Mental Health Practice | Person working at a desk

Overview

This exciting, two-year pre-registration course is underpinned by master’s level education, enabling you to become a highly educated mental health nurse with longer term potential for management, leadership, consultancy, educational and research roles.

You will critically explore systematic approaches to the delivery of nursing care in response to health improvement and health promotion strategies based on local, national and international targets.

You will also focus on developing communication and interpersonal skills that will enhance your ability to provide values-based, person-centred, compassionate care and develop comprehensive knowledge of mental health nursing and associated current healthcare interventions.

You will undertake a piece of substantive research on a topic of contemporary practice specific to mental health nursing.

Applying to the MSc

You must apply through UCAS for this course - the UCAS code is BR60 (see Apply section below for more details).

Unscheduled Care | Female Nurse speaking to patient

course highlights

This programme is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Graduates are eligible to apply for professional registration as a Registered Nurse (Mental Health).
You will study at our new £110 million, ultra-modern campus in Lanarkshire, equipped with the latest innovative and collaborative technologies.
Practice-based learning makes up 50% of the course with placements available with NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Clyde Area) and NHS Highland (Argyll and Bute) and NHS The State Hospital.
You will utilise our innovative clinical skills suites and develop your nursing skills out in practice in areas such as mental health in-patient settings, the community and in the prison service.

If UWS is a consideration for you, put it as your first choice. I spoke to staff on the programme and from the feel of the campus, to the outlook of those who will teach you, the passion and drive for you to succeed was ever present at UWS. When you are a student, aim to be inspired by those who teach you so that you can go on to achieve your full potential – I did that thanks to UWS.

Claire Stevenson, MSc Mental Health Nursing graduate

More Information

Professional Approval and Accreditation

Our course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Upon graduating you will be eligible to apply for professional registration within your specific field.

Placement Opportunities

Practice learning experiences are available in one of five West of Scotland health boards:

NHS Ayrshire and Arran
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
NHS Lanarkshire
NHS Highland (Argyle & Bute)

as well as The State Hospital.

You will experience the 24*7 continuum of care which represents contemporary healthcare delivery, enhancing your clinical skills and integrating theory with practice.

86%

Overall Satisfaction of UWS Pre-registration Mental Health Nursing students (National Student Survey 2018)

Top 10

in UK for Teaching Quality for Nursing (The Times / The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019)

100%

of graduates in professional employment/further study 6 months after graduating DLHE Survey 2016/17

90%

Overall student satisfaction amongst UWS postgraduate students (iGraduate Student Barometer 2017-18)

The Future of Dementia Care

Here at UWS our nursing students and staff are playing a key role in developing the future of dementia care.

There are currently 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia and this figure is expected to rise to over 1 million by 2025.

By focusing on experimental learning, we make sure that you will be rights focused, confident and compassionate when dealing with this condition.

Entry Requirements

What qualifications do you need?

We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.

Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience

If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Postgraduate & Post-experience Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.

Academic Requirements

You must:

possess an appropriate Ordinary bachelor's degree in biological, health, social science, nursing or related subject obtained within five years
be able to provide an academic reference, as well as copies of your formal university transcript and award certificate

You should also demonstrate competency in literacy and numeracy*; In terms of Scottish qualifications, Maths* should be at least:

SQA National 5 (Grade C, or above) or
SQA Intermediate 2 (Grade C, or above) or
SQA Standard Grade (Credit) or

Alternative, equivalent qualifications will be accepted. Otherwise Numeracy testing will be required.

* for Scottish applicants, SQA Life Skill Mathematics / Application of Mathematics are acceptable alternatives to SQA National 5 Maths, if they have been awarded at National 5 level.

IMPORTANT NOTE

An offer to study is also dependent on the outcome of the selection process and background checks:

personal interview
health screening
membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme

English Language Requirements

English language requirements for most courses

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.

General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

overall score 6.0
no sub-test less than 5.5

Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see section below for more details).

SOCIAL WORK DEGREES

For our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

overall score of 7.0
no sub-test less than 7.0

Common equivalent English language qualifications

All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:

CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English: ISEII with the minimum of a Pass in all sub-tests
PTE Pearson Academic English: An overall score of 59 to 64 with no element below 59 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5). An overall score 65 to 75 with no element below 65 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0)

IELTS Score Exceptions (Research degrees, Biomedical Science degrees, Nursing & Midwifery degrees with NMC registration, Certificate of Higher Education, etc.)

Research Degrees

For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

overall score of 6.5
no sub-test less than 6.0

Health & Midwifery Awards

For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to, or require professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.

For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:

overall score of 7.0
score of at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and no less than 6.5 in writing

* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).

Biomedical Degrees

For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

overall score of 7.0
no sub-test less than 6.5

Certificate of Higher Education

For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

overall score of 5.0
no sub-test less than 4.5

TOEFL IBT

TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:

Reading: 17;
Listening: 17;
Speaking: 17;
Writing: 17

* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.

West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE)

West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*

C6 or above in English

*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.

Pre-sessional courses

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:

10 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.0 with no element below 4.5.
5 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.5 with no element below 5.5.
English Language for University Study - entry criteria UKVI IELTS with score of 4.0 in all elements (10 month course), or 4.5 with no score below 4.0 (7 month course).

Find out more about our English language courses.

Course details

Our MSc Mental Health Nursing course has three parts containing a mixture of theory and practice core modules. There are three 20 credit modules in Part 1, two 30 credit modules in Part 2 with Part 3 consisting of a 60 credit theory/practice dissertation module.

A recognised innovative feature of our course is the approach of clinical simulation used for skills demonstration, practice, and development throughout the course which allows you to practise skills in a safe, realistic environment.

Part 1 - PgCert

Part 1 of the programme comprises the following core modules:

Integrated Human Development (core, 20 credits)
Self, Society and Nursing (core, 20 credits)
Health and Society (core, 20 credits)

In order to meet the NMC standards (NMC, 2010) students must successfully complete all theory and practice elements of Part 1 before progressing to Part 2.

This equates to students having met NMC Progression Point 1 Criteria together with 60 credits at SCQF Level 11. Any student not meeting these requirements will incur a period of programme interruption and will be supported to complete Part 1 in line with the University Assessment Regulations.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The NMC has identified skills and professional behaviours that a student must demonstrate by the first progression point. These criteria must normally be achieved during the students Practice Learning Experiences.

These criteria cover:

Safety, safeguarding and protection of people of all ages, their carers and their families
Professional values, expected attitudes and the behaviours that must be shown towards people, their carers, their families, and others

Achievement of Part 1 NMC Progression Point Criteria also include:

Completion of safeMedicate™ (100% Pass)
Evidence of progression and achievement of the NMC Platforms and Proficiencies for Part 1
Achievement of Pass in Practice Learning Experiences PLE 1 & 2

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

60 credits at SCQF Level 11

Any student not meeting these requirements will incur a period of programme interruption and will be supported to complete Part 1 in line with the University Assessment Regulations.

Students meeting the academic progression criteria will be entitled to a Post Graduate Certificate in Health Studies if exiting the programme prior to completion. The PgCert Health Studies award is academic and carries no professional recognition from the NMC.

Part 2 - PgDip

Successful completion of Part 1 of the programme allows you to proceed to the Part 2, which consists of the additional following core modules:

Resilience in Health (core, 30 credits)
Managing Mental Health Care (core, 30 credits)

In order to meet the NMC standards (NMC, 2010), students must successfully complete all theory and practice elements of Part 2 before progressing to Part 3. This equates to students having met the NMC Progression Point 2 Criteria together with 120 academic credits at SCQF Level 11. Any student not meeting these requirements will incur a period of programme interruption and will be supported to complete Part 2 in line with the University Assessment Regulations.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The NMC has identified skills and professional behaviours that a student must demonstrate by the second progression point. These criteria must normally be achieved during the students Practice Learning Experiences.

These criteria cover:

Working more independently, with less direct supervision, in a safe and increasingly confident manner
Demonstrating potential to work autonomously, making the most of opportunities to extend knowledge, skills and practice

Achievement of Part 2 NMC Progression Point Criteria also include:

Ongoing evidence of progression and achievement of the NMC Platforms and Proficiencies
Achievement of Pass in Practice Learning Experiences PLE 3 & 4

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

120 credits at SCQF Level 11

Any student not meeting these requirements will incur a period of programme interruption and will be supported to complete Part 2 in line with the University Assessment Regulations.

Students meeting the academic progression criteria will be entitled to a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) Health Studies if exiting the programme prior to completion. The PgDip Health Studies award is academic and carries no professional recognition from the NMC.

Part 3 - MSc

Successful completion of the Part 2 allows you to proceed to the Part 3 of the programme:

Research and Practice (core, 60 credits)

AWARD OF MSc Mental Health Nursing

Students who have met the NMC Standards (NMC, 2010) and 180 credits at SCQF Level 11 will progress to Award of MSc Mental Health Nursing and be eligible to enter the NMC Register as a Mental Health Nurse.

Any student not meeting these requirements will incur a period of programme interruption and will be supported to complete Part 3 in line with the University Assessment Regulations.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Achievement of NMC Standards for Part 3 and includes:

Completion of all NMC practice hours
Evidence of achievement of the NMC Platforms and Proficiencies
Achievement of Pass in Practice Learning Experiences PLE 5 & 6

Practice Assessors and Academic Assessors have declared achievement of the required NMC Platforms and Proficiencies for Part 3 of the programme (NMC, 2018)

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

180 credits at SCQF Level 11

AWARD OF POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA (PGDIP) MENTAL HEALTH NURSING

Students who have met the NMC Standards (NMC, 2010) and 120 credits at SCQF Level 11 will progress to the Award of Post Graduate Diploma Mental Health Nursing and be eligible to enter the NMC Register as a mental health nurse. Any student not meeting these requirements will incur a period of programme interruption and will be supported to complete Part 3 in line with the University Assessment Regulations.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Achievement of NMC Standards for Part 3 and includes:

Completion of Part 3 NMC practice hours
Evidence of achievement of the NMC Platforms and Proficiencies
Pass Practice Learning Experience clinical assessments in PLE 5 and PLE 6
Practice Assessor and Academic Assessor have declared achievement of the required NMC Platforms and Proficiencies (NMC, 2018)

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

120 credits at SCQF Level 11

AWARD OF POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA (PGDIP) HEALTH STUDIES

Students who accrue 120 credits at SCQF Level 11 and either do not achieve the NMC Standards for Part 3 or do not complete the programme will be entitled to a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Studies. The award is academic and carries no professional recognition from the NMC.

Teaching & Assessment

Our ongoing assessment strategy aims to support learning and has been designed to assess your knowledge of nursing at SCQF Level 11. The strategy also ensures that the professional requirements for competency to enter the NMC professional register are achieved.

The programmes embrace a variety of teaching and learning strategies which include lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, self-directed learning, professional development planning and reflection.

A recognised innovative feature of the programmes is the approach of clinical simulation whereby students can practise nursing skills in artificial healthcare environments/community environments (Skills Labs) with patient simulators that are interactive and can replicate human anatomy/physiology and clinical signs of developing illness. The Communication/Multi-sensory Suite and the Domus initiative will also be used for skills demonstration practice and evaluation within the programme. Through clinical simulation, students can practise in a safe, realistic environment. Activities can be recorded and students engage in facilitator debrief, peer review and self-review in order for them to identify their level of competence accurately and most importantly identify errors. This method of learning provides a crucial preparation for PLEs and real patient encounters and consequently students can more readily identify and address learning opportunities that are safe and therapeutic.

Academic staff facilitate learning in the skills laboratories through the use of small group teaching and assist students to develop nursing skills through the simulation of clinical events. Reference material, clinical guidelines and policies/procedures for laboratory-based modules will be delivered via e-learning in conjunction with tutorial support.

Course Structure

Find out more about the structure, learning outcomes, and compulsory modules on this course.

MSc Mental Health Nursing Course Structure

Career Prospects

Our aim is to provide an enjoyable and intellectually stimulating course of study that will prepare you for a successful career as a mental health nurse.

You could find yourself working in a variety of different areas such as forensic mental health, dementia care, children and young peoples’ mental health or substance misuse.

We also offer further study in research through our PhD programmes.

For more information on undertaking a career in Mental Health Nursing click here.

Postgraduate Tuition Fees (Academic Session 2022/23)

Academic Session 2022/23 Postgraduate Tuition Fees - Full-time

Scottish

£1,820 Cost per year of study (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)

Rest of UK (English, Northern Irish, Welsh)

£9,250 Cost per year of study

Republic of Ireland

£9,250 Cost per year of study

International (including EU)

£17,250 Cost per year of study

Check Your Tuition Fee Status

Postgraduate Tuition Fees (Academic Session 2023/24)

Postgraduate Tuition Fees - Full-time

Scottish

£1,820 Cost of study per year (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)

Rest of UK (English, Northern Irish, Welsh)

£9,250 Cost of study per year

Republic of Ireland

£9,250 Cost of study per year

International (including EU)

£18,000 Cost of study per year

Check Your Tuition Fee Status

Additional Costs & Sources of Funding

The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.

In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs like study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms.

Fortunately, there is a great deal of financial support available to help students meet the cost of their study. This ranges from:

statutory government loans to pay for tuition fees
scholarships for Scottish, EU and International (non-EU) students
bursaries to help towards living expenses

The sections below provide details of additional costs that your course may involve along with any financial support that may be available.

You can also find additional information in our Postgraduate Money, Fees & Funding section.

Additional Costs

Students on certain degrees will incur some additional costs not covered by their tuition fees. These could be for things like specialist equipment, study materials, work placements, graduation, membership of relevant organisations or costs related to carrying out fieldwork.

For students on course with an element of fieldwork, there may also be extra costs for travel and accommodation.

Please contact the course leader for details of the additional costs associated with this course.

Adult/Mental Health Nursing - Additional Costs

Uniforms & Placements

Student Nurse Uniforms are provided.

Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme Registration

Successful applicants who gain a place on this course will need to register on the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme, managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland. You will need to maintain your membership throughout the duration of your studies.

The fee for joining the scheme is £59.

Visit the Disclosure Scotland website for more information on the PVG scheme.

Tuition Fees & Living Cost Support

Tuition Fees & Additional Costs

Tuition fees are calculated based on where you are from and what you are studying. Some courses also involve additional costs, such as mandatory field trips, equipment or studying abroad.

Find out how much it will cost you to study at UWS as a postgraduate student.

Funding for Scottish Students

Scottish students studying at postgraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.

Find out more.

Funding for English, Welsh & Norther Irish Students

English, Welsh and Northern Irish students studying at postgraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.

Find out more.

Funding for EU Students

EU students studying at postgraduate level of UWS may be eligible for SAAS funding, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.

Find our more.

Funding for International Students

There are several scholarship and incentive schemes available to international students studying at postgraduate level at UWS, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.

Find out more.

Other Financial Support

Discretionary & Childcare Funds

UWS administer a range of discretionary and childcare funds. These are designed to support students who are experiencing financial difficulty or struggling to meet the costs of childcare.

Find out more.

Benefits & Tax Credits

Becoming a student can have an impact on your entitlement to certain benefits. It may mean you are no longer eligible to claim a benefit you have been receiving, or your new income from student funding may affect the amount you are able to receive.

Find out more.

Additional Financial Support

If there isn’t a statutory source of funding for you or your course, or you are in need of additional financial support, you may wish to consider more alternative sources of funding such as trust funds and scholarships.

Find out more.

WEST Scholarship Programme

At UWS, we believe financial restrictions should never be a barrier to your education.

The WEST (Widening Education and Supporting Talent) Scholarship Programme aims to remove the financial barriers that stop talented students from progressing throughout their degree to graduation.

Find out more.

Money & Debt Advice

Choosing to become a student can have a big impact on your budget and you may need to reassess your spending to account for a reduced income. We’ve put together some guidance to help you manage your money and make the right financial choices for you and your family.

Find out more.

Applying for the MSc

To apply for this MSc you must apply through UCAS. See below for more details on how to apply including the UCAS code for this degree.

How to apply

All applicants

All UK, EU and International (non-EU/non-EEA) applicants for this programme should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

The on-time application deadline for 2023/24 entry is 25 January 2023, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2023, 18:00 (UK time). Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.

UCAS codes for Nursing & Midwifery Master's:

MSc Adult Nursing (BR40)
MSc Mental Health Nursing (BR60)
MSc Midwifery (B722)

Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.

Apply on UCAS

An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.

Get in touch

Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!

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