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MSc - Pre-Registration Nursing/Registered Nurse: Mental Health Nursing

Do you want to make a positive difference in the lives of others? If you share our commitment to delivering compassionate care and have a 2:2 or above in any undergraduate degree, our Master’s in Mental Health Nursing is the perfect choice for you to become a mental health nurse in just two years.

Join our supportive community of nursing students and tutors, and study a dynamic course that emphasises hands-on training to prepare you for a fulfilling career in nursing.



Accredited by:

Nursing & Midwife Council

Pre-Registration Nursing/Registered Nurse: Mental Health Nursing cover image

Course Overview

A significant proportion of the population will experience difficulties with their mental health during their lifetime. This course will prepare you to support them in their recovery. You will gain practical and cognitive skills and will leave the course as a competent and confident practitioner.

To gain vital real-world experience, you will spend 50% of your time on this mental health nursing course in practical placements such as complex care and dementia, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), Crisis Teams and Forensic Mental Health.

As well as this, you'll gain a competitive edge by developing your practical skills in simulated 'real life' settings using our dedicated facilities. These include simulated home spaces, and our brand-new immersive simulation room.

What's more, if you study our MSc in Mental Health Nursing and are eligible for support from the Student Loans Company, you'll also be eligible to receive an NHS grant of at least £5,000 per year of study, which does not need to be repaid. See the Fees and Funding tab below for more information.

You will graduate with a highly sought-after postgraduate degree in nursing, eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and qualified to enter an NHS role with a Band 5 salary (£28,407-£34,580 per year for 2023-2024).

On this course you will...

  • Have access to first-rate placement opportunities through our excellent partner links, developed over our long history of working with the industry.
  • Be part of an intimate cohort, benefiting from close tuition from the nursing team who will be on hand to provide personalised support throughout your studies.
  • Have access to a range of technology to enhance your learning. These include clinicalskills.net, OCULUS (a virtual reality headset for simulated activities), and Pharmacology and Prescribing Resources.
  • Start making a meaningful difference from the moment you begin your course placement, and long into your career as a compassionate and person-centred mental health nurse.

Course Structure

What you will learn

As well as learning on placement, you still study a range of modules that teach you how to facilitate the recovery of service users in various settings. These include those who are acutely ill, in rehabilitation services, and experiencing long-term conditions across the lifespan. You will also have opportunities to learn about partnership approaches to caring for service users, carers and families.

On this course, you won't just learn theoretical concepts – our expert tutors deliver a dynamic curriculum, balancing theory with practical applications throughout each module, so you'll be applying your learning to real-world and simulated 'real-world' scenarios at every step.

This hands-on approach will actively engage you in your learning, build your confidence, and better equip you for your career in mental health nursing.

Year one
  • Concepts, Theories and Practice in Professional Nursing
    To critically evaluate the legal, ethical and professional concepts which inform the complexities of decision making in health & social care practice.
  • Pathophysiology and Nursing Assessment Across the Lifespan
    The aim of this module is to apply in-depth knowledge of pathophysiology and clinical reasoning skills in the assessment and management of patients with core clinical conditions.
  • Advancing Mental Health Across the Healthcare Spectrum
    To develop a deeper understanding of the nature and impact of mental illness across the health care spectrum.
  • Public Health and Nursing in Communities
    To critically appraise and evaluate the public health and social care agendas and their impact on individuals, groups and communities.
  • Part 1 Practice Assessment (Year 1)
    Prepare students for their placements in part 1 of the programme in terms of health and safety of themselves and others, and the people in their care.
  • Part 2 Practice Assessment (Year 1)
    Prepare students for their placements in part 2 of the programme in terms of health and safety of themselves and others, and the people in their care
Year two
  • Pharmacology for Contemporary Nursing Practice
    To demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge, understanding and application of the principles of pharmacology and medicine therapeutics in the management of care.
  • Contemporary Approaches to Mental Health Care
    To enable students to critically analyse a range of contemporary therapeutic interventions employed within mental health nursing practice.
  • Transforming Care in Nursing
    To consolidate students’ knowledge and ability to synthesise the evidence base and lead, change and improve an aspect of service quality within their scope of professional practice.
  • Part 3 Practice Assessment (Year 2)
    Prepare students for their placements in part 3 of the programme in terms of health and safety of themselves and others, and the people in their care.

Attend an Open Day at Cumbria

An Open Day is your opportunity to explore one of 5 campuses, meet your lecturers, and find out how the University of Cumbria could become your new home.

Take the next step towards achieving your dreams.
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