Program Overview

Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing (with Infant-Centred Specialism and Family-Centred Specialism) MA

Key Facts

• Level: Master's PG MA
• Duration: 1 year full time, 2 - 3 years part time
• Starting: September
• UK Fees 25/26 >: Full Time: £8,500, Part Time: £1,417.50 per 30 credits
• Location >: Distance Learning

Overview

The MA in Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing is designed to meet the growing need for highly skilled and critically reflective professionals in the evolving landscape of support for infants and families. This course aligns with key international and national initiatives such as the Manifesto for Babies and the Best Start for Life, emphasising early, respectful, and individualised support. The course offers two specialisms: Infant-Centred and Family-Centred. These specialisms allow you to develop expertise in your chosen area while engaging in knowledge exchange and continual professional development.

Highlights

• Aligned with the Association of Infant Mental Health (AIMH).
• You can select an Infant Centred Specialism or Family Centred Specialism.
• Available to study 100% online (Distance Learning).
• Taught from a multi-disciplinary and multi-theoretical perspective.
• The course is available full-time and part-time.

Entry Requirements

• Normally hold an undergraduate degree 2:2 and above.
• Be currently or recently employed in a relevant setting.
• Applications with no first degree but with relevant professional qualifications will be considered.

English Language Requirements

• Minimum standard – IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) for study at postgraduate level.

Course Content

• The program is aligned with the Association of Infant Mental Health (AiMH), providing opportunities for professional growth and alignment with best practices in the field.
• Students come from diverse professional backgrounds, including nursing, midwifery, social work, health visiting, early childhood, and more.
• The curriculum is delivered by practitioners and academics with expertise in early childhood, midwifery, play therapy, health visiting, attachment, and psychology.
• Your tuition fees include membership of AIMH for the duration of the course.

Modules

• Contemporary Debates in Mental Health and Wellbeing (EYSM003) – 30 Credits.
• Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing (EYSM004) – 30 Credits.
• Family Centred approaches (EYSM005) (20 credits) or Infant Centred approaches (EYSM009) – 20 credits.
• Leadership, Advocacy and Change (EYSM006) – 20 credits.
• Research Methods (EYSM007) – 20 credits.
• Dissertation: Family- Centred Specialism (EYSM008) – 60 credits or Dissertation: Infant- Centred Specialism (EYSM010) – 60 credits.

FAQs

• How will I be taught on the MA in Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing course? The course is taught entirely online through online discussions, critical debates, taught content material, guest lectures and watching of relevant videographic material.
• What is a CPD course and what’s the difference from the non CPD route? The CPD route is available via the first two modules on the MA – the students are taught together, the only difference being that students undertaking the CPD route do not undertake the assessments.
• Are there any special features on this course? The special features are that it is taught from by a range of professionals from many disciplines. Student enrolled on the programme also come from a range of professional backgrounds. Furthermore AIMH UK confirms that The University of Northampton has utilised the IMHCF (The Infant Mental Health Competency Framework) in the development of the course for students in practice and addresses key domains at the 3 levels of expertise.

Fees and Funding

• 2025/26 Tuition Fees Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
• UK – Full Time: £8,500
• UK – Part Time: £1,417.50 per 30 credits
• Additional Costs There are no additional costs for Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing MA students beginning their studies in September 2025. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.
• Master's Loans If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course in 2025/26 either full-time or part-time* you may be able to apply for a Master’s loan through Student Finance England**.
• Scholarships and Bursaries For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page. For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

Staff

• Samantha Weeks Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF) Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing (with Infant-Centred Specialism and Family-Centred Specialism) MA
• Helen Caldwell Associate Professor in Education Faculty of Health, Education and Society
• Emel Thomas Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF) Faculty of Health, Education and Society
• Helen Simmons Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF) Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing (with Infant-Centred Specialism and Family-Centred Specialism) MA

Is this course for you?

The MA in Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing is designed to meet the growing need for highly skilled and critically reflective professionals in the evolving landscape of support for infants and families. This course aligns with key international and national initiatives such as the Manifesto for Babies and the Best Start for Life, emphasising early, respectful, and individualised support. The course offers two specialisms: Infant-Centred and Family-Centred. These specialisms allow you to develop expertise in your chosen area while engaging in knowledge exchange and continual professional development.