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Study mental health abroad
An in-depth guide to studying mental health as an international student.
Mental health degrees abroad
The struggles of individuals with mental illnesses and emotional disorders are increasingly recognized around the world. By studying a mental health program, you’ll learn how to diagnose and care for people facing a wide range of conditions, including depression, eating disorders, addiction, and schizophrenia.
You’ll learn how to create a supportive and therapeutic relationship with patients, identify their needs, and prescribe an appropriate course of treatment or therapy for them. Most of all, you’ll gain the skills required to help people bring about positive change in their lives, see hope for the future, and move towards lifelong recovery.
Studying and working in the mental health sector means that you’ll encounter patients from a diverse pool of countries, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Therefore, studying abroad in new surroundings is a fantastic opportunity to develop the cultural awareness and sensitivity needed to be an effective mental health professional.
Mental health program structure
You can study mental health at various undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.
A two-year associate degree will give you a broad introduction to the field and prepare you for entry-level jobs, or progression onto a bachelor’s program. A BSc usually takes between three or four years of full-time study to complete. You might be required to spend a year on placement or abroad as part of your program.
Once you’ve finished your BSc, you can go on to study a master’s over one or two years. After this, you’ll have the opportunity to study a PhD which takes about five years to finish.
Mental health programs are structured around theory and practical application. You’ll be taught through a mixture of lectures, hands-on laboratory sessions, seminars, and workshops. Most courses will also require you to spend time learning in local hospitals and mental health facilities.
You’ll be assessed through a combination of exams, presentations, coursework, practical assessments, and clinical examinations. You’ll complete a dissertation in your final year of study which will account for a significant percentage of your overall grade.
The exact content of mental health programs differs between universities due to the range of electives that you can choose from. However, here are some of the core areas of study that you’ll find on most courses:
- Foundations of mental health and wellbeing
- Knowledge and skills for professional practice
- Contemporary issues in mental health
- Mental health in children and young people
- Research and development in care for older people
- Understanding addiction
- Psychological interventions
- Principles of prescribing
How to study mental health abroad
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Mental health study abroad programs
Mental health undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in mental health
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Nursing: Mental Health - BSc (Hons) Ulster University, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
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19,797 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,480 GBP
- Start date
- September
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Nursing (Mental Health) - BSN University of Limerick, Ireland
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
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29,144 USD
Fee in university's local currency 24,000 EUR
- Start date
- September
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Psychology, Mental Health - BA Stockton University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
21,605 USD
Fee in university's local currency 21,605 USD
- Start date
- January, September
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Nursing (Mental Health) - BSN University of Hull, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
19,141 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,000 GBP
- Start date
- September
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Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing - BSc (Hons) Edge Hill University, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
16,749 USD
Fee in university's local currency 12,250 GBP
- Start date
- September
Certificate in mental health
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Mental Health Counseling (Non-Teaching) Certification - Cert Florida A&M University, USA
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
0 USD
Fee in university's local currency 0 USD
- Start date
- January, August
Pathway in mental health
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Counselling & Mental Health (Foundation) - FD Leeds Beckett University, UK
- Program type
- Undergraduate pathway
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
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14,903 USD
Fee in university's local currency 10,900 GBP
- Start date
- January, September
Mental health graduate programs
Master's in mental health
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Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling - MEd DePaul University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
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20,960 USD
Fee in university's local currency 20,960 USD
- Start date
- January, March, September
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Clinical Mental Health Counseling - MSc Lynn University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
13,320 USD
Fee in university's local currency 13,320 USD
- Start date
- January, May
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Clinical Mental Health Counseling - MA Fairfield University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
47,650 USD
Fee in university's local currency 47,650 USD
- Start date
- January, September
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Clinical Mental Health Counseling - MSc Freed-Hardeman University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 18 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
22,950 USD
Fee in university's local currency 22,950 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Clinical Mental Health Counseling - MA George Fox University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
21,300 USD
Fee in university's local currency 21,300 USD
- Start date
- January, August
Doctorate in mental health
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Nursing Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - PhD Fairfield University, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
47,650 USD
Fee in university's local currency 47,650 USD
- Start date
- January, September
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Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling - EdS Murray State University, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,800 USD
Fee in university's local currency 11,800 USD
- Start date
- January, August
Diploma in mental health
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Nursing: Mental Health (NMC Registration) - GDip Buckinghamshire New University, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
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17,090 USD
Fee in university's local currency 12,500 GBP
- Start date
- September
Certificate in mental health
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Addictions and Mental Health - PGCert Durham College, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate certificate
- Duration
- 18 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
13,806 USD
Fee in university's local currency 17,589 CAD
- Start date
- September
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Addictions and Mental Health - PGCert Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate certificate
- Duration
- 18 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
20,839 USD
Fee in university's local currency 26,550 CAD
- Start date
- January
Future mental health careers
The opportunities are greater than ever for graduates looking to begin a rewarding and successful career in the field of mental health. With your degree, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and empathy necessary to work in roles supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing of others, including:
- Psychiatric nurse
- Psychiatrist
- Art therapist
- Clinical or counseling psychologist
- Marriage and family therapist
- Clinical social worker
- Mental health counselor
- Dramatherapist
For most of these roles, you’ll need to earn a postgraduate qualification before you can practice. If you’re unsure of the steps you’ll need to take to secure your dream job, your university’s career service will be able to offer professional advice and guidance.
