Overview
Are you looking for a rewarding career where you can improve the quality of people’s lives? From building therapeutic relationships through to advising patients about relevant therapies or social activities, as a mental health nurse, you’ll have a profound impact on the lives of the people you care for. Nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the country. As a qualified mental health nurse, you’ll be entering a highly respected profession with excellent employment prospects.
We have recently upgraded our nursing skills suite to include state-of-the-art blending learning simulation suite. Our new Blended Learning Interactive Simulation suite (BLISs) offers an innovative unique learning space which brings multi-sensory environments into the modern classroom giving students innovative learning experiences.
Brunel is a renowned research-intensive university with an established and excellent reputation in health sciences so you’ll be learning from the best in the field. On this programme, you’ll gain the clinical and communication skills required to support individuals and their families through their recovery process.
You’ll learn about the new and emerging concept of trauma informed care and gain the knowledge and experience to work within community, primary and acute care settings. You’ll be given the skills to work with patients with psychosis, anxiety and conditions such as mood-related, organic and neurodevelopmental disorders. You’ll also learn to support individuals affected by the use of psychoactive substance use.
At Brunel, you’ll learn through an equal balance of theory and practice. Your placement opportunities will develop your skills and understanding of caring in hospital and community settings. You’ll graduate ready to support patients in gaining the confidence to take the first steps in changing their lives.
Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
As a nursing student, you'll receive at least £5,000 a year which you don't need to pay back. See the UK government website for more information.
The NHS Values are shaped by patients, public and staff have helped develop this expression of values that inspire passion in the NHS and that should underpin everything it does. Individual organisations will develop and build upon these values, tailoring them to their local needs. The NHS values provide common ground for co-operation to achieve shared aspirations, at all levels of the NHS.
Course content
Through a blended learning approach, your programme combines face-to-face learning with online learning. The programme integrates theory with practice, and your time will be split evenly between periods of campus-based learning and your practice placements.
All modules are compulsory and cover the broad spectrum of mental health nursing.
Compulsory
- Developing skills for practiceThis module will prepare the foundation for students to provide nursing intervention and support for people of all ages who require nursing procedures during the processes of assessment, diagnosis, care and treatment for mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural health challenges.
- Health and wellbeing across the life continuumThis module provides opportunities for students to gain knowledge and understanding of the role of the RN in relation to the aims and principles of health promotion, protection, improvement and the prevention of ill health when engaging with people.
- Human SciencesThis interprofessional module provides students with knowledge of the biosciences related to nursing practice. Students will learn about anatomy and physiology, and how it is integrated from the cellular level to the organ systems level. This will include the exploration of the human body throughout the life continuum in both health and disease.
- Nursing Practice Module for Year 1This module is supported by the Pan London Practice Assessment Document (PLPAD) which is designed to support and guide students towards successfully achieving the criteria set out in the Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses and Standards for education and training (NMC 2018). Continuous assessment is an integral aspect of assessment in practice and students are expected to show evidence of consistent achievement. The module will equip students with the appropriate knowledge base required to deliver safe, person-centred care under guidance.
- Research Methods (1)This module is designed to enable students to develop an ability to reflect on their practice and keep abreast of new and emerging developments in nursing, health and care. The module themes provide skills to underpin the student’s academic development.
Compulsory
- Enhancing Skills for Mental Health NursingThis module will build on and enable students to further develop their knowledge and skills required for their role in assessing and initiating person-centred care. This will involve building upon the mental health knowledge and skills gained clinically and theoretically in the first year to understand and apply a person-centred approach to nursing care, demonstrating shared assessment, planning, decision making and goal setting when working with people, their families and communities.
- Nursing in Society (Mental Health)This module provides opportunities for students to gain knowledge and understanding of the role of the RN in relation to nursing in community mental health settings. The module identifies how Community Mental Health Nurses contribute to the prevention of and protection against disease and ill health. It provides opportunities for engagement in public health, community development and global health agendas, and in the reduction of health inequalities.
- Nursing Practice Module for Year 2 (Mental Health)This module is supported by the Pan London Practice Assessment Document (PLPAD) which is designed to support and guide students towards successfully achieving the criteria set out in the Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses and Standards for education and training (NMC 2018). Continuous assessment is an integral aspect of assessment in practice and students are expected to show evidence of consistent achievement. The module will equip students with the appropriate knowledge base required to deliver safe, person centred care under guidance.
- Pharmacology and Prescribing ReadyIn this module, students will gain critical knowledge and skills that are aligned with the principles of pharmacology and medicines management, which will enable the provision of high quality, evidence-based person-centred care. The module will enable students to further develop and apply their knowledge of body systems and physiology. The underpinning of pharmaco-therapeutic knowledge and skills will enable students to gain competency in supporting people with common physical and mental health conditions; providing a foundation for progression to gaining a prescribing qualification following registration.
- Research Methods (2)This module will enable students to understand how evidence is generated, why it is generated and how it influences nursing practice. It will develop an understanding of research methodologies and will enhance skills such as finding and critiquing the literature which will enable students to review current nursing practice. It will help prepare for the final dissertation.
Compulsory
- Nursing Practice Module For Year 3Students will work within their role as a team member, and develop knowledge and skills enabling them to meet the NMC proficiencies. The practice placement will develop students knowledge and understanding through increasing independent practice where they will be supported in undertaking planned, legitimate, educational activities alongside a registered practitioner or receive coaching in care delivery activities. During this module students will be encouraged to develop the skills underpinning mental health nursing practice when managing the care of patients with complex needs in diverse health and social care environments. Students will plan their learning experiences through a Learning Contract and record them in the PLPAD.
- Reviewing the Literature to Inform PracticeThis module will enable students to critically appraise different types of evidence in field-specific areas of health and social care. It will aim to develop students’ knowledge and skills in relation to the systematic stages of an integrated literature review relevant to a field-specific area of nursing. The module will also enable students to systematically organise and make analytical and objective judgements on the reviewed evidence in their field-specific areas of practice.
- Skills For Registration (Mental Health)This module aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills required for their role in providing and evaluating person-centred care. This module will prepare mental health students to demonstrate the ability to provide nursing intervention and support for people who require nursing procedures during the processes of assessment, diagnosis, care and treatment for mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural health challenges. This will enable mental health students to prepare for caring for people with more complex mental health healthcare needs across a range of settings.
- Transition to Registered NurseThis module will equip students with the knowledge and skills required for their role as a newly registered nurse in leading and managing nursing care and working effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team. It will prepare students to safely and effectively lead and manage the nursing care of a group of people, demonstrating appropriate prioritisation, delegation and assignment of care responsibilities to others involved in providing care.
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This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of undergraduate degrees at Brunel.
Careers and your future
Career Prospects for Graduates
Upon graduating, your employment prospects will be excellent. Mental health nursing involves working with children, young people, adults and older adults who may be affected by a range of mental health conditions.
Caring for people with mental health problems is rapidly shifting from hospital to the community, with integrated care being the preferred model. Employment opportunities range from acute inpatient wards, community mental health teams, primary care mental health teams, forensic settings to child and adolescent settings.
Supporting people back from the point of mental illness to good mental health is a valuable, satisfying and deeply fulfilling area of nursing practice.
Professional Registration
Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Successful completion of the programme also provides eligibility to apply for professional registration with regulatory bodies in other countries, for example: Canada, New Zealand, Australia and many others. For current information on the specific requirements and registration process for each country we recommend that you consult the webpages of the relevant regulatory body.
Rights to Work in the UK for International Students
International students graduating from this programme may be eligible to apply for a Health and Care Worker Visa that provides the right to work within the UK healthcare sector. This visa also provides the right for dependants to come to the UK and exemptions from UK health insurance surcharges.
Further information about the current benefits of the Health and Care Worker Visa and rules for applying can be found at the UKVI website.
Information on further visa options is available on our Post Study Work Options webpage.
UK entry requirements
2024/25 entry
- GCE A Level ABB-BBC.
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DMM in Health & Social Care, Applied Science, Sport.
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma DM in Health & Social Care, Applied Science, Sport with an A Level at grade C in Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science, Physics .
- BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma Merit in Health & Social Care, Applied Science, Sport, with two A Levels at grades BB in any subject.
- International Baccalaureate Diploma 29 points.
- Access to Higher Education Diploma Obtain a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points in the Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3. Subjects accepted : Health Science, Health and Human Sciences, Health Professions, Health and Social Care, Health Studies, Medicine, Medical Science, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Science, Science in Health Professions
- T levels : Merit overall and grade C in A level Science subject (Health, Healthcare Science and Science)
- Five GCSEs at grade C or grade 4 or above are also required, including English Language, Maths and Science.
Brunel University London is committed to raising the aspirations of our applicants and students. We will fully review your UCAS application and, where we’re able to offer a place, this will be personalised to you based on your application and education journey.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs.
EU and International entry requirements
English language requirements
In accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), if your first language is not English you must have the following minimum International English Language Test Score (IELTS) results at the time of applying:
- 7.0 overall or equivalent
- 7.0 in the listening and reading sections
- 7.0 in the writing and speaking sections.
Or
Occupational English Test (OET)
- B (350 or above) for reading, listening, and speaking, and at least C+ (300 or above) for writing
Further information can be found on the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s website: https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/english-language-requirements/accepted-english-language-tests/ielts-academic/
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2024/25 entry
UK
£9,250 full-time
International
£23,615 full-time
More information on any additional course-related costs.
See our fees and funding page for full details of undergraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Please refer to the scholarships pages to view discounts available to eligible EU undergraduate applicants.
Teaching and learning
All sessions are delivered on campus as per NMC validation. Overall, the 3-year programme is 50% theory (minimum 2300 hours) and 50% practice (minimum 2,300 hours). You must attend 100% of the theory component of the programme and you must complete 100% of the practice hours. To supplement our full timetable of on-campus teaching, learning will be supported with a range of resources on our new Brightspace Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) including e.g. videos, interactive activities and quizzes. Module leaders may offer additional revision, and or Q&A sessions via online platforms where appropriate.
A variety of teaching and learning strategies are used throughout the programme. For example, lectures; Team Based Learning; seminars; group work; simulation; role play; case discussions; peer learning; flipped classroom. A range of learning activities has been developed within the curriculum to allow you to experience interprofessional learning with students from other health programmes. For example, safeguarding workshops with Social Work and Apprentice Nursing Associate students.
Feedback, Person Tutoring Hours, and Project Supervision discussions will be offered both in person on campus and via online platforms. This will allow you to easily receive feedback, advice and guidance without having to travel to campus on a day that you might otherwise not be attending.
Course work will be submitted via Wiseflow. Both practical and written exams will be on-campus.
The programme has been designed to support the integration of physical and mental health, as well as the integration of care across health and social care. This approach enables you to demonstrate the professional values expected to deliver high-quality evidence-informed care to all individuals, their families and their communities.
Team Based Learning engages you in activities that will help you learn how to use programme content to solve problems and explore issues relevant to your learning. Biology seminars deliver the underpinning anatomy and physiology and this knowledge will be applied during seminars and simulation sessions. Within skills-based teaching, key skills are demonstrated to you. Authentic scenario-based learning will provide you with the opportunity to participate in formative simulation based on patient scenarios across all four fields of nursing.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
You’ll be taught by highly qualified and research-engaged nurse academics who will ensure that everything you learn is up-to-date and relevant to the NHS care setting.
You’ll benefit from an innovative teaching approach that incorporates digital technology, team-based learning, face-to-face teaching and online learning. Your seminars will often include polling apps, so you’ll enhance your learning by taking part in quizzes and competitions in a fun, interactive way.
Simulation is used to teach concepts relating to the care of patients. You’ll practise your nursing skills through the mock-up of real-world nursing scenarios through simulation learning and working on manikins, so you’ll be confident and skilled when you go on your practice placements.
Assessment and feedback
You’ll be taught by highly qualified and research-engaged nurse academics who will ensure that everything you learn is up-to-date and relevant to the NHS care setting. You’ll benefit from an innovative teaching approach that incorporates digital technology, team-based learning, face-to-face teaching and online learning.
Your seminars will often include polling apps so you’ll enhance your learning by taking part in quizzes and competitions in a fun, interactive way. Simulation is used to teach concepts relating to the care of patients. You’ll practise your nursing skills through the mock-up of real-world nursing scenarios through simulation learning and working on manikins, so you’ll be confident and skilled when you go on your practice placements to deliver person-centred holistic care.