This course is for 2023/24 entry.
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Programme Director, Louise Phillips, introduces themselves and the MSc Pre-Registration Mental Health Nursing programme at City, University of London.
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City is ranked
2nd
in London for Nursing (The Complete University Guide 2022 and 2023)
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Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council
Mental Health Nursing MSc Course overview
Benefits of this course
You will study a range of theoretical and practical modules covering key principles and practices in Mental Health Nursing, including:
- acute care, diagnostics and treatment
- long term care, recovery and rehabilitation
- leading and managing in healthcare practice.
You will learn alongside students from other nursing pathways and in placements, professional disciplines such as Social Work and Occupational Therapy encouraging a multi-disciplinary approach that reflects professional clinical practice.
Award
You can select to apply for one of the available exit points for this course.
- Master of Science (MSc)
Who is this course for?
If you are a graduate who wants to pursue a rewarding career in Mental Health Nursing, this MSc will equip you with the essential skills and knowledge you need, even if your first degree is in an unrelated subject.
Structure
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration:
- Full-time: 2 years (Minimum)
Modules:
- 9 in total
- Core modules: 9
The Master's in mental health nursing course has three programme stages, which must be successfully completed in order to progress to the next programme stage.
The modular structure of the programme is developmental and students study at HE level 7 throughout the programme and are expected to demonstrate increasing levels of self-directed independent study as the programme progresses. All modules are compulsory.
Modules
Core modules
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Foundations for Evidence Informed Nursing Knowledge and Care Across the Lifecourse (30 credits)
In this module you will examine professional values; applied biological sciences; human experience across the lifecourse and the historical, biological and socioeconomic aspects of people’s lives; communication and interpersonal skills; nursing practice and decision making and leadership, management and team working.
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Practice 1- Foundations for Nursing Care (15 credits)
This module will provide you with the opportunity to explore, experiment and engage in a range of practical nursing skills and enact scenarios in a realistic, but safe simulated environment, to help you prepare for the reality of practice
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Integration of care for people with acute and long term needs across health and social care (30 credits)
The module is designed to integrate relevant pathophysiology, therapeutics and nursing management so that you can critically apply these in assessment, clinical decision making, planning, implementing and evaluating evidence informed nursing care.
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Critical Use of Evidence to Inform Decision Making in Practice (15 credits)
This module will enable you to develop a critical understanding of research and its interpretation and implementation. This will enable you to propose new research questions and plan a future critical appraisal of the literature.
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Principles of Prescribing (15 credits)
Through this module you will explore evidence-based interventions to maximise the therapeutic benefits and minimise adverse effects of medicines. You will gain an understanding of pharmaceutical knowledge; principles of medicine dosage, side effects, reactions and interactions; concordance; philosophy and psychology of prescribing.
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Practice 2- Applying Knowledge and Skills for Person-Centred Care for Practice (15 credits)
This module will prepare you to effectively provide safe, person-centred care within your field of practice. It will have an opportunity to explore, experiment and engage in a range of practical nursing skills and enact scenarios in a realistic, but safe, simulated environment.
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Leading and Managing Across Health and Social Care (15 credits)
This module will develop your ability to confidently lead, manage and challenge in professional practice. There will be a focus on clinical decision making; risk assessment and management; quality improvement and change management.
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Practice 3: Developing Advanced Knowledge and Skills for Professional Practice (15 credits)
This module will provide you with the opportunity to explore, experiment and engage in activities for advancing nursing practice in a realistic, but safe simulated environment, to help you prepare to care for individuals with complex needs in different healthcare settings.
Dissertation
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Dissertation (45 credits)
Programme specification
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
Download course specification:
Teaching and assessment
You will learn through a dynamic mix of direct, interactive and online methods, including:
- seminars
- laboratory practicals
- self-directed study
- practice experience
- simulated practice
- online activities.
Our state-of-the-art facilities include our Clinical Skills Centre which is equipped with a simulated six bed ward and a range of specialist equipment, including telehealth technologies, to enable you to practice your skills in a realistic but controlled environment.
You will spend around half your time on clinical placements in a variety of settings including:
- specialist units
- hospital wards
- primary and community care settings
- patients' homes.
Placements
Most placements are within our 'community of practice', a partnership of healthcare providers within the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), which will enable you to gain detailed understanding and valuable experience of the local community and how services are structured and delivered. The majority of our Mental Health Nursing students gain successful employment in ELFT.
Assessments include the following:
- Research Proposal
- Examination
- Seminar Presentation and Report
- Care Study
- Critical Reflection
- Leadership and Management
- Dissertation in the form of a Critically Appraised Topic (CAT)
- Clinical Practice Assessment – Pass/Fail
Fees and funding
Fees for academic year 2023/24
Master of Science
(MSc)
Full-time
per year
UK: £9,250
Full-time per year
UK: £9,250
Where applicable, tuition fees for City's programmes will be subject to inflationary increases in each year of study. Our policy for these increases is set out in our terms and conditions of study.
Funding
NHS Learning Support Fund: Non-repayable grants of at least £5,000 a year for eligible healthcare students.
Additional expenses
Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses.
Career
On successful completion of the Master's in mental health nursing course, you will be eligible to register with the NMC, which provides an internationally recognised professional qualification, enabling you to practice as an adult and mental health nurse in the UK and overseas.
As a nursing student at City, University of London you will be part of the CapitalNurse programme, which provides career development support to nursing students in London.
Through CapitalNurse, you will have access in your final year of study to a special streamlined employment scheme across all NHS Trusts in North Central London, helping you to move quickly into your first professional nursing role.
Following registration, a range of opportunities and career pathways will be open to you, such as:
- clinical management
- advanced nurse practitioner
- education
- research
- clinical specialisms
- community nursing.
Placements
Clinical placements are an essential part of this programme. As a MSc Mental Health Nursing student, you will be expected to gain 2,300 practice hours during the course.
How to apply
Entry requirements
UK
To apply for this course, you must have:
- a lower second-class honours degree or above in any subject
- an awareness of health or health-related care issues
- GSCEs (or accepted equivalent) in Mathematics and English Langauge with a minimum of a grade 4 pass (C or above).
You will be required to have occupational health and enhanced disclosure and barring service clearance. Academic and character references may be requested. Please see the Entry Requirements page for full information.
As well as meeting the stated academic entry requirements, applicants will be required to attend an online interview as part of the selection process, to ensure that your values match those of the NHS Constitution.
Information regarding COVID-19 vaccination
Clinical placements are an exciting and essential part of the training required to become a qualified Nurse.
To protect students, staff and patients during these experiences, we strongly encourage our students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (unless medically exempt).
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, one of the following is also required:
- A first degree from a UK university or an overseas institution recognised by City as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions in Australia, Canada or the USA
- IELTS: 7.0
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: 72
- TOEFL iBT: 94 overall with at least 27 in Writing, 24 in reading and Listening and 23 in Speaking sections.
Application process
Applications must be made through UCAS using the UCAS code: 3112.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Successful applicants will be required to complete a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) claim in order to obtain a place on the course.
In addition it is recommended that a Recognition of Prior Practice Learning (RPL) claim is also made prior to entry to the programme otherwise applicants will be required to undertake a further 500 practice hours at the end of the two year programme. This will not be an option for those who are required to apply for a visa to come to the UK to study.
Application Tips
The School of Health & Psychological Sciences Admissions team have put together some handy tips and advice about the application process. You can also contact them to organise a drop-in session for additional advice and support.
September 2023 entry
Contact the postgraduate team
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7040 5000
Email: health@city.ac.uk
Our academics
Your studies are supported by a team of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field. On occasion we also work with external professionals to enhance your learning and appreciation of the wider subject.
Our students
Ask a student
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Housing and student life
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Accommodation and housing
We offer accommodation options and support for all postgraduate students. Our dedicated Accommodation Service can help you to find private accommodation in London if required.
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Student wellbeing
Our extensive support network spans from learning support and disability support through to counselling, financial advice and career advice. Please do tell us if you need our help.
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Living in London
We are based in the heart of one of the most vibrant and colourful cities in the world. London offers a rich variety of cultural experiences far beyond your studies.
What's happening
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News
Cultural Belief and Mental Health: Exploring the perspectives of African Nurses and Healthcare Professionals
Emmanuel Obimah, City, University of London student, leads group exploring how cultural beliefs of nurses and other healthcare professionals affects their perspectives on mental health
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News
Forging a career in mental health research
Jacqueline Sin, Professor of Mental Health Nursing and Steve Gillard, Professor of Mental Health Research, deliver their Inaugural Lectures at City, University of London
