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Nursing (Mental Health) MSc

  • Level(s) of Study: Postgraduate taught
  • Start Date(s): January 2025
  • Duration: Two years
  • Study Mode(s): Full-time
  • Campus: Clifton Campus
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information

Introduction:

If you already hold an undergraduate degree and wish to become a Registered Mental Health Nurse, this two-year accelerated course allows graduates with a level 6 qualification in any subject area to gain the qualifications needed to pursue a career in mental health nursing.

Through a mix of theory and practice, you'll gain the skills, knowledge and experience required to provide high-quality, culturally competent, person-centered mental health care.

Our flexible curriculum and blended learning approach will allow you to build up knowledge and then put it into practice on placements in healthcare settings, giving you the tools to develop holistic, therapeutic and decision-making skills in line with the demands of modern nursing.

Taught by a team of experienced healthcare practitioners and with the additional input of service users and carer groups, you’ll learn from the very best on your journey towards becoming a Registered Mental Health Nurse.

  • Our flexible curriculum and blended learning approach will allow you to build theoretical knowledge and put it into practice on placements in mental healthcare settings.
  • You’ll study in our brand-new purpose-built Health and Allied Professions Centre on our Clifton Campus, featuring mock hospital wards, consultation and counselling rooms, creative teaching spaces, and specialist equipment.

All of our Nursing courses at NTU are taught in our brand-new Health and Allied Professions Centre.

In addition to MSc Nursing (Mental Health), we also offer:

MSc Nursing (Adult)
MSc Nursing (Learning Disabilities)

What you’ll study

Our MSc Nursing (Mental Health) course gives you a robust knowledge of mental health nursing practice, as well as the wider sector, both in and outside of the classroom. It is the perfect combination of theory and practice, allied to great facilities, modules built around the latest research and teachers who’ve worked for years in professional healthcare. You’ll develop your nursing knowledge based around:

  • A holistic view of peoples' psychological and physical needs to support recovery
  • The chance to refine and apply your therapeutic skills
  • A practice-learning environment, with simulated exercises and activities
  • Placements in a variety of healthcare settings
  • Some fantastic opportunities for career development in practice, leadership, education and research both in the UK and internationally.

The five strands of nursing at NTU

Our course combines evidence-based healthcare knowledge with teaching that’s specific to the field of mental health nursing. With this approach, we’ll help you to develop a critical understanding of the sector, as well as the specialist skills you’ll need as a registered mental health nurse. Our course is built around five “strands”, namely:

  • Applied bio-, psycho- and social sciences
  • Clinical practice and nursing skills
  • Professional concept, philosophies and theories
  • Preparation for practice
  • Personal and professional development

Across these strands, you’ll develop and critique the core knowledge, skills and attributes you’ll need for a successful career in mental health nursing – both in the UK and internationally.

Fundamentals in Nursing

The module introduces students to contemporary nursing values, philosophies and skills that underpin professional practice in nursing. The aim of this module is to support nurses to develop clinical and communication skills when providing care for people from diverse settings, as well as to promote self-awareness and development of professional identity.

Nursing Theory and Practice I

The module aims to critically consider biological, social and psychological factors that impact on health. You’ll gain the skills and knowledge to assess and plan care with people from diverse backgrounds and focus on care activity in relation to health promotion.

Global Health

On this module, you’ll critically consider how global health is addressed through policy and practice development initiatives. You will be introduced to the field of global health through examining key determinants of health such as poverty, inequality, health systems, economic globalisation, conflict, migration, climate change and stigma.

Nursing Theory and Practice 2

This module aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge to collaborate with people who have experienced mental distress and/or access mental health services, their carers and support networks, to promote a good quality of life across the lifespan. This could include consideration of the impact of living with co-morbidities.

Leadership and Transition in Nursing

The aim of this module is to support students with their transition to becoming an innovative registered nurse. This module facilitates the development of effective clinical leadership through critical reflection, self-awareness and knowledge development which includes critical appraisal of leadership theory, policy and research. You’ll learn to critically consider the role of change management in ensuring safe and effective practice.

Research and Practice

This module will provide students with an opportunity to undertake an independent study on an area which is relevant to their nursing practice. The nature of independent study will be either an empirical or literature-based dissertation.

How you’re taught

Your learning is based on two things we’re very proud of – a “blended” approach of classroom theory and hands-on practice, and our incredible new facilities. We know what’s needed for the toolkit of the “future nurse”, and we’re committed to giving you the skills, knowledge and experience you require. Our teaching delivery is flexible and diverse, and includes:

  • Working with personal tutors – individually, and in larger groups
  • Collaboration with “expert patients” – those who’ve access health services directly, and can guide your skills in person-centred care through their own experience
  • Large and inclusive lectures, and smaller, more intimate seminars
  • “Interprofessional” learning, with industry experts from across the healthcare sector
  • Clinical skills practice / simulated scenarios, in our Clinical Skills Suites
  • Virtual reality, and a wealth of online learning communities and resources
  • Enquiry-based learning (PBL) and team-based learning (PrBL)
  • Experiential practice and work-based learning (WBL)

Programme structure and activities

The MSc Nursing is divided into three parts, with each part accounting for eight months of the course

  • Part One: Lectures/enquiry-based learning/Clinical Skills/Practice Learning/Clinical exam/Written work
  • Part Two: Lectures/enquiry-based learning/Clinical Skills/Practice Learning/Presentation/written work
  • Part Three: Lectures/enquiry-based learning/Clinical Skills/Practice Learning/Presentation/Dissertation/Presentation

Contact hours

Your time is split roughly in half between classroom-based learning and practice learning placements. Whilst the hours are always subject to change, here’s some examples (in weeks):

MSc Nursing

  • Part One: 15 weeks classroom based, 10 weeks on placement, 3 weeks clinical simulation
  • Part Two: 15 weeks classroom based, 14 weeks on placement, 1 week clinical simulation
  • Part Three: 15 weeks classroom based, 17 weeks on placement, 1 week clinical simulation

Hands-on nursing: your work experience opportunities

Placements are the foundation of our nursing courses, and a crucial part of your learning. No other experience gives you the applied, hands-on insights into modern mental health nursing – from decision making to the building of therapeutic relationships. It’s on placement that you’ll apply the theoretical principles of holistic assessment, values-based practice, recovery-orientated care, and effective collaboration between service users, their families, and other providers. You’ll work across a variety of health and social care settings, in a wide range of public and private sector environments – all the time developing your understanding of the person’s journey and the services they access.

You’ll benefit from our reputation in the healthcare sector, and our fantastic professional links throughout mental health nursing.

Learn from the experts

As tomorrow’s professionals, you’ll be taught by today’s experts – people who’ve worked (and are still working) across the healthcare sector. Tutorials and personal contact time are an important part of our nursing courses, and we ensure you’re supported in both one-to-one and group-learning environments. You’ll have your own personal tutor, and range of informed module leaders.

Throughout the programme, we’ll give you all the support you need: from advice and feedback, to securing practice learning placements, to helping you deal with any unforeseen personal circumstances or difficulties.

Clinical and nursing skills

Your registration by the Nursing and Midwifery Council hinges on proving you’ve got the required therapeutic and nursing skills – all developed throughout the practical components of this course. You’ll acquire these skills in our state-of-the-art labs and suites, through a range of simulated exercises that bridge the gap between the classroom and your practice placements. You’ll then keep a record of the skills you’ve built and contact hours you’ve completed in your ePortfolio.

How you’re assessed

You’ll be assessed through a range of methods and activities. These include:

  • OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations) – practical demonstrations of your hands-on nursing skills in a simulated environment
  • Observations by Practice Educators of your competency in practice
  • An ePortfolio (PebblePad)
  • Case studies
  • Reflective accounts
  • Presentations
  • Essays
  • Dissertation

Careers and employability

With the House of Commons Health Committee announcing the need for new nurses– and NHS England raising funding to £20.5 billion – the opportunities for professionals in the healthcare sector are huge. As an MSc Nursing graduate, you could pursue a career as a:

  • Registered Mental Health Nurse
  • Community Mental Health Nurse
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Non-Medical Prescriber
  • Training in psychological therapies
  • Advanced Nurse Practitioner
  • Consultant Nurse
  • Lead Nurse
  • From here, you’ll be able to practice as a mental health nurse – and with the networking opportunities you’ll get on your placements, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to build a professional reputation with healthcare providers across the region.

Our Employability team

Our dedicated Employability team will help you to improve your marketability and professional prospects. Alongside your studies, they’ll give you advice and guidance on everything you need to stand out from the crowd – from voluntary and work experience opportunities to bespoke, specialised support for student nurses. They also help to coordinate our Acceler8 Award, which sits outside of your studies, and helps you to develop a broader range of transferable skills, knowledge and experience.

Campus and facilities

You’ll be taught at our self-contained Clifton Campus which provides an ideal learning environment to complement your studies.

Our purpose-built Health & Allied Professions (HAP) Centre on our Clifton Campus is home to our world-class teaching, practice, research and scholarship in the Institute of Health and Allied Professions (IHAP).

Entry requirements

  • An undergraduate degree at 2.2 or above, and
  • GCSEs – English, Maths and a Health or Science related subject grade C / 4 or Level 2 (or above)
  • We will consider equivalent qualifications and combinations, please contact our Admissions team for details.

If you are working towards your GCSE English Literature or English Language, Maths and / or Health/Science subject or equivalent qualification, please ensure you mention this in your application.

Personal statement

Once your application has been received, it will be referred to the course team for a shortlisting decision, which will be made mid-late May 2024. When reviewing your personal statement, in addition to the quality of writing, the course team will be looking for the following:

  • Details of the classification achieved for your first degree
  • How you reached the decision to become a nursing student following your decision to apply for a non-nursing degree
  • How your study experience so far will prepare you for study at Master’s level
  • Your reason for selecting the field of nursing for which you are applying
  • A discussion of 2-3 skills that you have acquired in a paid and/or voluntary capacity that could be applied to nursing
  • A discussion of your personal values and how they are relevant for nursing in the UK

For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.

Other requirements

You will also need to:

  • Undertake an interview with a lecturer, clinical practitioner and service user
  • Provide a satisfactory health declaration
  • Complete an enhanced-level Disclosure and Barring Service check
  • Undergo the MSc Nursing Recognition of Prior Learning process

Vaccinations

As a healthcare student, you have a duty of care towards patients and other staff, including taking reasonable precautions to protect yourself and others from communicable diseases. We therefore require you to be vaccinated for some infectious diseases if you do not already have immunity to them. Whilst we cannot force you to have a vaccination, the University and our practice partners strongly recommend you do.

Failure to undertake the required immunisations and blood screening may lead to you not being able to be placed in certain clinical areas which may adversely impact your ability to complete the required practice hours and clinical competencies.

Recognition of Prior Learning

For the MSc Nursing, 500 hours of theory and 500 hours of practice will be accredited using Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This means that students will be required to attend for two years instead of the traditional three-year nursing course.

RPL will take the form of a reference, reflection on practice document, RPL interview and written assignment. You can access the reference and reflection on practice document via the link below. Prior to invitation to interview, you will be invited to complete and submit this document to the department.  The reference will confirm that 500 hours of work/voluntary experience where you will have used skills that are transferable to nursing*. This will need to be signed by your supervisor or line manager.

The reflection on practice document will identify twelve ‘indicators’ that are adapted from twelve Nursing and Midwifery Council proficiencies. You will need to identify eight ‘indicators’ (including a mandatory indicator on digital skills) that you believe will have been achieved through their work/voluntary experience together with details of the activities that you have engaged in to achieve them.  At interview, you will be invited to discuss and reflect on how your experience has enabled you to achieve a selection of these indicators.  This process will support RPL of achievement of the practice hours for a nursing programme.

Once you have passed your interview, you will be invited to submit a written assignment to the department.  You will select one from a choice of case studies and write a 3000 assignment in which you explore the physical, psychological and social factors that have the potential to impact on the health of the individual.

Transferable skills

While we warmly welcome people who have worked in a health or social care setting, we do not restrict our definition of transferable skills to these settings.  It is likely that you will have used transferable skills if you have worked in any public facing sort of role.  You need to think about what skills you have used and how they are relevant to nursing.  You have to have used these skills in a paid or formal voluntary role, rather than with family and friends on an informal basis.

Interview dates

Interview dates may be subject to change and will be confirmed to successful applicants when they are invited to interview.

Important information

Nursing courses at NTU have a limited number of places available to ensure that you receive a good quality placement experience. In exceptional circumstances this may result in the course becoming full before you have completed the admissions process. In this situation we will offer you the opportunity to be considered for the following year’s entry.

Getting in touch

If you need any more help or information, please contact us at Ask NTU or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form

  • An undergraduate degree at 2.2 or above, and
  • GCSEs – English, Maths and a Health or Science related subject grade C / 4 or Level 2 (or above)
  • For applicants where English is a second language, an IELTS score of at least 6.5 with minimum of 6.0 in Speaking & Writing, and 5.5 in Listening and Reading is required.  This will be in lieu of the GCSE in English.
  • We will consider equivalent qualifications and combinations, please contact our Admissions team for details.

If you are working towards your GCSE English Literature or English Language, Maths and / or Health/Science subject or equivalent qualification, please ensure you mention this in your application.

Personal statement

Once your application has been received, it will be referred to the course team for a shortlisting decision, which will be made mid-late May 2024. When reviewing your personal statement, in addition to the quality of writing, the course team will be looking for the following:

  • Details of the classification achieved for your first degree
  • How you reached the decision to become a nursing student following your decision to apply for a non-nursing degree
  • How your study experience so far will prepare you for study at Master’s level
  • Your reason for selecting the field of nursing for which you are applying
  • A discussion of 2-3 skills that you have acquired in a paid and/or voluntary capacity that could be applied to nursing
  • A discussion of your personal values and how they are relevant for nursing in the UK

For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.

Other requirements

You will also need to:

  • Undertake an interview with a lecturer, clinical practitioner and service user
  • Provide a satisfactory health declaration
  • Complete an enhanced-level Disclosure and Barring Service check
  • Undergo the MSc Nursing Recognition of Prior Learning process

Vaccinations

As a healthcare student, you have a duty of care towards patients and other staff, including taking reasonable precautions to protect yourself and others from communicable diseases. We therefore require you to be vaccinated for some infectious diseases if you do not already have immunity to them. Whilst we cannot force you to have a vaccination, the University and our practice partners strongly recommend you do.

Failure to undertake the required immunisations and blood screening may lead to you not being able to be placed in certain clinical areas which may adversely impact your ability to complete the required practice hours and clinical competencies.

Recognition of Prior Learning

For the MSc Nursing, 500 hours of theory and 500 hours of practice will be accredited using Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This means that students will be required to attend for two years instead of the traditional three-year nursing course.

RPL will take the form of a reference, reflection on practice document, RPL interview and written assignment. You can access the reference and reflection on practice document via the link below. Prior to invitation to interview, you will be invited to complete and submit this document to the department.  The reference will confirm that 500 hours of work/voluntary experience where you will have used skills that are transferable to nursing*. This will need to be signed by your supervisor or line manager.

The reflection on practice document will identify twelve ‘indicators’ that are adapted from twelve Nursing and Midwifery Council proficiencies. You will need to identify eight ‘indicators’ (including a mandatory indicator on digital skills) that you believe will have been achieved through their work/voluntary experience together with details of the activities that you have engaged in to achieve them.  At interview, you will be invited to discuss and reflect on how your experience has enabled you to achieve a selection of these indicators.  This process will support RPL of achievement of the practice hours for a nursing programme.

Once you have passed your interview, you will be invited to submit a written assignment to the department.  You will select one from a choice of case studies and write a 3000 assignment in which you explore the physical, psychological and social factors that have the potential to impact on the health of the individual.

Transferable skills

While we warmly welcome people who have worked in a health or social care setting, we do not restrict our definition of transferable skills to these settings.  It is likely that you will have used transferable skills if you have worked in any public facing sort of role.  You need to think about what skills you have used and how they are relevant to nursing.  You have to have used these skills in a paid or formal voluntary role, rather than with family and friends on an informal basis.

Interview dates

Interview dates may be subject to change and will be confirmed to successful applicants when they are invited to interview.

Important information

Nursing courses at NTU have a limited number of places available to ensure that you receive a good quality placement experience. In exceptional circumstances this may result in the course becoming full before you have completed the admissions process. In this situation we will offer you the opportunity to be considered for the following year’s entry.

Fees and funding

Fees for 2024-25

Study route Home (UK students)
Full-time £9,250

*Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

Funding your studies

There are numerous sources of funding available for postgraduate students, both from external sources such as the Government and funding bodies, and from the University.

There are two main costs involved with postgraduate study: the cost of your tuition fees which is paid directly to the University, and living expenses such as accommodation, travel and food.

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies, We award scholarships to those students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies.

Please take a look at our postgraduate fees and funding page for information about sourcing grants, bursaries and scholarships, and much more.

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494

Fees for 2024-25

Study route Home (UK students)
Full-time £17,900

*Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

Scholarships

We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:

Paying fees

Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

How to apply

All applications to this course can be made through our NTU Applicant Portal.

If you are interested in joining us in September 2025, this course will be open for applications through the applicant portal from September 2024. Courses starting in January 2026 will be open for applications from July 2025.

If you want to be a registered nurse in Adult, Mental Health or Learning Disability, apply today by clicking the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Because of the need to meet the Recognition of Prior Learning requirements that are outlined above prior to starting the course, the application process for the MSc Nursing has four stages:

  1. Submission of the application form (click on the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying – make sure you check that you meet the entry requirements before you do).
  2. Submission of a practice portfolio document (this can be accessed here but this is for information only – please do not submit this unless invited to do so following review of your application by the course team)
  3. Attendance at a face to face interview
  4. Completion of a 3000 word case study (details of this will be given to all candidates who are successful at interview)

Candidates who navigate the four stages successfully will receive an offer of a place on the course, subject to DBS and occupational health clearance.

Applicants need to be aware that, due to the requirements of Recognition of Prior Learning, we anticipate that the application process takes ten weeks from the issuing of the practice recognition of prior learning document through to the formal offer of a place. Applicants who require a visa to study on this course need to have a firm offer of a place by November 2024.

Please note that admissions reviews will only take place at certain points of the year and so your application will be reviewed at the next review date following submission and processing of your application. Review dates are: May 2024, July 2024, and September 2024. You will receive an update as to whether your application has been progressed to the next stage shortly after these review dates so please check your emails regularly during these times.  If you require a Tier 4 Visa, you need to have your application considered in July 2024 for consideration for entry in January 2025.  Applications received after this date from people requiring a Tier 4 Visa will be considered for entry in January 2026.

Writing your application and personal statement

This is your opportunity to sell yourself by telling us who you are today and who you want to be in the future. Write about why you want to be a nurse and why your knowledge, skills and previous experiences are important to this profession. What subjects have you studied that are important to you and to nursing; what work experience have you had that has made an impact on you and may help you in nursing; what hobbies and interest do you have. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!

Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.

Fees and funding

Preparing for the financial side as  a student nurse will be very important as you will be studying for 45 weeks of the year, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494

Additional costs and funding

The government revised the funding stream for nurse training in 2017 where student nurses would be eligible for student loans toward their education as the bursary system is no longer in place within England. Students will be funded for and provided with NTU’s practice learning placement uniforms although: additional items may incur a cost; and some placement providers may not require uniform but professional clothing that will not be funded.

Assistance with funding, scholarship and financial awards may be available via independent sponsors, please visit:

Top Universities - Nursing- Scholarships - Around the World

If you want to be a registered nurse in Adult, Mental Health or Learning Disability, apply today by clicking the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Because of the need to meet the Recognition of Prior Learning requirements that are outlined above prior to starting the course, the application process for the MSc Nursing has four stages:

  1. Submission of the application form (click on the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying – make sure you check that you meet the entry requirements before you do).
  2. Submission of a practice portfolio document (this can be accessed here but this is for information only – please do not submit this unless invited to do so following review of your application by the course team)
  3. Attendance at a face to face interview
  4. Completion of a 3000 word case study (details of this will be given to all candidates who are successful at interview)

Candidates who navigate the four stages successfully will receive an offer of a place on the course, subject to DBS and occupational health clearance.

Timelines for applications to start MSc Nursing in January 2025 are to be confirmed.

Applicants need to be aware that, due to the requirements of Recognition of Prior Learning, we anticipate that the application process takes ten weeks from the issuing of the practice recognition of prior learning document through to the formal offer of a place. Applicants who require a visa to study on this course need to have a firm offer of a place by November 2024.

Please note that admissions reviews will only take place at certain points of the year and so your application will be reviewed at the next review date following submission and processing of your application. Review dates are: May 2024, July 2024, and September 2024. You will receive an update as to whether your application has been progressed to the next stage shortly after these review dates so please check your emails regularly during these times.  If you require a Tier 4 Visa, you need to have your application considered in July 2024 for consideration for entry in January 2025.  Applications received after this date from people requiring a Tier 4 Visa will be considered for entry in January 2026.

Writing your application and personal statement

This is your opportunity to sell yourself by telling us who you are today and who you want to be in the future. Write about why you want to be a nurse and why your knowledge, skills and previous experiences are important to this profession. What subjects have you studied that are important to you and to nursing; what work experience have you had that has made an impact on you and may help you in nursing; what hobbies and interest do you have. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!

Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.

Fees and funding

Preparing for the financial side as  a student nurse will be very important as you will be studying for 45 weeks of the year, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494

Additional costs and funding

The government revised the funding stream for nurse training in 2017 where student nurses would be eligible for student loans toward their education as the bursary system is no longer in place within England. Students will be funded for and provided with NTU’s practice learning placement uniforms although: additional items may incur a cost; and some placement providers may not require uniform but professional clothing that will not be funded.

Assistance with funding, scholarship and financial awards may be available via independent sponsors, please visit:

Top Universities - Nursing- Scholarships - Around the World