Study mental health with research-led teaching, clinical insight and work-based learning
The MSc Psychology of Mental Health at St Mary’s University is a mental health psychology masters course designed for students seeking a mental health masters or a broader masters in mental health psychology that combines research-led teaching with applied professional experience.
Based on a stunning riverside campus in London, this mental health MSc in London sits within our wider psychology masters London offering. You will learn in a close-knit academic community and benefit from strong links with NHS services, public-health organisations, NGOs, and national and international research consortia. The programme prepares you for a wide range of careers across health, wellbeing, research, digital innovation, and the voluntary and public sectors, as well as for further postgraduate training.
Why study Psychology of Mental Health at St Mary’s?
- Research-led teaching with global impact: students learn from academics who lead major national and international mental-health research, such as PROSPERH and RECONNECTED, and can work with real-world datasets and applied projects that inform policy and practice in the UK and beyond.
- Clinically grounded and community focused: teaching combines psychological theory with lived experience and real-world application. Students learn from mental-health practitioners, service-user speakers, community partners and digital-health innovators, gaining insight into how theory translates into practice across different services and communities.
- A supportive, close-knit environment with strong external links: students study on a riverside London campus in a small cohort, with personalised pastoral and academic support. They benefit from connections with NHS services, public-health organisations, NGOs, community partners and international research consortia, as well as access to specialist laboratories and equipment.
Who is this course for?
This MSc is ideal for:
- Psychology graduates who want to specialise in mental health and are looking for an MSc mental health psychology pathway that blends research training with applied, practice-focused teaching.
- Graduates from related disciplines who wish to move into mental health roles.
- International students seeking a UK based, research intensive mental health qualification.
- Career changers who want to develop practical and research skills for roles across health, wellbeing, research, policy and community settings.
What you will learn
By the end of the programme, you will:
- Develop a strong understanding of mental-health theory, models and the lived experience of people who use mental-health services
- Gain core qualitative and quantitative research skills used in health, social care, academic, policy and industry settings
- Build applied data and digital-literacy skills, including SPSS and evidence evaluation, relevant to research, public health and innovation roles
- Develop professional and ethical awareness for working within diverse mental-health, community, charity and digital-health services
- Strengthen high-level communication, teamwork and reflective skills valued across healthcare, NGOs, education, government and business
Skills you will develop
- Graduates of this MSc gain a versatile skill set that supports wide future employment, including:
- Advanced research and analytical skills for universities, research organisations, public-health teams and digital-health companies
- Evidence-based decision-making to inform policy, service development and organisational change
- Clinical and professional awareness for roles across NHS services, charities, community and youth services
- Digital and data-literacy skills, including SPSS and familiarity with digital mental-health tools and platforms
- Strong written and verbal communication for advocacy, education, leadership and stakeholder engagement
- Teamwork, leadership and reflective practice for interdisciplinary work across health, social care, workplaces and the voluntary sector
- Cultural and ethical competence for working sensitively with diverse and global populations
How you will learn
Teaching is interactive, applied and student-centred. It includes:
- Lectures and seminars
- Case-based clinical and community discussions
- Lived-experience teaching sessions
- Skills workshops and small-group activities
- Research supervision and analytical support
- Academic writing, study-skills and career-development support
You will be part of a small cohort, allowing for regular contact with staff and opportunities to build strong peer support networks. You will join a supportive community with access to personal tutoring, library services, wellbeing support, and tailored international-student guidance.
Research environment
You will join a vibrant research community working on depression, suicide prevention, workplace wellbeing, migrant and refugee mental health, neurodevelopmental conditions (ADHD, autism, and co-occurring presentations), nutritional psychiatry and dietary interventions, and digital mental-health innovations. Staff play leading roles in local, national and international projects, and in the Research Centre for Applied Health and Wellbeing.
Students may have opportunities to:
- Work with real-world datasets from ongoing research
- Contribute to applied research and evaluation projects
- Present at internal research events or external conferences
- Become members of the Research Centre for Applied Health and Wellbeing
Support for international students
The programme welcomes a high proportion of international students and offers tailored support, including:
- One-to-one academic and pastoral support
- Academic writing and study-skills workshops
- Orientation and help with adjusting to UK academic expectations
- Access to visa, finance and wellbeing support services
- A friendly, community-focused campus close to central London
- One-to-one academic and pastoral support
Additional support is available for students from widening participation backgrounds, including first generation students, career experienced students and mature learners.
As a ‘very’ mature student, I was made to feel completely welcome, part of the cohort, and I was supported back into academia with constructive feedback and advice.- Charlotte, student
We're always encouraged and fully supported.- Aikaterini, student
A supportive community
You will learn in a small, close-knit community where lecturers are committed to your well-being. Our current PhD student and research fellow Samuel Lam recently shared his experience at St Mary's and the career development opportunities he has had.
Specialist equipment and facilities
You will access our specialist laboratories, including:
- a one-way observation suite
- sensory controlled booths
- a full-range eye-tracker system
- a full Magstim Neuro Prax TMS/tES system.
Teaching staff
You will be taught and supervised by a team of academics, researchers and practitioners with expertise in:
- Clinical and community mental health
- Global and public mental health
- Digital mental-health innovation
- Workplace mental health and wellbeing
- Migrant and refugee mental health
- Suicide prevention and depression care
These facilities support both teaching and student research projects.
Dr Holly Chinnery
Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Upcoming webinars and events
Postgraduate events
Join us at a postgraduate event
Course content
Modules
Post Graduate Certificate
For students seeking a flexible option, we also offer a PGCert Psychology route. The mental health practice PGCert enables you to complete three Psychology of Mental Health modules, providing a shorter postgraduate qualification that can stand alone or contribute towards the full MSc. These can be taken as either:
- one module in Semester 1 and two in Semester 2, or
- two modules in Semester 1 and one in Semester 2.
Students can choose the pattern that best fits their circumstances, subject to timetabling and module availability.
Post Graduate Diploma
PGDip students complete all of the taught modules listed above, except PMH7012 Independent Project.
Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.
Entry requirements
2:1
Previous degree
- A 2:1 or above in Psychology or a closely related discipline
- Applicants with a 2:2 and those from other academic backgrounds may be considered if they can demonstrate relevant research experience or training in mental health or related fields.
- International applicants must meet the university’s English language requirements
Additional requirement information
We welcome people from different backgrounds and disciplines, and we have people completing the course who do not have a first degree in Psychology; however, we do need to be sure you will cope with the rigours of the MSc, especially in relation to the research requirements.
Further Information
For more information about entry requirements please get in touch.
Fees & funding
September 2025
Home
£10,800
International
£18,450
Funding Information
Msc, PGdip, PGCert
Home and international students may be eligible for government postgraduate loans and external funding. St Mary’s alumni may also be able to access an alumni discount on tuition fees.
Additional costs
*Please note: The above fees are for September 2025 and September 2026 fees will be published shortly. Tuition fees are annual and may increase as detailed in our tuition fee variation disclaimer.
Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme. Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.
For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage.
For more information about whether you are likely to pay home or international fees, please visit our 'understanding your tuition fee status' page.
Alumni discount
A 20% tuition fee discount is available for our alumni (undergraduate and PGCE) planning to study this Master's degree. Those studying for a PGDip of PGCert are not eligible for the discount.
Funding
Except for any iQTS courses, you can check on the UK government website to see if you may be eligible for a loan of up to £12,167 to help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate programme.
Home and international students for non-iQTS courses may also be eligible for external sources of funding. International students should check their eligibility for our International Scholarship.
For more information, please look at our postgraduate funding page.
How the degree is taught
Assessment methods
Assessment is mainly coursework-based and designed to reflect real professional practice. You will complete:
- Essays and critical reviews
- Case analyses and applied reports
- Group and individual presentations and seminars
- Research proposals and projects
- Your MSc dissertation
One module also includes a written exam, which is fully supported with clear guidance, preparation activities and revision sessions. The focus is on consolidating your learning, not memorisation.
Practical experience and partnerships
All students complete a core work-placement module, giving you the chance to apply your learning in real practice settings and build experience that strengthens your CV and career confidence. The MSc is connected to an extensive network of universities, NGOs, health providers and industry partners across the UK and beyond. These connections help students explore a wide range of potential opportunities.
In previous years, students have undertaken placements with organisations such as:
- NHS mental-health services
- MIND and other mental-health charities
- Older-adult care providers
- Inpatient mental-health units
- Community wellbeing organisations
These examples illustrate the types of settings students have chosen. We encourage you to select placements that align with your interests, skills and future career goals.
Teaching across the programme is further enriched by practitioners, lived-experience speakers and experts involved in major UKRI and EU-funded mental-health initiatives.
Career opportunities
This psychology of mental health masters offers strong career pathways into clinical, community, digital-health, research and public-health roles. As a mental health masters programme delivered in London, it is well-positioned for students seeking employment in NHS Trusts, mental-health charities, local authorities, and digital mental-health organisations.
Graduates commonly progress into roles such as:
- Assistant Psychologist
- Mental-health practitioner or support worker
- Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)
- Research Assistant / Research Officer
- Public-health and health-promotion roles
- Wellbeing and inclusion specialist in schools, universities or workplaces
- Digital-health and mental-health tech roles
- Youth and community mental-health roles
- Social prescribing link worker or community navigator
- Policy, advocacy and international development roles
Many graduates also go on to further training, including:
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)
- Counselling Psychology training
- PhD programmes in mental health or psychology
- CBT and low-intensity therapy routes
- Coaching or educational psychology training
- How we support your career development
- One-to-one academic and career mentoring
- Guidance on job applications, interviews and personal statements
- Opportunities to engage in research, placements and community projects
- Networking with practitioners, NGOs, digital-health teams and public-health bodies
- Guest lectures and events linked to national and international mental-health initiatives
Graduate outcomes and student feedback
- Graduate destinations and feedback indicate strong employment and further study outcomes, with many alumni progressing quickly into clinical, research and public health roles or further professional training.
- Student feedback consistently highlights the quality of teaching, the supportive atmosphere and the value of the programme for career development.
- Testimonials and high profile endorsements
Some examples of job roles and areas of work for graduates of Psychology of Mental Health MSc, PGDip, PGCert include:
Apply now
September 2026
Make sure to check our step-by-step guide to application process.
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