Nursing (Mental Health) PGDip
Ready to expand your role in nursing? Join a dedicated programme for registered nurses that enables you to train in a second field of nursing and gain eligibility to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a qualified mental health nurse.
Overview
| Course length: | 1 year full-time |
|---|---|
| Start dates: | September 2025 |
| Location: | Edge Hill University |
| Subject(s): | Mental HealthNursing |
| Faculty: | Health, Social Care and Medicine |
| Department: | Nursing and Midwifery |
Are you a qualified adult, children’s or learning disability nurse? Do you have current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council? Want to prepare for an additional professional role in mental health nursing? As health service delivery becomes more integrated, this PGDip in mental health nursing meets the demand for highly employable nurses who can work with complex morbidities across the lifespan – and within different settings.
Joining us, you’ll learn how to deliver care to adults and children with a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, psychosis and personality disorder. Each person will need individually-tailored education, treatment and guidance to manage their symptoms. Up for the challenge?
NMC approved
Once you graduate, you’ll be eligible to register as a qualified mental health nurse with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). You’ll have the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to plan, coordinate and deliver care in a safe, compassionate and effective way.
Nursing & Midwifery Council
Course features
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Professional accreditation
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Professional practice placements
What you'll study
This programme adheres closely to the six core values of the NHS. These values, enshrined within the NHS Constitution, have been developed by patients, the public and staff to inspire passion in the NHS, guide it in the 21st century, and provide common ground for cooperation in achieving shared aspirations.
In this PGDip in mental health nursing you’ll learn the skills, knowledge and attributes needed to align with the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s standards of proficiency.
Gain all the skills needed for a second field of nursing while consolidating your existing knowledge and skills. As well as a big focus on leadership and management, we’ll cover medication, pharmacology, consent, safeguarding and law. Armed with all of this knowledge, you’ll experience a smooth transition to professional practice in your chosen additional field.
How you'll study
Seminars, lectures, work-based learning, tutorials and technology enhanced learning will be used to deliver this programme. While the majority of classes will take place at Edge Hill University, some learning may involve studying at sites other than Ormskirk in which case you will be responsible for travel and parking costs.
You will develop confidence in mental health nursing through a combination of simulated education and extensive time in practice undertaken in hospitals and community settings within the NHS, local authorities, and independent and voluntary organisations. Practice settings will be drawn from our network of more than 600 placement locations across Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire. You will be supported by a practice placement assessor and supervisor.
Placements will include weekend, early morning, evening and night work to ensure access to a full range of practice experiences across 24-hour care. You will be responsible for travel and parking costs while on placement.
How you'll be assessed
You will be assessed by a written assessment, oral assessment, a simulated practical assessment and an online time-limited assessment.
While on practice placement, you will be supported in the development of the application of knowledge and skills, leading to the assessment of related proficiencies.
Who will be teaching you
You will be taught by professionals in mental health nursing, other fields of nursing, and other specialist areas within health and social care.
The programme team represent a range of qualified, research-active professionals with extensive experience of working in the health and social care sector.
Most importantly, service users, carers and their families will be involved in facilitating your learning so that you gain an understanding of the impact care has on individual groups.
Entry criteria
Entry requirements
You must have current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a nurse and provide evidence of having worked as a registrant in your intended second field. It is a Nursing and Midwifery Council requirement that any prior experiential learning used to gain entry to the course is capable of being mapped to the standards of proficiency for registered nurses.
You should have a degree equivalent to UK first-class or second-class honours (2:2 or above). Health-related subjects are preferred but not essential. Other subjects will be considered on an individual basis.
Applicants without a degree may be considered based on practice experience, subject to demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge of the discipline, including an in-depth awareness of current issues. Skills in critical analysis and evaluation, as well as the ability to learn in a flexible, independent manner, are essential.
An interview forms part of the selection process.
If you accept an offer from Edge Hill you will need to satisfy the requirements of the Nursing & Midwifery Council in respect of physical and mental fitness and will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure indicating that you meet the mandatory criteria of ‘Clearance to Work with Children and/or Vulnerable Adults’. Further information will be sent to you after you have firmly accepted an offer.
How to apply
Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.
There’s plenty of opportunities to come take a look around campus. Attend one of our open days to see what life at Edge Hill University is all about.
Book an open day
Facilities
The Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine offers outstanding facilities for the education and training of health and social care professionals.
The contemporary teaching and learning resources include leading edge clinical skills facilities, an 860-seat lecture theatre, and a variety of teaching rooms and social learning spaces.
Where you'll study
Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre
Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine
Learning resources
The Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre offers a variety of simulated environments from home, through primary and emergency care, to secondary care and beyond. The flexible and adaptable facilities include a ward environment, operating theatre, an anatomy and ultrasound resource centre, a ‘Better at Home’ suite, clinical skills area and consultation rooms.
You will benefit from access to a wide variety of healthcare equipment, as well as a range of full-body patient simulators that can breathe, talk, have pulses and can simulate a wide range of symptoms and clinical conditions. This will enable you to undertake practical scenarios in realistic settings, providing ideal preparation for professional practice placements and future employment.
Finance
Tuition fees
UK Full-Time
£9,535
for the course
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Unless you are applying to Student Finance Wales, for student finance purposes you should apply for financial support on Student Finance as if you are an undergraduate Nursing student rather than for postgraduate funding. Student Finance Wales treat the course as postgraduate. Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.
Students on this course may be entitled to the NHS Learner Support Fund if eligible. Visit the NHS Business Services Authority website for further information.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please see our EU student finance page for further details.
Your future career
You’ll graduate with an academic and professional qualification in mental health nursing, building on your existing registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. NMC registration is recognised globally, which opens a wide choice of career options across both fields of practice.
Your opportunities within the NHS, private, voluntary and independent sectors include roles in:
- clinical practice
- research
- leadership
- management
- education
You may choose further professional development and specialism. For example, you’ll have the opportunity to progress to a Masters degree by completing a 60-credit dissertation.
