Mental Health Nursing (18 months) Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Our Mental Health Nursing courses rank UK 1st overall in their subject field (The Guardian University Guide, 2026).

This course is a shortened course suitable for applicants that have completed a Foundation Degree (NMC Accredited) in Nursing. Places on this course are limited and availability may vary annually.

The relationship between a person with a mental illness and their nurse is central to helping them back to mental health. On this course, you learn safe, effective nursing care that meets the needs of those with a mental health problem. It also teaches you to adapt your skills to individual situations, keeping the service user and their family at the centre of your care.

Course accreditation

All our Nursing courses are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). On successful completion of your course, you can register with the NMC as a mental health nurse in accordance with the NHS Constitution (see below).

Facilities and specialist equipment

* Access to the latest medical/health equipment and facilities at regional hospitals and community health settings during placements

* At our Luton campus, a new, fully immersive simulation floor situated in our modern STEM building, taking you from mock home and hospital for hands-on experience of a range of settings

* Simulation wards with a range of medical-grade, high-fidelity training mannequins to tackle real-life scenarios in a safe and supported environment

* For students based with Oxford Health Foundation Trust in Aylesbury, we have a three-storey building with simulation ward; classrooms; library; social learning spaces; and computer study facilities

Career-powered links

To ensure your learning meets the benchmark set for care providers, our healthcare courses have been developed in collaboration with our regional healthcare providers and health authorities, particularly with our formal partner, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Our partnership with the Trust creates new opportunities for students to learn in real healthcare settings, alongside NHS professionals. There will also be opportunities for work experience and placements on campus in Luton once the Trust's new Community Diagnostic Centre opens within the University, in 2027.

Your student experience

Our nursing hub at Aylesbury is situated on site at Stoke Mandeville Hospital so you can fully immerse yourself in the hospital environment.

All academic staff are active in research or practice and offer specialist expertise in their field, ensuring the lectures they deliver are up to date and prepare you for the realities of the workplace.

We deliver predominantly face-to-face teaching so your tutors are on site to support you while you get to meet and exchange ideas with other healthcare students.

Clinical specialists from our partnership trusts come to campus to support your learning so your studies are underpinned by the latest research and practice.

Our strong links with regional healthcare providers mean you can secure a local practice placement anywhere where our Trust partners have services in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Mental Health Nursing, Adult Nursing and Midwifery students gain a wider range of expertise through general units taught by tutors from all three courses.

On placement, you undertake a mix of early, late, long-day and night shifts to ensure you experience typical shift patterns for a healthcare professional.

The NHS Constitution brings together details of what staff patients and the public can expect from the National Health Service. It sets out the principles and values that guide how the NHS should act and make decisions. The NHS Constitution states that the NHS 'aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism'. Applicants are expected to demonstrate their understanding and application of these values throughout the selection process.