Mental Health Nursing MSc
- Nursing, midwifery and healthcare
- Postgraduate
Make a real difference by supporting people towards recovery. Studying a masters in Mental Health Nursing at Kingston University will give you the specialist knowledge and experience you need to become a registered mental health nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Help people live healthier, happier lives
Deepen your expertise and open doors to a rewarding career with life-enhancing impact.
One in four people experience mental health problems every year, which means the skills you’ll develop on this course are more important than ever. You’ll learn from a team of expert nurses, lecturers and researchers, preparing to make independent, fulfilling lives possible for service users, their relatives and carers.
A large part of this course will be spent on placement or in our award-winning simulation suites. This offers the perfect blend of learning styles and settings to help you refine your practical and therapeutic skills.
You’ll even receive a £5,000 per year, non-repayable NHS Training Grant to support your studies. Check out the NHS Business Service Authority website to find out more.
During the course, you’ll study the core elements of all fields of nursing, as well as modules specific to mental health. You’ll explore the diverse needs and contexts of mental health service users by analysing and applying research and evidence.
By the time you graduate, you’ll be familiar with a range of psychological approaches used in clinical practice, and be prepared to become a registered nurse. Previous students have secured roles in a range of settings, including hospitals, community teams, prisons, forensics, CAMHS and more.
By the time I sat my final exams, I'd already been offered two jobs. All I needed to do was to pass my exams and choose which job offer to accept, then I could start work as a registered mental health nurse.
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at Kingston University. Not only are we ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, we’re also top in London for Nursing and Midwifery (The Complete University Guide 2026).
We even won Teaching Innovation of the Year for our public health elective placement at the 2023 Student Nursing Times Awards.
A portion of your learning will take place at our award-winning simulation suite, which creates realistic environments to help you develop skills in clinical, community and practice health settings.
You’ll take part in innovative simulations, where role players and full-body manikins will offer unique opportunities to build the knowledge and behaviours needed for safe and effective patient care.
Outside of the University, you’ll spend time on placement. Our placement providers include South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust, Surrey and Borders Partnership Trust, South London and Maudsley (SLAM) NHS Foundation Trust, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and independent hospitals, including the Priory Group.
Many of our staff are active in research, often in partnership with NHS trusts. That means they bring the latest thinking and best practice to your studies, with recent themes including integrated working, implementation, emergency, cardiovascular and critical care, and more.
Kingston University is top in London for Nursing and Midwifery (The Complete University Guide 2026).
Top University in London and Top 2 in the UK for Mental Health Nursing, The Guardian University Guide 2026.
Accreditations
Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the purpose of registration as a qualified nurse (mental health).
Course content
Mental health nursing is underpinned by the notion of 'recovery', and you work collaboratively with service users to build on their strengths and manage their problems to encourage the best quality of life.
The first year is divided into two parts. In part one you will undertake a bridging module introducing you to the foundations of nursing.
In part two you will look at the context of nursing within mental health. In your second year (part three) you will learn about the analysis and application of research and evidence base, the complexities of nursing at an individual and organisational level as well as preparing for your transition to registered nurse.
Year 1 modules (parts one and two)
Year 1 introduces the foundations of nursing and healthcare. You will study the role of the mental health nurse and the diverse needs and contexts of mental health service users.
Core modules
Year 2 modules (part three)
Year 2 examines the analysis and application of research and evidence and the complexities of nursing at individual and organisational levels. You will learn a range of psychological approaches used in clinical practice and prepare for your transition to registered nurse.
Core modules
Career opportunities
After you graduate
Recent Kingston postgraduates have gone on to a variety of nursing careers in acute and community settings within the NHS and independent sector. Options include roles in hospitals, hospitals, GPs, community mental health nursing teams, prisons, drug and alcohol services, forensics, CAMHS, eating disorder units, private hospitals and third sector organisations.
Links with the health sector
Our academic staff liaise closely with NHS and independent sector organisations about learning, teaching, assessment and research.
Teaching and assessment
We offer a range of innovative, flexible approaches to learning and teaching. This includes:
- Classroom based learning
- Simulated practical exercises
- Case based learning
- Clinical placements
- Self-directed learning
- Individual and group working
- Research
- Online resources
Fees and funding
Fees for future course years
This is a two-year full-time course.
Home students will be invoiced at the standard full-time undergraduate tuition fee rate for both years.
International students will pay the published annual fee for Years 1 and 2. If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.
NHS Training Grant
Nursing students on pre-registration courses will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which doesn’t need to be paid back, subject to eligibility criteria. For more information, please visit the NHS Business Service Authority.
Scholarships and bursaries
Interested in studying a masters in Mental Health Nursing at Kingston? The following funding support is available:
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop-down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to UCAS where you will complete your application. You should:
- Submit your application between the beginning of the September before you come to university and mid-January if you're a British or EU applicant
- Visit the UCAS website for exact dates and more information
- Complete your application in full, including your personal details and academic record
- Supply a reference and personal statement
- Submit your application as early as possible to have the best chance of receiving the right offers.
- The UCAS code for Kingston University is K84.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
What our students and graduates say
I ended up accepting a job in the unit where I'd spent my final placement, so I knew how the unit ran.
Kingston University had lots of support networks in place, ranging from maths help, to support with writing styles and money management. I was able to tap into lots of resources to help me through the study and learning process.