Why Choose Lincoln
Delivered by experienced practitioners
Modern clinical suites to apply theory
Placements in a range of settings
Study abroad opportunities
MSc
Nursing (Pre-registration - Mental Health)
MSc
Nursing (Pre-registration - Mental Health)
Course Overview
Mental health nurses support patients with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, addiction, and eating disorders. They work in a settings such as in hospitals or the community and help people manage their illness and improve their lives.
This Master's degree enables graduates from a range of backgrounds the opportunity to transfer their skills to become a registered nurse (mental health). The course is aimed at graduates of a degree in a relevant discipline who aspire to qualify for eligibility to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register.
The course is underpinned by the core values of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and aims to promotes critical thinking skills and the spirit of inquiry.
Over the past few decades the role of the nurse has developed due to the changing context of health and social care, resulting in a wide range of new positions and services. Registered nurses (mental health) hold a significant role in terms of leading and coordinating care provision for people across the lifespan; aware of complex mental, physical, cognitive, and behavioural care needs of those they look after.
This Master's degree aims to develop registered nurses (mental health) who prioritise people by providing safe and effective care, educating those in their care through the use of technology, promoting health literacy to prevent ill health, and supporting healthy choices and lifestyles. The course has been developed to raise the professional values and social conscience of students to prepare them for future healthcare roles.
Nurses translate evidence-based knowledge to improve healthcare delivery while maintaining and emphasising the ethics of person centred care. Modules on this course have been designed with this in mind and aim to stimulate innovation, improve quality, manage risk, and identify areas for productive change.
The University of Lincoln, together with our practice partners, share a vision to prepare students to become dynamic nurses that are fit for practice in rapidly changing and challenging care environments.
Course Overview
Mental health nurses support patients with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, addiction, and eating disorders. They work in a settings such as in hospitals or the community and help people manage their illness and improve their lives.
This Master's degree enables graduates from a range of backgrounds the opportunity to transfer their skills to become a registered nurse (mental health). The course is aimed at graduates of a degree in a relevant discipline who aspire to qualify for eligibility to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register.
The course is underpinned by the core values of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and aims to promotes critical thinking skills and the spirit of inquiry.
Over the past few decades the role of the nurse has developed due to the changing context of health and social care, resulting in a wide range of new positions and services. Registered nurses (mental health) hold a significant role in terms of leading and coordinating care provision for people across the lifespan; aware of complex mental, physical, cognitive, and behavioural care needs of those they look after.
This Master's degree aims to develop registered nurses (mental health) who prioritise people by providing safe and effective care, educating those in their care through the use of technology, promoting health literacy to prevent ill health, and supporting healthy choices and lifestyles. The course has been developed to raise the professional values and social conscience of students to prepare them for future healthcare roles.
Nurses translate evidence-based knowledge to improve healthcare delivery while maintaining and emphasising the ethics of person centred care. Modules on this course have been designed with this in mind and aim to stimulate innovation, improve quality, manage risk, and identify areas for productive change.
The University of Lincoln, together with our practice partners, share a vision to prepare students to become dynamic nurses that are fit for practice in rapidly changing and challenging care environments.
How You Study
Collaboration is a key part of this Master's degree and students are encouraged to learn with and from other healthcare professionals. Students can work in collaboration and partnership with academics, practitioners, service users, and other students. The course aims to empower students to become nurses that are resilient, caring, reflective, and lifelong learners to facilitate knowledge of other roles and services, inter-agency cooperation, and the confidence to work across professional boundaries.
How You Study
Collaboration is a key part of this Master's degree and students are encouraged to learn with and from other healthcare professionals. Students can work in collaboration and partnership with academics, practitioners, service users, and other students. The course aims to empower students to become nurses that are resilient, caring, reflective, and lifelong learners to facilitate knowledge of other roles and services, inter-agency cooperation, and the confidence to work across professional boundaries.
Student as Producer
Research-engaged and evidence-based learning and teaching is at the core of the student learning experience on this course. Student as Producer is a model of teaching and learning that encourages academics and undergraduate students to collaborate on research activities. It is a programme committed to learning through doing.
The principles of Student as Producer are discovery, collaboration, engagement, and production.
Discovery
Students can learn through their own research. Independent learning is promoted on each module through both directed and self-directed study, enabling students to contextualise the taught content to their field of practice and promoting independent study as a process students can use throughout their professional career.
Collaboration
Interprofessional working is an important part of the course. Students can work together to develop their knowledge and understanding and students can collaborate amongst professional peer groups and staff. Students are seen as partners in the production and dissemination of knowledge.
Engagement
Students can develop their confidence and identity as a member of a professional community. Students can transfer and apply their learning to nursing practice, fully engaging with reflection, and the proactive identification of their own learning needs.
Production
The course focuses on the production of professionally relevant and innovative learning outputs that can be applied and implemented within nursing practice, as well as focusing on the achievement of academic learning outcomes.
By the end of the programme students must be able to demonstrate competence against the Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses. These include being an accountable professional, Promoting health and preventing ill health, assessing needs and planning care, providing and evaluating care, leading and managing nursing care and working in teams, improving safety and quality of care and, coordinating care.
Modules
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
Modules
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
What You Need to Know
We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, contact hours, and our return to face-to-face teaching.
What You Need to Know
We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, contact hours, and our return to face-to-face teaching.
Nursing and Midwifery Council 2018 Future Nurse Standards
The programme is validated to the NMC 2018 Future Nurse standards, as such, we co-teach across the adult, child, and mental health nursing pre-registration programmes.
Study Abroad
In the second year, students have the opportunity to undertake an elective placement either overseas or in the UK. Placements can enable students to focus on an alternative healthcare context and offer the opportunity to gain an insight into, and experience of, working alongside colleagues from a range of disciplines. Please note, students are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and general living costs while on placement or studying abroad.
Placements
In the second year, students have the opportunity to undertake an elective placement either overseas or in the UK. Placements can enable students to focus on an alternative healthcare context and offer the opportunity to gain an insight into, and experience of, working alongside colleagues from a range of disciplines. Please note, students are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and general living costs while on placement or studying abroad. Travel to placements will be expected and you will be responsible for all related travel costs. UK based applicants may be eligible for reimbursement of some of these costs, further information on this is available on the NHS Learning Support Fund webpage.
Facilities
The University has invested £19 million in the Sarah Swift Building, a dedicated facility for the School of Health and Social Care. The course is delivered in well-equipped clinical suites for simulated practice, with separate teaching and observation areas.
How you are assessed
Students are assessed both formally and informally throughout the course to develop learning and autonomy. Assessments can take place both within the University and practice placement environments. Practice-based learning will be assessed as either a pass or fail. Academic work contributes towards their final grade.
Some of the assessment on the course is led by tutors, however students are encouraged to engage in peer and self-assessment to help develop the skills of reflection and evaluation which are essential for lifelong learning and continued professional development, following registration as a nurse.
Some of the assessments focus on theoretical knowledge and the application of theory, and others on the practical performance of technical skills and patient management.
Assessments throughout the programme have been designed to be relevant to professional working practices.
How you are assessed
Students are assessed both formally and informally throughout the course to develop learning and autonomy. Assessments can take place both within the University and practice placement environments. Practice-based learning will be assessed as either a pass or fail. Academic work contributes towards their final grade.
Some of the assessment on the course is led by tutors, however students are encouraged to engage in peer and self-assessment to help develop the skills of reflection and evaluation which are essential for lifelong learning and continued professional development, following registration as a nurse.
Some of the assessments focus on theoretical knowledge and the application of theory, and others on the practical performance of technical skills and patient management.
Assessments throughout the programme have been designed to be relevant to professional working practices.
Learning alongside the adult and children nursing cohorts has given me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of different areas of nursing and develop a wide range of clinical skills that will benefit future roles within healthcare.
Hope Greatorex
Career Development
Postgraduate study is an investment in yourself and your future. It can help you to further or completely change your career, develop your knowledge, enhance your salary, or even prepare you to start your own business. Our nursing students have gone on to work in a wide range of healthcare settings in both community and acute services within Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and further afield in posts such as community staff nurse, GP practice nurse, and nurses in accident and emergency departments.
How to Apply
Postgraduate Application Support
Applying for a postgraduate programme at Lincoln is easy. Find out more about the application process and what you'll need to complete on our How to Apply page. Here, you'll also be able to find out more about the entry requirements we accept and how to contact us for dedicated support during the process.
January Starts 2025
Please note that this course is also available for a January 2025 start. View a full list of courses with January start dates.
Entry Requirements 2025-26
Entry Requirements
Applicants who meet the following entry criteria will be invited to an online group interview, the interviewers will be assessing that your character and values align with the NHS Values: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-nhs-constitution-for-england#nhs-values
- Applicants should hold an honours degree at 2.2 classification or above.
- Normally 3 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) including English, Maths and Science, or equivalent qualifications. These GCSEs must be obtained prior to submitting an application. Applicants who completed an Access to HE in Health and Social Care will be required to provide evidence of undertaking science units at level 3.
- Evidence of experience in a practice setting to include 650 hours of care related practice experience should be completed prior to application and discussed within your personal statement. Documentation will need to be provided and verified within one month of interview (if successful). Please see below for more information.
Certificates and degree transcripts of all previous qualifications will need to be provided before any offers are confirmed.
Other requirements include:
- IELTS 7.0 with no element below 5.5.
- Successful performance at an interview.
- Knowledge of contemporary health and social care issues, and the role of the Mental Health Nurse in providing healthcare.
- Understanding of written material and can communicate clearly and accurately in written and spoken English.
- "Settled residential status" in the United Kingdom in line with the requirements of the 1971 Immigration Act (for International students only).
- Resident in the United Kingdom for at least three years (for International students only).
- All students will be required to sign the subject-specific Fitness to Practise Code of Conduct on entry, details of which will be forwarded with an offer letter.
- Satisfactory completion of an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (formerly the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). How you undertake that check will differ depending on where you are living, so further information will be provided as part of the enrolment process.
- Entry on to the course is subject to meeting the requirements of a profession specific occupational health screening.
Evidence of Experience in a Practice Setting:
This section of the portfolio relates to the evidence you need to provide to show that you have undertaken 650 hours of care related practice experience. This will ensure that you are able to meet the required 2300 hours of practice at the end of your programme which is a stipulation of the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council).
What do we mean by care related practice?
For the purpose of recognition of prior experiential learning (RPEL), practice can be defined as:
'A place of work that specialises in providing services to people requiring physical or psychological support or care'.
Experience can be in the following:
- A hospital, care home, or community setting and can include people of any age;
- Undertaken on a paid or voluntary basis
- Within an NHS, private or voluntary organisation.
A practice supervisor will be required to verify practice hours completion, but if you have already completed 650 hours of practice, for example as a healthcare assistant, you will not have to complete an additional 650 hours. However, you will still have to ask a practice supervisor to verify that you have completed the required number of practice hours.
You are responsible for ensuring all sections of this document are completed and signed by a practice supervisor. Examples of appropriate supervisors may include the following:
- Line manager
- Registered health or social care practitioner
- Voluntary work coordinator/leader.
Applicants with Disabilities
We take seriously our obligation to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that all students with disabilities can successfully complete their studies. All applicants will be assessed on the basis of the criteria outlined here regardless of any disability. If you declare a disability we will invite you to work with us to explore how best we can support your studies.
Other information:
You must declare all spent and unspent criminal convictions including (but not limited to) cautions, reprimands, final warnings, bind over orders or similar and details of any minor offences, fixed penalty notices, penalty notices for disorder, ASBOs or VOOs.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service
I am a qualified nurse in my home country. Can I apply for this programme?
You could apply if you were considering changing your field of registration, we could potentially consider this, but we have a limited number of places. This is not a post-registration Master's degree and you could make contact with the Nursing and Midwifery Council should you wish to register as a nurse to work in the UK.
If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk.
January Starts 2025
Please note that this course is also available for a January 2025 start. View a full list of courses with January start dates.
Entry Requirements 2024-25
Entry Requirements
- Applicants should hold an honours degree at 2.2 classification or above.
- Normally 3 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) including English, Maths and Science, or equivalent qualifications. These GCSEs must be obtained prior to submitting an application. Applicants who completed an Access to HE in Health and Social Care will be required to provide evidence of undertaking science units at level 3.
- Evidence of experience in a practice setting to include 650 hours of care related practice experience should be completed prior to application and discussed within your personal statement. Documentation will need to be provided and verified within one month of interview (if successful). Please see below for more information.
Certificates and degree transcripts of all previous qualifications will need to be provided before any offers are confirmed.
Other requirements include:
- IELTS 7.0 with no element below 5.5.
- Successful performance at an interview.
- Knowledge of contemporary health and social care issues, and the role of the Mental Health Nurse in providing healthcare.
- Understanding of written material and can communicate clearly and accurately in written and spoken English.
- "Settled residential status" in the United Kingdom in line with the requirements of the 1971 Immigration Act (for International students only).
- Resident in the United Kingdom for at least three years (for International students only).
- All students will be required to sign the subject-specific Fitness to Practise Code of Conduct on entry, details of which will be forwarded with an offer letter.
- Satisfactory completion of an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (formerly the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). International applicants need to obtain a recent criminal record certificate from their home country and ensure this is still valid by the date of enrolment.
- Entry on to the course is subject to meeting the requirements of a profession specific occupational health screening.
Evidence of Experience in a Practice Setting:
This section of the portfolio relates to the evidence you need to provide to show that you have undertaken 650 hours of care related practice experience. This will ensure that you are able to meet the required 2300 hours of practice at the end of your programme which is a stipulation of the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council).
What do we mean by care related practice?
For the purpose of recognition of prior experiential learning (RPEL), practice can be defined as:
'A place of work that specialises in providing services to people requiring physical or psychological support or care'.
Experience can be in the following:
- A hospital, care home, or community setting and can include people of any age;
- Undertaken on a paid or voluntary basis
- Within an NHS, private or voluntary organisation.
A practice supervisor will be required to verify practice hours completion, but if you have already completed 650 hours of practice, for example as a healthcare assistant, you will not have to complete an additional 650 hours. However, you will still have to ask a practice supervisor to verify that you have completed the required number of practice hours.
You are responsible for ensuring all sections of this document are completed and signed by a practice supervisor. Examples of appropriate supervisors may include the following:
- Line manager
- Registered health or social care practitioner
- Voluntary work coordinator/leader.
Applicants with Disabilities
We take seriously our obligation to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that all students with disabilities can successfully complete their studies. All applicants will be assessed on the basis of the criteria outlined here regardless of any disability. If you declare a disability we will invite you to work with us to explore how best we can support your studies.
Other information:
You must declare all spent and unspent criminal convictions including (but not limited to) cautions, reprimands, final warnings, bind over orders or similar and details of any minor offences, fixed penalty notices, penalty notices for disorder, ASBOs or VOOs.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service
I am a qualified nurse in my home country. Can I apply for this programme?
You could apply if you were considering changing your field of registration, we could potentially consider this, but we have a limited number of places. This is not a post-registration Master's degree and you could make contact with the Nursing and Midwifery Council should you wish to register as a nurse to work in the UK.
If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk.
Course Fees
You will need to have funding in place for your studies before you arrive at the University. Our fees vary depending on the course, mode of study, and whether you are a UK or international student. You can view the breakdown of fees for this programme below.
The University offers a range of merit-based, subject-specific, and country-focused scholarships for UK and international students. To help support students from outside of the UK, we offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.
Course -Specific Funding and Bursaries
From September 2023, pre-registration undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare students can apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF).
If eligible, you will receive:
- A training grant of £5,000 GBP per academic year.
- Increased parental support of £2,000 GBP, if you have at least one dependent child under 15 years, or under 17 years if registered with special educational needs.
- Increased money back for excess travel and temporary accommodation costs (Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses) while you're on your practice placement.
- Students experiencing financial hardship (Exceptional Support Fund).
For more information and to see your eligibility, visit: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund-lsf
Please note, this government bursary is available to Home students only. Details on scholarships and bursaries available to Overseas and EU students can be found online: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/scholarshipsandbursaries/
Please note that International students will not be eligible for support for travel and accommodation.
Course -Specific Additional Costs
Students are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and general living costs relating to placements.
Placement expenses for travel, and accommodation may be reimbursed by NHS Bursaries where, for example, the requirement exceeds that of attending university; requires transport out of normal operating hours; or requires additional accommodation to that of the usual term time location. These expenses may need to be covered initially by the student before any applicable reimbursement is received.
The current rates for reimbursement can be found here: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund-lsf/travel-and-dual-accommodation-expenses
Course Fees
You will need to have funding in place for your studies before you arrive at the University. Our fees vary depending on the course, mode of study, and whether you are a UK or international student. You can view the breakdown of fees for this programme below.
The University offers a range of merit-based, subject-specific, and country-focused scholarships for UK and international students. To help support students from outside of the UK, we offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.
Course -Specific Funding and Bursaries
From September 2023, pre-registration undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare students can apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF).
If eligible, you will receive:
- A training grant of £5,000 GBP per academic year.
- Increased parental support of £2,000 GBP, if you have at least one dependent child under 15 years, or under 17 years if registered with special educational needs.
- Increased money back for excess travel and temporary accommodation costs (Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses) while you're on your practice placement.
- Students experiencing financial hardship (Exceptional Support Fund).
For more information and to see your eligibility, visit: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund-lsf
Please note, this government bursary is available to Home students only. Details on scholarships and bursaries available to Overseas and EU students can be found online: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/scholarshipsandbursaries/
Please note that International students will not be eligible for support for travel and accommodation.
Course -Specific Additional Costs
Students are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and general living costs relating to placements.
Placement expenses for travel, and accommodation may be reimbursed by NHS Bursaries where, for example, the requirement exceeds that of attending university; requires transport out of normal operating hours; or requires additional accommodation to that of the usual term time location. These expenses may need to be covered initially by the student before any applicable reimbursement is received.
The current rates for reimbursement can be found here: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund-lsf/travel-and-dual-accommodation-expenses
Funding Your Study
Postgraduate Funding Options
Find out more about the optional available to support your postgraduate study, from Master's Loans to scholarship opportunities. You can also find out more about how to pay your fees and access support from our helpful advisors.
Academic Contact
For more information about this course, please contact the Programme Leader.
Nicola Deveaux
ndeveaux@lincoln.ac.uk
Postgraduate Events
To get a real feel for what it is like to study at the University of Lincoln, we hold a number of dedicated postgraduate events and activities throughout the year for you to take part in.
