Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £3,540 for the course
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How long will I study?
9 Months
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2025
April 2026
Course summary
- Study the application of values, ethics and dilemmas.
- Gain a deeper understanding of mental health and wider associated law and policy.
- Develop the ability to work with a range of professionals to promote recovery.
- Examine current research that informs knowledge about mental health conditions and treatments.
You’ll be studying on a course that’s approved by Social Work England. It’s aimed at qualified and experienced professionals in mental health who’d like to become Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP).
Accredited by
This course was approved by the previous social work regulator, the Health and Care Professions Council. From 2 December 2019, responsibility for the approval of courses transferred to Social Work England. This course remains approved by Social Work England.
Graduate view
'As an experienced child protection social worker the transition into mental health and return to academic study felt daunting – however the tutors made this a rewarding and enriching experience.'
Paul Curran, PgCert Approved Mental Health Professional, 2018 graduate
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
On this course you’ll complete three modules – including a placement organised by your sponsoring authority, where you put your learning into practice. You’ll work with service users and carers alongside qualified AMHPs, doctors and other professionals.
You learn through
- workshops
- lectures
- group and individual tasks
- practice
- private study
- online reading
- interactive debates and discussions
- online discussions
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Work placements
You’ll complete placements in your own sponsoring agency – usually with an AMHP team. You’ll be supervised by an allocated practice educator while you shadow and then lead assessments with a range of AMHP colleagues.
Future careers
This course is essential if you want to practise as an AMHP for a local authority.
It can also enhance your knowledge and understanding of the law and mental health as a
- practice educator of others in AMHP
- social worker
- nurse
- psychologist
- occupational therapist
- researcher or academic
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for a range of NHS and local authority employers across the region including
- Derbyshire County Council
- Sheffield City Council
- Leeds City Council
- East Riding County Council
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
360 tour - social work facilities
Entry requirements
All students
Typically you need
• a qualification in social work, occupational therapy, nursing or chartered psychology
• registration with relevant professional body
• two years post qualification experience
• sponsored by local authority or health trust
If you are wanting to self-fund this course, you will need to secure an appropriate placement from an AMHP team that will provide full student support and a Practice Assessor. Self-funders must contact the course leader before applying to make sure your placement meets our requirements.
You need to have completed shadowing of approved mental health professional assessment and submit a write up of this assessment with your application. You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more
If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in all skills or equivalent.
Additional information for EU/International students
This course is not open to international students who require a Tier 4 (General) student visa to study in the UK. If you are an international applicant but do not require a Tier 4 (General) student visa, email our Admissions Team to find out whether you’re eligible to apply.
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Amhp Practice
Mental Health Law And Policy
Values, Ethics And Evidence Informed Practice
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2025/26 is £3,540 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £12,471 is available in 2024/25 for home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 165.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
