Intro

Studying the mental health nursing degree at Brighton enables you to work closely with people of all ages and their families as part of a versatile team of health and social care professionals including including doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. You will learn how to tailor individual care for people with a range of clinical needs.

We will support you in becoming a caring and compassionate professional who delivers skilled, evidence-based care in partnership with patients,families, and communities. Our focus on interdisciplinary enriches your experience while also preparing you for professional practice. You will also have the opportunity to experience nursing abroad through our international placements.

To ensure you can confidently apply theory to practice, you will spend 50% of your year on placements with local NHS trusts in varied settings, and simulate healthcare situations in our clinical skills and simulation suite.

Your teaching will be based at our Falmer campus in Brighton and there are varied placements across Sussex in both acute and community settings.

Recognising that patients come first in everything the NHS does, and the values of the NHS constitution – respect, dignity, compassion and working together for patients – are embedded in our curriculum.

Successful graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and are entitled to practice anywhere in the UK.

This course starts in September each year.

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Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code B760

Full-time 3 years

This course meets the NMC 2018 education standards and course graduates are eligible for registration

Apply now with UCAS for 2023

Course content

Course structure

You’ll share some modules with students on our other nursing courses, allowing you to benefit from interprofessional collaboration, sharing knowledge and expertise. You will also benefit from patients contributing to your learning through shared stories.

In each year of the mental health nursing degree you engage with both theory and practice learning. The degree alternates between academic terms and blocks of practice. Theory sessions in academic terms take place at the university. You will attend Monday to Friday with independent study days. Practice placement blocks are 32 hours per week and are eight and 10 weeks long.

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Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 1

In year 1 you will explore the nature of nursing, and develop your clinical and communication skills, which will be assessed in both the university and practice settings. You will also study the biological and behavioural sciences that inform nursing practice.

Modules

  • Nursing Assessment in Partnership with People

    This module will enable you to undertake a holistic nursing assessment of a person in terms of their mental, physical, social and spiritual needs. You’ll learn the importance of completing an assessment in partnership with the person, taking into account their circumstances, characteristics and preferences.

    You will also gain an understanding of the role of the nurse in assessing the person’s needs as a member of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

  • Planning Nursing Care in Partnership with People

    This module will enable you to plan nursing care based on the information gained from a holistic nursing assessment. You’ll learn the importance of identifying priorities in the mental, physical, social and spiritual needs of the person and formulating a plan of care in partnership with the person and the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

  • Human Biology for Nursing

    This module will enable you to explore human biology in relation to the health, well-being and illness of a person across the lifespan. You’ll develop an understanding of how human biology and altered physiology underpins your developing nursing practice.

  • Practice Learning for Nursing Year 1

    This practice assessment of the course is divided into three parts. This module comprises part one, which will enable you to begin developing the knowledge, skills and values required for nursing practice.

    You will integrate learning from your placement and at university in order to meet the Future Nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC] 2018).

You will also get the opportunity to take part in the Alzheimer's Society's award-winning Time for Dementia programme, following a family's dementia journey over a 12-month period. Students have described this as an ‘inspirational’ element of the course.

mental health nursing student in a simulation exercise

Year 2

You continue to build your skills and knowledge in professional practice. You will start to develop the principles of mental health nursing and gain an insight into the clinical settings in which nurses work such as public health, acute services, community and research.

Modules

  • Quality Improvement Using Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
  • Nursing to Promote Health and Prevent Illness
  • Approaches to Nursing Adults with Long-term Health Conditions
  • Key Theories and Concepts Underpinning Mental Health Nursing
  • Practice Learning for Mental Health Nursing Year 2
Nursng students with lecturer

Final year

In your final year you will continue to specialise in the field of mental health nursing, and will focus on more complex patient and client needs. You will also undertake a dissertation and begin to develop management and leadership skills as you prepare to enter professional practice. 

Modules

  • Contemporary and Future Nursing Practice
  • Leading and Managing Nursing Care and Effective Teams
  • Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing
  • Enhanced Practice in Mental Health Nursing
  • Practice Learning for Mental Health Nursing Year 3
lecturer chatting with student

Facilities

Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite

Clinical skills and simulation rooms provide an invaluable tool for assessment and monitoring students' progress throughout the course.

You will benefit from practising nursing skills in an environment that simulates nurses’ real-life professional experiences. Learning by simulation with state-of-the-art mannequins enables you to practice in a safe environment under supervision, so you can apply your knowledge and skills in professional practice with confidence.

We have skilled technicians on every campus to support you.

Mental health nursing

Nursing skills zone – practice independently in a safe environment

Our nursing skills zones are fully equipped open access areas where you can practice your skills at a time to suit you.

You can practice skills including ECG electrode application, sterile glove application, nutritional assessment, basic life support, aseptic technique, urinalysis, physical measurements, personal hygiene, catheterisation, peak flow measurement, administration of medicines, A-E assessment and physical assessment.

You can book a nursing PASS leader to help you in the skills zones. Our PASS (peer-assisted study sessions) project is a student-led scheme where you can discuss issues relating to your course material and student life informally with your peers and trained student facilitators.

Nursing skills zone

Flexible Learning Environment 

The Flexible Learning Environment is an adapted home environment in a residential location where you'll be able to practise skills and learn from other students while taking part in realistic training scenarios.

Every room is fitted with cameras and microphones, so that students can be directed and monitored from the control room while the observation room provides the opportunity to review, playback and debrief.

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Placements

Our flexible approach to practice-based learning and excellent links with local healthcare trusts enable us to offer clinical practice in hospital and community settings, working alongside multi-professional teams.

You will spend 50% of the degree studying theory which requires attendance in lectures and the other 50% on placement. You must accumulate 4,600 hours in total over the three years before you can register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Practice placements are up to 32 hours per week and you will be supported by a mentor. Clinical placements take place across Sussex in locations including Hastings, Eastbourne, Brighton, Haywards Heath and Worthing.

Community placements offer experience in schools, doctors surgeries, with health visitors and community staff.

It is currently possible to claim back excess travel costs, this is reviewed each year by the NHS.

A day on placement can be between 07.00 and 22.00, some weekends and some nights.

Nursing placements map

Supporting you

You will receive lots of support throughout your mental health nursing degree. During your degree you'll have access to: 

  • personal tutor
  • practice liaison lecturers
  • mentors in clinical practice
  • PASS (peer-assisted study sessions) nursing student leaders
  • student support and guidance
  • welfare.

Nursing Society
Our student-run Nursing Society provides support for all nursing students at every stage of their degree.

The society facilitates group learning and extracurricular lectures from speakers across the multidisciplinary team.

Study abroad

Within the School of Sport and Health Sciences we are committed to providing a global perspective to nursing and midwifery education. As such we offer a range of international English-speaking exchange placements to nursing, midwifery and paramedic science students. All of our international placements are fully supported and academically credited.

International placements are only with partners with which we have an agreement – this ensures a good quality learning opportunity and safe experience.

Europe

Active placement of up to three months in year 2 with one of our partner universities:

  • University College Sjælland, Denmark

Two-week observational placement with one of 25 institutions across 13 European countries in our European Nursing Module Network. For more information on our European partners and network please visit the European Nursing Module Network website.

For an insight into what life is like on a study abroad placement, have a read of Sabrina Barnes' experience in our Student Views below.

International

  • Observational placements of up to three weeks in Africa, Asia or South America through the Work the World organisation.

We provide guidance with sourcing accommodation, visas, occupational health checks and insurance. You will be connected with a key personal contact for each partner and have access to online support from the university whilst you are abroad.

All students who take part in a study abroad experience identify its immense value, whether through hosting visiting students or participating in an exchange. We share all students' experiences through our newsletters and through the student ambassador project.

If you wish to learn more about these opportunities you are welcome to discuss this at interview.

Our latest news

Mental health nursing – what I’ve found

Mental health nursing – what I’ve found

David Vago is a second year Nursing (Mental Health) BSc(Hons) student.
Book an online subject taster

Book an online subject taster

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Nursing student receives Sally Adams Scholarship and a career-changing opportunity

Nursing student receives Sally Adams Scholarship and a career-changing opportunity

Fiona Walker is a second year Adult Nursing student BSc(Hons).
Meet Senior Lecturer Alison Taylor

Meet Senior Lecturer Alison Taylor

Alison Taylor is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the Nursing (Child) BSc(Hons) at the University of Brighton.

Read more from our blog

Careers

The mental health nursing degree provides an excellent foundation for work in numerous healthcare contexts and for further professional development in clinical practice, education, management and research.

Our mental health nursing graduates have developed successful careers in both hospital and community settings. Many of our graduates leave university with a firm offer of employment from their sponsoring trust.

After a period of consolidation and further study you can work as a specialist practitioner in the community in areas such as community mental health nursing. Acute care also offers a range of roles, for example caring for people needing crisis intervention.

Successful completion of the degree will enable you to access further academic study at masters and doctoral level.

Mental health nursing

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff
112 points.

A-levels
BBC, must include a science or social science subject at grade B.

BTEC
DMM in a health or science subject. 

International Baccalaureate
28 overall with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
pass with 60 credits overall. Health studies, nursing or science. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 18 credits at distinction and 27 credits at merit or above.

T-level
Merit in the Health, Healthcare Science or Science T-level. Other T-levels are not accepted.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)

  • with Access course – maths and English.
  • with A-levels, BTEC or K101 – at least three GCSEs including maths and English.

Functional Skills 2 will be accepted in lieu of GCSE English and maths.

If you do not have the required GCSEs find out which equivalent qualifications we accept instead.

A wide range of other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, eg Open University K101 and K102.

For all nursing courses leading to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a nurse, you must demonstrate the following:

  • completion of 10 years' general education
  • successful completion of literacy and numeracy assessments during the interview process
  • evidence of study within the last five years is desirable
  • evidence of commitment to the profession
  • passing of occupational health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
  • ability to meet travel requirements to attend placements
  • ability to follow a shift pattern that could cover any part of a 24-hour 7-day cycle.

Foundation degree 
Successful completion of our  Health and Social Care Practice foundation degree  with 120 credits at level 5 may enable you to start in year 2 of our nursing degrees –  Nursing (Adult),  Nursing (Child) or Nursing (Mental Health).

COVID-19 vaccine requirement

The COVID-19 vaccination requirement has been removed. Find out more about this decision.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2.

Candidates are advised that places for entry into year 2 of this course are very limited. We normally welcome these applications but high demand for all nursing courses will restrict availability. 

Interviews
Students successful at the application stage will be invited to attend an interview.

Read our nursing application and interview tips.

Men are under-represented in many nursing and allied health professions in the UK. We are committed to helping address the balance and particularly welcome applications from male applicants.

Flexible admissions

When you apply to Brighton we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

Additional funding support

UK students studying nursing, midwifery and some allied health professions subjects receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each academic year. Find out more on the NHS website.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Sport and Health Sciences in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Where health course includes a placement
    • UK students – travel costs which are over and above your daily journey to university and dual accommodation costs may be reimbursed by the NHS learning support fund.
    • Overseas students are not covered by the NHS scheme, this means that any additional travel or accommodation costs for this course will be your responsibility. Travel to placement may be up to 90 mins each way/ travel on public transport at peak time cost, and you may incur additional accommodation and living costs if staying away from your usual home base for the length of your placement.
  • An initial set of specialist clothing and uniforms, where required, are included in the course fees.
  • DBS checks and occupational health checks, where required, are included in the fees.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 if buying your own copies.
  • In sport courses, UK-based field trips are available in some option modules in the final year. You do not have to take these option modules to complete the degree programme. Where a field trip is present costs are covered but you are expected to make a contribution towards food. Typically this is £50.
  • For sports courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your living costs and travel. Physical Education (QTS teacher training) students can claim travel costs to their school placement.
  • The school runs a number of day trips which students do not pay for. There may be some food and drink costs and you should budget around £30 per year.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects – from 2024 these will include education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes and the students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. New facilities are being developed ready for September 2024 when all of our sport and health students will be based here. Learn more about the changes at Falmer.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

  • You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
  • Falmer campus is linked to the halls on Falmer campus and at Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls offer a range of rooms on our Falmer campus, minutes from your classes, and on the edge of the South Downs.
    • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Falmer campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Falmer campus

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Meet our students  

David Vago

"I was working full-time for East Sussex Healthcare Trust and have worked a number of different healthcare jobs over the course of my career. I chose the Mental Health nursing course because I felt it would allow me to develop myself as a person, and gain skills and knowledge to help people who need support. 

"As a mature student, the transition has been quite easy from going to working full-time to being a full-time student. The university is very supportive of these transitions, and the induction week at the start of the course gave me all the information to help me feel settled.

"The course is assessed by assignment-led modules, but we also have the opportunity to provide both written and presentation work. My favourite thing from the course is working alongside my peers to understand the real-world problems that taking place around mental health and how we can develop our skills and knowledge to support patients in the future. 

"Everyone from the lecturers, to course admin, to the professors in charge of professional practice are amazing. They understand that you want to develop and learn, but also understand that there are stresses and challenges you will face through your three-year course, and they go above and beyond to be supportive!" 

David Vago nursing student

Jo Complin

"I had reached a point in my life where I wanted to spend the majority of my time doing something that I felt was worthwhile, something that was people-orientated and not about making money. I also wanted a career with variety, where I would constantly be learning new things and have opportunities for professional progress as well as personal development. Nursing fulfils these criteria and lots more besides.

"I love being on placement, where I can start putting the theory into practice by actually getting involved in procedures and helping the patients; even as a student you can really make a positive difference to someone's day. I have also made some great friends and contacts."

Jo Complin

Sabrina Barnes 

"I was lucky enough to spend two weeks in Kathmandu, Nepal on placement  in three different paediatric wards; general medicine and surgery, neonatal intensive care and paediatric intensive care. In this time, I was able to learn how different the Nepali culture was and both the differences and similarities between nursing in Nepal and the UK.

"I was also able to learn a lot about myself and my own nursing practice and share some of my experiences with the Nepali nurses. I had never travelled alone before so even before I got to Nepal, I had done something new and when I got there, I was able to meet lots of other nurses doing exchange placements from across the world. This enabled me to learn about other people’s experiences of healthcare and I also met friends that I went travelling with recently to Pokhara, Nepal.

"My experience in Nepal taught me a lot about family centred care and I have been able to take this in with my nursing practice as a qualified nurse. In particular my time on the intensive care unit in combination with my second year placement on HDU, inspired the title of my dissertation, which had a focus on supporting family involvement in intensive care environments."

Sabrina Barnes in Nepal

Steve Smith

"Without doubt, I'd say the best aspect of the course has been the university staff – they have been unfailingly helpful, informative and wise.

"I'm truly enjoying the course, although speaking as a very, very mature student, it has been really tough. 

"Throughout much of the second year we received direct input from service users; some of the stories these people brought to us will stay with me forever."

Steve Smith

Stay in touch

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Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Keep up to date at our health sciences blog.

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to Brighton.

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Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course, and are updated following course changes.

Programme specification

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