Program Overview

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Nursing (Mental Health) BN (Hons)

Course Overview

This BN (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) degree will help you become a skilled and highly sought-after graduate nurse, specialising in caring for people of all ages with mental health needs.

Course Features

• Make a difference to people’s lives and learn how to optimise their care in a safe and stimulating environment
• Learn from supportive and accessible lecturers and gain real insights from experienced and registered professionals
• Bring your learning to life through practice placements with partner organisations under the supervision of experienced nurses
• Develop excellent communication skills, clinical knowledge and leadership skills to prepare you for your future professional life
• Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Course Details

Work Placements

Work placements are a mandatory part of this course and account for approximately 50% of the programme.

Learning and Teaching

Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.

You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.

In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars, you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.

The course uses the NHS Leadership Academy Maximising Leadership in the Pre-registration Healthcare Curricula Framework to build leadership skills through a spiral curriculum.

Digital Literacy

Digital and technological literacy is a requirement for entry to all nursing programmes. In healthcare it is now seen as a vital tool and is used for managing patient records, assessment, research and education. It is also the most common and the preferred way we communicate with students on our programmes.

Applicants are required to apply through the UCAS system and all information exchange until the starting the programme (such as interview arrangements, responding to offers and pre-course preparation) will be via digital platforms.

Independent Learning

Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff.

You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.

Overall Workload

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.

While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.

• Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
  • Teaching, learning and assessment: 183.5 hours
  • Independent learning: 720.5 hours
  • Placement: 596 hours
• Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
  • Teaching, learning and assessment: 170.5 hours
  • Independent learning: 602 hours
  • Placement: 760 hours
• Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
  • Teaching, learning and assessment: 155 hours
  • Independent learning: 510 hours
  • Placement: 963 hours

Location

Taught elements of the course take place on campus in Winchester and the adjacent Royal Hampshire County Hospital site.

Teaching Hours

All class-based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches.

Assessment

Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.

We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes.

Percentage of the Course Assessed by Coursework

The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:

• Year 1 (Level 4)*:
  • 62% coursework
  • 25% written exams
  • 13% practical assessment
• Year 2 (Level 5)*:
  • 87% coursework
  • 13% written exams
  • 0% practical assessment
• Year 3 (Level 6)*:
  • 87% coursework
  • 13% written exams
  • 0% practical assessment

Modules

Year 1

• Clinical Sciences 1: Psychosocial and Biological 30 Credits
• Promoting Good Health and Wellbeing 15 Credits

Year 2

• Clinical Sciences 2: Application 30 Credits
• Team Working and Developing Nursing Practice in Mental Health 30 Credits
• Practice Learning Experience Part 2 30 Credits
• Preparation for Practice Inquiry 15 Credits

Year 3

• Enhancing Nursing Practice and Transition to Registrant in Mental Health 30 Credits
• Practice Inquiry Project 30 Credits

Entry Requirements

UK

• 104-120 points
• Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:
  • A-Levels: BCC-BBB from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)
  • BTEC/CTEC: DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
  • International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
  • T Level: Merit in a T Level

International

• If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:
  • IELTS Academic at 6.5 overall with writing at a minimum of 6.0.
  • We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT.

Tuition Fees

2025/6 Course Tuition Fees

• UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland: £9,535
• International: £16,700

Additional Tuition Fee Information

• (UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland) £9,535 for the 25/26 academic year. Fees for future academic years will be determined in line with our Terms and Conditions.
• (International) £16,700 for the 25/26 academic year. Fees for future academic years will be determined in line with our Terms and Conditions.

Additional Costs

Mandatory:

• A full set of uniforms will be provided at the beginning of the programme. If you require additional uniforms later on, you may need to pay for these. Indicative cost: £30.
• The University will pay for an occupational health assessment; however, you may need to pay for immunisations if they are not covered by your GP.
• You will need a pair of suitable comfortable shoes while on clinical placement. Indicative cost: £40–£60.
• You will need to purchase some of your own clinical items, for instance a stethoscope and fob watch. Indicative cost: £30.
• You will need to be able to travel to your placement ‐ travel costs will be associated with this. UK residents may be able to claim reimbursement of travel and secondary accommodation costs via the Student Learning Support Fund: Indicative cost: various.
• All students who accept an offer for this course are required to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance check. Please note, the cost of the check is £49.50 and covering the cost is the responsibility of the student.

Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards

We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course.

Career Prospects

As a registered nurse there are opportunities to work in the UK and many countries across the world in a range of care environments. This includes statutory health care providers (such as the NHS), the private voluntary and independent sector, criminal justice system and armed forces. Further education, training and experience can lead to advanced nurse practitioner roles, healthcare management, nursing research and roles within nurse education.

The University of Winchester ranks in the top 25 in the UK for graduates in employment or further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024, HESA.

Pre-approved for a Masters

University of Winchester students studying Bachelor Honours degrees are pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible students must apply by the end of March in their final year and meet the entry requirements of their chosen Masters degree.