Postgraduate study

Postgraduate taught 

Global Mental Health MSc/PgDip/PgCert

Designed to produce graduates who can take charge of mental health service provision at a global level, helping them develop the knowledge to integrate initiatives into the wider aims of international development, and address global inequities. By developing the capacity to think critically about the potential risks of globalising notions of mental illness you will gain the skills to develop and implement policies aimed at reducing the public health impact of mental health difficulties worldwide.

  • Glasgow: Gilmorehill campus
  • MSc: 12 months full-time; 24 months part‑time
  • PgDip: 6 months full-time; 12 months part‑time
  • PgCert: 3 months full-time; 6 months part‑time

Why this programme

  • Two student placements at the Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service available (subject to agreement from NHSGGC).
  • Learning outcomes (ILOs) are based on the Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health identified in a 2011 issue of Nature.
  • Specific emphasis on the important role social and cultural factors play in how mental health difficulties can be understood and treated across the globe.
  • Contributors to teaching come from a diverse range of disciplines including: clinical psychology, social work, anthropology, sociology, law and psychiatry. Teaching also includes contribution from those with a lived experience of mental health difficulties.
  • Distinctive focus on social innovation and social enterprise to foster students' changemaking capabilities.
  • Option to graduate with specialism in Health Promotion, Social Innovation or without specialism by following certain courses.
  • Watch our recent Ask your Academic webinar on YouTube and BiliBili.
  • Hear from our students about their experience of the programme on YouTube.

    • Main Campus Location

    This programme is undertaken at the Gilmorehill Campus, in the West End of Glasgow. Easy to travel to by bus, subway, train or car. 

Programme structure

The core teaching is based around lectures. There is a strong emphasis on discussion and debate with your academic staff and fellow students, focusing on relevant research literature and policy documents. The Global Mental Health MSc has expert diverse international contributors who come from a range of disciplines including: clinical psychology, social work, anthropology, sociology, law and psychiatry. Blended learning and peer support learning is promoted in this course.

Core courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

View examples of published work by our MSc Global Mental Health students.

Optional courses

Semester 1, choose 1

Semester 2, choose 2

Global Mental Health specialisms

 In addition to our standard Global Mental Health MSc, we also offer the following specialisms:

Global Mental Health with specialism in Health Promotion

Health Promotion focuses on the process of enabling individuals and communities to increase control over, and improve, their health by addressing the social, behavioural, and environmental determinants of health. The Health Promotion specialism will equip students with the knowledge, theories, and  skills to design, implement, and evaluate evidence based strategies that promote mental health and wellbeing.

Global Mental Health with specialism in Social Innovation

Social innovation captures the process of ideating, designing and scaling up an innovative and more effective solution to a pressing societal challenge, especially for underserved or marginalised populations. The new specialism in Social Innovation will equip students with the knowledge, models and practical skills to develop innovative and scalable solutions to address mental health inequalities across diverse global contexts. 

Hear more about the Social Innovation specialism from the Programme Lead on YouTube. 

Please note: Some students may find the content of the MSc distressing. Sessions include gender based violence (domestic abuse, rape) human trafficking, torture, other infringements of human rights (chaining). If you would rather opt out of viewing this content, please let the Programme Director know.

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. More information: Student contract.

Career prospects

Graduates of the MSc Global Mental Health programme may establish careers in:

  • National mental health policy and planning
  • Epidemiological and mental health services research
  • Advisory and advocacy roles in governments
  • International agencies
  • Non-governmental organisations

Examples of related job titles include:

  • senior operations manager
  • research assistant
  • lecturer
  • school psychologist assistant
  • recovery worker for mental health

Others have gone on to study for PhDs in medicine and mental health in the UK and North America.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2027-28

MSc

Home & RUK

  • Full-time fee: £12,063
  • Part-time fee: £1,341 per 20 credits

International & EU

  • Full-time fee: £33,708

PgDip

Home & RUK

  • Full-time fee: £8,042
  • Part-time fee: £1,341 per 20 credits

International & EU

  • Full-time fee: £22,472

PgCert

Home & RUK

  • Full-time fee: £4,021
  • Part-time fee: £1,341 per 20 credits

International & EU

  • Full-time fee: £11,236

Fee status

Deposits

International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2000 to secure a place on this programme.

Deposits: terms & conditions

The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% administration fee will be deducted unless otherwise stated. 

a: Deposits WILL be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

  1. Where the University is unable to offer you a place on the programme as specified on the offer. A full refund will be issued in this case.
  2. Death of a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
  3. SERIOUS ill health of the applicant or a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
  4. Applicant does not meet conditions of offer. This may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the student’s applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide at least two language tests which were taken after the date the deposit was paid).
  5. Visa / ATAS refusal: we will only consider a refund if the visa / ATAS refusal was based on matters outside of the applicant’s control.
  6. If a refund request is received within 14 days of the deposit being received a full refund will be issued under the Consumer Protection Regulations.

b: Deposits WILL NOT be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

  1. An applicant decides not to attend the University for any reason not outlined above.
  2. Personal financial constraints / unsuccessful scholarship application.
  3. Applicant has decided to defer – in this situation the University will retain the deposit and hold it against the applicant’s account to secure their place for the following year of entry. You may defer twice. After the second deferral standard conditions will apply.
  4. There is still time to meet the English language test requirement before the final upload date. Please see section a) 4.
  5. Visa / ATAS was applied for too late. Please see section a) 5.
  6. Any documents used for admission are proven to be fraudulent. We work in partnership with Qualification Check to check academic qualifications. English language qualifications are verified with the provider.
  7. The refund request is received more than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email.

Timeframe for requesting a refund

Refund requests must be received no later than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email. As per section b)7 above the request will be denied.

Receiving a refund

  1. To comply with Money Laundering Regulations, the University will pay all refunds to the original payer using the source payment details. This is known as a “return to source” payment.
  2. All appropriate documentation and evidence relating to the original payment must be provided, when requested.
  3. All payments and refunds are in GBP currency - the University is not responsible for any exchange rate fluctuations or beneficiary bank charges associated with the refund.
  4. Where University approved payment methods have not been used, this may cause significant delays or prevent payment altogether.
  5. We will aim to issue the deposit refund within 8 weeks of receipt of information per point 2 above. At peak times this may be longer.

How to request a deposit refund

Please go to our enquiry form and select 'Fees and Deposit' as the enquiry reason and then 'Can I have a deposit refund?'.

Please upload all supporting documentation to your applicant self-service portal before submitting the above request.


Additional fees

  • Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
  • Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
  • Registration/exam only fee: £170

Funding opportunities

The scholarships shown are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database


Entry requirements

2.2 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in Life Sciences, Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Law, Public Health, Geography, Anthropology, Public Policy, Biomedical Sciences, Dentistry, Dietetics, Education, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Food Science, Genetics, Global Health, Health Promotion, Human Biology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Physiology, Physiotherapy, Social and Public Policy, or Sociology.

We may sometimes accept degrees at Ordinary Degree or non-UK equivalent.

English language requirements

 

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form

For applicants from non-majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

Accepted English Language Tests

We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.  

IELTS Academic/IELTS Academic for UKVI/ IELTS Academic online

  • 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0 
  • IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
  • We do not accept General Training

TOEFL iBT (including MyBest and Home Edition)

Test taken up to 20 January 2026

  • 90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21 

Tests taken from 21 January 2026

  • 92 overall with no subtest less than 4.5

PTE Academic (test centre only)

  • 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
  • We do not accept the online PTE Academic

Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall with no subtest less than 169

Oxford ELLT

  • 7 overall with no subtest less than 6

LanguageCert Academic/Academic SELT/ Academic Online

  • 70 overall with no subtest less than 65

Password Skills Plus

  • 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II

  • 96 overall with no subtest less than 90

Kaplan Test of English

  • Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher

PSI Skills for English

  • B2 Pass with Merit

Duolingo English Test

  • 120 overall with writing at 120 and no subtest less than 110

Oxford Test of English Advanced

  • 140 Overall with any two subtests at 126 or higher, and any two subtests at 136 or higher

Alternatives to English Language test

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)

  • students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.

TNE degree from UK university taught at a campus outside of the UK

  • students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study and remain valid for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Our courses give you: 

  • direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS); 
  • essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University; 
  • flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mlc/eas/pre-sessionalcourses/

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

  • Heriot Watt
  • Kingston Upon Thames
  • Middlesex University
  • Manchester University
  • Reading University
  • Edinburgh University
  • St Andrews University
  • UCL
  • Durham 

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

  • A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
  • A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
  • Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
  • One reference letter on headed paper
  • Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
  • Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
  • A copy of the photo page of your passport

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.

  • Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
  • Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
  • Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
  • Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
  • Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
  • English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
  • Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

For entry in September 2027

International & EU applicants

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International application rounds

Applications are considered on a rolling basis within each round, and the decision date shown for each round is the latest date by which you will receive an outcome on your application.

Round 1: 1 October 2026 to 5 November 2026

You will receive our decision on your application by 18 December 2026.

Round 2:  6 November 2026 to 17 December 2026

You will receive our decision on your application by 3 March 2027.

Round 3: 18 December 2026 to 4 February 2027

You will receive our decision on your application by 8 April 2027.

Round 4: 5 February 2027 to 25 March 2027

You will receive our decision on your application by 6 May 2027.

Round 5:  26 March 2027 to 13 May 2027

You will receive our decision on your application by 10 June 2027.

Round 6: 14 May 2027 to 8 July 2027

You will receive our decision on your application by 29 July 2027.

As we receive a high volume of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply to each programme once per year.

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UK applicants

  • 24 August 2027
Apply now

More information about this programme

For information on our online Global Mental Health programme, please see: Global Mental Health (online)

Related programmes

Health & Wellbeing

more related Health & Wellbeing programmes

Related links

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Postgraduate events

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