Diploma Programme

General Objectives

Diploma General Objectives
The Higher Diploma in Community Mental Health is a two-year programme implemented in cooperation between GCMHP and the IUG, and aims to:

• Prepare and qualify its applicants in order, for them, to obtain a degree in the field of community mental health. The programme includes theoretical and practical aspects where the students can acquire the extensive basis of knowledge in the field of psychology, psychiatry, mental health counseling, etc…, through the content of the programme, which is emanated conveniently from the local culture and Palestinian social life. Therefore, it helps to accurately analyze the concept of mental health and human rights in the Palestine community. For those who passed successfully, they will be
  awarded a certificate of a higher diploma in community mental health, a certificate that is endorsed an academic and international appreciation.
• Raise students’ awareness and encourage them to learn more about the theoretical concepts in community mental health and human rights as well as real and practical applications of these concepts
• Activate the intensive practical training which enables students to discover their personal skills in the field of mental health while learning about the other various fields, meanwhile; they learn how to link them and apply them in the research field
• Provide students with mental health professionals in order not to be mere providers of mental health services, but facilitators of these services. Therefore, the individuals can find an avenue in which the can solve their social and psychological problems using local sources such as family and community institutions like schools, mosques, etc
• Create a generation of qualified professionals who enjoy a scientific and practical expertise in the field of community mental health, and are capable of effective intervention in private and public hospitals, primary care centers, community mental health centers, mental health hospitals, etc…

The Higher Diploma is the first step towards the establishment of the Higher Institute for Mental Health Sciences and Human Rights, which will be a central source for all students and researchers in the field of community mental health around the world.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria:
Basic requirements:

• A BA in either Psychology, Sociology, Nursing, Politics, Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy from a recognized institution by the Ministry of Higher Education.
• An average of at least 75% in the final degree.
• Medicine students should finish their internships before joining the programme.
• Very good English skills: writing, reading, and speaking.
• Passing an admissions test successfully.
• Passing an interview successfully.
• To not be older than 40 years old.

Other requirements:

• 1 to 2 year Work experience in their field or in the field of Mental Health or any other field that the administration approves of.
• To have the responsibility and the personal motivation to join the programme.
• Students enrolled in this programme should be knowledgeable of work ethics, treatment ethics, protective strategies used to focus on Mental Health.
• The training focuses on participation and self-teaching by the students.

Study Mode

• This is a Full-time degree conducted over two years.
• The first years consists of three terms. Each term is 4 months long. The programme is committed to the attendance regulations of the Islamic University of Gaza.
• Lecturers from the GCMHP and IUG teach the outlined modules and sometimes international academics participate to cover some other modules.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are determined annually, based on the support and scholarships provided for the GCMHP

Study Plan

The programme consists of a number of theoretical and practical modules taken over the four terms:

First Term: Second Term: Third Term: Fourth Term: