Master of Mental Health Nursing

Degree Level Postgraduate

Years

Australian students

Start Date
February

Campus
City East

Duration
1.5 year(s) full-time

Program Code
IMMH

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to:
- hold a Bachelor of Nursing degree or equivalent from a recognised higher education insitution; or
- have completed hospital training to become a Registered Nurse or Registered Mental Health Nurse;
AND
- hold a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing or an equivalent qualification.
In addition, applicants must:
- hold a current Practising Certificate as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; and
- have completed a minimum of one year of clinical experience as a Registered Nurse in a mental health setting.
View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

Not offered in 2014

Aim

The program provides Registered Nurses working in mental health settings with qualifications in their professional field of practice, advances knowledge of professional issues, and develops their ability to independently undertake projects or research.

Content & Structure

The program consists of 54 units of study offered over 1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent. Students undertake 13.5 units of core courses, 22.5 units of negotiated studies, and 18 units of minor thesis or project.

Courses available as negotiated studies integrate knowledge related to the biosciences, social and behavioural sciences, technology, health policy and advanced clinical decision-making, and innovative and scholarly practice. These course also provide students with the skills to be lifelong learners and to be able to extend their competence and knowledge through critical analysis and reflection. Core courses allow students to identify policy and practice issues in nursing, and explore health team collaboration in their field of study. Emphasis is also placed on understanding research methods and how they relate to practice and processes within the health care sector. Students will have the benefit of integrating research findings into their practice. The project or thesis provides students with the opportunity to be involved in research or project work which explores evidence that substantiates their practice.

From 4 August 2025, the University of South Australia will no longer be accepting applications for new students. Study at Adelaide University.

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
FIRST YEAR
Core Courses (13.5 units)
Critical Perspectives on Nursing and Health Services	HLTH 5136	9
Applying Research to Nursing and Midwifery Practice	NURS 5124	4.5
Negotiated Studies Courses (22.5 units) chosen from the following:			Note(s): 2	Rule(s): 1
Accounting for Management M	ACCT 5011	4.5
Ageing with Chronic and Complex Conditions	NURS 5131	4.5
Complex Health Problems in Rural Settings	HLTH 5152	4.5
Facilitating Practice-Based Learning in the Health Environment	HLTH 5137	4.5
Frameworks for Practice in the Care of Older People	NURS 5129	4.5
Health Economics	BUSS 5185	4.5
Health Ethics	HLTH 5002	4.5
Introductory Epidemiology	HLTH 5131	4.5
Introductory Statistics	HLTH 5129	4.5
Issues in Indigenous Health	HLTH 5121	4.5
Leadership and Management in Health 1	NURS 5111	4.5
Introduction to Human Resource Management	BUSS 5307	4.5
Nursing Curricula Development	NURS 5120	4.5
Pharmacology for Health Professionals	PHAR 5041	4.5
Qualitative Methods	HLTH 5124	4.5
SECOND YEAR
Nursing Minor Thesis 1	NURS 5003	9	Note(s): 3	Rule(s): 3,4
and
Nursing Minor Thesis 2	NURS 5004	9	Note(s): 3	Rule(s): 3,4
OR
Project 1	NURS 5103	9		Rule(s): 3,4
and
Project 2	NURS 5070	9		Rule(s): 3,4

Rules & notes

Rules

1. Credit for previous studies or in recognition of prior learning may be granted in accordance with University Policy. Maximum credit allowed is normally one-third of the total units of the program.

2. Registered Nurses with mental health qualifications (Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing) will be granted 18 units credit in the Master of Mental Health Nursing.

3. Students must complete 18 units of either Minor Thesis 1 and 2 or Project 1 and 2 as the final two courses of their program.

4. The Project or Thesis courses must relate to mental health nursing practice.

Notes

1. Students undertaking Negotiated Studies will, with the approval of the Program Director, select 22.5 units of study from a range of courses offered, noting that not all courses will be offered every year and may also be subject to demand.

2. Core courses (13.5 units) comprise Collaborative Approaches to Health (9 units) and Applying Research to Nursing and Midwifery (4.5 units).

3. Students undertaking a minor thesis of study will be assigned a supervisor and contract their study by negotiation in accordance with the University's guidelines on research.