MSc Mental Health and Wellbeing in Education (Subject to Approval)

If you’re considering a master’s at Manchester, there are a range of ways you can connect with us to find out more.

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For more information, see our page on meeting us .

Apply online

Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:

• valid and acceptable English Language Certification,e.g.IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report. Applications without an English language qualification are placed on a waiting list and are assessed only when an acceptable English language qualification is provided;

• copies of official degree certificates and transcripts of your previous study, showing the subjects taken and grades obtained. If these documents are in languages other thanEnglishplease provide official translations;

• your CV.

Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays.

Improving our understanding of how education can support mental health and wellbeing is one of the most pressing challenges of our time and a public health priority across the globe. This master’s brings together the latest research, policy, and practice to equip you with the expertise to make a meaningful difference in educational settings.

You will explore fundamental questions such as:

• What do we mean by mental health and wellbeing?
• How can we measure it accurately?
• How can education serve as a powerful context for promoting it?

Alongside these core themes, you will study how social and emotional development unfolds, why inequalities in mental health arise across groups and contexts, and how policy can be translated into effective action.

Our course is built on two pillars. The first is the latest academic scholarship. The second is the lived and professional experience of those who work in, and are directly affected by, mental health and wellbeing challenges.

Teaching is led by our core academic team and enriched by contributions from young people with first-hand experience, as well as senior professionals including Educational Psychologists, Counselling Psychologists and Mental Health Support Team practitioners.

Learning is varied and engaging, combining lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops.

You will have the opportunity to tailor your studies by selecting optional units from our MEd Psychology of Education. Assessment methods are equally diverse, from essays and case studies to research proposals, provision plans and policy analysis, ensuring you graduate with a broad set of skills to apply in real-world contexts.

Whether you are aiming to improve mental health provision in schools, influence policy, or advance research in the field, this MSc will give you the critical insight and practical skills to drive positive change in the lives of learners, educators and communities.

The course has been designed to prepare students for careers at the intersection of mental health and wellbeing and education - or where they already occupy such a role, to support and enhance their professional development.

The overarching aim of the course is to develop your knowledge and understanding of mental health and wellbeing, and how it connects to educational contexts, policy, and practice.

On this master’s you will:

• Develop critical skills in the evaluation and analysis of current theory, research, policy and practice relating to mental health and wellbeing in education;
• Foster an ethos of inclusive, compassionate and positively-oriented approaches to mental health and wellbeing in education;
• Apply learning through practice to address real-life problems and challenges in educational settings.

• The Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) has a world-leading reputation for excellence in educational research and is the leading provider of doctoral programmes in the North West.
• Benefit from a holistic view of education that considers learners and educators across all life stages, not just schools or young people.
• Experience our distinctive commitment to integrating both lived and professional experience into teaching and learning.
• Prepare for careers in educational psychology, mental health services, school leadership, policy development, or further research.

Our team work to support your individual needs. You will be allocated a personal Academic Advisor who will guide your academic and professional development, meeting with you regularly throughout your studies.

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to ensure your experience is both engaging and inclusive. Alongside traditional lectures, you will take part in seminars, workshops, group presentations and self-directed study. Many units also incorporate interactive and e-learning elements, enabling you to develop skills in a range of formats and settings.

Assessment methods are equally varied and designed to engage you in deep learning. You will complete essays, case studies, research proposals, policy analyses, provision plans and other written work, with each assessment mapped to the intended learning outcomes of the unit and course.

Your dissertation gives you the opportunity to carry out an empirical research study on a topic of your choice related to mental health and wellbeing in education. You can use qualitative, quantitative or mixed research methods, enabling you to shape the project around your interests and career goals.

The course is led by Professor Neil Humphrey.

Find out more about postgraduate teaching and learning methods at Manchester .

The Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) is based in the University's Ellen Wilkinson Building, centrally located on the University's Oxford Road campus, close to the Main Library, Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and the Students' Union. Here you'll find all your teaching staff and support staff as well as a place to relax with fellow students.

Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) graduates go on to influence policy, shape practice and lead change in schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, and across the public and private sectors.

Potential career pathways include:

• Educational Mental Health Practitioner
• Designated Mental Health Lead in schools and colleges
• Assistant Educational Psychologist
• Personal, Social, Health and Relationships (PSHR) Coordinator in schools
• Teacher in primary, secondary or further education
• Lecturer in higher or further education
• Researcher in education or mental health
• Consultant in educational or wellbeing provision
• Policy officer or advisor in education or health sectors

A key strength of this MSc is its focus on the values and attributes that employers have told us are vital for the future workforce. These include fostering inclusive, compassionate and positively oriented approaches to mental health and wellbeing in education and applying learning to real-life challenges in educational contexts.

Graduates may also choose to progress to further professional training, such as doctorate-level study in educational, clinical or counselling psychology, or to advance into specialist roles within mental health support teams and educational psychology services.

Careers support

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .

Careers support for international students

The Careers Service provide specialist resources, advice and events for international students to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester.

• Working in the UK after study
• Working during study
• Professional and alumni networks for international students

Global networks

The University of Manchester is proud to have the largest global alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK.

International alumni groups are a great way to keep in touch with fellow Manchester graduates in your country and provide an opportunity to build professional and social networks.