Nursing: Mental Health (MSc)

You’ll need a 2.2 degree as well as GCSE English language, mathematics and science, grades 4 to 9 or A* to C.

We accept applicants from all degree programmes, and have successful alumni from degrees including Psychology, Biology, English, Fine Art, Ship Science, Business Studies, Accountancy, Law, and Archaeology.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Our pre-registration postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees in nursing are accelerated courses, so they're shorter than usual.

To make sure we meet the requirements of the NMC, we must assess your previous learning and healthcare experience. This happens as part of our Recognition of Prior Learning scheme which recognises elements of your previous academic and practice learning. 

To be considered for the master’s degree you must submit:

• 650 hours of relevant theoretical learning from your first degree or employment
• 620 hours of practice worked in a healthcare environment under the supervision of a registered healthcare professional

Your RPL submission must be made directly to the University. Our admissions team will guide you through this process and explain how to prepare your portfolio of evidence.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.

If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:

If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before you start your course.

Pre-masters

If you don’t meet direct entry requirements, you can apply to complete a Pre-Master's programme through our partnership with OnCampus.

You'll progress to your chosen course after successfully completing the programme. Find out more about Pre-Master's programmes for international students.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

You must pass every module and there are no optional modules to choose from. Your modules include a mix of theoretical learning and 2,300 hours of practice learning.

In your first year you'll gain skills in providing person centred care to meet the basic physical and mental health needs of people of all ages.

In your second year you’ll develop specialist skills in managing and coordinating the care of people experiencing challenges to their mental health. You’ll prepare for your leadership role as a registered nurse within the workforce.

You'll also need to complete an independent research project and dissertation. This takes place across the 2 academic years that you study the course.

This course is full-time so you must be available for study and practice placements.

If you’re a graduate nurse studying through RPL, you can complete the course in around 20 months.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Learning

You'll complete practice learning to gain the experience and skills needed to work as a registered nurse. Some of this will be in a simulated environment, but most will be in placements throughout your course.

You'll be an active member of a mental health nursing ‘Professional Practice Development Group’. This will support and refine what you learn and assess what you do and do not know.

Conference days are a forum for our professors to share the latest research with you. They provide opportunities for you to learn, build networks and experience a conference environment.

The University will set up your placements in a variety of hospital and community settings in local NHS Trusts and other healthcare providers.

Assessment

Assessments on this nursing degree include essays, exams, projects, professional conversations and your dissertation.

We’ll assess your practical skills while you’re on placement and your practice mentor will record these.

Your assessment is designed to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding, competency and professional values.

You’ll need to pass both practice and theory components of the course. This means you cannot make up a lower score in one component with a higher score in another.

Timely and constructive feedback will develop your confidence and give you the support to work on learning needs, and get extra educational support.

We’ll assess each module to help you demonstrate that you’ve met the required learning outcomes.

Dissertation

Need SME guidance for a line on dissertation.

Academic Support

We’ll organise your practice placements and support your learning in practice working with your practice assessor.

Tuition fees

Fees for each year of study:

• UK students pay £10,200
• EU and International students pay £34,700
• Channel Island, Isle of Man and Irish students will be charged the same tuition fee as UK students

Tuition fees for this pre-registration postgraduate healthcare course are paid in the same manner as undergraduate tuition fees.

Additionally, to support living costs, eligible (UK) students may be eligible for a Student Finance maintenance loan; also a £5,000 NHS Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year. 

What your fees pay for

There will be extra costs for the following:

• suitable shoes for your practice placements
• your own fob watch
• your enhanced DBS certificate
• your professional registration fee (on graduation)

You may be able to claim some travel and accommodation expenses when you're working on placement.

If you're a UK resident, visit the NHS 'Financial Support at University' page to learn more about financial support for your living costs.

If you're a resident of Ireland you may be able to apply for financial support through the Student Universal Support Ireland scheme (SUSI).

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

• accommodation costs
• living costs
• budgeting advice
• fees, charges and expenses regulations

NHS Learning Support Fund

As a student on this course you may be entitled to help from the NHS Learning Support Fund.

This can include a training grant of £5,000 per academic year, parental support of £2,000 for students with at least one dependent child under 15 years, or under 17 years if registered with special educational needs, and help with travel and temporary accommodation costs for placements.  

Find out more on the NHS Learning Support Fund website. 

Dean of Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences Global Talent Award

Up to 5 scholarships of £10,000 are available to first year international students starting an eligible full-time, on-campus, postgraduate taught programme in the Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences.

Learn more about eligibility criteria and conditions for the Dean of Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences Global Talent Award.

Other postgraduate funding options

A variety of additional funding options may be available to help you pay for your master’s study. Both from the University and other organisations.

UCAS
Applications are processed through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). When you apply, you'll be taken to the UCAS website where you'll need to register an account to submit an application. 
 
You’ll need to use the codes below:
- UCAS Course Code: 3110
- UCAS Institution Code: S27 

Application deadlines

All applications submitted by Tuesday 30th June 2026 are guaranteed consideration. We may be able to review applications submitted beyond this date, depending on availability of spaces on the course.

Supporting information

When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course. 

You’ll need to include information about: 

• your knowledge of the subject area
• how your personal values align with those of the nursing profession
• why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
• how you intend to use your qualification

Your referee should relate to one of the following:

• academic studies in higher education completed in the last 3 years
• your current or most recent, main employer

Additional references may be requested later.  

Your application must include your education achievements from age 16 to date including any you're currently completing. You must include your IELTS score (if you are a non-native English speaker). Without these, your application may be delayed.

What happens after you apply

You’ll be able to track your application through UCAS.

We will assess your application on the strength of your:

• personal values and how these might add to the profession
• previous and current academic achievements
• relevant experience and how this shapes your aspirations
• personal statement
• academic and/or employer reference(s)

If your application is shortlisted you’ll receive an email invitation from our admissions tutor to attend a selection event. The event involves an interview and your perspective on a video-based scenario. The invitation includes information on how to prepare and what to expect.

Unfortunately, due to number of applications we receive, we may not be able to give you specific feedback on your application if you are unsuccessful.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Inclusion and Respectful Behaviour Policy.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000