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Postgraduate

Master of Nursing (Mental Health)

Domestic students International students
Master of Nursing (Mental Health) (MNSG)
Entry requirements
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Study mode
  • External
  • Online
Campus
  • -
Duration
  • 3 years part-time
Start
  • Feb, Jul
Intakes
Note: The Mental Health specialisation contains two courses with mandatory residential schools. Residential Schools will be held at either the UniSQ Toowoomba or UniSQ Ipswich campus.

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Overview

  • Become a valued expert in providing specialised nursing support to people struggling with their mental wellbeing or experiencing symptoms of mental illnesses.
  • Gain a thorough understanding of the theoretical perspectives used in mental health nursing enabling you to develop a holistic appreciation for the intricacies of mental health.
  • Throughout this masters in mental health nursing, you’ll develop the skills and knowledge to understand the transtheoretical notions of change and resistance in various counselling contexts.
  • Extend your knowledge of the purpose of research and research methodologies. Determine effective research design, including ethical considerations, further complementing the specialist mental health nurse training you’ll receive throughout this masters degree.

Career outcomes

  • Equip yourself with the mental health nurse training required to establish yourself as a specialist nurse. Mental health nurses can work in a variety of healthcare settings within the community in the public or private sectors, emergency care, and rehabilitation centres.

Entry requirements

  • Completed a 3-year bachelor degree in the area of nursing from an Australian university, or equivalent.
  • Hold a current Professional Registration as a Division 1 nurse, or equivalent, with either Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or relevant regulatory body in applicant's home country.

Some courses within this degree are designed specifically to develop advanced mental health nurse knowledge and skills, therefore have the following requirements: 

  • MHN5120: this course is suitable for those nurses new to the mental health area and nurses not currently working in a mental health specific setting.  
  • MHN5160: this course builds on foundational content in MHN5120. It is recommended but not required that you are currently working as a nurse in a mental health specific setting.
  • MHN5180: this course requires students to reflect on clinical nursing practice specific to a mental health environment. To best support your success, evidence of six months reflective practice (clinical supervision) is required from enrolment into the course.   
 

English language requirements

You are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires an overall score of  IELTS 7.0, or equivalent, and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four skills areas of listening, reading, speaking and writing. Additional requirements regarding prior education taught and assessed solely in English and prior employment - refer to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)'s Registration Standard for further information. 

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 12 units.

Courses to be studied Units
5 x core courses 5
5 x specialisation courses  5
Research pathway 
OR
Clinical pathway		 2
Total 12

Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for an example of courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Residential schools

This degree has a mandatory attendance requirement for some of the residential school courses. All students will have the opportunity to come on-campus for residential schools, where you will attend face-to-face lectures and tutorials to gain practical experience, use facilities and specialist equipment, and meet staff and other students.

Other specialisations

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Commonwealth supported

The Federal Government contributes to the cost of your course and you need to pay a student contribution.

AUD 8948
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 26640

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2024. 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Residential school costs

This degree includes an on-campus residential school component that involves travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Loan to help you pay your fees

You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP.

You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.

Scholarships

At UniSQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.

Apply direct to UniSQ

Intakes

You can select to start your study in Semester 1 or 2.

Study period  Application closing date Orientation  Study period start date Finish date
Semester 1, 2024  Monday 19 February Monday 12 February  Monday 19 February  Friday 14 June
Semester 2, 2024 Monday 8 July Monday 1 July Monday 8 July  Friday 1 November

More information on applying key dates is available.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at UniSQ that is relevant to you.

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Begin your study journey today with the university rated 5/5 stars for graduates starting salaries* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide 2024

Talk to us
How do you become a mental health nurse in Australia?
The majority of mental health nurses commence their education with a undergraduate degree such as the Bachelor of Nursing which qualifies them to become a Registered Nurse (RN). This study is followed by a Master of Mental Health Nursing or similar postgraduate qualification. At UniSQ, we offer a Master of Nursing with a specialisation in Mental Health.
Why study a Masters in Mental Health Nursing?

You may be interested in progressing in your career, learning something different or to fulfil a personal goal. A masters in mental health nursing may be the perfect learning experience that allows you to extend your knowledge and excel in your career path all while supporting the mental health needs of your community.

With a demand for mental health workers, employment opportunities for nurses with a mental health qualification will continue to grow.

What are the requirements for entry?

The entry requirements to study a masters in mental health nursing may vary depending on the education provider you choose.

To study a Master of Nursing (Mental Health) at UniSQ, you need to have:

  • Completed a 3-year bachelor degree in the area of nursing from an Australian university, or equivalent.
  • Hold a current Professional Registration as a Division 1 nurse, or equivalent, with either Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or relevant regulatory body in applicant's home country.

If you don’t meet the entry requirements, we have a nursing pathway option to suit you.

Is a Master in Mental Health Nursing right for me?

Do you want to upskill, looking at a career change or want to compliment your existing nursing and allied health qualifications? A Mental health nursing qualification might be for you! When looking at your career prospects, consider your personal strengths and skill sets. A great mental health nurse has:

  • empathy and patience
  • strong listening skills
  • compassion and wants to help others
  • a commitment to patient advocacy.
Are flexible study options available?
Yes! You can choose to study our Master of Nursing (Mental Health) online or externally. Learn your subject theory online and attend on-campus residential schools when required. Regardless of how you choose to study, you’ll experience the same level of support and opportunities to connect with others. Discover more about the different ways to study at UniSQ.
Why study a Masters in Mental Health Nursing with UniSQ?

Discover why you should enhance your skills and study a Master of Nursing (Mental Health):

  • Our research in nursing has been evaluated as world class in the recent ERA results.
  • Benefit from industry-relevant, practical and theoretical training.
  • Gain real-world experience and become industry ready with residential schools.