Nursing: Mental Health (PGDip)

Award
Postgraduate Diploma
Typical Offer
2:2 degree View full entry requirements
Duration
2 years
Course Type
Full-time
Campus
Highfield
Next course starts
September 2025

About this course

Qualify as a registered mental health nurse in just 2 years with this postgraduate diploma (PGDip).
 
This course is ideal for anyone who wants to:
 
  • become a qualified mental health nurse
  • gain an additional mental health nursing registration

You'll develop the skills needed to become a confident and inclusive mental health nurse.

On this mental health nursing diploma, you’ll be taught by a team of experienced experts and join a community ranked third in the UK for Nursing (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024).
 
Our experienced educators and researchers will give you the competence and confidence to thrive in whatever nursing role you take up. With a focus on practical skills and placements, supported by evidence-led theory, you'll have the opportunity to work with leading practices. Our placements are designed to help you develop your skills and knowledge through real-world experience.
 
Placement settings include:
 
  • early intervention teams 
  • community mental health services
  • ADHD assessment clinics
  • child and adolescent mental health services
  • inpatient wards
  • mother and baby units
  • specialist teams  
  • forensics

An experienced registered nurse will work with you as your personal academic tutor, supporting you throughout your studies.

Our students enjoy excellent career progression and post registration opportunities. After graduating you'll be in a strong position to progress into a range of leadership, research and specialist roles.

Support vulnerable communities with a mental health nursing diploma

Graduates from our PGDip in mental health nursing pursue life-long careers in varied roles across the world, including:

  • Community Mental Health Nurse
  • Inpatient Mental Health Nurse
  • Crisis Intervention Nurse
  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Nurse (CAMHS)
  • Forensic Mental Health Nurse

When you complete the diploma you’ll be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You must apply to register within 5 years of completing your course.

Take mental health nursing as an MSc instead

Instead of a PGDip, you can take our MSc in Mental Health Nursing if you meet the recognition of prior learning (RPL) and entry requirements.
 
The MSc programme is also 2 years long and follows the same structure as the PGDip but you'll take an additional dissertation module.

Support for students with a disability/health condition

We are fully committed to supporting students with disabilities who wish to join programmes of study which require the acquisition and practice of professional competencies.

We offer students personal, informal advice by telephone, email or face to face, and we are happy to discuss your specific needs prior to you applying. This could include how your specific needs may impact on your ability to meet the clinical competencies. This will not affect your application in any way, but may help you to select the right programme for you.

Please contact the admissions team for further details.

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

Course lead

Simon Hall is Head of Mental Health Nursing at the University of Southampton and Head of Mental Health Programmes for the Royal College of Nursing. His inclusive and energising education style has won him 2 University of Southampton Vice Chancellor Teaching Awards.

Simon and his team place high importance on the service user, family, and carer voice which they place at the heart of their education programmes. He advocates a mental health nursing curriculum that ensures Southampton students leave with NMC registration and the skills and confidence to make a real difference in clinical practice. Simon is a proud neurodivergent champion which derives from his own experiences. Visit Simon's profile page to learn more about his work.

Course location

This course is based at Highfield.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.