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Mental Health Nursing

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site

Course summary

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 (source DiscoverUni 2023).

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.

Modules

First year core units include: Foundations for Professional Practice and Research | Nursing Theory and Application 1 | Applied Health Care Sciences 1 | Communication Skills for Nursing Practice | Developing Skills for Promoting Health and Wellbeing | Nursing Practice and Nursing skills 1.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Nursing and Midwifery Council

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
B701
Institution code:
B50
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 112 - 128 points

112 - 128 tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM

This course requires Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 tariff points).

Access to HE Diploma

112 - 128 tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit, Pass grades.

Scottish Higher

112 - 128 tariff points from Scottish Highers

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D*

112 tariff points

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Accepted as part of the overall tariff but it must be accompanied by an A-Level or equivalent.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

Accepted as part of the overall tariff

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 - 32 points

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Accepted as part of the overall tariff but it must be accompanied by an A-Level or equivalent.

Extended Project

Accepted as part of the overall tariff but it must be accompanied by 2 A-levels or equivalent

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

112 - 128 tariff points including a minimum of 2 principal subjects

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE English Language or English Literature and Mathematics grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system). We also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework.

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - DMM

112 tariff points (Grade DMM)

OCR Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma

Accepted as part of the overall tariff but it must be accompanied by an A-level or equivalent.

OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma

Accepted as part of the overall tariff but it must be accompanied by an A-level or equivalent.

T Level - M

120 UCAS tariff points

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
Occupational Health (OH) Checks Nursing is physically and mentally demanding and you will need to be mentally and physically able to undertake your chosen course. Places are offered subject to passing an OH check, and this will be carried out at the University Hospital Southampton. Health conditions need to be dealt with on an individual basis e.g. deafness, blindness, eczema (or other dermatological allergic reactions) on exposed areas, epilepsy, back problems, or mental health conditions, eating disorders and other disabilities. These do not automatically exclude you but please ensure that you fully disclose your condition to OH. The University can then consider the recommendations made by OH and whether reasonable adjustments can be made to support you on your chosen course. If you require more guidance please contact us for more information. You will be required to provide a record of your immunity status or be vaccinated or have the required blood tests. Please see this table for the required immunisations. You may need to ask your GP or current OH department or find your childhood vaccination record for details of your past immunisation records. You should be aware that there may be charges made (for which you will be liable) relating to your gaining the appropriate immunity required prior to starting your training programme.
Interview

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other component.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Please note that this information reflects historical entry requirements for UK 18-year-olds who pursued A-level and BTEC qualifications. Please see the relevant course page of our website for the most up-to-date details on this course’s entry requirements and selection methods. Our offer-making process is based on your potential to succeed on your chosen course and considers a range of factors. This course also has additional selection methods, such as an interview.

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9790Year 1
Northern Ireland£9790Year 1
Scotland£9790Year 1
Wales£9790Year 1
Channel Islands£9790Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9790Year 1
EU£20685Year 1
International£20685Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Placement year: the tuition fee for a placement year is based on the academic year in which the placement takes place. For students completing their placement in the 2026/27 academic year, the fee is £1,900* (UK, ROI, CI and International).

*Important information about fees: The UK, ROI & CI fees listed above for the 2026/27 academic year have been confirmed by the UK Government (subject to Parliamentary approval). In line with the maximum fee limits set out in Regulations, tuition fees will increase annually thereafter in line with inflation (using RPI-X, a measure of inflation).

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