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Mental Health Studies (Top-up) MSc

This top-up MSc conversion course is for middlesex alumni with a PG Diploma in Nursing Mental Health or Mental Health Practice

Mental Health Studies (Top-up) MSc

Code
PGB76B
Start
September 2023
Duration
1 year part-time
Attendance
Part-time
Fees
£32 per dissertation credit (UK)
£46 per dissertation credit (EU/INT)
Course leader
Alfonso Pezzella

Why choose Mental Health Studies (Top-up) MSc at Middlesex?

If you're a Middlesex University graduate, this top-up master's degree will allow you to continue your development in the field of mental health by undertaking a research project and converting your PGDip into a full MSc qualification.

We anticipate that completing this MSc will enable you to contribute to the enhancement of professional mental health practice, research and service development.

Please note: This course does not lead to registration as a mental health nurse or other mental health practitioner. Applicants wishing to undertake a professional nursing programme, please visit our Nursing pages.

What you will gain

By the end of this course, you will have refined your project management skills by carrying out your own research project. You will also have developed high-quality data-gathering and analysis skills.

By joining us on this Mental Health Studies top-up course, you'll have the opportunity to:

  • Design and implement your own research project
  • Network and work with researchers in the field of mental health
  • Learn at a leading provider of health education, with a consistently high student satisfaction rating and established relationships with London's leading mental health trusts.

3 great reasons to pick this course

  • Excellent reputation
    Top 2 university in the UK – Times Higher Education, Young Universities,  2022
  • Postgraduate success
    93% of our postgraduate students go on to work or further study  – Graduate Outcomes, 2022
  • Hands-on professional experience
    Our academic staff are qualified social workers, nurses, and professionals from other related fields, such as psychology, social policy, anthropology and sociology

Find out more

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.

About your course

This master's degree consists of a single module. If you successfully complete it, you'll be able to convert your PGDip into an MSc Mental Health Studies.

The module is a combined research methods and dissertation module which will allow you to study social research design and rigour in social research processes including sampling, data gathering and data analysis methods. You will learn about mixed methods, qualitative and quantitative research methods and you will gain an understanding of conducting your own research project. The module will run in October for 5 days (10 sessions in total) and you will work on your dissertation under supervision.

Modules

  • Module

    • Developing Research Capability (60 credits) - Compulsory

      This module focuses on developing your research capability as part of your professional practice within a health and social care context by designing and implementing your own research proposal. You will be expected to formulate a research question or problem and create a plan of work in the form of a research proposal to answer the question or find a solution to the problem. You will also construct a robust ethical framework to guide decision making during the research process.

To find out more about this course, please download the Mental Health Studies (Top-up) MSc specification (PDF).

How we'll teach you

We'll support you in refining your research problem or question through online workshops, individual tutorials and supervision. We expect that you'll already have a research topic you wish to investigate so we'll support you early on in your studies and help you refine the topic into a researchable question.

The course is delivered by our experienced academics and industry partners in person and via digital platforms. Our learning activities include lectures, presentations, webinars, one-to-one tutorials and group projects.

Support

You'll have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.

Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you'll have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.

You'll have access to one-to-one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts.

Where will you study?

This course is delivered online but you are welcome to visit the campus any time.

Timetable

Your course timetable will balance your study commitments with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Teaching vs independent study

In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on your course.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.

Typical weekly breakdown

A typical week looks like this:

Learning

Hours per week

Online

6

Independent study

10

Learning terms

Online learning: This is teaching that is delivered online using tools like Skype or Zoom, as well as work that you do yourself using online teaching resources.

Independent study: This is the work you do in your own time including reading and research.

Coursework and assessments

The module uses three types of assessment:

  • Online presentations
  • Production of a 3,000-word research proposal
  • A research project/dissertation of 12,000 words.

Feedback

You'll evaluate your work, skills and knowledge and identify areas for improvement. Sometimes you'll work in groups and assess each other's progress.

Each term, you'll get regular feedback on your learning.

  1. UK entry
  2. International entry
  3. How to apply

The fees below are for the 2024/25 academic year:

UK students (self-funding)1

Part-time per dissertation credit: £31.50

Other funding options

You could be eligible to receive course fees via:

  • CPPD contracts between NHS trusts and Middlesex University
  • Sponsorship by your employer (not under a CPPD contract)

International students (self-funding)2

Part-time per dissertation credit: £59

Other funding options

You could be eligible to receive course fees via:

  • CPPD contracts between NHS trusts and Middlesex University
  • Sponsorship by your employer (not under a CPPD contract)

Additional costs

We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.

  • Free – laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing
  • Free specialist software for your course
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

Financial support

We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.

Postgraduate scholarships

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:

  • The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
  • The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
  • The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
  • The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
  • Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees.

For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.

Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

How can the Mental Health Studies (Top-up) MSc support your career?

Our university's postgraduate courses have been recognised for their ability to support your career.

Career paths

The Mental Health Studies course has been specifically designed to further your career within the field of mental health. It does this by enhancing your existing knowledge and allowing you the opportunity for personal development, self-managed learning and expanding your professional network.

You will have the opportunity to gain a qualification that is directly relevant to your field of work. Past graduates have gone on to study Clinical Psychology programmes.

Some of the roles our graduates have gone on to work in include senior nurses, clinical psychologists, social workers, and previous students have worked for the NHS or private sector.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognised with the following awards:

  • The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023
  • A top 10 university for producing CEOs – Novuana, 2023.

MDXworks

MDXworks, our employability service, will help you make the most of your experience and connections to achieve your career goals. You'll have unlimited access to one-to-one advice and support from specialists in your sector plus 24/7 online support. You can also make the most of events and networking opportunities, on and off campus.

Global alumni network

You’ll be studying with students from 122 countries who’ll become part of your personal global network. You'll learn how to work with a global mindset and make invaluable connections on your course for your chosen industry.

The Sheppard Library

Our library is open 24 hours a day during the term and includes:

  • Over 1,000 study areas with rooms for group study and over 600 computer spaces
  • 350,000 books and e-books and more than 24,000 online journals

Free laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

Alfonso Pezzella
Programme leader

Alfonso Pezzella is the course leader for MSc Mental Health Studies. Alfonso teaches on a variety of topics including research methods, SPSS, mental health, LGBT issues and transcultural issues in health. Alfonso is currently working on a European project (IENE 5) led by Professor Irena Papadopoulos (Middlesex University) and five other European countries, which aims to develop a MOOC in Intercultural Communication Skills and Patient Safety. He is also working on various research projects on LGBT inclusion in the curriculum in health and social care and LGBT and mental health.


We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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