Length

1 year full-time,
2 years part-time

Department

Department of Health Sciences, Hull York Medical School

Start date

September 2025 (semester dates)

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Develop your skills and knowledge in mental health research, supported by clinical and academic experts in the field.

Throughout your degree, you will learn from staff who are active researchers in mental health and who bring expertise from clinical backgrounds in psychology, psychiatry and mental health nursing to their teaching.

You will be supported to develop your knowledge, skills and understanding about mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis. You will graduate equipped with the skills to take on roles in mental health research and clinical settings, and to have a positive impact on improving individual and population mental health and wellbeing.

The course is flexible and can be delivered on a full- or part-time basis, attracting people who might also be working alongside their study.

This course can also be taken as a Master of Science (MSc).

6th in the UK

For research power in health sciences in the Times Higher Education ranking of the latest REF results (2021).

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Expert tuition

You will learn from academics and researchers with extensive experience in mental health research and clinical practice.

Graduate employability

You will be supported in your employment goals right from the first semester with dedicated careers guidance and research skills workshops.

Course content

Your degree will develop your knowledge and experience in the field of mental health research. Focusing on both research and practice, you'll study a range of modules designed to introduce you to the common concepts and approaches in mental health research.

You will gain the core research skills required to succeed in a mental health setting, whether you choose to develop your career through further academic study, research or clinical practice.

Modules

Core modules

Option modules

You will study two option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course

The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. For further information please get in touch.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

articulate and apply the epidemiological principles and methods that underpin identification of the burden and determinants of mental health.
critically examine the evidence base for mental health research and practice using this analysis to formulate research questions.
critically examine the research process including ethics, data protection and clinical governance procedures with specific consideration of the complexities associated with research in mental health and addiction.
critically discuss research design, methods, and approaches to analysis, both quantitative and qualitative within the field of mental health and/or addictions research.
demonstrate synthesis in the interpretation of findings, drawing conclusions that add to the existing knowledge base.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2025/26

Study mode	UK (home)	International and EU
Full-time (1 year)	£8,410	£19,440
Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation.	£3,645	£9,720

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.

UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Chevening Scholarships

We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

You will be taught through a combination of lectures and interactive workshops, designed to provide practical experience and skills training for carrying out mental health research.

Facilities

You will have access to classrooms and labs in the Department of Health Sciences, and to our virtual learning environment for online resources to facilitate your learning.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

You will be assessed throughout your degree in a variety of ways, including exams and a range of written assignments.

Support will be available during your degree with the Writing Centre and Maths Skills Centre, who can help you develop your academic and study skills. You will be supported by an academic tutor who will work with you to provide feedback on your work and identify your strengths and areas for improvement.

A student from the Department of Education in a seminar.

Careers and skills

From the moment you begin studying with us, we'll work with you on your personal development goals and future career aspirations. Whether you're interested in clinical psychology, a PhD or moving straight into a clinical or research role, we provide bespoke support ensuring you graduate in the best position to take your next steps.

You’ll have access to careers workshops, research networking opportunities and guidance with clinical psychology and PhD application processes from our programme team.

Graduates from our programme have progressed to clinical roles in the NHS and third sector mental health organisations, including assistant psychology and wellbeing practitioner positions.

Career opportunities

Mental health research
Clinical psychologist
Government and third sector research and policy roles
Further study with a PhD

Transferable skills

Research analysis, design and evaluation
Translating research into practice
Problem solving
Communicating to a wide range of audiences

Entry requirements

	Typical offer
Undergraduate degree	2.2 or equivalent in a relevant subject, for example, psychology, nursing, social work or medicine. Applications are also welcome from intercalating medical students, and from candidates with sufficient work experience in mental health.
Other international qualifications	Equivalent qualifications from your country

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

	Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator)	6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR	B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT	7, minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo	120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT	B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic	70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
Kaplan Test of English Language	459-494, with 426-458 in all other components
Skills for English	B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic	61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL	87, minimum 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III	Merit in all requirements

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.