Nursing (Mental Health)

Why study BSc Nursing (Mental Health) (part-time) at Aberystwyth University?

Our innovative mental health nursing programme will ensure you learn about holistic patient and family centred care and how to apply this approach confidently in a variety of clinical settings. You will experience lots of different practice placement learning opportunities which will be facilitated by our Practice Learning Partners.

As a part-time student, undertaking the 2-year 7 months nursing programme (adult or mental health field), you will be expected to undertake 37.5 hours weekly study during theoretical weeks and 22.5 hours per week when attending practice placements. Theoretical content will be delivered in lots of different ways to suit all types of learning styles including lead lectures, seminars, workshops, small group work, clinical skills simulation, blended online learning and self-guided study.

The part-time programme is divided equally into theory and practice learning weeks with a total of 3,200 hours of learning.

In pre-registration nursing, we use a three- semester academic year (trimester), like a school year. Your part-time programme of study spans over 4 academic years and will normally commence mid-June and will continue until mid-January.

The Aberystwyth University Healthcare Education Centre

The Aberystwyth University Healthcare Education Centre [AUHEC], is located opposite the University’s Penglais campus. The AUHEC is newly established and houses the Clinical Skills Unit, a state-of-the-art simulation suite where you can learn and practice clinical skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Want to study in Welsh?

Fifty percent of the overall programme is available through the medium of Welsh. This is delivered through the practice-based module, where you will be supported by Welsh speaking Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors whilst on clinical placements, and complete practice related clinical assessments through the medium of Welsh. If you are a non-Welsh speaker and wish to learn Welsh, the programme also offers basic conversational health-related Welsh lessons.

Our Staff

The majority of teaching staff at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences are qualified to PhD level and are research active. Vocational courses also have staff whose background lies within industry.  The Institute has a large number of research only staff with whom students may have contact.

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

What will I learn?

Part 1 will concentrate on introducing you to nursing as a career in professional practice. Cross-field modules, where both adult and mental health field nursing students are taught together, will focus on providing holistic, person-centred care and will develop your understanding of human development, factors influencing health and well-being, service delivery, professional nursing practice, human anatomy, physiology and integrated pharmacology will also be included. The theory modules will also prepare you for your three clinical practice placements, providing you with the opportunity to learn essential care skills and complete the All-Wales mandatory training passports in our state of the art, multi-professional Clinical Skills Unit.

Part 2 will focus on enhancing your professional practice. Field specific modules will develop your understanding of knowledge underpinning your chosen field of practice (adult or mental health), exploring common and complex conditions, underlying pathophysiology, disease process and symptom management. You will also develop a more advanced understanding of human anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology and how this knowledge informs professional nursing practice and holistic person-centred care, specific to your chosen field of practice. You will also have another three practice-based placements during the course of the year.

Part 3 will see both cross-field and field specific modules being taught, where the focus will be on developing your compassionate leadership skills which will be required for professional practice. The module will introduce fundamental principles underpinning creativity, innovation and change in practice, as well as revisiting key concepts which supports nursing and medicine management. You will be guided to examine your learning journey so far and critically explore your readiness to become an autonomous registered professional with the confidence to deliver safe and effective, holistic person-centred nursing care. In addition, you will also have another three practice-based placements throughout the year.

As a nurse, your skills will forever be in demand, and your learning experiences during your degree course will allow you to develop your clinical interests and expertise. Nursing is a versatile profession, with employment opportunities available within primary, secondary and tertiary care, community services, education, research, tourism, industry, public and private sectors, voluntary and charitable organisations - both here and internationally. Enhanced roles can lead to opportunities which help progress your career once qualified including roles in management, advanced and specialist clinical practice and research.

The study places on this programme are commissioned by Health Education and Improvement Wales, and funding to cover tuition fees will be in accordance with the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme. Further financial support from the Scheme is also available (see our Fees and Finance page for further information). You will have to commit to working in Wales for two years after qualifying and registering as a nurse with the NMC. This process is managed centrally by NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership, and the Student Streamlining Scheme will ensure that you will be matched to a suitable position of your choice in your identified locality.