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Child and Adolescent Mental Health MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Progress your career in child and adolescent mental health on this specialist, Master's degree at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. Gaining a sought-after mix of clinical and research expertise, you’ll be encouraged to apply your critical and analytical skills to theory, policy and practice – with a focus on delivering the highest standards of clinical care to children and young people.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£16,800
£8,400
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£39,200
£19,600
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally medical registration or an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, nursing, education or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants should preferably have experience in a mental health, paediatric or educational setting.

The English language level for this course 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

If you’re working in health, social work or education, and want to build your career in child and adolescent mental health, this course is ideal.  

You’ll work with UCL’s experts at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (UCL GOS ICH) to build your clinical, professional, academic and research skills, and gain invaluable experience in applying them to clinical practice.  

There are also opportunities to network and attend events through the UCL GOS ICH Centre for Paediatric Mental Health, which is focused on researching mental health in the context of paediatric physical health problems.

As you become confident in analysing principles of policy, planning and management, you’ll also learn about the impact of culture and diversity on clinical theory and practice, in the context of working with children and young people.  

The course covers all key aspects of child and adolescent mental health, including neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodivergence, treatment aspects including evidence-based psychological and pharmacological therapies, adaptations and wellbeing, school mental health and international child mental health. We also run a module, which introduces students to clinical skills in child and adolescent mental health, where you can enhance your skills in a virtual simulated clinical setting. 

Who this course is for

The course is designed for:

  • Postgraduate doctors seeking to specialise in psychiatry or child health.
  • Graduate psychologists and psychologists with counselling or other mental health qualifications.
  • Teachers wishing to enhance their knowledge of Child Mental Health.
  • UK practitioners from the fields of nursing, social work and occupational therapy, education and wellbeing practitioners.
  • International medical practitioners who wish to gain experience or further qualifications in the UK.
Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

  • Study at a university which is ranked 9th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026), 3rd in the world for public health (ShanghaiRankings 2024) and number one for research power and impact in medicine, health and life sciences (REF 2021).
  • A multidisciplinary course covering a mix of academic theory, research and clinical knowledge, to equip you to deliver a high standard of clinical care to children and young people. 
  • The chance to work with UCL GOS ICH, world-leading specialists in enhancing the understanding, diagnosis, therapy and prevention of childhood diseases. 
  • Opportunities to work on joint research, and also be taught by our partners at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH). 
  • An optional introduction to clinical skills module to enhance your skills in a virtual simulated clinical setting. 
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This course is particularly relevant if you’re a psychology graduate looking to progress onto further clinical psychology training, or if you’ve studied child psychiatry and want to supplement your basic training with a higher degree.

The course is closely aligned to the Royal College's recommended curriculum. Students from social work, nursing and education backgrounds will benefit from acquiring advanced skills in the theory and practice of working with young people with mental health difficulties.  

Graduates have gone on to work for organisations such as the NHS, Camden Council and the World Food Programme.*      

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 cohorts.

Employability

This Master’s degree provides the ideal foundation for doctors, psychologists and practitioners in social work and education looking to focus and develop their careers in the areas of child mental health.  
 
Recent graduates have gone on to apply for Clinical Doctorates in Psychology, to apply for Children and Young People's Psychological Therapy Training courses, PhD, or had opportunities for progression in their current careers.

Networking

UCL GOS ICH offers seven MSc courses as well as the Child Health MRes, encompassing a wide range of topics. Our students come from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, from the UK and overseas providing great networking opportunities within and across courses. We hold social events throughout the year for the whole student cohort to enable networking between students. Students have the opportunity to join UCL GOS ICH events such as the Otto Wolff lectures hosted by the research and teaching departments. These cover a variety of topics and provide an opportunity to hear from national and international experts and to network at the social event that usually accompanies these events.   

Teaching and learning

The course is taught through a combination of lectures, workshops, discussion, project work and independent and group study.

Assessment includes written assignments, projects, posters, exams, oral presentations, and the written dissertation.

Each module requires students to attend lectures or lecture-related activities for a minimum of three hours a week. Each module will require four hours of additional personal study time per module per week. This time is made up of formal learning and teaching events such as lectures, seminars and tutorials, as well as independent study.

On average, students will have six hours of contact time per week, but this will vary depending on modules selected. Outside of lectures full-time students will spend 29 hours per week in self-directed study, using this time for reading and completing coursework assignments. For part-time and flexible students, these hours will be pro-rata.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, one year part-time, flexible two to five years) is offered. The course consists of five core modules (75 credits), and three optional modules (45 credits). A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, one year part-time, two years flexible) is offered. Four modules (15 credits) can be chosen.

Modules

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. This course is offered full-time (one year) or part-time/modular flexible (two years +). 

The content includes a focused set of five compulsory modules including an introduction to child mental health treatment in terms of both evidence-based psychological and pharmacological therapies, neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodivergence, and basic research methods and statistics in child mental health.

You will select three of the optional modules. Optional module choices may include but are not limited to:

  • Adolescent Mental Health and Transition to Adult Services
  • International Child Mental Health
  • Mental Health and Schools
  • Adaptations and Wellbeing in Child Mental Health
  • Adolescent Mental Health and Transitions
  • Introduction to Clinical Skills in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

You will also undertake a dissertation module that is linked with a supervisor with expertise in a specific topic area to undertake a literature review in a current area of interest. There may also be the opportunity to join an existing research team project for the dissertation when such opportunities arise within UCL GOS ICH.

It is possible for students to select modules from other postgraduate courses within UCL depending on availability.

The two-year part-time option consists of four modules which must be taken in Year 1, and a further four modules plus the dissertation in Year 2.
 

The Modular/Flexible option can be taken within two to five years and you generally have the flexibility to choose the number of modules you choose each year.

Compulsory modules








Optional 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.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Child and Adolescent Mental Health MSc

Studying at the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health opens doors to impactful careers in child health, child mental health and paediatric neuropsychology. Join our virtual open event to explore our Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, meet the Programme Directors, and learn how to make your application stand out.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £16,800 £8,400
Tuition fees (2026/27) £39,200 £19,600

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course 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

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 deposit will be charged.

There is no fee deposit required for PG Dip and PG Cert applicants.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs for this course.

For in-person teaching, 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 £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. 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

Visit the UCL GOS ICH funding and studentship pages  for details of funding available to students, including the UCL GOS ICH bursary.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Bursary

Deadline: 17 August 2026
Value: £3,000 (1 year or 2 years part-tim)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

Michelle Zalkin Scholarship

Deadline: 30 June 2026
Value: £10,000 (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

Mukul Madhav Foundation Scholarship

NOW CLOSED FOR 2026/27 ENTRY
Value: Full tuition fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Peter and Loek Wheeler Scholarship

Deadline: 30 June 2026
Value: International full fees (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study Child and Adolescent Mental Health at graduate level.
  • Why you want to study Child and Adolescent Mental Health at UCL.
  • What particularly attracts you to this course.
  • How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging course.
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this course match what the course will deliver.

Frequently asked questions

Question: What days of the week does the course run on?
Answer: The main course teaching day is Wednesday. The Introduction to Child & Adolescent Mental Health Module, Research Methods and Statistics Module and Schools Module each run over a three-week period. The Introduction to Clinical Skills Module runs over two terms. We announce dates at the beginning of the academic year as soon as the timetable is finalised. Additional activities will run on other days.
  
Question: When do we start our Dissertations/Research Projects?
Answer: We hold a dissertation launch day in November and allocate supervisors in late November/early Dec. It is expected that you will meet with your supervisor before the end of Term 1 but begin the main work on your project in January.
  
Question: How are Dissertation/Research Projects selected?
Answer: We ask each student to submit three main areas of interest and then try to match with a relevant supervisor. Some students may wish to join existing projects and we advertise these to all of our students.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

UCL GOS Institute of Child Health
UCL GOS Institute of Child Health

camh@ucl.ac.uk

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