Everything you need to know...
April 2025
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).
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
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. This means that people qualifying from this course can apply to become a registered social worker.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
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 | Keeping safe on Campus
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.
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, contact our Admissions Team to find out whether you’re eligible to apply.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Amhp Practice | Credits: 15 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Mental Health Law And Policy | Credits: 30 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
| Module: Values, Ethics And Evidence Informed Practice | Credits: 15 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £3,440 for the course. The fee quoted on the online prospectus is for the whole course. Where a course is to be taken over more than one year, then the course fees are divided into annual fees through a financial calculation to which a rounding mechanism is applied. This can sometimes mean that there is a nominal variation between the quoted fee from the prospectus and the fee charged to the student. There are some circumstances in which a student taking a break in study or engaging in retakes may be charged an additional fee, which should be notified to them 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 £11,222 available for Home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Social work courses (PDF, 214.3KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
