BSc(Hons) Nursing (Mental Health)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Brighton

Program Overview

If you’re passionate about supporting people facing mental health challenges, this degree equips you with the knowledge, skills, and real-world experience to make a real difference. You’ll learn how to provide compassionate, person-centred care, understand mental health from multiple perspectives, and gain hands-on experience across a variety of mental health settings.

Curriculum Structure

Year One

In your first year, you’ll build a strong foundation in nursing and mental health. Modules like “Nursing Assessment in Partnership with People” and “Planning Nursing Care in Partnership with People” teach you how to assess patients holistically and plan care together with them, while “Human Biology for Nursing” gives you the essential understanding of the body and how illness affects mental health. Early Practice Learning placements allow you to step into clinical settings under supervision, gaining real-world experience right away.

Year Two

Your second year deepens your understanding and practical skills. You’ll explore modules such as “Key Theories and Concepts Underpinning Mental Health Nursing” to understand psychological, social, and biological perspectives, and “Quality Improvement Using Evidence-Based Nursing Practice” to learn how research shapes safe and effective care. Placements in mental health services let you apply what you’ve learned, working with individuals and multidisciplinary teams.

Year Three (Final Year)

In your final year, everything comes together as you prepare to become a registered mental health nurse. Modules like “Therapeutic Approaches in Mental Health Nursing” and “Contemporary and Future Nursing Practice” equip you with advanced skills to support complex cases. The final Practice Learning placements give you in-depth, hands-on experience, while “Leading and Managing Nursing Care and Effective Teams” develops your leadership and professional decision-making skills.

Focus areas: mental health nursing, holistic and person-centred care, therapeutic interventions, long-term and acute mental health care, leadership & professional practice

Learning outcomes: deliver safe and compassionate mental health care, assess and plan care for individuals experiencing mental distress, apply therapeutic approaches, work effectively within multidisciplinary teams, promote recovery and wellbeing, and be ready to register as a mental health nurse

Professional alignment (accreditation): Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) — graduates are eligible to register as mental health nurses in the UK

Reputation (employability): 100% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months, with all working graduates in highly skilled nursing roles

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Brighton, Mental Health Nursing isn’t just about reading textbooks or listening to lectures — it’s about rolling up your sleeves and learning by doing. From the very first year, you’ll practise real nursing skills in safe, simulated environments and then bring those skills into actual clinical placements. This hands-on approach helps you gain confidence, understand real patient needs, and experience the day-to-day realities of mental health nursing.

You’ll develop your skills through:

Simulation and Skills Suites – practise assessments, interventions, and therapeutic communication in fully equipped simulation rooms before working with patients.
Mock Wards and Care Environments – replicate hospital or community care settings so you can rehearse real-world scenarios under supervision.
Clinical Placements – complete around 2,300 hours in hospitals, community mental health services, CAMHS, older adult services, and more, gaining diverse experience across the mental health field.
Mentorship and Reflective Learning – receive guidance from personal tutors, practice supervisors, and peers to help you reflect on and improve your care.
Digital and Educational Tools – use online learning resources, patient record systems, and evidence-based practice databases to support your studies and placements.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from Brighton’s Mental Health Nursing degree gives you the skills, confidence, and professional registration you need to start a rewarding career straight away. Many students move directly into frontline roles, making a real difference in people’s lives. Typical jobs include Mental Health Nurse, Community Mental Health Nurse, Inpatient Ward Nurse, or Crisis/Recovery Team Nurse.

Here’s how the university helps you step into your career:

Guaranteed employment pathway – thanks to a strong partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT), graduates are offered positions once they’re registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Strong graduate outcomes – most students are working in skilled nursing roles within 15 months of graduating.
Competitive early-career salaries – median starting salaries range around £26,500–£28,500, with potential to grow as you gain experience.
Professional accreditation – the degree meets NMC standards, allowing you to register and practise as a mental health nurse anywhere in the UK.
Variety of practice settings – you could work in hospitals, community mental health teams, crisis services, recovery programs, or social care, with opportunities to specialise or move into leadership over time.

Further Academic Progression:
After your BSc, you could continue your studies through postgraduate options such as advanced clinical practice, mental health specialisms, community psychiatry, or health-care leadership. These pathways open doors to senior clinical roles, specialist practice, research, or teaching within health services.