Online MSc Mental Health

Start date
July, October, March
Duration
2,5 years, part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Continuing professional development, Distance learning, Taught
Fees

Total Tuition, £17,010 / £1,308 per module

The online MSc in Mental Health offers the opportunity of flexible studying on a unique interdisciplinary mental health programme associated with our world-leading research centre: the Institute for Mental Health (IMH).

This interdisciplinary programme features a distinctive focus on youth mental health, integrating the latest research and policy into teaching and practice. It equips students with valuable skills for diverse careers in the mental health field and beyond.

The online MSc in Mental Health is a unique qualification, bringing together disciplines ranging from psychology, neuroscience, sociology and social policy to medicine, philosophy and education. We are welcoming applications for our MSc in Mental Health.

Program Outcomes:

The course enables you to develop:

  • a sound grasp of core principles of mental health, youth mental health and interdisciplinary research methods.
  • advanced knowledge of specialist subjects in mental health research, practice, and policy.
  • transferable skills commensurate with an interdisciplinary MSc programme in a mental health context such as: independent research including project design and management, interdisciplinary research methods, secondary data analysis and synthesis, critical evaluation of theoretical and empirical evidence, application of mental health research to practice and impact.

These skills and knowledge will aid in career development in a number of public sector, private sector, charity sector, and research fields of employment, that are relevant to mental health.

I am completing the mental health masters. It has greatly benefited me to see mental health issues from various viewpoints, such as, philosophy, research and clinical practice. I also like how the course offers an interdisciplinary view as it approaches mental health holistically. I am truly greatly enjoying the course and I know 100% I made the right choice.

Nuria Gardia , MSc Mental Health

Why study this course?

  • This is the only interdisciplinary taught MSc in Mental Health in the UK, offering you a unique opportunity to study alongside other students drawn from a wide range of professional and educational backgrounds.
  • This MSc offers the opportunity to learn and research alongside experts drawn from mental health practice (e.g., social policy), academic (e.g., neuroscience, sociology) and lived experience expertise such as our Youth Advisory Group.
  • You will benefit from a long and established history in world-leading interdisciplinary mental health research, with experts working directly with NHS partners to understand the causes of poor mental health and develop effective treatments and services.

Modules

The online MSc in Mental Health is a 180 credit full masters programme. As a student on the programme, you would study six 10 credit modules in year one, followed by six 10 credit modules in year two. Each module lasts approximately eight weeks, and there is a weekly study requirement of 12.5 hours per week. Students enrol onto these modules one at a time and in a linear structure to ensure that they grasp the fundamentals of mental health in manageable sections. Modules include:

  • Ethics in Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • Philosophy and Psychopathology in Mental Health
  • Research Methods in Mental Health: Quantitative Approaches Case Control Studies and Clinical Trials
  • Psychology of Youth Mental Health: Brain Development, Early Intervention, and Communication
  • Research Methods in Mental Health: Qualitative Approaches and Meta Synthesis
  • Service User Involvement in Mental Health
  • Translational Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental health
  • Biopsychosocial Approaches to Mental Health: Epidemiology and Diagnosis
  • Psychological Biological and Social Factors in Mental Health: Causes and Treatments
  • Psychology of Suicide
  • Digital Mental Health: Research, Intervention, and Youth
  • Addiction
  • Dissertation

To fulfil the requirements of the online MSc, students then have the opportunity to complete a dissertation at the end of year two. This is a research project which can be pursued in a specific area of interest. During the research project students will gain and develop knowledge of specific topics such as self-harm and suicide, youth mental health, or policy evaluation, and will have the opportunity to work across a range of academic disciplines ranging from psychology to social policy, philosophy, and neuroscience. The dissertation is equal to 60 credits of study.

Fees

  • The full cost of the programme for the academic year 2024/25 is £17,010 GBP. This can be paid in full or in instalments of £1,308 GBP per module.

We understand that how you finance your degree is an important consideration. Postgraduate study is a significant financial commitment, and we want to ensure that you are aware of the resources available.

Below, we have outlined some popular funding options to help support the cost of your programme:

Birmingham Masters Scholarship

We are offering over 200 awards of £2,000 to support the brightest and best applicants wishing to undertake Masters study at the University during 2023-24.

Find out more and apply now  

Postgraduate Progression Award

Our Postgraduate Progression Awards offer final year undergraduates at the University of Birmingham a fee discount of £1,500 for postgraduate taught study.

Find out more and apply now  

Alumni Discount
University of Birmingham alumni wishing to study the online MSc in Mental Health are eligible for a 10% discounted tuition rate. The discount is usually applied by taking 10% off the total tuition fee amount or at each module payment. If you believe you might be eligible for an alumni discount, please speak with us to find out more. These discounts are always discussed and, if deemed eligible, are approved as part of the application process.

Employer Reimbursement
If you think your employer would consider helping you pay for the online MSc in Mental Health, you’ll need to make a strong case and back it up with evidence. It’s likely your employer will expect a return for their contribution, such as a commitment to work for the company for a set period of time, or otherwise repay the cost of your programme.

How To Apply

We are delighted to share that applications for the online MSc in Mental Health will be opening soon. In preparation for submitting your application, you can start to gather all the relevant documentation:

Curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé: Demonstrate your academic and work experience, in addition to any other skills that may support your application. This will help our recruitment team ensure that you have the right experience for the programme.

Statement of purpose: Draw attention to your skills, experience and goals, and to explain why you wish to apply for this programme. This should be no longer than one page of text.

One reference: Send details of your references either as a letter of recommendation or a recorded transcript by email or by post to our recruitment team. These must be signed, on letterheaded paper, or supplied with your referee’s business card.

Certificate/Transcripts: To verify your education, we ask you to submit a copy of your bachelor’s degree or alternative qualification certificate, or transcript stating the final overall grade of your qualification.

Evidence of language (if applicable): If English is not your first language, you will need to also supply an up-to-date English language certificate which meets the entry criteria – as detailed in our standard entry requirements section.

If you would like any feedback or advice about your application, our Recruitment team would be happy to help. You can call +44 (0)800 032 7101 or email onlineadmissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

 

  • 2:1 minimum in first degree in relevant discipline (examples include Psychology; Sociology; Social Policy; Medicine; Philosophy; Education)
  • We will also take into account practical experience of working with young people or in mental health settings.

 Select your country from the drop down below for details on equivalent qualification levels.

Standard English language requirements also apply. If English is not your first language, you must also have an up-to-date English language test certificate. We accept IELTS certificates with a grade of 6.5 and no less than 6.0 in any band.Other forms of English language certificates are accepted. Please discuss this with a Recruitment Coordinator on +44(0)800 032 7101 or onlineadmissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

International Requirements



International Students

English language requirements

Standard English language requirements apply (IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band)


  • IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

What is it like to study for an MSc online?

Our online programmes are purpose-built from the ground up to harness the full power of the technologies available. The format is ideally suited to part-time students, working professionals and individuals who are balancing their careers and personal commitments alongside their studies.

You will use a variety of accessible integrated software options to study at your own pace using our online e-learning platform on a sequence of eight-week modules. As students, this means that you will work through bespoke academic research, theory, and educational skills training each week by undertaking independent individual study, reading and activities. Although this can be achieved at your own pace, weekly goals need to be achieved through the guided week-by-week content.

As part of this MSc course, you will study a range of mental health related topics to learn from experts in the field to think critically about the content, build your skills and knowledge each week throughout each module. This MSc embraces a range of innovative teaching practices ranging from the way the content is presented through to the design of the assessments for modules.

You will experience real-world examples through a combination of diverse activities, and will collaborate with students from different backgrounds, further enriching your experience and helping you to make use of theories and data in innovative ways. In order to achieve this, you will undertake assignments (including reports, essays, presentations, quizzes, exams and group work), with deadlines structured at reasonable intervals to help guide you through your student journey.

Assessment Methods

The online MSc in Mental Health has varied assessment methods aligned to the richness and interdisciplinary nature of the programme. This includes assessments that have been designed specifically for distance learning to facilitate the development of transferable and essential skills for future employment. As such, you will be assessed in a variety of ways, each tailored to module content, including (but not exclusive to): critical and reflective essays, reports, learning portfolios, video and presentation creation, other types of writing, oral and poster presentations.

Graduates from this course will make excellent candidates for research-related employment in both private and public sector organisations as the MSc in Mental Health develops key skills that are highly attractive to employers the world over, including analytical and statistical skills, as well as presentation and report writing skills. This MSc is also excellent preparation for a PhD or other advanced study options.

The MSc in Mental Health will help address key priority areas, including (but not limited to):

  • The rising public awareness of mental health, and the increasing demand on public services to respond to public demand and mental illness.
  • The call to skill up the national and international workforce in relation to children and young people’s mental health.
  • The increasing awareness of employers and their responsibilities in relation to Workplace Wellbeing and promoting Workplace Mental Health.
  • The increased significance that the Mental Health research agenda has received in the UK and internationally, and the need to train the next generation of Mental Health researchers.

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