Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Mental Health Nursing)

BSc (Hons)

Do you have the passion and empathy to care for adults, children and young people in a variety of settings? Working as a mental health nurse is an incredibly rewarding career. No two days are the same as a mental health nurse – it's one of the most rewarding roles in health and social care.

*Please note, this course is pending approval from the NMC

Location: Aston University, Birmingham

Course type
Full-time
Entry requirements
Duration

3 years

UCAS code(s)

B760

Start date

Course overview

Our BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Mental Health Nursing) course aligns to the key principles of the NHS Constitution, derived from extensive discussions with staff, patients, carers and the public. These principles inspire passion in the NHS and provide a common ground for cooperation in achieving shared aspirations, at all levels of the NHS.

At Aston you’ll learn in an inter-professional way, developing the theoretical, practical, and interpersonal skills you'll need to be able to register as a nurse specialising in mental health. When you successfully complete the course, you will be eligible to register as a mental health nurse with the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council).

Why Mental Health Nursing at Aston University?

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Gold standard teaching
Aston University was awarded Gold - the highest possible rating for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)
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Extensive patient contact
Benefit from extensive patient contact throughout the course through integrated clinical and community placements.
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High-end facilities
Access to our enhanced learning environments, including our new clinical simulation environments to practise real scenarios on lifelike adult manikins and actors.
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Earn more
Our graduates are among the highest paid in the country, earning on average £36,100 five years after graduating (Longitudinal Education Outcomes, 2023)
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Excellent prospects
Aston University was named runner-up in the University of the Year for Graduate Employment Award (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024)

Course description

BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Registered Mental Health Nursing)

Our BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Mental Health Nursing) degree at Aston will equip you with the skills, insights, and confidence required to become an outstanding and compassionate mental health nurse, well-equipped to be able to keep our communities and people physically and mentally healthy, supporting nursing care, recovery, and the promotion of good mental health. Working as a mental health nurse is a truly rewarding career.

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What we will provide
First-class teaching in the UK's second-largest city, delivered by a diverse array of staff who will inspire and excite you, fantastic facilities that will bring your course to life through hands-on, practical experience; years of close industry collaboration that is harnessed to provide you with learning based on real-world needs. 

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What you will provide
It is important you learn how to adapt a growth mindset to your studies - understand that intelligence and success come from applying yourself, you must be able to demonstrate critical thinking and have ambition and drive to excel.

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What skills we teach
As a student in our BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Mental Health Nursing) programme, you will study topics that are fundamental to mental health nursing, ensuring you have a solid foundation upon which to build your knowledge and skills over the course of three years. The programme enables you to explore and develop skills pertaining to mental health and mental illness, evidence-based practices, research practices, critical exploration, leadership and physical health care.

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Integrated placements
You will benefit from extensive patient contact throughout the course with practice learning placements forming a large part of your study experience. You will spend 50% of your study time in practice, which will be undertaken in various clinical and community environments. There is opportunity for a negotiated placement in year 2 where you can experience nursing in an alternative setting in the UK, or abroad

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Career prospects
The field of mental health nursing is very diverse so there’s a wide range of career paths, and our program will provide you with the academic requirements needed to register to work as a mental health nurse upon graduation. 

How you will learn

A significant portion of your learning will be the application of theory into practice such as delivering care to people and their families at home, in the community, or in the hospital environment. The programme will help you to understand the key health priorities for adults, children and young people, to consider how you can enable people to have good mental health, to recovery from mental illness and how you can work with people and their families during difficult and vulnerable times.

Practice learning placements are a large part of your study experience. You will spend 50% of your study time in practice in various clinical environments. This will support you in gaining experience in different clinical areas in organisations that offer specialist services. You will also have the opportunity to experience a placement in an alternative setting in the UK, or abroad. We also partner with high-level NHS Trust clinical environments in the West Midlands, which provides a collaborative approach to learning, clinical placements and quality assurance.

This three-year course runs over 45 weeks each year. There are three year-long modules, incorporating both theory and practice. 

What you will learn

Year one:

In your first year, you will learn the foundational aspects of mental health nursing on which your nursing knowledge will develop. Learning different theories and conceptual models helps nurses to understand and view good mental health and mental illness from different perspectives. You will learn about the importance of evidence-based practice and how this can be applied to mental health nursing to improve patient experiences, and promote recovery and good mental health. 

You will develop an understanding of the structure of UK national health services and the different lenses through which health is observed. You will gain an understanding of health inequalities, and community and public health, as well as explore how good mental and physical health can be promoted. You will study anatomy, physiology and pharmacology to enable you to care holistically for mental health patients.  Professionalism and ethical and legal values are fundamental to nursing and will be covered throughout the course, starting in your first year.

You will be encouraged and supported to develop as healthy and emotionally intelligent nurses. There will be opportunities to work collaboratively with the inter-professional team, service users and their families and you will be supported to reflect on your knowledge, skills and practice experiences to progress into year two. In your first year, you will have a simulated placement at Aston University to prepare you for clinical practice before going into the clinical areas as a year 1 student nurse.  

Year two:

During your second year, you will develop your knowledge and skills to provide care for a wide range of mental health conditions, which will be applicable to patients in different healthcare settings, including hospital, community care and home as well as specialist mental health services. You will build on your anatomy and physiology knowledge, ensuring you are prepared to provide safe and equitable physical care for patients and meet the needs of those with comorbidities. Essential specialist mental health nursing skills will be taught across year two, preparing you to work sensitively, compassionately and with patients and their families to foster professional working relationships, built on trust, one that promotes hope and recovery and enables people to be an active part of their own care.

You will build on your knowledge of evidence-based practice, developing research knowledge and explore how research informs nursing practice, applying knowledge in simulated situations, and attending placements in areas that meet the complex needs of patients. At the end of year 2, you will undertake a student experience placement which is negotiated with your programme academics.

Year three:

In your third year, you will learn how to effectively assess and manage patients with increasingly complex conditions, analysing and debating a range of options and evidence to inform treatment and management decisions. Critical perspectives in mental health will be explored to ensure your readiness to support person-centred, holistic and individualised care with patients and their families.

Year three focuses on consolidating your knowledge and building your confidence for practice, to be ready for professional registration. You will prepare for the role of the Registered Nurse by consolidating your knowledge of care provision, leading teams and supervising others. You will have the opportunity to practise your clinical approaches within simulated scenarios and placements in order to develop your confidence in line with the NMC Future Nurse Standards (2018)

Facilities

Nursing students have access to a range of specialist facilities that reflect the hands-on learning within the field. In these settings, you gain practical experience alongside like-minded students, a multidisciplinary team of lecturers, industry professionals, and expert technicians.

  • Clinical simulation environments to practise real scenarios on lifelike adult manikins and actors.
  • Anatomy and physiology anatomical models that help you learn about the structure and function of the human body. 
  • Libraries and study spaces are available 24 hours a day and offer students access to a wide range of resources, including books, journals, databases, and online learning materials. 
     

Course objectives

  1. To enable you to become a registered nurse in accordance with the NMC Code (2018) and be prepared for graduate employment
  2. To enable you to achieve the Nursing and Midwifery Council Standards of Proficiency for entry to the NMC Professional Register as a Mental Health Nurse.
  3. To support you to become a competent and confident practitioner who is autonomous, compassionate, skilled and safe and uses person-centred practices to support patients with their physical and mental health needs.
  4. To enable you to achieve the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for entry to the NMC Professional Register as an Adult Nurse.
  5. To enable you to become an independent and motivated person and develop the concept of lifelong learning.

Modules

Modules and learning outcomes

Year 1 modules

In your first year, you will study the following core module:

Module TitleCredits
Fundamentals of Mental Health Nursing Practice120
Composed of: 
Practice Placement – Stage 1 

Foundations of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology

 

Professional, ethical, and legal considerations

 

Foundations of mental health nursing

 

Applying the evidence base in practice: Introduction to evidence-based practice, study skills, academic development and research 

 
Health inequalities, physical and mental health promotion across the lifespan 
Developing an emotionally intelligent, safe Future Nurse Part 1 
Total120

Year 1 outcomes 

On successful completion of the first year, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of professionalism in nursing practice and how the NMC Code provides a framework of the professional standards that nurses, midwives and nursing associates must uphold in order to be registered to practice in the UK.

  • Define health and ill health within current theoretical frameworks and consider health promotion approaches when working with patients and families.

  • Explain how nursing needs are identified and appropriate care is planned. Apply knowledge of health needs to develop nursing care plans appropriate for the patient’s individual situation.

  • Define person-centred care and identify the variety of approaches used to deliver nursing care that promotes dignity, safety and comfort for patients.

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the multi-disciplinary team and how patient care is delivered with the patient at the centre. Identify how a team approach promotes a positive patient experience and outcomes.

  • Explain the processes and policies that monitor and contribute patient safety and service provision within the contemporary healthcare arena.

  • Define care co-ordination and the value of right care, right skills, right time to deliver appropriate nursing care to patients in a variety of environments.

  • Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of communication methods and approaches to communicate effectively, sensitively, and clearly with patients, families, peers, team members, supervisors and tutors.

  • Demonstrate effective use of technology and information technology and perform the defined list of clinical skills and procedures safely and effectively as indicated in: Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (NMC, 2018)

Year 2 modules

In your second year, you will study the following core module:

Module TitleCredits

Developing Mental Health Nursing Practice

120
Composed of: 
Practice Placement – Stage 2 
Hospital, home and community nursing and interdisciplinary care 
Specialist mental health nursing across the lifespan 
Developing an emotionally intelligent, safe Future Nurse Part 2 

Physical health care and common comorbidities in mental health nursing

 
Assessment and preparation for prescribing 
Contemporary research and evidence-based practice for safe mental health & physical health nursing 
Total120

Year 2 outcomes 

On successful completion of the second year, you will be able to:

  • Understand the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks that inform and influence practice and consider how they might apply in a variety of situations.
  • Compare different principles and approaches to engaging with people in health promotion, protection and improvement initiatives.
  • Apply knowledge of commonly encountered mental and physical health conditions and their treatments when undertaking full and accurate assessments of nursing care needs and when developing, prioritising and reviewing person-centred care plans.
  • Demonstrate a range of knowledge and skills required to provide people, families and carers with a range of interventions and evaluate the outcomes of those interventions.
  • Compare leadership styles in different situations and demonstrate an ability to guide, support and motivate individuals and interact confidently with other members of the care team.
  • Demonstrate how to use service delivery evaluation and audit findings and compare how findings are used to bring about continuous improvement in health and social care services.
  • Evaluate current health and social care policies, and how to influence local policy to ensure that care delivery is optimised and appropriate for the needs of the community
  • Explore the challenges of having difficult conversations and how to support people who are feeling emotionally or physically vulnerable. Perform the defined list of clinical skills and procedures safely and effectively as indicated in: Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (NMC 2018).
  • Demonstrate effective use of technology and information technology and perform the defined list of clinical skills and procedures safely and effectively as indicated in: Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (NMC 2018)

Year 3 modules

In your third year, you will study the following core module:

Module TitleCredits
Consolidating Mental Health Nursing Practice120
Composed of: 
Practice Placement – Stage 3 
Clinical judgement and decision making 
Critical perspectives in mental health nursing 
Enhancing safety and quality of care in mental health nursing 

Consolidating care and professional practice

 
Leadership and service improvement 
Independent inquiry 
Total120

Year 3 outcomes 

On successful completion of the third year, you will be able to:

  • Adopt a reflective approach to career and professional development, recognise professional responsibility and accountability in nursing practice and apply the Code to maintain a high quality of care, patient safety and clinical outcomes.
  • Critically analyse the settings, frameworks, systems and culture in which patient care is delivered across the UK; and apply to nursing practice.
  • Effectively assess and manage a range of conditions and develop comprehensive plans of nursing care, involving the patient, carers and advocates in management decisions to maximise patient outcomes.
  • Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to provide nursing care to people with a range of conditions, and act as a role model for others in providing high quality nursing interventions to meet people’s needs.
  • Appraise the various roles of health and care professionals at different levels of experience and seniority when managing and prioritising care across a range of settings.
  • Critically analyse research to inform and lead on nursing care and demonstrate knowledge of initiatives to improve service provision and service improvement.
  • Critically appraise the variety of approaches available to co-ordinate safe, effective and person-centred nursing care for people who have multiple co-morbidities and increasingly complex care needs.
  • Critically evaluate communication approaches across a range of clinical environments and demonstrate how approaches can be applied to promote positive outcomes. Perform the defined list of clinical skills and procedures safely and effectively as indicated in: Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (NMC 2018).
  • Demonstrate effective use of technology and information technology and perform the defined list of clinical skills and procedures safely and effectively as indicated in: Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (NMC 2018)

We regularly review our modules to provide the best possible teaching and learning experience, incorporating academic developments, student feedback and employer feedback.

There may be some change to some of the modules on this course for 2025/26 entry.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any changes to modules at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. 
 
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints may mean it isn’t possible to take some module combinations. The structure of some courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.

Entry requirements

We welcome applications from students who have tried to improve their examination grades by taking resits and only your latest grades will be accepted. We treat these applications in exactly the same way as other applications.

View our Admissions Policy under the 'Respect' tab on our Principles and Policies page.

View our Admissions Policy

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard (however, initial offers will not be lower than stated above).

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here.

The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

Five GCSEs all at grade C/4 or above and must include Maths and English Language/Literature. A Pass in Maths/English Functional skills Level 2 will be accepted in lieu of GCSE Maths/English.

BTEC Qualification Name    BTEC grades required    A-Level Requirements
 
Extended Diploma (QCF) / National Extended Diploma (RQF) Distinction, Distinction, Distinction
(DDD)
The BTEC subject must be Health and Social Care or Science subjects, with which you do not require an additional A Level. 
 
Diploma (QCF) / National Diploma (RQF)Distinction, Distinction (DD)

The BTEC subject must be Health and Social Care or Science subjects, with which you must also achieve a grade B one A Level subject.

Subsidiary Diploma (QCF) / National Extended Certificate (RQF)Distinction (D) The BTEC subject must be Health and Social Care or Science subjects, with which you must also achieve grades BB in two A Level subjects.
90 Credit Diploma (QCF)    Distinction, Distinction (DD)    The BTEC subject must be Health and Social Care or Science subjects, with which you must also achieve grades BB in two A Level subjects.
National Foundation DiplomaDistinction (D)The BTEC subject must be Health and Social Care or Science subjects, with which you must also achieve grades BB in two A Level subjects.

*Please note that on the UCAS application form QCF BTEC Extended Diploma appears under the name BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) and the RQF BTEC Extended Diploma appears under the name Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (1080) (2016 to Present). If you are unsure of which qualification you are taking, please contact your school or college provider to confirm.  

We accept grade Distinction in any of the below subjects:

  • Health
  • Healthcare Science
  • Science

31 points overall and must include grades 5, 5, 5 in Higher Level subjects. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in both Mathematics and English Language. 

Or 

29 points overall, three Higher Level subjects at 5 5 4. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in both Maths and English Language for contextual offer students.*

NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care – Grade B.

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 30 distinction and the rest must be at merit or distinction. With this qualification, you must also have GCSE maths and GCSE English Language/Literature at Grade C/4. A Pass in Maths/English Functional Skills Level 2 will be accepted in lieu of GCSE Maths/English.

We consider applicants for year 1 entry who are undertaking a foundation programme elsewhere on a case-by-case basis. However, applications will only be considered where you meet the GCSEs and A Level (or equivalent) requirements as listed. Alongside this you must have gained (or be expected to gain) 60% overall and 120 credits with no fails at another recognised university. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications, and this must include an academic reference.

Year 1: 
We consider applicants for year 1 entry who are undertaking a degree elsewhere. You must meet the GCSEs and A Level (or equivalent) requirements as listed. Alongside this you must have gained (or be expected to gain) 60% overall and 120 credits with no fails at another recognised university. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications, and this must include an academic reference.

Year 2: 
We are not accepting second year transfers for 2025

Year 3/final year: 
We do not accept any transfers into year 3 or final year of this programme

View our Transfers Policy

For further information regarding the transfers policy and Student Transfer Arrangements please see here

Applicants presenting qualifications between 3 - 10 years will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic Admissions Lead.

Applicants who meet our minimum requirements will be invited to a small panel interview online via MS Teams. Interviews last 30-45 minutes and typically involve a nursing academic tutor and a practice partner. The interview is a compulsory element of the selection process and we cannot issue offers to applicants who haven’t had a satisfactory interview.

We are accepting a limited amount of international applications for our BSc Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Mental Health Nursing) programme. If you apply with an unknown fee status and you meet all requirements for an offer, your fee status will need to be assessed before any offer can be made.

Due to the nature of this course and in line with national requirements, you will be required to complete a series of checks and screenings, in addition to adhering to a number of regulations and policies. Full details can be found here.

Enhanced Level Criminal Records Bureau check (known as a DBS check) and Fitness to Practise Regulations Health screening assessments:  Before starting the nursing programme at Aston, you will be invited to complete an online health questionnaire. This is part of the clearance process, and you will not be allowed to commence your programme if you have not completed your health questionnaire. Following the completion of the questionnaire and the health screening process, we may review students identified as having a long-term health condition during the first term to establish any additional support and/or adjustments both when in theory and also during practice placements. As a nursing student, you must comply with the Department of Health guidelines on immunisations and screening to protect you and your patients during the course of your work. We therefore require you to be vaccinated for some infectious diseases before you commence your practice placement if you do not already have immunity.  All accepted candidates to the nursing programme will be required to provide appropriate evidence of immunisation against rubella, measles, tuberculosis, varicella and hepatitis B. 

During your time on your programme, there may be a requirement for you to contact occupational health for example if you sustain a needle or splash injury. Some students may experience changes to their health and need to be reviewed by occupational health. As well as supporting you for any health conditions, occupational health will also be able to assess whether any further adjustments are necessary to help support you in your practice placements. 

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Please see below for the international qualifications we accept, if you cannot find your qualification please get in touch with the Undergraduate Admissions Team via ugadmissions@aston.ac.uk

Qualifications in your country

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification.

English language requirements

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Find out more about applying

Post-study work visa

Aston University welcomed the creation of a new Graduate Immigration Route which enables international students to remain in the UK for two years after you complete your studies to find work. This new post-study work visa applies to international students completing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Graduate Immigration Route

Pathway Programmes

If you don’t meet our entry requirements, we have a range of pathway programmes offered by our partner, ONCAMPUS Aston, which you can complete to progress onto one of our degrees.

Fees and scholarships

Course fees

UK students
(2025/26)

Annual tuition fees:£9,250

International students (2025/26)

Annual tuition fees:£21,500

For Sandwich courses the placement fee is £1250 for Home/UK students and £2,500 for International students. For Home students: Tuition fees for UK/Home students may change in line with government policy. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies. For International students: The International students fee is a fixed annual fee for the duration of the Programme, except whilst on placement when a placement year fee applies. 

More information on fees

For Home students: Tuition fees for UK/Home students may change in line with government policy.

For International students: The International students fee is a fixed annual fee for the duration of the Programme, except whilst on placement when a placement year fee applies.

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs.

 
Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs. This includes a training grant of at least £5,000 a year for Nursing students. 

Assessment

You will be assessed through a combination of written and oral examinations, class tests, individual and group coursework, projects, presentations, and practical assessments.

The assessment strategy is designed to match the module aims and learning outcomes and will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate practical skills, knowledge, and written and verbal communication skills. Assessments follow the same approach in years 1, 2 and 3 so that you can understand what assessment to expect, and be able to prepare accordingly. Our approach to assessments increases opportunities for employability, as it maximises the opportunity to practise skills that are expected in the working environment, such as presenting information and performing clinical skills competently.

Academic assessment will be completed alongside practice-based proficiencies, in order to achieve the criteria set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, (NMC 2018). Progression will be confirmed by the practice assessor and the assigned academic assessor.

Students must pass all summative assessments and professionalism to pass the course. Professionalism will include assessment of attendance, engagement and professional conduct.

On successful completion of the programme, you will be able to apply for registration with The Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Registered Nurse (Mental Health). We prepare you to be a confident, autonomous practitioner, driven and committed to advocating and meeting the needs of patients and their families.

Career prospects

Mental health nurses can work with people of all ages, with children and young people, adults and older people. There is a variety of specialist areas that offer opportunities for registered mental health nurses including child and adolescent mental health services, eating disorder services, addiction services, forensic and prison services, the military, working with the ambulance and police services, in universities for student wellbeing and in industry. In addition, mental health nurses can take up roles in physical health services. For example, as a psychiatric liaison nurse working in a general hospital.

Mental health services have a wide variety of community care services for children, young people, adults and older people

The field of mental health nursing is very diverse so there’s a range of career paths. Mental health nurses play a vital role in providing, leading and coordinating care for a variety of people in different healthcare settings such as in people’s homes, the community, a wide variety of mental health hospitals including acute wards, psychiatric intensive care wards, specialist services and rehabilitation.

You can also use your qualifications to work outside the UK. 

To help you continually develop and reflect on your practice, the NMC expects registrants to revalidate every three years.  Revalidation is about promoting good practice, as well as strengthening public confidence in the nursing and midwifery professions. It helps to encourage a culture of sharing, reflection and improvement.  As part of this process, all registered nurses in the UK are encouraged to engage in continuous professional development to maintain their registration and keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date, ensuring safe and effective practice.

Alumni

Be part of our community

Once you have joined us at Aston University, you’ll always be part of our community, even beyond graduation.

Frequently asked questions

Why study Nursing at Aston?

You will learn from a multidisciplinary team of lecturers, who are all healthcare professionals with experience of working in the NHS.  You will study a hands-on, clinical curriculum, where you’ll learn to meet the diverse needs of people and you will have access to our clinical simulation environments to practise real scenarios with actors, simulated manikins and working directly with expert patient’s and carers.

We prepare you to apply for registration as a mental health nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to work as an mental health nurse once you’ve graduated.

What is covered during placement?

You will spend 50% of your time on placment in the community, in hospitals, and in our skills and simulation areas developing vlauable hands on, interpersonnel skills. You will work with carers and other healthcare students and healthcare professionals. Placment opportunities include community and inpatient mental health nursing, a range of specialist services, psychiatric intensive care untis and acute wards.  You have the opportunity to choose a placment in year 2, this could be anywhere within the UK or abroad.

Will I learn with students from other health care programmes within Aston?

As Aston offers a range of health care programmes including medicine, pharmacy, optometry, audiology and biomedical sciences, you have the opportunity to learn alongside other health students. This enhances your understanding of holistic care, the importance of communication and recognition of how different professional roles contribute to the individual patient/client experience.

Why should international students choose Aston University?

Study at Aston University and you will be part of a multi-cultural community located at the heart of the dynamic city of Birmingham. Our courses are practical, inspired by industry and many have internationally recognised accreditations. Renowned for our employability prospects and connections to business and industry, we provide outstanding career support, advice and placement opportunities.

For those interested in working in the UK after they have graduated, the UK Government has created a new post-study work visa.

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