School of Nursing and Midwifery

MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Mental Health

Programme code 7525
Duration

3 years
Course type

Part-time
Study location Plymouth
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Are you a registered health or social care professional interested in developing your career in advanced mental health practice? Do you have the support of your employer for workplace-based learning? This clinically and academically focused MSc programme is designed to prepare and support registered practitioners to develop their knowledge and skills to provide and lead high-quality advanced level mental health practice.

Careers with this subject
This programme is aimed at registered health and social care professionals with a minimum of 3-5 years’ mental health experience.It will be of interest to those working in settings that provide mental health services who wish to develop their clinical expertise, research, education and leadership skills to an advanced level of practice and autonomy.
Graduate equipped with the skills to take on lead roles in management, clinical practice and/or education. Career prospects include advanced practice roles such as consultant roles, advanced specialist practice roles, education, research and audit.

Key features
  • Blended learning programme, primarily online distance learning with some on campus days each year.
  • Develop skills to act autonomously in providing care to people requiring complex mental health assessment and treatment.
  • Develop leadership and management skills to support the wider mental health team.
  • Participate in workplace-based experiential learning opportunities with workplace supervisors and other experienced clinicians.
  • Embed independent and supplementary prescribing into your masters degree (subject to profession).
  • Disseminate evidence-based knowledge to enhance services and person-centred care.
  • The programme is aligned to the Health Education England Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in England, the Advanced Practice Mental Health Curriculum and Capabilities Framework and the HEE requirements for supervision of trainee advanced practitioners.
This programme is also available as an Apprenticeship MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Mental Health. For further information on the apprenticeship route and details of how your employer can apply for you please visit our apprenticeship webpage.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • Core modules

  • Year 2

  • Core modules
    Option modules
    Option modules can be two 20 credit modules or one 40 credit (40 credits).
    Option modules can be chosen from the list given below. Please contact the Professional Development Unit Admissions Team to discuss your options.
    • APP701: Advancing practice in context (20 credits)
    • APP707: CBT interventions for mental health professionals (psychosis) (20 credits)
    • APP709: Working with people with a diagnosis of personality disorder (20 credits)
    • APP721: Perinatal mental health (20 credits)
    • APP727: The child and young person with mental health needs (20 credits)
    • APP768: Coaching and leadership (20 credits)
    • APP741: Advocacy and education for quality improvement in practice (A-EQUIP) (20 credits)
    • APP744: Substance misuse and dual diagnosis (20 credits)
    • APP759: Advancing knowledge of learning and teaching for practice (20 credits)
    • NMP703: Non-medical prescribing (40 credits)

  • Final year

  • Core modules
    SPP702: Substantive professional project (40 Credits)
    Option modules
    Option module 20 Credits. Optional modules can be chosen from the list given below. Please contact the Professional Development Unit Admissions Team to discuss your options.
    • APP701: Advancing practice in context (20 credits)
    • APP707: CBT interventions for mental health professionals (psychosis) (20 credits)
    • APP709: Working with people with a diagnosis of personality disorder (20 credits)
    • APP721: Perinatal mental health (20 credits)
    • APP727: The child and young person with mental health needs (20 credits)
    • APP736: Leadership and innovation (20 credits)
    • APP741: Advocacy and education for quality improvement in practice (A-EQUIP) (20 credits)
    • APP744: Substance misuse and dual diagnosis (20 credits)
    • APP759: Advancing knowledge of learning and teaching for practice (20 credits)
    • NMP703: Non-medical prescribing (40 credits)
The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Advanced Clinical Practice Mental Health programme specification standard route_7525

Entry requirements
  • Applicant must be registered with a relevant professional body, for example the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and have 3 – 5 years’ experience as a registrant in mental health practice. Professional body registration must be maintained throughout the duration of the programme.
  • Applicants must be in salaried employment, in a role demanding advanced practice skills and knowledge and have the full agreement from their employer.
  • Applicants must have a named, allocated co-ordinating workplace supervisor and the employer must have committed to the provision of ongoing workplace supervision that meets the Health Education England guidance for advanced clinical practice.
  • Applicants must have access to clinical areas that will facilitate the successful completion of the programme and module learning outcomes.
  • Applicants will normally have a relevant first degree, BSc (Hons) at 2:2 or above; or a European first cycle equivalent. Applicants without a first degree, BSc (Hons) at 2:2 or above may be eligible to apply, if combined with appropriate practice related experience relevant to the programme and following submission of a written essay marked against level 6 criteria.
  • Applicants will be assessed individually for their ability to study at Master’s level and an interview will normally be necessary.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English through an IELTS average of 6.5, overall minimum of 5.5 in each part.
  • Claims for credit for prior learning will be assessed following University regulations.

Fees, costs and funding
Student 2024-25 2025-26
Home NA NA
International NA NA
Part time (Home) £1,220 per 20 credit module £1,260 per 20 credit module

Part time fees shown are per a number of credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about Fees and costs of studying .
Additional costs
Please be aware that there may be additional costs to undertaking your studies relating to printing of course materials, and requirement for an initial outlay for travel and accommodation in respect of practice placement. If you have any questions regarding these costs please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

How to apply

Apply online

Applying for this programme
If applying for September 2025, please use the link above.
Applicants also need to complete an
additional information form and attach it to their application.
Any questions please contact:
Professional Development Unit
4th floor, Rolle Building
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth, PL4 8AA
What happens after I apply?
After your application is received, it will be processed and sent to the Programme Lead for a decision to be made on your suitability to study. You may be asked to provide additional information or to take part in an interview (for overseas students this may be by telephone or video conference). Once this decision has been made, you will be sent an email either confirming your place on the programme, or rejecting your application and giving the reasons for this decision (you may request further feedback in order to improve your chances of selection at a later date).
Please note that you will be enrolled on the full MSc programme. You may choose to exit with the qualification of PgCert upon completion of an appropriate 60 credits, or a PgDip upon completion of an appropriate 120 credits. More information is contained within the programme specification.
For applicants with disabilities
If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by the University of Plymouth, please visit our
Additional support for students with an impairment, health condition or disability webpage.

Update: application process

Please note that there has been an update to the application process for our masters programmes.
Any part-time applications for programmes starting before September 2025 need to continue to use the Postgraduate Application Form and any additional information forms as required. Full details can be found on our admissions homepage .
Part-time applications for September 2025 and beyond need to apply online via the link on the relevant programme page.
Any full-time applications for programmes starting in September 2025 need to apply online via the link on the relevant programme page.

Matthew's story...

Matthew Hibbert – Advanced Practitioner
An advanced practitioner's role in a Forensic Mental Health Service.

Career opportunities

You’ll be able to apply for more senior roles within a variety of settings; and work across inter-professional boundaries and alongside a range of healthcare professionals to manage and deliver mental health care.
Livewell Southwest Glenbourne Unit Harford Ward Team

Lecturers