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Nursing (Mental Health)

BSc (Hons)

UCAS code: B707

Start dates: September 2025 / September 2026

Full time: 3 years (or post-qualification: 15 - 24 months with individual credits)

Part time: 8 years maximum (limited part-time places available)

Location: Headington (Marston Road site)

Department(s): Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery

Overview
Course details
Careers
Entry requirements
How to apply
Tuition fees

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Overview

Anxiety and depressive disorders. Obsessive-compulsive conditions. Substance-related problems. Mental health issues are soaring, with 1 in 4 people experiencing difficulties. Study Mental Health Nursing at Oxford Brookes to fuel your passion for improving lives. You can make a real difference – advocating for patients, helping them to overcome barriers and live their lives well.

Taught by a team of highly qualified and enthusiastic professionals, with experience ranging from research to clinical leadership, you’ll develop skills for a wide range of nursing careers. And build the confidence to meet a diverse range of mental health needs. You’ll also receive invaluable support from your course academic adviser.

No 2 days will be the same. With 50% of your time in university and 50% out on placements, you’ll put your knowledge into action in a variety of mental health settings. You'll hear from guest lecturers and those with lived experiences, and role play clinical situations in simulation-based learning. By the end, you’ll be ready to make a difference in your community and beyond.

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Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Unbeatable opportunities

    Develop your skills with one or two mental health placements a year in a variety of settings, from children and young people to older adults, crisis intervention to rehabilitation.

  • Home to experts

    Taught by highly experienced and enthusiastic research-active nurse academics, with a variety of mental health specialisms, your course will be informed by the latest developments in the field.

  • Enviable partnerships

    Apply your knowledge and skills and expand your networks in NHS Trusts in various locations – not just in Oxfordshire, but in Wiltshire, Berkshire and beyond.

  • Be at the cutting edge

    We work closely with Oxford Health to develop interprofessional simulations, being 1 of only 19 universities that are accredited to offer this exciting facility.

  • Diverse classes

    Study alongside our MSc Nursing (Mental Health) students, and learn from the breadth of differing experiences and valuable discussions.

  • Free language courses

    Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

  • Accreditation(s)

    Approved by Nursing and Midwifery Council

    • Nursing and Midwifery Council

Course details

Course structure

With a strong practical focus, this course allows you to practise the hands-on tasks you'll perform in your career. You’ll apply theory to practice with half your time spent on placements in a variety of mental health settings with our established partners.

You'll also have the opportunity to learn from people with lived experience of mental health challenges. With regular access to outstanding facilities including our state-of-the-art simulation suite, you'll be able to develop your clinical expertise in a safe environment.

Focusing on communities, health and wellbeing in Year 1, nursing interventions in Year 2, and complex care in Year 3, you’ll increase your specialist knowledge as the course progresses. Your dissertation will also give you the chance to explore an area that interests you, whether that’s therapeutic relationships, promoting mental health, or caring for people with complex mental health needs.

You’ll be supported by passionate, highly qualified practitioners, available for advice whether you’re studying or out on placement.

Students sitting around desks holding hands

Learning and teaching

Your learning will include:

  • experiential learning or practice learning
  • mentoring, coaching and supervising
  • active learning such as projects or role-play
  • student-centred learning such as self-assessment, reading, or finding evidence
  • online learning such as quizzes or specialist lectures
  • use of technology, including social media, networking, mobile health (mHealth), or Electronic Patient Records (EPR)
  • collaborative learning with other nursing students, other cultures, teams and agencies
  • problem-based/solution-focused learning.

Simulation Based Education (SBE) takes place in a safe learning environment. These look like a real clinic or hospital and allow you to role play in clinical situations.

Placements can include:

  • working within community health care teams (supported by a district nurse, health visitor or school nurse)
  • working in acute settings within local Trusts.

Assessment

As with all pre-registration nursing courses, the BSc Nursing (Mental Health) course is made up of 50% theory and 50% practice. Assessments usually require integration of theory and practice learning.

All modules have an assessment component. We ask you to show how what you are learning enhances patient care.

Assessments can include:

  • reflective essays
  • presentations
  • clinical examinations
  • multiple choice examinations
  • neighbourhood studies
  • case studies.

You will be assessed for your practice learning during the Education in Nursing Practice modules. You must pass to fulfil the professional requirements to be eligible for registration as a Nurse.

Your work during placements will be assessed by a mentor with the necessary qualifications to function as a practice assessor (NMC Pre-registration Standards (2010)

Study modules

Teaching for this course takes place Face to Face and you can expect around 7 hours of contact time per week.
In addition to this, you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 6.00pm.

Contact hours involve activities such as lectures, seminars, practicals, assessments, and academic advising sessions. These hours differ by year of study and typically increase significantly during placements or other types of work-based learning.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

  • Preparation for Academic and Professional Learning

    As a nursing student, this module will help to prepare you for academic and professional learning. You will develop the skills for academic writing, including your academic integrity. You will be introduced to evidence informed practice and critical thinking. 

    You will select reflective tools and explore the concept of reflection as a tool for developing your self-awareness and learning in the academic and clinical environments.
     

  • Bioscience for Nursing Practice

    Following the UK Bioscience in Nurse Education guidance, this module will help you to build confidence in bioscience knowledge that underpins nursing clinical practice. This will include developing your knowledge of anatomy, scientific terminology and physiological principles that underpin health and illness, including microbiology and genetics. You will also look at how medications act on body systems.

    The knowledge you develop and build will help to inform your clinical decision making and communication regarding patient care.
     

  • Mental Health and Wellbeing

    Explore the foundational concepts in mental health and well-being that can apply across the lifespan and allow for application in the practice setting of knowledge, policy and interventions. 

    You will look at issues in mental health and well-being relating to:

    • engagement
    • assessment
    • care planning
    • and interventions

    across a range of disorders encountered in mental health nursing practice. This will be in the context of a mental health recovery / co-production approach. You will study family and social networks which are seen as vital in offering effective mental health support. Also you’ll build knowledge of the role of Public Health and health inequalities.  

    This module will prepare you for your second year modules and links to:

    • Assessment and Planning Mental Health Nursing Care
    • Promoting Health in Mental Health Nursing Practice.
       

  • Foundations of Nursing Practice

    This module is your introduction to professional values, professional identity, ethical principles and the culture and practice of nursing. You will study themes such as:

    • team working
    • collaborative practice
    • person and family centred care
    • nursing models.

    Which will also include the nursing process; within the context of your field of practice. You will also look at caring for people across the lifespan and to meet the specific care needs of people within your chosen field of practice. To help you develop a sound basis of nursing practice.
     

  • Clinical Practice Experience 1 (Mental Health)

    Through simulation based education and direct care, this module will help you to develop a relevant knowledge base, skills and behaviours to fulfil the professional requirements for the mental health nursing programme.  

    Your placement experience for this module will usually include two placements during the year. Completion of this module will contribute to the achievement of Part 1 of your programme.
     

Year 2

Compulsory modules

  • Enhancing Therapeutic Relationships

    Research shows that better relationships with patients leads to better outcomes. In this module, you’ll gain an insight into how the diverse experiences of people and their families inform all stages of the nursing process, and help them get the most out of therapy from a physical and mental health care perspective.

    You’ll deepen your knowledge from Year 1 of how human connection, communication and self-awareness can be a crucial element in forming a therapeutic relationship with the patient, greatly influencing their quality of care and overall health outcome.

    You will be supported to critically reflect on the concept of therapeutic use of self and approaches to working collaboratively with people and their families, who may be at any stage of life and who may have a range of mental, physical, cognitive or behavioural health challenges.

    By the end of this module, you’ll be able to manage individuals’ physical, psychosocial and developmental stages in order to inform your practice.  

  • Research Methods and Analysis

  • Promoting Health in Mental Health Nursing Practice

    In this module, you’ll be learning how to support mental health through promotion of health and wellbeing. You’ll take a compassionate person-centred approach to improving social inclusion that might support the recovery process for people with mental health needs. You’ll consider the factors that affect the mental health and the changing health needs of the population, and will learn how vital it is to work in effective partnership with GP’s, psychiatrists and carers.

    By the end of this module you will have a clearer understanding of how to promote health as part of helping people who are in a vulnerable phase to make a positive mental health difference to their lives.

  • Assessing and Planning Mental Health Nursing Care

    In this module you’ll learn how to assess, plan and evaluate the care of patients experiencing mental health issues across the lifespan. You’ll train in methodologies in interpreting information to form plans and processes in order to develop the best evidence-based person-centred interventions designed to meet the holistic care needs of those with mental health care needs.

    You’ll train up in the principles of quality improvement strategies and will explore the importance of measuring outcomes in clinical effectiveness to inform your own reflective practice so that you can be certain that you are providing the best possible care.

  • Clinical Practice Experience 2 (Mental Health)

    This module will introduce you to positively engaging with people, their carers, families and other health care practitioners to promote shared-decision making in their health and mental health needs. You’ll consider the common treatment approaches such as how improved social inclusion might support the mental health recovery process.

    You’ll have National Public Health resources at your fingertips to research the latest mental health nursing practice concepts, from universal prevention campaigns to targeted approaches. This module will build upon your learning in Year 1. 

Year 3

Compulsory modules

  • Dissertation

    In this module you’ll develop research awareness and understanding of the principles and how to apply them in this particular clinical practice. You’ll be given the opportunity to identify your own research question and undertake an independent project under the guidance of an academic member of staff. In addition, there will be the chance to utilise various texts and literature to support your study.

  • Nursing Care of People with Complex Mental Health Needs

    In this module, you’ll consolidate your existing learning, and develop your knowledge of problem solving and decision-making skills with a person-centred approach for specific population groups. You’ll focus on implementing safe and effective practice, ensuring that you are well equipped to appropriately meet the complex needs of the adults in your care. You’ll use an Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) approach to undertake the assessment and management of complex scenarios in a variety of multi-field settings, allowing you to implement holistic methods of care to support the health needs and outcomes of adults with complex needs.

    You’ll explore how collaborative working with professional colleagues provides optimal care. Alongside this, you’ll have the opportunity to integrate and develop your understanding of relevant theory as well as anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of complex care needs of adults to ensure you are capable of making the right decisions for their healthcare needs.

  • Consolidation of Mental Health Nursing Practice

    In this module you’ll be provided with the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to perform as a skilled and knowledgeable mental health registrant, capable of identifying effective strategies to develop and improve interventions. You’ll learn how to efficiently manage your own professional practice, in addition to supporting, supervising and managing others; and lead the development of the mental health nursing profession. Throughout the module you will have chances to consider your future career, lifelong learning and, your autonomy as a mental health nurse. You’ll explore practice-based learning and will experience working with multi-professional diverse teams. You’ll consider the wider political context and key drivers of health, in addition to engaging with change management theory to support the development of your own service improvement project proposal.

  • Clinical Practice Experience 3 (Mental Health)

    You’ll develop your knowledge base and skills in mental health clinical training in practice through a combination of simulation-based education and direct care, enabling you to fulfil the professional requirements for the mental health nursing programme and ensure you are eligible for nurse registration. You’ll participate in to experience placements during the year, and completion of this module will contribute to the achievement of Part 3 of your programme. 

Work placements

Optional modules

Work placements

Hospital and community placements will provide opportunities for diverse experiences in supportive practice learning environments. Our partners in practice work closely with Oxford Brookes in the design and delivery of the programme. You will experience a wide variety of practice learning opportunities throughout Oxfordshire with a limited number of placements available in Wiltshire and Northampton. One of the reasons why the mental health nursing course at Oxford Brookes University is so popular is the wide-range and high quality of mental health care provided by the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and our other private and independent sector placement partners. These placements give you the opportunity to experience the delivery of high quality, evidence-based healthcare across the age range and in a variety of inpatient and community settings to patients with many different health care needs. Whilst on placement, you will be supported by a member of staff.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Careers

When you register as a mental health nurse, you’ll be well prepared to work as a band 5 staff nurse in a range of settings. 

Perhaps you’re interested in working in NHS hospital wards such as psychiatric and specialist units. Or community settings such as GP surgeries, schools and prisons. Maybe you fancy a different path working for a mental health charity or as a mental health nurse in the armed forces. With more demand for mental health nurses than ever before, you’ll find your options are varied.

And with an excellent track record of employability, you could soon be looking for postgraduate qualifications. You could take your career even further with advanced clinical practice, research, nurse education or management.

Entry requirements

Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

Standard offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 104

A Level: BCC

IB Points: 29

BTEC: DMM

Contextual offer

What is a contextual offer?

UCAS Tariff Points: 88

A Level: CCD

IB Points: 27

BTEC: MMM

International qualifications and equivalences

How to apply

Application process


Full time Home (UK) applicants
Apply through UCAS


Part time Home (UK) applicants
Apply direct to the University


International applicants
Apply direct to the University

Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
International full time
£16,700
Home (UK) full time
£9,250*
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module*
International full time
£16,900

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
International full time
£16,700
2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time
£9,250*
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module*
International full time
£16,900

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

* Following the government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we expect to increase our undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Please visit The Education Hub for more information about the changes. We will confirm our fees for 2025/26 as soon as possible.

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students. 

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support. 

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Financial support and scholarships

All eligible nursing students on courses from September 2020 (new and continuing) will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which they will not need to pay back. For more information please visit NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF).

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Addtional costs for this course are as follows:

  • Books and other learning resources
  • Exchanges
  • Library loans and fees
  • Living costs at university
  • Graduation
  • Photocopying and printing of posters
  • Travel to and from placement (if eligible can apply for reimbursement via NHS learning support fund)
  • Shoes for practice
  • Equipment for practice and suitable non clinical clothing for placements.

This list is not exhaustive and other course-specific costs may be incurred.

For the most up-to-date information on additional costs, please keep checking the website as we will update this as further information becomes available.

Information from Discover Uni

Full-time study

Part-time study

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.