Postgraduate Course 

MSc

Nursing (Mental Health)

 Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) 

Mental health problems currently affect one in four of the UK population. If you’re caring and compassionate, with exceptional communication skills and a real passion for helping people, this course is for you.

This programme is a holistic learning experience, enabling students to become emotionally resilient and transformational Registered Nurses of the future. This is a two-year, full-time programme and supports those with a prior degree (2:2 or above) to become a registered nurses at an accelerated pace. You will also need prior work experience in a service user context, allowing you to demonstrate the skills that underpin professional nursing registration. Your prior experiences will contribute to the learning opportunities within the course and together these will provide eligibility to apply for registration as a nurse with the NMC.

Students develop an in-depth and comprehensive understanding about their chosen field of practice and recognise the principles of nursing across all fields and across the lifespan.  Modules provide the foundation for students to develop a compassionate professionalism whereby they are trusted in the care they provide. Learning will be facilitated through a range of classroom-based activities, skills laboratories and by electronic means such as online learning, web-based training and technology-delivered instruction.   

A highly rewarding career choice 

Mental health nurses support people with depression, anxiety, dementia, bulimia nervosa, post-natal depression and a whole range of other conditions that can lead to unhelpful thoughts and ideas. They focus on people’s strengths and resources – helping them to overcome and cope with their problems and maximising their life potential. 

This course is built around the ethos that everyone has a right to evidence-based care, whatever their background and circumstances. It equips you to excel as a confident, versatile and capable mental health nurse. 

Expertise to inspire you 

You'll be supported by enthusiastic and dedicated academic staff who are immersed in their areas of practice and committed to supporting you at every stage of your studies. All academic staff are current NMC registered professionals with some continuing to work in clinical practice alongside their teaching role.  The academic team includes renowned professionals whose work features regularly in leading journals and books and who help shape national policies. 
This course is mapped against the NMC standards to ensure that your learning is up to date and relevant. In delivering the programme, we respond to national changes such as the latest government policies. As a result, some of the information about the course may change. 

Wide-ranging placement experience

A compulsory part of the course is practice learning which equates to 50% of the overall programme in line with the NMC standards (NMC, 2018). Students must complete a range of placements to meet the minimum hours requirement for practice learning and to support the application of theory to practice. 
  
Practice learning is achieved through a variety of placement experiences to enable you to gain essential practical experience by participating in 24-hour care. Throughout, you'll benefit from the support of Practice Assessors and Practice Supervisors who will help you get as much out of the experience as possible.  
Students experience a wide variety of simulated learning activities throughout the programme to prepare for the real world of nursing. This also ensures students continually link theory to practice and feel supported for entering the clinical environment.

First class facilities

Our Derby campus offers outstanding facilities, including clinical skills suites built to professional standards, with replica wards, counselling rooms and treatment rooms fully equipped with the latest resources. 
As health care is increasingly delivered by multi professional teams, we offer opportunities for you to learn with, and from, students from other disciplines. This is really important in preparing you to work in more flexible ways after graduation. By learning to work together, you can help achieve the best outcomes for patients and service users.

Students also participate in learning that is specific to their field but is also co-taught across the four fields of nursing. There is opportunity for students studying at different academic levels to learn with, and from each other. This provides opportunity to meet the NMC standards whilst replicating professional relationships that students encounter in clinical practice.

100%of students were satisfied with the quality of the coursePostgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2023
100%of students agreed that staff are enthusiastic about what they teachPostgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2023
93%of students agreed that the course is intellectually stimulatingPostgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2023
A female talking to another student in a therapy room
2 females talking face to face outside in a green space
Multi-Faith Centre, Kedleston Road

Postgraduate Open Event

Join us at an upcoming Postgraduate Open Event, where you will get the opportunity to meet our expert academics and find out more about your course.

Book your Postgraduate Open EventBook your Postgraduate Open Event

What you will study

The course is delivered over two academic years. However, practice is assessed in three equal parts. This is an intensive course and you will need commitment, motivation and a desire to succeed. The programme holds high expectations that you are engaged and ready to be an independent learner and that you are able to meet the theory and practice hours required by the NMC that reflect this full-time programme of study. 

You will complete a range of modules to develop the fundamental knowledge and skills for safe, effective nursing practice where the interests of people using or needing nursing services, are put first. These modules provide the foundation for you to develop a caring professionalism where you can be trusted in the care you provide. 

  • Professional Nursing Practice
  • Evidence Based Nursing Practice
  • Complex Care in Nursing Practice
  • Leadership for Nursing Practice (Mental Health)
  • Innovation and Improvement in Nursing Practice (Mental Health)
  • Transition to Autonomous Practice (Mental Health)

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

How you will learn

So that you are fully prepared for your career, we ensure that your skills and knowledge match current working practices in health and social care. The practical abilities you develop on placement will be underpinned and extended by the knowledge you gain through lectures, tutorials, workshops and simulated practice activities.

We harness latest technology in all aspects of the course. Modules are linked to the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), so that you have 24-hour access to relevant resources both on and off campus. We also capture ‘live’ lectures via Panopto which you can view at times that suit you via the VLE.

In addition, our students benefit from access to a range online resources such as Clinical Skills Net, an online resource offering video tutorials in essential clinical skills. The anatomy and physiology content of the programme is supported in a similar way through Wiley PLUS.

Who you'll meet

You will be taught by qualified health professionals with extensive experience of nursing and leadership roles. They have proven, sustained track records in higher education teaching, with most holding Fellowships of the Higher Education Academy.

Our staff keep up to date with latest developments in the sector by undertaking continuing professional development as part of their registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

How you'll be assessed

There are a diverse range of authentic assessments within the programme.  Assessments are aligned to module learning outcomes and support students to build academic skill and professional development.  Assessment feedback and feedforward mechanisms encourage dialogue, provide action plans, and utilise academic, student, and practice support staff where required.  This ensures that students are fit for practice, purpose, award, and professional standing on completion of the award.  

Each assessment within the programme has the following underpinning characteristics: 

Assessment of practice learning is recorded in the Practice Assessment Document (MYEPAD), which is designed to support and guide students towards successfully achieving the criteria set out in the Future nurse: Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses and Standards for Education and Training (NMC 2018).  The MYEPAD is a regionally validated document developed collaboratively with other local universities.  The University of Derby continues to work in partnership to support a consistent approach to student supervision and assessment.   

Who will teach you

Solomon Towuru

Programme Leader

Awaiting staff photo

Solomon Towuru

Solomon module leads Integrated Mental Health Nursing Practice stage one at the Chesterfield site. Using research informed teaching, Solomon aims to empower learners to develop outstanding nursing attribut...

View full staff profile

Entry requirements

You will need:

Education

Work Experience

In addition

Please note: The post-graduate programme admissions team will screen direct applications on the above criteria.  Application forms will then be sent to the programme leaders (or their nominated deputy) to review on an individual basis. 

Interview Information

Extended CV guidance

Applicants are required to submit supplementary evidence as an extended CV to demonstrate how their previous care experience and graduate studies have equipped them to undertake an accelerated programme.  This will be reviewed prior to any offer of interview.  

As a minimum the extended CV must include:  

In preparing the claim, the applicant should demonstrate that the evidence provided is:  

Please note: Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and will only be considered where evidence has been provided on completion of the extended CV. After application submission and providing all entry requirements and initial evidence is satisfactory, suitable candidates will then be required to attend an interview as part of the professional Recognition of Prior Learning requirements of this Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK) approved programme. Non-attendance will result in your application being withdrawn. 

Please contact the programme team to discuss if you have any queries about your education/work experience. 

Fees and funding

2024/25 (August 2024 - July 2025)

TypeFull-timePart-time
UK

9,250 per year

N/A

International

14,900 per year

N/A

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

Additional fee information

Please note at postgraduate level, you'll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the respective awards. If you have any questions please contact us.

Award Credits
Postgraduate Certificate 60 Credits
Postgraduate Diploma 120 Credits
MSc 180 Credits

Further details on available funding is yet to be confirmed for the academic year of 2024-25. Please check back at a later date for more information. 

Additional costs and optional extras

2025/26 (August 2025 - July 2026)

TypeFull-timePart-time
UK

9,535 per year

N/A

International

16,900 per year

N/A

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

Additional costs and optional extras

About postgraduate awards

Please note at postgraduate level, you’ll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the respective awards. If you have any questions please contact us.

AwardCredits
Postgraduate Certificate60 Credits
Postgraduate Diploma120 Credits
MA or MSc180 Credits

This means you will gain 180 credits in total to complete the full MA or MSc. If you are studying part time you will normally complete your studies over two or three years, depending on the course structure.

Funding your studies

Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.

Find out about funding your studiesFind out about funding your studies

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out about the Alumni discountFind out about the Alumni discount

By studying on this programme, you may be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,250. The loan will support your studies and enable you to start a rewarding career in healthcare. 

All new and continuing nursing and allied health students on pre-registration courses will also receive a grant of at least £5,000 per year that is not means-tested and will not have to be repaid. This is provided through the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF) and is not managed by the University. Please check with the LSF for residency requirements and eligibility criteria. 

If you're eligible, you can get: 

Among others, the shortage specialisms have been confirmed to include: 

In addition to this non-repayable grant, you may also able to access a maintenance loan of up to £9,488 per year to support your studies, giving you access to over £17,000 per year of funding. Training grant payments will be paid in three instalments over the academic year. This is to provide you with a consistent flow of funding throughout the academic year as far as possible. 

All NHS LSF applications must be submitted within six months of the start of the academic year and you will need confirmation of your Student Finance in order to complete your application. You need to set up an NHS Learning Support Fund online account to apply. 

Additional costs and optional extras 

Funding your studies 

Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to. 

Alumni discount for Derby graduates 

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni. 

Find out about the Alumni discount.

Additional costs and optional extras

Students chatting to each other

International student scholarships

We have a range of scholarships and discounts available to international students which can be used together to offer a reduction in your tuition fees.

Find out if you're eligible for an international scholarship Find out if you're eligible for an international scholarship

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.


This course has now closed for September 2024 entry. Applications can be made for September 2025 entry.

Important information for applicants

To be considered for an offer to study, the following must be 'evidenced' as part of your initial application submission:

  • GSCE English language and maths at grade C/4 or above or the equivalent
  • International applicants can demonstrate their English language from any of the accepted qualifications. Any testing with evidence of attainment needs to be completed prior to the submission of an initial application. If applicants are using a WAEC qualification as certified evidence this must be at a minimum of C4 for English and C6 for Maths

Find out more about our English language requirements

After application submission and providing all entry requirements and initial evidence is satisfactory, suitable candidates will then be required to submit an online portfolio of evidence as part of the professional Recognition of Prior Learning requirements of this Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK) approved programme. You will not receive access to this online portfolio until authorised by the programme team. The portfolio element of your application must be submitted and passed in order for you to be shortlisted for interview.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a satisfactory virtual interview in order to gain a place on the programme. Non-attendance will result in your application being withdrawn.

Careers

On completion of the programme, students are eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in their field of practice. Students have five years to register their award with the Nursing and Midwifery Council following completion of the programme. A variety of careers and career pathways are open to Registered Nurses and may choose to work in hospitals, community services, primary care services, mental health services, children’s services, learning disability services, general practice, and private, voluntary, and independent services across the NHS or other health and care organisations.

Graduates of the programme may wish to return to academic study, further developing their skills and knowledge to undertake a range of specialist or advanced roles.  There is a wide offer of post-registration provision within the College of Health, Psychology, and Social Care, and many students chose to return to the University of Derby for postgraduate study and for continuing professional development.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Contact us Contact us

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Minimum numbers

Please note that this course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.

Other courses you might like