Mental Health Nursing (pre-registration) MSc

Postgraduate

This MSc course offers graduates from a range of backgrounds the opportunity to enter the nursing profession in two years. It is intended specifically to prepare you for a rewarding career where you can support people with their mental health.

Year of entry

2024-25 2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

2 years full-time

Course code

HLST259

Start date

January 2025

How to apply

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Course overview

Fully accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), this course provides eligibility for registration as a nurse on successful completion of the two-year course (additional costs may apply).

Mental Health Nurses work with people across the lifespan and within a vast range of services including community, in-patient, primary care and specialist services such as Child and Young People’s Mental Health Services and Forensic Mental Health.

This accredited course aims to develop your knowledge of mental health, various disorders and innovative nursing care approaches.
It is designed to equip you with the knowledge and competence to understand the experiences of people with mental health problems and to assist and facilitate their journey to recovery.
The two-year postgraduate course leads to eligibility to register as a Mental Health Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (subject to application and additional costs may apply).
Study in the Alison Gingell building which features hospital wards, operating theatre, critical care settings, community housing and other real-life nursing environments relevant to practice⁴.
All eligible students on this course can apply for a minimum payment from the Government of £5,000 per year, with additional payments for students incurring childcare costs⁶.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 11th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

We all need good mental health and wellbeing (Every Mind Matters 2019), and awareness of the importance of mental health is more prominent than ever in schools, the workplace and society. This course is designed to help equip you with the hands-on clinical and care skills to prepare you to practise autonomously and compassionately, providing person-centred and compassionate care and support for service users to be physically safe and emotionally secure. A key element of this course is that all your placements will be relevant to mental health, we do not use ‘generic’ placements^2,⁵.

This course offers graduates from a range of backgrounds the opportunity to enter the nursing profession in two years and is intended specifically to prepare you for a rewarding career where you can support people with their mental health. It is aimed at individuals with a prior undergraduate degree and experience of working in health and social care (please see entry requirements for full details). Previous undergraduate degrees must be in health-related disciplines such as psychology, criminology or sociology degrees. As well as a healthcare-related BSc degree you must also be able to evidence some work experience in the clinical health and social care sector (at least 460 hours). This course is also suitable for registered nurses (Adult, Children and Young People’s or Learning Disabilities fields) looking for dual qualification.

The Mental Health Nursing (Pre-registration) MSc is an innovative course designed to enhance your communication skills and develop a person-centred and empathetic approach to those with healthcare needs. This is complemented by research and evidence-informed practice and independent project work which is focused on and promotes service improvement.

Practice learning placements are integral and account for 50% of the course. These include shift and weekend working and some night duties and are organised by the university. Mental Health Nurses work in collaboration with the individual experiencing mental health issues and with a range of other health professionals to provide a multidisciplinary approach to person-centred care. You will be required to complete placements across four practice modules which may be in a variety of areas across a range of services including: community, in-patient, primary care and specialist services such as Child and Young People’s Mental Health Services and Forensic Mental Health².

You will study in the multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building, which provides facilities⁴ for teaching and research, featuring an operating theatre, mock wards, critical care settings, community housing and other real-life nursing environments relevant to practice.

Upon successful completion, in addition to eligibility for NMC registration, you will also graduate with a Chartered Management Institute (CMI)¹ accredited qualification in Global Professional Development.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited¹ and recognised by the following bodies:

Nursing and Midwifery Council

The course is currently fully accredited by the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the 2024/25 intake and, providing you also meet the NMC requirements, on successful completion you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (additional costs may apply).

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

As part of this course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the  Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the 2024-25 intake. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI  Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice  at no additional cost. Further details can be found under the modules tab and on the Professional Development module homepage.

Nursing at Coventry University

We have an excellent reputation for the quality of the education provided to trainee and qualified nurses.

Why study with us

We have an excellent reputation for the quality of the education provided to trainee and qualified nurses.

What you'll study

There are eight mandatory theory modules within the programme which define the MSc in Mental Health Nursing.

You will contribute to the health of the local community throughout the course during practice placements⁵ where you will be expected to work 40 hours a week and provide a range of nursing care to people across the lifespan, and in a variety of care settings.

Modules

Research and Evidence-Informed Nursing Practice - 20 credits

The development of evidence-informed and evidence-based care from a solid research base is essential to the science of nursing care. The module content is organised to demonstrate the use of evidence within nursing and healthcare practice - for example, in governance policy/guidelines - and how they affect everyday nursing practice. The background understanding of how research is used to develop the evidence base for contemporary nursing practice will be examined by applying research principles to a clinically relevant action research project.

Compulsory

Health Assessment in Nursing - 10 credits

The module aims to enable you to develop skills in identifying and assessing existing conditions, as well as screening for factors predisposing persons to ill health. You will be able to critically apply healthcare assessment skills used in nursing across the lifespan to formulate a person-centred plan of care.

Compulsory

Clinical Decision-making in Mental Health Nursing - 10 credits

Clinical decision-making in nursing requires an evaluation of many complex factors. In conjunction with a barrage of health-related information, the nurse needs to have the cognitive skills to appropriate this information to make decisions about the person’s care. This model aims to assist you in developing strategies for clinical decision-making in the context of person-centred care. The module content will be organised around a variety of subjects to include the professional, legal and ethical responsibility and other subject-theory domains that influence clinical decision making.

Compulsory

Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing - 10 credits

In health and social care environments, practitioners meet people living with complex, multiple physical and mental health co-morbidities across the lifespan. Complex care necessitates treatment from multi-professional services and service user involvement in care management and care delivery. The module aim is to facilitate you in developing the necessary knowledge and proficiency to coordinate and manage patient-centred care in the multidimensional healthcare setting. The module content will include a critical review of the current policy and legislative documents that drive, influence and enhance the coordination of complex care.

Compulsory

Understanding Nursing Practice: Practice 1 - 20 credits

This module introduces you to the foundations of nursing practice in the workplace^2,5. The experience will provide you (under supervision) with learning opportunities which will begin to develop the professional values, attitudes and behaviours required to deliver safe and effective, holistic, person- and family-centred care.

Compulsory

Assessment, Delivery and Evaluation: Practice 2 - 10 credits

This module provides further opportunity for you to review and deliver nursing practice in the workplace^2,5. This experience will enable you to demonstrate and promote professional values, attitudes and behaviours required to provide safe and effective holistic person-centred care. The module is underpinned by the NMC Future Nurse Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses (2018); and Realising Professionalism: Standards for Professionalism and Education (2018) for nursing and midwifery. The content and assessment will be developed and applied to the different fields of nursing and will provide you with learning opportunities in the workplace to practise nursing.

Compulsory

At the end of year two, at the final progression point, you should be deemed to be proficient in practice when you have successfully achieved the NMC (2018) practice competencies, signed off by an assessor. You will work 40 hours a week, and the cumulative evidence must demonstrate that you are safe and effective in practice at the end of the course.

Modules

Coordinating Complex Care in Mental Health Nursing - 20 credits

In the healthcare environment, practitioners meet patients living with complex, multiple physical and mental health co-morbidities across the lifespans necessitating invasive/non-invasive treatments and multi-professional services and service user involvement in the care management and care delivery. The module aim is to facilitate you in developing the necessary knowledge and proficiency to coordinate and manage patient-centred care in the multidimensional healthcare setting. The module content will include a critical review of the current policy and legislative documents that drive, influence and enhance the coordination of complex care.

Compulsory

Leading and Creating Organisational Health and Wellbeing (CMI module) - 10 credits

This module aims to give you a practical and theoretical understanding of how coaching and mentoring is used in a range of settings in different organisations and sectors. You will typically have the opportunity of working with other students - across disciplines or from a variety of workplace settings - to facilitate an appreciation of how different sectors approach coaching and mentoring and how it is possible to learn from each other to come up with novel approaches. As part of this module, you will devise a coaching and mentoring plan and consider how its impact may be evaluated. Alongside coaching and mentoring, you will study the principles and practice of strategic leadership. The topics of leadership and management, leadership styles and issues such as empowerment and trust will be considered. In particular, you will consider how leadership can set or influence an environment in which coaching and mentoring can flourish. The module will engage you in wide-ranging debates and problem-solving exercises using examples from organisations, small businesses, communities and the third sector.

Compulsory

Ethical, Legal Decision-making in Nursing - 10 credits

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the interrelationship between law and ethical healthcare practice, related to the British legal system. You will explore the areas of contention which may include, but are not limited to, disagreement with caregivers, treating patients with impaired decision-making, dignity in care, assisted suicide, end-of-life/Advanced directives, controversial interventions or other. You will be equipped to recognise and manage the ethical challenges relating to your practice, as well as individuals’ legal and ethical rights in the context of healthcare and wellbeing across a range of care settings.

Compulsory

Independent Project – Service Improvement - 30 credits

The module is the culmination of the programme and enables you to bring together your learning into one independent, self-directed workplace project. The aim is to produce a project that will explore service redesign, current practice-based problem/issues, policy implementation, initiatives or innovations which will impact upon or transform patient care. The project is a service improvement plan or business proposal which addresses an aspect of workplace practice. Individual student supervision is provided to offer guidance on the right choice of project and advice on all stages of the project.

Compulsory

Complex Care Planning Across the Lifespan: Practice 3 - 10 credits

This module provides you with further opportunities in the workplace to enable you to work more independently with less direct supervision in an increasingly proficient and confident manner in your delivery of quality, holistic, person- and family-centred care^2,5. It will provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate through your practice your potential to become an autonomous practitioner. The NMC Future Nurse Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses (2018); and Realising Professionalism: Standards for Professionalism and Education (2018) for nursing and midwifery, reinforce this module. The content and assessment are applied in the context of the different fields of nursing, providing you with field-specific learning opportunities in the workplace to practice nursing.

Compulsory

Coordinating Care and Becoming the Autonomous Practitioner: Practice 4 - 20 credits

This module aims to provide you with opportunities to practice the proficiencies identified for registration as a nurse which are stipulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018)^2,5. This includes demonstrating your capability to lead the delivery of patient care autonomously and role model what constitutes best practice to others, positively impacting on the culture of care environments. The module is underpinned by the NMC Future Nurse Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses (2018); and Realising Professionalism: Standards for Professionalism and Education (2018) for nursing and midwifery. The module content and assessment will be developed and applied contextually to the different fields of nursing.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

A range of teaching and learning methods are employed in the Mental Health Nursing MSc, including lectures, clinical simulation, seminars, workshops, tutorials, practical clinical work in a practice setting and work-based learning. The teaching and learning activities are intended to engage you with the relevant theory and facilitate understanding of the module content, to question and formulate ideas and perspectives on the subject material, in preparation for assessment.

You will have support in preparation for the assessments from a variety of sources. These could include your module leaders or a subject specialist in the library resources on the course-web platforms. Furthermore, you will also have support from practice educators in the clinical placement areas which are an integral part of this programme of study.

In addition to the teaching and learning methods, a key learning feature of the Mental Health Nursing MSc is independent study. This means you will take the initiative and responsibility for working through the learning material and make decisions on how to collate, manage and present the information for your assessment. You are therefore expected to have the ability to make informed choices about the materials used for study, be proactive and self-motivated in their learning.

Teaching contact hours

This is a full-time course, and you are expected to attend theory for a minimum of two and a half days each week during term time, and work 40 hours per week whilst on practice placement modules.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 6.5 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

There are four practice modules which equate to six placements throughout the two-year course; these modules are mandatory, and attendance is a necessity to meet the practice hours requirement for NMC registration.

You must successfully pass all modules to meet the eligibility requirement for professional registration with the NMC.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

All assessment methods are aligned to the Mental Health Nursing MSc programme objectives, and the learning outcomes of each module reflect the programme objective.

Assessment methods include:

critical appraisal essays
presentations
viva voce
reports
practice assessment
dissertation.

A Practice Assessment Document (MYEPAD) and Personal Development Portfolio (PDP) enable you to provide evidence for the acquisition of the core clinical nursing skills and field-specific skill.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Applicants for the Mental Health Nursing MSc should ideally hold an honours healthcare-related degree of 2:2 or above.

Non-UK degrees will be accepted if healthcare-related and accompanied by a 'Certificate of Comparability' which you can obtain from www.enic.org.uk.

Satisfactory health clearance and criminal records/DBS disclosure is also required⁵.

As it is a two-year course, there is also a requirement to demonstrate completion of 460 practice hours in relevant health/care settings through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process to meet the NMC standard of nursing education of 2300 practice hours. For this course this should have a mental health element. The RPL process will credit students for 460 hours to meet the stated NMC criteria. Applicants will be supported in the RPL process.*

*Care is defined as activities that include washing, dressing, feeding or toileting of an individual, as well as nursing intervention procedures. Care encompasses meeting the physiological and psycho-social needs of the physically ill, mentally ill, and disabled people of all ages, in all healthcare and other community settings. This can be undertaken in a formal workplace environment, either paid or in a voluntary / third sector setting. Evidence of hours will need to be provided. Please contact the admissions tutor if you are unsure whether your experience meets the requirements above.

GCSE equivalent in English and Maths 4 / C or above.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Please refer to the full requirements in the disclaimer section⁵.

Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK	£9,250 per year	Not available

All eligible home students on this course can apply for a minimum payment from the Government of £5,000 per year, with additional payments for students incurring childcare costs⁶.

For advice and guidance on tuition feesand student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Our multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building provides facilities⁴ for teaching and research, featuring hospital wards, critical care settings, operating theatre, community housing and other real-life nursing environments relevant to practice.

Alison Gingell Building

The Alison Gingell Building features mock hospital wards, an operating theatre, critical care settings and other real-life environments.

Students and a tutor with a manikin in the hospital ward

Mock Hospital Wards

Our mock hospital wards and critical care settings give you the chance to experience patient scenarios in a real-world environment.

Community Houses

Our two full-size community homes can be used for sessions simulating working with patients outside of a hospital setting.

Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a Mental Health Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to practice as a registered professional in nursing (see accreditation section for more information).

The course is a strong indication to current and potential employees that you have both the ability and the academic characteristics required for working in a variety of Mental Health settings. The programme is developed to position you for an accelerated career pathway to become a future nursing leader, clinical expert, educator or researcher within the profession.

Where our graduates work

For nursing provision, employability is nearly 100%, and employment is possible in a variety of clinical/specialist areas in a range of public and private healthcare settings. It may be possible to use your qualification to work overseas.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.

Full-time applications

Part-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

⁵Placements

Satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure is also required. As part of the health clearance checks, you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The university is, therefore, unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.

⁶NHS payment

The rules may be subject to review by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in the future and as a result may change. Please, therefore, check the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website for up-to-date information before applying.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2023/2024 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2024/25 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.