MSc (Pre-registration) Mental Health Nursing

This new 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.

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This 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 Pre-Registration Master of Science (MSc) in Mental Health Nursing is a two-year, full-time postgraduate course which leads to eligibility to register as a Mental Health Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The course is aimed at individuals with a prior undergraduate degree and evidence of experience in health and social care. Previous undergraduate degrees may include (but are not limited to) health-related disciplines, psychology, criminology or sociology degrees. Those with non-health-related degrees must demonstrate extensive experience in the clinical health and social care sector. It is also suitable for existing nurses looking for dual qualification.

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 before in schools, the workplace and society. The MSc in Mental Health Nursing aims to prepare you for working in a dynamic and fast-changing health and social care system that has an impact on all of us. 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 Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Forensic Mental Health.

Mental Health Nurses must be competent in the person-centred assessment and treatment of a range of physical and mental health conditions to empower individuals to manage their own lives. This innovative course is designed to enhance your communication skills, and develop a person-centred and empathetic approach to those with healthcare needs.

Practice learning placements with local practice partners are integral to the MSc in Mental Health Nursing course and account for 50% of the course – these 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 Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Forensic Mental Health.

This course meets the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Realising Professionalism: Standards for Education and Training (NMC, 2018). To be eligible to apply for registration as a Mental Health Nurse with the NMC all modules, all clinical placements and all collaborative capabilities must be passed.

In addition to eligibility for NMC registration, upon successful completion, you will also graduate with a Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredited qualification in Global Professional Development and have the opportunity apply to become a member of the CMI.*

*Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules, but is frequently reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems. If any changes occur with respect to our accreditation related to these modules, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Applicants for the MSc in Mental Health Nursing should ideally hold a good honours degree of 2:2 or above in a health-related study.

However, applications with other degrees and relevant care experience will also be considered on an individual basis

Applicants whose first language is not English must be able to communicate in English to the standard equivalent to Level 7 of IELTS with no element below 6.5.

As the MSc in Mental Health Nursing is a two-year course, there is 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. 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, or informally in the family setting. Please contact the admissions tutor if you are unsure whether your experience meets the requirements above.

Applicants whose first language is not English must be able to communicate in English to the standard equivalent to Level 7 of IELTS with no element below 6.5.

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.