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Mental Health and Wellbeing MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

The course prepares students to make an impact within the field of mental health and wellbeing by equipping them with the knowledge and skills that can open doors to a range of careers.

Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive community. That’s why most of our postgraduate taught students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You will benefit from more regular assessments and feedback, a better study-life balance, and a simplified timetable that provides more time for work, professional development, caring responsibilities, and everything else that's important to you. Our block-taught courses are informed by industry practice, often accredited by professional bodies, and are delivered by passionate and talented academics, who will help you develop the skills to achieve your goals.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

Mental health and wellbeing are increasingly important priorities for individuals, communities and societies worldwide. This course explores the psychological, social and wider factors that influence mental health and wellbeing, alongside evidence-based approaches to supporting mental health and promoting positive wellbeing.

Drawing on perspectives from areas including clinical psychology, counselling and psychotherapy, positive psychology and psychological research, you will critically engage with contemporary theories, evidence and interventions. You will explore both mental health difficulties and the factors that enable individuals and communities to thrive, while developing advanced research, analytical and transferable skills.

Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to connect psychological theory and research with real-world issues, preparing you for further professional training, research and a range of careers in which an understanding of mental health and wellbeing is valuable.

Key features

      • Enhance your employability: Develop your practical and professional skills through inter-professional education (IPE) events involving interactions with people with lived experiences, service users, and health and social care professionals.
      • Build key skills: Develop advanced research and critical thinking skills, including experience of both quantitative and qualitative approaches to studying mental health and wellbeing.
      • Real-world topics: Discover how positive psychology can promote wellbeing, including interventions applicable to settings such as workplaces, education and community. Explore contemporary and established therapeutic approaches used to understand, treat and prevent mental health problems.
      • Research-led and industry-informed teaching: Learn from academic/research active and practitioner psychologists with expertise spanning mental health, clinical psychology, positive psychology, counselling, coaching and psychological wellbeing.
      • State-of-the-art facilities: Access dedicated psychology research facilities and specialist software to support your learning and research. 
      • Focused learning: Modules are delivered through DMU’s innovative block teaching approach, studying fewer modules concurrently and providing a more focused learning experience.

 

Scholarships

DMU offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and bursaries to help you realise your academic ambitions.

International student scholarships

Find out about available international scholarships or visit our fees and funding page for more information.

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Masters by Research

DMU has been shortlisted for the Postgraduate Award in the 2025 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), as voted for by students.

  • UK
  • EU/International

Course code: C84174

Start date: September

Duration: One year full-time

Attendance: 

Students can expect to attend up to three days of classes at the university a week. 

You will also be required to attend an Induction, with some preparation and skills development for postgraduate studies.

You may be required to attend the university for an interview as part of our selection process.

The programme involves inter-professional education (IPE) events. These events may require attendance outside of standard teaching days.

Fees and funding:

2026/27 full-time for UK student: £8,750

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Course code: C84174

Start date: September

Duration: One year full-time

Attendance: 

Students can expect to attend up to three days of classes at the university a week. 

You will also be required to attend an Induction, with some preparation and skills development for postgraduate studies.

You may be required to attend the university for an interview as part of our selection process.

The programme involves inter-professional education (IPE) events. These events may require attendance outside of standard teaching days.

Location of study: DMU Leicester UK

Fees and funding:

Full-time 2026/27 fees for international students: £17,300

Find out more about postgraduate course fees and available funding.

Find out more about additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

Please visit dmu.ac.uk/international for more information or call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

 

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

  • Applicants are usually expected to have (or be predicted to obtain) a 2:2 honours degree award or higher from a BPS-accredited psychology course.
  • Applications will also be considered from students who hold a 2:1 honours degree from a relevant but non-psychology based course.
  • Applicants should have studied at least one Psychology module at undergraduate level, and have undertaken training in quantitative/qualitative research methods and data analysis.
  • Other appropriately qualified/experienced applicants with a science or social science background will be considered on the basis of the university's accreditation for prior learning/accreditation prior experiential learning procedures.
  • You will also be asked to complete a declaration form before you begin your studies.
  • Applicants may be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process. If you are unable to attend, alternative arrangements may be made.
English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it. 

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessment

Academic expertise

 

Course modules

The MSc consists of theoretical, work-related and research-based modules as described below. Please note that ALL modules are compulsory for successful completion of the award. There are no optional modules.

  • Introduction to Mental Health (15 credits)
    Explore contemporary understandings of mental health through psychological, social and cultural perspectives. You will critically consider theories, research, policy and practice, alongside the wider social factors that shape mental health and experiences of mental health difficulties. Topics include inequalities and the social determinants of mental health, with consideration of the experiences of minoritised and underserved groups.
  • Introduction to Wellbeing (15 credits)
    Explore key theories and research in positive psychology and psychological wellbeing, examining what enables individuals to function well and experience fulfilling lives. Topics may include mindfulness, post-traumatic growth, disability, relationships and sustainable happiness.
  • Wellbeing in the Modern World (30 credits)
    Explore the factors that shape wellbeing in contemporary society and critically examine how our social, cultural and physical environments can influence how people live and thrive. You will consider current issues such as digital technology and wellbeing, culture and ethnicity, economic influences on wellbeing, and our relationship with nature.
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing: Assessments and Interventions (30 credits) 
    Explore the assessment and understanding of common mental health difficulties, including anxiety, depression, and substance use, alongside a range of psychotherapeutic and wellbeing-focused approaches to intervention. You will critically consider the theories and evidence underpinning different approaches and their application to supporting mental health and wellbeing.
  • Research Methods for Applied Psychologists (15 credits)
    Develop your understanding of how psychological research is designed and conducted within applied settings. You will explore the research process, from developing appropriate research questions and selecting suitable research designs through to data collection and analysis, with a particular emphasis on qualitative research methods relevant to mental health and wellbeing.
  • Research Methods for Understanding and Evaluating Mental Health and Wellbeing (15 credits)
    Develops a range of quantitative and transferable research methods skills situated in the context of mental health and wellbeing.
  • Research dissertation (60 credits)
    Undertake an independent research project exploring a mental health/wellbeing topic of interest to you. Supported by an academic supervisor, you will apply the research skills developed throughout the course to design and conduct a study, analyse and interpret your findings, and communicate your research through an extended academic dissertation. The project provides an opportunity to develop expertise in a specialist area while gaining valuable experience of the research process from inception to completion.

You also have the opportunity to undertake one of two combinations of modules and exit with a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert), or undertake all modules, except the dissertation and exit with a Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip); as well as completing the full MSc programme.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching typically includes lectures, group seminars and individual tutorials. You are encouraged to become an independent and proactive learner, and we will recommend reading and electronic resources for independent study to help develop the breadth and depth of your knowledge.

Students are provided with the opportunity to attend and participate in two short one-day inter-professional education (IPE) events within clinical and community contexts.

Learning activities are designed to help you develop your teamwork, presentation and problem-solving skills, plus more traditional academic skills such as synthesis, evaluation and application. We also help you to develop your skills and understanding in professional areas such as ethics and reflective practice.

You will benefit from the support of a personal academic tutor, who you are encouraged to meet with regularly. We also offer a range of additional support services to help you develop the skills required for Master’s level study.

Assessment is based exclusively on coursework, for which bespoke guidance materials are provided. The kinds of coursework that you will undertake are varied, and include:

  • Formal essays
  • Research reports
  • Presentations
  • Scoping Reviews
  • Case studies

The dissertation provides you with an experience of the research process from its inception to completion.

Teaching contact hours

Contact hours may vary in different weeks but typically on a full-time programme you can expect around 3 full days of teaching, which will include small and medium group teaching and regular individual tutorials. Students will also be expected to undertake personal study outside of scheduled teaching.

Academic expertise
The course is taught by a range of experienced psychologists, which includes a mixture of academic psychologists and practitioner psychologists. The teaching team has expertise across areas including mental health, clinical psychology, positive psychology, psychological wellbeing, coaching and counselling. Staff in Psychology are currently undertaking research related to mental health and wellbeing. More specifically, this includes research looking at digital wellbeing, the implications of materialistic values, hoarding behaviours, bereavement, and African perspectives on wellbeing.

Research in the Division of Psychology
The Division of Psychology at De Montfort University prides itself on its thriving research culture. In REF2021 (Research Excellent Framework), psychology earned several accolades: 75% of our research impact was ranked World-leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*), and our research power was ranked 7th relative to other post-92 universities (and 38th across the sector). Our research expertise and experiences feed directly into our teaching, helping to inform both our Undergraduate and Postgraduate provisions. 

Facilities and features

 
Placements
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Health and Life Sciences facilities

Investment of £12 million in Health and Life Sciences has developed our first-class teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom. 

We offer excellent facilities including dedicated computer laboratories with the latest analysis software, individual research cubicles, interview rooms, and an observation suite, all supported by our psychology technicians.  Psychology students benefit from access to a suite of research rooms and computer laboratories which are restricted to Psychology postgraduate students. The Psychology Division also provides a wide range of software and equipment to support the development of experimental studies and resources to facilitate the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data - both electronically and in person.

Library services

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Learning Zone, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Learning zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
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Inter-Professional Education (IPE) Events

All on-campus students are provided with the opportunity to attend and participate in two short one-day inter-professional education (IPE) events within clinical and community contexts. These involve meeting, observing, and working alongside service users and healthcare professionals from a range of backgrounds.

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Graduate careers

The course develops a range of transferable skills valued across research, health, wellbeing and related sectors, including critical thinking, evidence evaluation, research design, quantitative and qualitative research, communication, reflective practice and the application of psychological knowledge to real-world issues. 
Graduates may use these skills in roles related to mental health and wellbeing, research, health and social care, education, public health, charities and third-sector organisations, or in other settings where understanding behaviour and wellbeing is important.

The MSc also provides a strong foundation for further study and professional development. Graduates may progress to PhD study or use the course to strengthen their preparation for further professional training in areas such as clinical psychology, counselling, psychotherapy or coaching, subject to the entry requirements of those training routes.
Please note that this course does not itself provide a practitioner qualification or eligibility to practise as a psychologist, counsellor or psychotherapist.

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DMU Global

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

 

Take your next steps

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