How do we create mentally healthy workplaces at an individual, team and systemic level?
Join this online course in mental health and wellbeing at work to examine the latest research in this area.
You’ll learn to evaluate psychological research, and to improve mental health and wellbeing where you work.
With guidance from practising clinical psychologists, you’ll explore:
- what impacts mental health and wellbeing where we work
- the effects of flexible working and remote working on mental health
- ways to support mental health at every level of an organisation.
Who can join this online mental health course?
This distance-learning course is for anyone with a general interest in psychological wellbeing at work.
If you’re in a managerial or supervisory position, the knowledge and insights you’ll gain will be particularly useful.
Build credits towards a Masters degree
This online course is part of:
- PgCert Psychology in the Workplace
- MSc Psychological Studies (on-campus study)
You can use the credits you earn on this short course towards these postgraduate qualifications.
What you’ll study
You’ll study and evaluate the latest data and research on mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, including working from home.
With Covid-19 leading to an increase in home working, you’ll look at studies being done currently to examine the mental health effects of remote working and flexible working.
You’ll cover topics including:
- definitions of mental health and wellbeing
- the links between work and mental health
- workplace and remote-working factors that can challenge our mental health
- organisational culture and how it affects mental health and wellbeing
- how we can build mentally healthy workplaces at an individual, team and systemic level
- how we can support mental health difficulties and challenges in the workplace.
You’ll examine real-life examples and case studies to see how evidence can be applied in the practice.
And you’ll have weekly online discussions to reflect on your learning and how you can apply it to your own working environment.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to…
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Describe models of mental health and wellbeing and how these relate to work.
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Critically evaluate psychological research on mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
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Identify factors that can impact on mental health and wellbeing at work.
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Reflect on opportunities and barriers to applying the research in real life settings, through case studies and real-life examples.
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Assess and discuss factors that contribute to a mentally healthy workplace.
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Identify key information in case studies and consider how you would apply the evidence in these scenarios.
Why study mental health online with the University of Aberdeen?
Fits around full-time work
This course is designed to fit around work. With flexible hours and 24/7 study access.
You’re in expert hands
We’ve been delivering online and distance learning for decades.
NHS and alumni discounts
NHS staff get 10% off this online course. University of Aberdeen alumni get 20% off.
How you’ll study
Online learning
Our distance-learning Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace course is delivered part-time, 100% online. You can study with us anywhere in the world without a visa, and manage your study hours to suit you.
Your teaching
This course is taught at Masters level by our School of Psychology.
Your teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including:
- videos
- reading materials
- the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library
- discussion boards with colleagues and tutors.
Your tutors
You’ll learn from practising clinical psychologists with extensive experience of clinical psychology in practice, and in teaching at postgraduate level.
This course is assessed entirely online via:
- discussion boards
- multiple-choice tests.
Course duration
The September run of this course is 10 weeks long.
The January run of this course is 13 weeks long – it contains the same 10 weeks of teaching, but includes a three-week spring holiday.
Study hours
The course totals approximately 150 hours of study and assessment time. That’s around 10 – 15 hours per week.
This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, as well as teaching and assessments.
You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.
Activities at fixed times
There may be some activities scheduled for fixed times. This could include coursework and assessments with deadlines, or online meetings with your tutor. Otherwise, you can access and work through the course at your convenience.
Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies. You’ll have contact with your course coordinator throughout your course. This could be by email, MyAberdeen, online call, or phone. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.
We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:
- Careers and Employability Service
- Disability support
- IT support
- Library support
- Student Support Service – help with finances, stress, wellbeing and non-academic issues
- Student Learning Service – study support, with advice sessions available via phone or Skype
- Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) – run by students for students
- Toolkit – clever apps and free training that can make your study life easier
Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.
Your teaching team
Professor Jason Bohan
Jason is the Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Psychology and is overseeing this course. He has a wealth of experience in teaching and pedagogical matters and is Chair of The British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Scottish Branch.
Dr Emma Hepburn
Emma has been practising as a Clinical Psychologist for over 10 years and works for NHS Grampian. She is an Honorary Lecturer, teaching clinical psychology on our undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Emma also illustrates psychology, as The Psychology Mum.
Where this will take you
Towards a Masters
You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards our:
PgCert Psychology in the Workplace
Explore occupational psychology online with UK university psychologists. Choose from a range of online workplace psychology courses and build a graduate qualification tailored to you.
View PgCert Psychology in the Workplace
Masters in Psychological Studies
A full-time, on-campus MSc programme designed to introduce graduates from other disciplines to the study of psychology, as a first step to pursuing a career in this area.
View MSc Psychological StudiesCareers
Whatever your industry, you’ll gain career-enhancing skills and expertise on this course.
Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.
Free career support
Access our free careers service while you study.
- 1:1 appointments
- CV checks
- Interview prep
- Job opportunities
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You do not need to provide proof of your qualifications.
But you do need to check the entry guidance above to understand the level of teaching delivered, to decide if this course is right for you.
If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check the equivalent teaching level for your country.
Visa requirements
You do not need a student visa to study online with us.
English language requirements
Teaching is delivered in English.
You do not have to provide proof of your English language skills to join this course. But we want to make sure that you can use English well enough to study successfully.
Recommended level of English
For this course, we recommend the following level of English language proficiency.
These are our Postgraduate Standard requirements, and these are minimum scores.
IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)
- 6.5 overall
- 5.5 for listening, reading and speaking
- 6.0 for writing
TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- 90 overall
- 17 for listening
- 18 for reading
- 20 for speaking
- 21 for writing
- TOEFL DI code is 0818
Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency
- 176 overall
- 162 for listening, reading and speaking
- 169 for writing
LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT
- 70 overall
- 60 for listening, reading and speaking
- 65 for writing
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken) – Online / In-centre
- Overall High Pass
- 33 for listening, reading and speaking
- 38 for writing
Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online
- 7.0 overall
- 5.0 for listening, reading and speaking
- 6.0 for writing
PTE Academic (online test not accepted)
- 62 overall
- 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing
Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward
- 120 overall
- 95 for listening, reading and speaking
- 105 for writing
University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)
- Pass
- Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date
Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities
- Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
- B2 in all four skills
- Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course
For full information about language requirements, see our English Language Requirements page.
You will need access to:
A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) operating on either:
- Windows 10 or later
- macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.
Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.
Reliable internet access
We recommend:
- a wired connection
- a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.
Speakers or headphones
- We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
- A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.
Software
We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and install these programs on up to five personal devices.
If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.
See our detailed IT requirements for more information.
When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.
But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.
Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.
Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:
- Be realistic
- Create a weekly schedule as a guide
If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.
Fee payment
Your course fee needs to be paid in full before you start your course.
We accept payment via Visa Debit, Visa Credit and Mastercard.
Ways to save
You may be able to get help funding this course via:
- discounts – if any discounts are available for this course, they’ll appear in the section below
- employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors.
Find out more about funding options.
Student card
All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.
The course is delivered at Masters level. At this level, you’d usually have at least:
- a 2:2 UK undergraduate degree (or equivalent), or
- relevant experience that supports this level of study.
Apply for this course
