Advance your career in nursing with a mental health focus that’s world-class, relevant, and rooted in real clinical experience.
Why study postgraduate Specialty Mental Health Nursing?
Nursing (Specialty Mental Health) at Otago gives you the chance to build on your nursing foundation and specialise in the field of mental health. This subject is designed for registered nurses who want to deepen their understanding of psychological conditions, therapeutic interventions, and complex mental health care. Through advanced study, you’ll gain evidence-based knowledge about assessment, treatment planning, and patient-centred support.
Mental health nursing is more important than ever, and your work can help improve outcomes for individuals, whānau, and communities. Whether you're drawn to acute psychiatric settings, community mental health teams, or policy and advocacy, postgraduate training empowers you to lead with skill and compassion. The coursework encourages reflection, growth, and the critical thinking needed to respond to evolving mental health needs in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Career opportunities
When you specialise in mental health nursing, doors open in many parts of health care.Here’s how you could put your postgraduate study into practice:
* Mental health nurse in inpatient psychiatric units or community mental healthteams* Clinical co-ordinator or team leader in mental health services* Nurse clinician in specialist settings, such as addiction services or youth mentalhealth* Educator or mentor for other nurses and healthcare professionals* Policy, advocacy, or quality-improvement roles within mental healthorganisations
What it’s like to study at this level
You will study through distance learning, supported by short in-person teaching blocks. Most of your learning is online, where you explore key ideas in mental health nursing and reflect on your own practice.
At planned points during the year, you will come to Christchurch for compulsory on-campus classes or assessments. These sessions help you apply what you have learned and grow your confidence in advanced clinical skills.
Throughout your study, you will be supported by experienced mental health educators and encouraged to connect theory with your day-to-day work, so your learning feels purposeful, grounded, and relevant.
This is for you if ...
You should already be a practising registered nurse, ideally with experience in, or currently working in, mental health care. Other helpful qualities include empathy, strong communication skills, critical thinking, and an openness to learning from both clinical work and research.
A proven pathway for advanced nursing practice
At the University of Otago, mental health nursing is taught through our Christchurch campus, one of New Zealand’s leading settings for mental health education. You’ll learn from staff who combine academic excellence with clinical practice. Through close ties with the Department of Psychological Medicine, the programme draws on cutting-edge research and real-world mental health services. As part of the Otago postgraduate community, you benefit from our globally respected health science reputation, personalised support, and a strong network of alumni shaping mental health care across Aotearoa.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
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NURS 409 Mental Health Nursing Practicum One of:
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Contacts
Department of Psychological Medicine
University of Otago, Christchurch
Tel 64 3 372 6700
Email psychmed.uoc@otago.ac.nz
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