Master of Mental Health Nursing

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Duration
1.5 years full-time, 3 years part-time
Location
Online
Next start term
Anytime
Study mode
Online
Course code
CL24
First-year fee
$7,500 (2026 Indicative) (CSP)
$27,486 (2026 Indicative) (FFP)
Commonwealth Supported Places available, offering significant fee savings.
OverviewStructure & AvailabilityRequirementsFees & ScholarshipsHow to Apply
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Overview

Study CQUniversity's Master of Mental Health Nursing and equip yourself with advanced knowledge and skills in mental health nursing. Benefit from a flexible course structure where you can develop your nursing credentials to practise as a specialist mental health nurse and enhance your research skills relating to your practice.

If you would like to gain the knowledge and skills to practise as a mental health nurse and develop your research skills, our Master of Mental Health Nursing is the ideal course for you. Offering opportunities to enhance your research capabilities and complete a small research project, the Masters prepares you to become a leader in advancing the discipline through scientific inquiry. 

Developed with industry and lived experience academics, our mental health nursing courses are evidence-based and clinically relevant. Offered as part of a suite, the Master of Mental Health Nursing has a nested Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma. The first four units of the Masters comprise the Graduate Certificate and allow you to build your skills and knowledge in undertaking mental health assessments, diagnostic formulations and risk assessments, psychotropic medication, and recovery. The next set of four units completes the Graduate Diploma and extends on the first four units with a focus on the provision of safe, person-centred, recovery-orientated mental health care. Particular attention is given to exploring a range of therapeutic interventions that you can use to enhance your practice. The last four units of the Masters, prepare you to practise and research within the specialist field of mental health nursing. You’ll extend on your learning of therapeutic interventions that you can use while you develop your research skills to undertake a research project that addresses an issue in mental health nursing practice. The assessments that you complete as you progress into the Graduate Diploma and Masters need you to be working in mental health so that you can employ your mental health nursing skills and apply your learnings to your own clinical practice.

You can enjoy a course delivered in a hyperflexible online format, giving you the freedom to structure your study in a way that suits you. Benefit from the flexibility to access course content on any device with internet access and have no assessment or unit deadline constraints, making it ideal for busy, self-motivated learners.

Study Experience

Discover more about your online, self-paced mental health nursing degree, offering significant fee savings for eligible students and the ability to start anytime. Click 'Explore Study Experience' for more information.

  • Commonwealth Supported
  • Flexible Online Study
  • Seamless Pathways
  • Self Paced
  • Start Anytime

Career Opportunities

The Master of Mental Health Nursing provides Registered Nurses with a mental health nursing specific high level post-graduate qualification. This qualification has the potential to create many exciting and rewarding opportunities for graduates including increased financial remuneration from some employers. Graduates will attain competency and confidence to be able to undertake the many nurse mental health nursing leadership positions available within the health care industry; Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Consultant and Nurse Unit Manager roles. This qualification will also provide registered nurses with the competitive edge in order to apply for promotion. The research component of the course will allow graduates to move into research roles and even lead applied clinical research.

Structure & Availability

This course is offered fully online in hyperflexible format, meaning you can apply to start anytime.

Available Locations

Flexible Online Study

Designed for maximum flexibility, this course is entirely self-paced and 100% online. Access your course content on any device, anytime.

Your Course

You must complete 12 units (72 credits):

  1. 1
    The core structure (12 units)

Unit Details

The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.

Showing 8 of 12

Additional Information

Professional Practice - Australian College of Mental Health Nurses

Core

The ACMHN offers accreditation to education providers who provide postgraduate mental health nursing programs that align with the National Framework for Postgraduate Mental Health Nursing Education. This accreditation is consistent with the Australian Standards for Professional Processes (2008) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Quality Framework for the Accreditation function.

If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies. 

Learn more about credit and recognition of prior learning.

Requirements

To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements. 

During Your Study

While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies. 

Fees & Scholarships

Indicative Course Fee

The Indicative Course Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course depending on the type of place you are offered, for example a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or a Full Fee Paying (FFP) Place. The indicative fee should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary depending on the units you select to study and the number of units you complete in a 12 month period. Check the Cost per Unit spreadsheet available on our Understanding Course Fees webpage. 

Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Fee estimates for the following year are expected to be available in September each year.

Commonwealth Supported Places

With Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this course in 2026, you may be eligible for significant fee savings, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.

If you are not eligible for a CSP or if CSPs are full, you will be required to pay full fees.

HECS-HELP

You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees. 

Learn more about paying for university.

There may be additional costs as part of your studies, such as technology expenses. Learn more about other study costs.

How to Apply

How to Apply

Check what you need to do to apply to study this course. 

Your Application Options

Follow These Steps

  1. 1
    Check you meet the course requirements
  2. 2
    Get a Unique Student Identifier

Extra Admission Information

Learn about the assessment of applications and everything you need to know about receiving and accepting an offer to study with CQU.

Start Your Application

Use the Apply button below to access our Apply Online portal and start your application.

Apply

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