Mental Wellbeing MSc
About This Programme
The MSc Mental Wellbeing at the University of Birmingham Dubai explores mental health and wellbeing from many perspectives, addressing some of society's biggest questions with a focus on the MENA region and the developing world. It is an interdisciplinary one-year, full-time master's that draws on psychology, sociology and social policy, medicine and philosophy, and brings the latest research and policy into teaching and practice. Students study the principles, assessment and diagnosis of mental disorders, the sociology of mental health with an emphasis on ethics and professional practice, research methods in mental health, suicide and self-harm, and youth mental health and neurodiversity, before completing a 60-credit dissertation. The course is designed for students from diverse backgrounds who want to contribute to mental health and wellbeing through patient support, research and policy, and it offers a foundation for PhD study.
Course Highlights
- An interdisciplinary approach to mental health and wellbeing, with a focus on the MENA region and the developing world.
- An emphasis on evidence-based practice and policy.
- Research skills to add to the evidence base in mental health, and a foundation for PhD study.
- Guidance from experts in mental health practice and clinical research.
- Birmingham is in the world's top 100 for Psychology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026) and 68th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, as stated on the course page.
What You'll Study
Teaching uses a blended, flipped-classroom model: students work through weekly training and exercises at their own pace on the online learning platform, alongside individual study and reading, then debate and think critically with experts in on-campus seminars and workshops, with online on-demand classes and projects. The research dissertation is an independent project in mental health, supervised by an expert academic. Assessment varies by module and includes essays, portfolios and journals, and oral and poster presentations. The Programme Director is Dr Afsana Faheem, who joined the University's Dubai psychology department in 2023 and researches inequalities in mental healthcare and treatment.
Term 1
The principles of mental disorders and their assessment and clinical diagnosis; the sociology of mental health, with a focus on ethics and professional practice; and research methods in mental health, including epidemiology, statistics, clinical trials, evidence synthesis, ethnography and qualitative analysis.
- LM Research Methods in Mental Health20 credits
Term 2
Identifying, assessing and managing suicidal presentations in clinical settings, and youth mental health, including the onset of disorders, prevention, school-based mental health and neurodiversity.
- LM Sociology of Mental Health and Illness20 credits
- LM Suicide and Self-Harm20 credits
Term 3
Completing the 60-credit dissertation in mental health, which runs across the year.
- LM Dissertation60 credits
Entry Requirements
Applicants must meet both the University's general entry requirements and the course's own criteria. Each application is reviewed by the course's Admissions Tutor, who decides whether to make an offer.
Careers
The MSc builds research, presentation and report-writing skills valued by employers in mental health, for mental health, policy guidance or academic roles in the private and public sectors, and prepares students for a PhD or other advanced study. Typical careers include mental health practitioner, researcher, academic, and policy guidance or evaluation. The Careers Network Dubai offers information, advice and guidance.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and listed as Active on the Commission for Academic Accreditation register as the Master of Science Mental Wellbeing.
Programme Details
Award
Master of Science (MSc)
Start Date
September 2026 (applications closed; September 2027 details to follow)
Typical Offer
2:1 Honours degree in Psychology or a related subject
Duration
1 year full-time
Qualification
Masters
Subject Area
Psychology
Campus
Dubai
Study Pattern
Full time
Delivery Format
In person
Tuition Fee
AED 155,483/yr
AED 155,483, full-time, for September 2026 entry. The fee covers tuition, examinations and graduation, can be paid in full or in three instalments, and does not include visa or living costs. Applications for September 2026 entry to this programme are closed, and details for September 2027 entry will be published later. Applications are made online through the University of Birmingham Dubai Admissions portal, with no application fee; postgraduate applicants upload transcripts for study completed so far, their degree certificate if available, and a CV. Decisions are usually made within 10 working days of all documents arriving. A non-returnable AED 5,000 deposit, deducted from tuition, is paid on accepting an offer. Scholarships of up to 30% are assessed from the application itself, with no separate form, and full-time students can apply for a student visa sponsored by the University.