Health Sciences

Master of Science in Neonatal and Mental Health

The Master of Science in Neonatal and Mental Health is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in neonatal nursing, mental health nursing, and integrated maternal and child mental health. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in neonatal care, mental health services, maternal mental health, and psychiatric nursing.

Core areas include neonatal nursing, mental health nursing, neonatal mental health, maternal mental health, psychiatric nursing, developmental care, neonatal intensive care, perinatal mental health, infant mental health, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical neonatal and mental health applications.

The programme is offered by Zetech University, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, and University of Kabianga, with Moi University as a college. Moi University offers MSc in Neonatal and Mental Health (accredited 2013) and related MSc in Nursing (Maternal and Neonatal Health). Great Lakes offers related MSc Nursing at KES 60,000 per semester for 4 semesters.

Students develop competencies in neonatal assessment, mental health assessment, neonatal intensive care, psychiatric nursing, perinatal mental health, infant mental health, and research. The programme includes coursework, clinical placements, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years. Great Lakes MSc Nursing fees are KES 60,000 per semester for 4 semesters. Moi University offers MSc Neonatal and Mental Health accredited since 2013. Entry requires Bachelor's degree in nursing or related fields with Upper Second or Lower with experience.

Graduates pursue careers as neonatal nurses, mental health nurses, psychiatric nurses, nurse educators, and lecturers in hospitals, mental health facilities, neonatal units, and universities.

Skills Required

Neonatal Nursing and Neonatal Assessment
Mental Health Nursing and Psychiatric Care
Neonatal Intensive Care and Developmental Care
Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health
Infant Mental Health and Early Intervention
Psychiatric Assessment and Therapeutic Communication
Neonatal Mental Health and Bonding
Mental Health Promotion and Prevention
Crisis Intervention and Mental Health Emergency Care
Neonatal and Mental Health Research Methods

Key Subjects

Neonatal Nursing
Mental Health Nursing
Neonatal Intensive Care
Perinatal Mental Health
Infant Mental Health
Psychiatric Nursing
Developmental Care
Maternal Mental Health
Crisis Intervention
Neonatal and Mental Health Research Methods

Certifications

NCK Nursing Specialisation Certification
WAIMH Infant Mental Health Certification

Specializations

Neonatal Nursing

Focuses on neonatal nursing, neonatal assessment, neonatal intensive care, premature infant care, neonatal emergencies, and providing specialised care for newborns.

Mental Health Nursing

Examines mental health nursing, psychiatric care, mental health assessment, therapeutic interventions, and providing specialised mental health nursing care.

Perinatal Mental Health

Covers perinatal mental health, postnatal depression, maternal mental health, perinatal psychiatric disorders, and supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum.

Infant Mental Health

Focuses on infant mental health, attachment, bonding, early development, parent-infant relationships, and supporting infant mental health and development.

Psychiatric Nursing

Examines psychiatric nursing, mental health disorders, psychiatric treatment, psychopharmacology, therapeutic communication, and providing psychiatric nursing care.

Neonatal Mental Health

Covers neonatal mental health, neurodevelopment, neonatal stress, neonatal bonding, parental mental health, and understanding mental health aspects of neonatal care.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 120,000
Private, up to: Ksh 212,750
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Neonatal Nursing
Mental Health Nursing
Neonatal Intensive Care
Perinatal Mental Health
Infant Mental Health
Psychiatric Nursing
Developmental Care
Maternal Mental Health
Crisis Intervention
Neonatal and Mental Health Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Neonatal Nursing and Newborn Care
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines neonatal assessment, newborn care, premature infant care, neonatal emergencies, neonatal resuscitation, thermoregulation, feeding, and providing specialised care for newborns.
Mental Health Nursing and Psychiatric Care
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers mental health assessment, psychiatric disorders, therapeutic communication, mental health interventions, psychiatric nursing, and providing specialised mental health nursing care.
Neonatal Intensive Care and Developmental Care
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines NICU, ventilator care, neonatal monitoring, neonatal pharmacology, developmental care, positioning, kangaroo care, and providing intensive care for newborns.
Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers postnatal depression, maternal mental health, perinatal psychiatric disorders, screening, EPDS, treatment, and supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum.
Infant Mental Health and Early Intervention
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines attachment, bonding, early development, parent-infant relationships, temperament, early intervention, and supporting infant mental health and development.
Psychiatric Nursing and Psychopharmacology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers psychiatric disorders, depression, anxiety, psychosis, substance use, psychopharmacology, psychiatric medications, side effects, and providing psychiatric nursing care.
Neonatal Mental Health and Bonding
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines neonatal mental health, neurodevelopment, neonatal stress, neonatal bonding, parental mental health, skin-to-skin, and understanding mental health aspects of neonatal care.
Crisis Intervention and Mental Health Emergency Care
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers mental health emergencies, suicide risk, postpartum psychosis, crisis management, de-escalation, emergency psychiatric care, and providing emergency mental health care.
Mental Health Promotion and Prevention
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines mental health promotion, prevention, stigma reduction, community mental health, psychoeducation, and promoting mental health and preventing mental health disorders.
Neonatal and Mental Health Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for neonatal and mental health nursing, clinical research, evidence-based practice, data analysis, and conducting nursing research, preparing students for their thesis.
Family-Centred Neonatal and Mental Health Care
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines family-centred care, parental support, family mental health, cultural considerations, bereavement care, and providing family-centred neonatal and mental health care.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a neonatal and mental health topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and neonatal and mental health knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Neonatal Nursing
Focuses on neonatal nursing, neonatal assessment, neonatal intensive care, premature infant care, neonatal emergencies, and providing specialised care for newborns.
Mental Health Nursing
Examines mental health nursing, psychiatric care, mental health assessment, therapeutic interventions, and providing specialised mental health nursing care.
Perinatal Mental Health
Covers perinatal mental health, postnatal depression, maternal mental health, perinatal psychiatric disorders, and supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum.
Infant Mental Health
Focuses on infant mental health, attachment, bonding, early development, parent-infant relationships, and supporting infant mental health and development.
Psychiatric Nursing
Examines psychiatric nursing, mental health disorders, psychiatric treatment, psychopharmacology, therapeutic communication, and providing psychiatric nursing care.
Neonatal Mental Health
Covers neonatal mental health, neurodevelopment, neonatal stress, neonatal bonding, parental mental health, and understanding mental health aspects of neonatal care.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Neonatal and Mental Health programme begins with morning lectures on neonatal nursing, mental health nursing, or perinatal mental health. Students engage in theoretical discussions on neonatal care, mental health, and integrated approaches. Neonatal nursing sessions cover neonatal assessment, newborn care, premature infant care, neonatal emergencies, neonatal resuscitation, and providing specialised care for newborns. Mental health nursing sessions examine mental health assessment, psychiatric disorders, therapeutic communication, mental health interventions, and providing specialised mental health nursing care. Neonatal intensive care sessions cover NICU, ventilator care, neonatal monitoring, neonatal pharmacology, developmental care, and providing intensive care for newborns. Perinatal mental health sessions examine postnatal depression, maternal mental health, perinatal psychiatric disorders, screening, and supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum. Infant mental health sessions cover attachment, bonding, early development, parent-infant relationships, temperament, and supporting infant mental health and development. Psychiatric nursing sessions examine psychiatric disorders, depression, anxiety, psychosis, substance use, psychopharmacology, and providing psychiatric nursing care. Developmental care sessions cover developmental support, positioning, feeding, sensory development, kangaroo care, and supporting neonatal development. Maternal mental health sessions examine maternal depression, maternal anxiety, mother-infant bonding, family mental health, and supporting maternal mental health. Crisis intervention sessions cover mental health emergencies, suicide risk, postpartum psychosis, crisis management, and providing emergency mental health care. Clinical placements provide hands-on experience in neonatal units, NICU, mental health facilities, psychiatric wards, and community mental health. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering nursing research methods, clinical research, and data analysis. Guest lectures from Moi University nursing faculty, NCK officials, KPA psychiatrists, neonatologists, mental health specialists, and international nursing experts provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's high neonatal mortality, maternal mental health burden, mental health treatment gap, and growing neonatal care needs create high demand for qualified professionals.
Moi University offers MSc in Neonatal and Mental Health (accredited 2013) and related MSc in Nursing (Maternal and Neonatal Health), providing established training.
Programme integrates neonatal care with mental health, addressing the critical link between maternal mental health and neonatal outcomes.
Career opportunities with hospitals, neonatal units, NICU, mental health facilities, psychiatric wards, and international organisations like WHO, WAIMH, and ICN.

Against it

Programme primarily requires nursing background, which may exclude graduates from other health sciences fields.
Clinical placements require access to neonatal units and mental health facilities, which may be limited in some regions.
Programme involves emotionally challenging work with neonatal patients and mental health patients, requiring emotional resilience.
Specific fee structures for this exact programme could not be independently verified from all official websites.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public100k to 120k

100k at University of Kabianga120k at Technical University of Kenya

Private120k to 213k

120k at Great Lakes University of Kisumu213k at Zetech University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Zetech MBA 425.5k/2=212.75k/yr (Zetech fee PDF). GLUK 120k/yr (prospectus). TUK & Kabianga unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. NCK supports nursing professional development. WHO supports mental health capacity building. WAIMH supports infant mental health training. ICN supports nursing specialisation. The programme's neonatal and mental health focus attracts health sector and international funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
NCK Professional Development Funding
WHO Mental Health Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate neonatal and mental health nursing studies at recognised universities.
WHO Mental Health Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
WHO supports mental health capacity building, providing funding for postgraduate training in mental health nursing and perinatal mental health.
WAIMH Training Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
WAIMH supports infant mental health training and capacity building, providing funding for postgraduate study in infant and neonatal mental health.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme primarily accepts nursing graduates with BSc Nursing or Bachelor of Nursing with Upper Second or Lower with 2 years clinical experience. Active NCK registration required for clinical practice. Great Lakes requires Bachelor degree in relevant field with Upper Second or Lower with 2 years experience. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, clinical reports, reflective practice, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering neonatal nursing, mental health nursing, perinatal mental health, and psychiatric nursing, conducted at end of each semester.
Clinical Placement Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of clinical placements, neonatal care skills, mental health assessment skills, clinical competencies, and clinical practice reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a neonatal and mental health topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and neonatal and mental health knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University offers MSc in Neonatal and Mental Health (accredited 2013) and related MSc in Nursing (Maternal and Neonatal Health). Great Lakes offers related MSc Nursing. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate neonatal and mental health nursing training. NCK regulates nursing practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University offers MSc in Neonatal and Mental Health (accredited 2013) and related MSc in Nursing (Maternal and Neonatal Health). The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate neonatal and mental health nursing training.
Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK)
Professional accreditationRequired
NCK regulates nursing education and practice in Kenya. Graduates must be registered with NCK to practise as neonatal or mental health nurses in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Neonatal Nurse
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides specialised neonatal nursing care, overseeing newborn assessment, NICU care, developmental care, and supporting neonatal health services.
Mental Health Nurse
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides specialised mental health nursing care, overseeing mental health assessment, therapeutic interventions, and supporting mental health services.
Psychiatric Nurse
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Specialises in psychiatric nursing, overseeing psychiatric care, medication management, therapeutic care, and supporting psychiatric services.
Nurse Educator
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches neonatal and mental health nursing in nursing schools, overseeing curriculum development, clinical teaching, and supporting nursing education.
Perinatal Mental Health Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Specialises in perinatal mental health, overseeing screening, counselling, support, and supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches neonatal and mental health nursing in universities, conducting research and training future neonatal and mental health nursing professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as neonatal nurses, mental health nurses, and psychiatric nurses in hospitals, neonatal units, and mental health facilities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for nursing research data analysis, clinical research, mental health data, and statistical modelling in neonatal and mental health research.
EPDS Tool
SoftwarePrimary
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale screening tool for perinatal mental health screening, postnatal depression assessment, and maternal mental health evaluation.
CINAHL
Database
Nursing and allied health literature database for evidence-based practice, nursing research, literature review, and accessing nursing research publications.
PubMed
Database
Biomedical literature database for neonatal and mental health research, evidence-based practice, and accessing medical and nursing research publications.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Neonatal and mental health is just about baby care.
The programme involves neonatal intensive care, mental health nursing, perinatal psychiatry, infant mental health, psychiatric nursing, and research, covering comprehensive neonatal and mental health.
This programme is only for nursing graduates.
The programme primarily accepts nursing graduates but may consider related health sciences graduates with relevant experience.
Mental health is not relevant to neonatal care.
Mental health is critical in neonatal care, including postnatal depression, mother-infant bonding, infant mental health, and perinatal psychiatric disorders.
There is limited demand for neonatal and mental health nurses in Kenya.
Kenya's high neonatal mortality, maternal mental health burden, mental health treatment gap, and growing neonatal care needs create high demand for qualified professionals.
Neonatal mental health is not a real specialisation.
Neonatal and infant mental health is a recognised specialisation globally, with WAIMH and WHO supporting infant mental health as critical for child development.
A master's in neonatal and mental health is redundant after a nursing degree.
The master's provides specialised neonatal and mental health skills, research capability, and career progression to senior nursing and nurse educator positions.