Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy DPsych
London, King's Cross (Anna Freud Centre)
This is the programme information for 2025 entry
The UCL Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (DPsych) is a four-year professional clinical training programme, accredited by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP).
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
Duration
Programme starts
Applications accepted
Normally applications open in September/October and the deadline is January. Please contact the British Psychotherapy Foundation for further information.
Entry requirements
Applicants must have an upper second-class Honour's degree (or equivalent) and/or a Master's degree from a UK university in a relevant subject. There are a number of additional criteria, laid down by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP), which applicants must fulfil before they can apply to this doctoral clinical training. Please see the ACP website for further details.
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The English language level for this programme is: Level 2
UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
Equivalent qualifications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.
About this degree
The programme is a collaboration between UCL, Anna Freud and the Independent Psychoanalytic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Association (IPCAPA) at the British Psychotherapy Foundation (bpf), alongside NHS training placement providers. It combines working in a clinical setting, with lectures and seminars to support academic development and the opportunity to complete a doctoral level research project. Teaching is offered in a mixture of large and small group settings and aims to provide a thorough understanding of normal child development, childhood psychopathology and psychotherapeutic techniques linked with direct experience of clinical work and conducting relevant research.
Who this course is for
We welcome applications from students with a range of personal and professional backgrounds who have completed the following pre-clinical requirements studies:
o An extended infant observation (2 years + academic paper)
o Work discussion seminars (once weekly for 3 terms min. + academic paper)
o Psychoanalytic theory module (3 terms min.)
o Module in child development research
• Students are required to have quite substantial work experience with children from two out of the following age groups: under five years, primary age and adolescents. This work experience does not need to be in an NHS or other clinical setting.
• For further details of work experience requirements, please see the Frequently Asked Questions on the entry requirements section of the bpf website.
What this course will give you
This collaborative doctoral degree enables students to benefit from the longstanding expertise of each of the partner organisations, to develop the academic, clinical and research skills needed to practice as a professional child and adolescent psychotherapist.
The theoretical orientation of the clinical training represents the thinking of the Independent School within the British Psychoanalytic movement and also provides Freudian and Kleinian thinking - both classical and contemporary. It allows trainees flexibility and scope to find in time their own theoretical position. Additional Jungian theory modules are provided for Jungian analysands on the Jungian pathway.
The foundation of your career
On completion of the Doctorate, applicants are eligible to work in the NHS or voluntary sector as child psychotherapists accredited by the Association of Child Psychotherapists. They may also take up teaching roles (e.g. on pre-clinical psychoanalytic courses).
Employability
On completion of the Doctorate, applicants are eligible to apply for Band 7 posts in the NHS as child and adolescent psychotherapists and become full professional members of the ACP. Alongside their clinical work, DPsych graduates are encouraged to develop skills in teaching, for example on pre-clinical psychoanalytic courses, and to further develop their research and supervisory skills as a qualified clinician, including publishing their work in peer-reviewed journals.
Networking
Trainees work with multidisciplinary teams specialised in children’s mental health services. From the start of the training, students also become trainee members of the Association of Child Psychotherapists, the professional body and accredited register for Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists in the UK.
Accreditation
On successful completion of the course, students are eligible for professional membership of the ACP and qualified to work in the NHS as a child and adolescent psychotherapist.
Teaching and learning
The programme has clinical, academic, and research components.
Clinical:
Trainees are in clinical placements, usually an NHS CAMHS service, for 60% of their week. The aim is for students to work in the same service for the duration of their four-year training. Trainees will be guided by experienced clinicians within their service, and work with and alongside other members of the multi-disciplinary team to learn and hone their skills. As employees of their employing trust, trainees are expected to abide by their Trust policies. To fulfil ACP requirements, trainees need to undertake the following work:
See three children of different genders (one aged 5 or under, one of primary school age, and one adolescent) for intensive psychotherapy (minimum three times per week), supported by weekly individual supervision for each case.
Have experience of using an evidence-based model of time-limited work; treat several children with non-intensive treatment; undertake work with parents; brief work; parent-infant work; family work; group work; generic and specialist assessments.
Gain experience of consulting to and working with multi-professional networks working to promote children’s wellbeing.
All trainees are required to be in personal psychoanalysis with a bpf approved therapist, at least four times per week throughout their training.
Academic:
A continuous programme of theoretical seminars specific to each of the 4 years of the course is led by experienced child and adult psychotherapists. These cover theories of development, and psychoanalytic thinking about the aetiology of psychological problems and how best to treat them, having regard to cultural and social diversity. The curriculum gives attention to knowledge of the evidence-base for the efficacy of psychological interventions and includes information on the impact of neuro-psychosocial factors on the psychological well-being of young people. There is a rolling programme of applied practice workshops, responding to current issues in NHS practice:
In the first year, terms 1 and 2, students are introduced to child psychotherapy practice. In term 3, trainees attend an eight-week adult psychiatric placement where they experience the impact of adult mental illness. This experience is explored in a seminar led by a child psychiatrist and child psychotherapist where they examine the raw feelings of the adult patients and child’s perspective when living with a mentally ill parent.
In years 2, 3 and 4, the practice groups address clinical report writing and advanced skills and understanding of practice in a range of applied work and with consideration to issues of diversity (including in parent-child work; parent work; family work; brief intervention and consultation), according to the particular needs of the group.
Additionally, there are a number of special presentations, day conferences or half-day workshops in the programme, responding to current issues in NHS practice.
Research:
Research teaching varies according to the year group. In the first year, students spend more time in taught research seminars and less over the following three years. This is to ensure students develop the fundamental research skills needed to inform their clinical practice and are ready to commence work on individual research projects in year 2.
In year 1, students receive direct teaching on research methodologies relevant to psychotherapy and evaluating clinical interventions and the critical evaluation of research findings. They carry out a service-related project within their clinical placement.
In year 2, trainees begin devising and working on an individual empirical research project, relevant to the child psychotherapy profession. Students attend monthly research supervision groups led by a research supervisor from the Anna Freud DPsych course team, who remains their research supervisor for the duration of the course.
In years 3 and 4, students engage in independent study as they continue working on their empirical projects which forms the basis of their research dissertation. Students continue to be supported by their research supervisor.
The types of assessments undertaken on the programme are Practicum modules, Examinations and Dissertations.
- Practicum Modules: Four practicum modules assess clinical competence. Assessment is via a placement review meeting at the end of each year, where clinical competence in a range of skills is discussed by the service supervisor and a member of the programme team. The decision is reviewed by the Training Advisory Group before a recommendation is made to the Exam Board. Students must pass these practicum components to progress to the next academic year.
- Examinations: Two modules are examinations. In the first year, students sit a written Critical Reading Exam to assess their capacity to critically read a research paper. In the second year, students complete an oral examination in which they present a clinical assessment undertaken in their training placement.
- Dissertation: Students complete two Dissertation Volumes.
Volume 1 (20,000 words) comprises four pieces of work/modules:
- A Service-Related Project in which first year students complete a research project in their clinical placement (4,000 words)
- Three Case Studies in which students in years 2 and 4 write about three distinct pieces of clinical work - a non-intensive case (4,000), work with parents (4,000) and a patient seen for intensive psychotherapy (8,000).
Volume 2 (16,000 words) comprises three pieces of work submitted in the 4th year and assessed by viva voce:
- A report of an empirical research project written in the format of a peer-reviewed academic journal paper (10,000 words)
- A conference-style poster presenting key findings from their empirical research project.
- A reflective commentary integrating their learning from their research and clinical practice (6,000 words).
Progression through the training is dependent on passing the practicum modules each year. All practicum, examination and Dissertation Volume 1 components must be completed by the end of the training for students to gain the qualification of Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, accredited by the Association of Child Psychotherapists. This means, it may be possible for students to meet the clinical requirements for accreditation with the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) without passing the Dissertation Volume 2 module. However, the Volume 2 research dissertation must be passed for students to graduate with the UCL DPsych award.
Approximately 3.5 days per week in the clinic, 1.5 day a week of teaching (average of 6-7 hours of direct teaching and 3-4 hours of self-directed study time), plus 20 days study leave from the clinic per year to support self-directed study.
Research areas and structure
Research environment
As a professional doctorate, research is an integral and integrated component of this programme. The programme has been created with an emphasis on the practical research skills that will be needed by a modern practitioner and designed specifically to be completed within four full-time academic years. In this integrated programme, research thinking will sit alongside the clinical programme so that graduates will become able to use research to inform their clinical practice.
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The programme has clinical, academic, and research components.
Clinical:
Trainees are in clinical placements, usually an NHS CAMHS service, for 60% of their week. The aim is for students to work in the same service for the duration of their four-year training. Trainees will be guided by experienced clinicians within their service, and work with and alongside other members of the multi-disciplinary team to learn and hone their skills. As employees of their employing trust, trainees are expected to abide by their Trust policies. To fulfil ACP requirements, trainees need to undertake the following work:
See three children of different genders (one aged 5 or under, one of primary school age, and one adolescent) for intensive psychotherapy (minimum three times per week), supported by weekly individual supervision for each case.
Have experience of using an evidence-based model of time-limited work; treat several children with non-intensive treatment; undertake work with parents; brief work; parent-infant work; family work; group work; generic and specialist assessments.
Gain experience of consulting to and working with multi-professional networks working to promote children’s wellbeing.
All trainees are required to be in personal psychoanalysis with a bpf approved therapist, at least four times per week throughout their training.
Academic:
A continuous programme of theoretical seminars specific to each of the 4 years of the course is led by experienced child and adult psychotherapists. These cover theories of development, and psychoanalytic thinking about the aetiology of psychological problems and how best to treat them, having regard to cultural and social diversity. The curriculum gives attention to knowledge of the evidence-base for the efficacy of psychological interventions and includes information on the impact of neuro-psychosocial factors on the psychological well-being of young people. There is a rolling programme of applied practice workshops, responding to current issues in NHS practice:
In the first year, terms 1 and 2, students are introduced to child psychotherapy practice. In term 3, trainees attend an eight-week adult psychiatric placement where they experience the impact of adult mental illness. This experience is explored in a seminar led by a child psychiatrist and child psychotherapist where they examine the raw feelings of the adult patients and child’s perspective when living with a mentally ill parent.
In years 2, 3 and 4, the practice groups address clinical report writing and advanced skills and understanding of practice in a range of applied work and with consideration to issues of diversity (including in parent-child work; parent work; family work; brief intervention and consultation), according to the particular needs of the group.
Additionally, there are a number of special presentations, day conferences or half-day workshops in the programme, responding to current issues in NHS practice.
Research:
Research teaching varies according to the year group. In the first year, students spend more time in taught research seminars and less over the following three years. This is to ensure students develop the fundamental research skills needed to inform their clinical practice and are ready to commence work on individual research projects in year 2.
In year 1, students receive direct teaching on research methodologies relevant to psychotherapy and evaluating clinical interventions and the critical evaluation of research findings. They carry out a service-related project within their clinical placement.
In year 2, trainees begin devising and working on an individual empirical research project, relevant to the child psychotherapy profession. Students attend monthly research supervision groups led by a research supervisor from the Anna Freud DPsych course team who remains their research supervisor for the duration of the course.
In years 3 and 4, students engage in independent study as they continue working on their empirical projects which forms the basis of their research dissertation. Students continue to be supported by their research supervisor.
Compulsory modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
Fieldwork
N/A
Placement
The clinical training is funded and quality assured by NHS England (formerly Health Education England). A limited number of training posts are offered by the NHS, for which trainees can apply. The posts are four-year fixed term training contracts, usually based in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) team, and provide funding (including salary and contributions to training expenses), time for study and training as well as the opportunities to meet all the clinical requirements of the training. There are several posts across London and the South-East of England that are linked to the training. All trainees must have the experience of working within a clinical placement but in exceptional circumstances, e.g. where trainees are not eligible to work in the UK, trainees may self-fund and IPCAPA will endeavour to organise appropriate clinical experience for them.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £6,215 |
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £36,500 |
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.
Additional costs
Students may be required to make a contribution towards their analytic fees to supplement the funding provided by NHSE.
UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.
Funding your studies
The clinical training is funded and quality assured by NHS England (formerly Health Education England). A limited number of training posts are offered by the NHS, for which trainees can apply.
The posts are four-year fixed term training contracts, usually based in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) team, and provide funding (including salary and contributions to training expenses), time for study and training as well as the opportunities to meet all the clinical requirements of the training. There are several posts across London and the South-East of England.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Next steps
Those seriously interested in undertaking this doctorate are advised to make contact with the Training Co-ordinator - to discuss their individual experience at an early stage.
Home (UK) students are advised to apply for the DPsych Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (mixed mode), Full-time: mixed mode distance option. Overseas students are advised to apply for the DPsychotherapy Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Full time option.
Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.
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