for those looking to gain the expert knowledge and practical skills needed to enter the mental health care profession.

Why study BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing at BU?

• One in four people will struggle with mental health issues at some point during their life. It is a rapidly expanding area of nursing that needs caring, compassionate and competent professionals

• This course will teach you how to deliver high-quality nursing care; to enable, educate and encourage those experiencing mental health problems to progress towards recovery

• Practical experience takes a central role in the course, with 50% of your time being spent on placement in a variety of healthcare environments across the south

• Learn from registered nurses and other healthcare practitioners, as well as carers and service users who provide valuable insight and personal experience of mental health care.

• Put your learnings into practice in our purpose built Bournemouth Gateway Building and benefit from simulated hospital wards and community home settings

• Our annual Careers Fair has numerous healthcare exhibitors in attendance, helping you to gain employment as a registered nurse on completion of the course. 100% of our nursing graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (DiscoverUni 2023).

This is the Foundation Year option for students who do not meet the entry requirements for the degree course. This additional year of study will give you a grounding in the scientific skills needed to prepare you for the Mental Health Nursing degree, building your confidence, knowledge and skills for further study. After successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will progress to the full degree and begin your Mental Health Nursing study. The Foundation Year will be based at the Talbot Campus, Bournemouth.

Funding support: Nursing students may be eligible for a non-repayable government training grant of at least £5,000 a year and mental health nursing students may also be eligible for an additional £1,000 specialist subject payment as it has been confirmed as a shortage specialism. Find out more information about the funding: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund

Apprenticeship route: Our registered nursing degree apprenticeships (RNDA) in Mental Health Nursing and Adult Nursing allow you to be employed and receive a full wage while studying.​
Find out more: https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/bsc-nursing-apprenticeships

Course Modules

During the Foundation Year, you will study the following units: Applied Sciences; Introduction to Biology, Introduction to Psychology; Mathematics in Science; Academic Study Skills; and Foundation Year Project.

As part of the degree, you will spend 50% of your time on the course in a practice placement setting, and the remaining 50% studying - whether at home, at the library or on campus attending lectures, seminars or working under the guidance of our demonstrators in the Practice Skills suite.