Mental Health and Wellbeing with foundation year

OVERVIEW
Designed to meet the UK’s urgent need for a skilled, non-clinical mental health workforce, this innovative degree prepares students to support mental health and wellbeing across the life course. The BSc (Hons) Mental Health and Wellbeing with Foundation Year is ideal for those passionate about inclusive, person-centred care and who want to make a difference in their communities.
You'll explore key issues including young people’s mental health, dementia, social inequality, digital wellbeing, and the impacts of trauma and adversity. The foundation year offers tailored support and inclusive teaching to build your academic confidence, especially if you're returning to study or come from a non-traditional background.
Throughout the course, you'll complete over 440 hours of placement and gain practical skills in safeguarding, advocacy, communication, and inclusive intervention. You'll also earn professional certifications like Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), preparing you for real-world roles in education, housing, social care, and community services.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

• REAL-WORLD PLACEMENTS – Gain over 440 hours of hands-on placement across education, social care, and community settings—starting from Year 1. Employability tutors support placements and include real-world supervision and mentoring

• Additional qualifications – Enhance your CV with additional qualifications such as Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Train the Trainer courses, and co-produced training with Experts by Experience. Opportunities for peer coaching, guest speakers, and interdisciplinary events also enrich your learning journey

• Practice-Based Assessments – Assessment methods mirror professional practice—such as case studies, policy proposals, and reflective portfolios—equipping students with evidence-based problem-solving and communication skills used in the field

• EXPERT LECTURERS – Learn from expert staff with professional backgrounds in psychology, education, and social care. Sector needs inform the curriculum and includes optional specialist modules in Children and Young People’s Mental Health or Adult Mental Health, tailored to your career goals

• Cutting-edge digital training – Learn to support service users in the digital age through modules on technology, online safety, and digital interventions, aligning with NHS Digital Transformation and future workforce needs

• NO EXAMS - If you are not keen on exams, this course is for you. You will have no written exams during or at the end of the course and will be assessed through practical assessments and coursework only

Our facilities
Learners on our Mental Health and Wellbeing programme have access to our wide variety of learning spaces, ensuring they have the facilities to build knowledge, from specialist teaching spaces and clinical skills suites to interactive group working spaces and extensive library resources.
Within the School of Health, Life Sciences and Education, we have access to a range of simulation facilities, which enable our learners to gain vital experience in a range of settings.

PLACEMENTS
There is no placement during the foundation year of this course but placements are compulsory across years 1, 2 and 3. They are an integral and credit-bearing component of the curriculum. These placements are embedded within year-long modules and support continuous reflective learning and professional development.

CAREERS AND PROGRESSION
Examples of careers you could pursue following this course:

• Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner

• Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner

• Recovery Outreach Worker

• Wellbeing Activator

• Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

• Community Inclusion worker

You could also progress onto one of our postgraduate courses at University College Birmingham.

• Please refer to our website www.ucb.ac.uk for the latest updates to this course

Foundation Year: - Academic and Study Skills for Healthcare, - Health & Wellbeing; Culturally Responsive Healthcare, - Introduction to Healthcare Professions, - The Social Context of Health and Wellbeing.YEAR 1: - Mental Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifespan, - Professional, Personal and Academic Development, - Psychological Foundations of Mental Health and Wellbeing, - Safeguarding, Inclusion & Ethical Practice. YEAR 2: - Challenging Inequality in Mental Health Practice, - Driving Sustainable Change in Mental Health and Wellbeing Practice, - Community Based Mental Health and Wellbeing, - Professional Practice and Inclusive Learning, - Technology, Safety and Digital Wellbeing. **YEAR 3 **: Core Modules - Advanced Safeguarding and Independent Advocacy, - Leadership In Wellbeing Contexts, - Evidence and Enquiry Investigation, - Plus one option from: - Adult Mental Health, - Children and Young People’s Mental Health.

Estimated breakdown of assessment for this degree course:
· Coursework – 60%
Includes reflective portfolios, case studies, community project proposals, presentations, and digital artefacts.
· Practical Assessment – 40%
Includes skills demonstrations, case conferences, placement-based evaluations, and professional practice logs.

Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2015-2020.