Child and Adolescent Psychology and Neuroscience in Practice PG Dip

Distance learning programme

This PG Dip programme is a unique opportunity to gain a thorough understanding of child mental health and psychopathology, with a special focus on childhood trauma. You will explore core concepts, theories and models of current, evidence-based practice, taught by world-renowned experts in psychological, developmental, neurobiological and clinical sciences.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£10,100
£5,050
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£23,000
£11,500
Duration
1 academic year
2 academic years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
All applicants: 16 Oct 2023 – 28 Jun 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is required.

Alternatively, a lower second-class honours degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard will be considered if supported by professional experience in a relevant setting.

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


This programme will provide you with comprehensive overview of child mental health introducing core concepts, theories and models of current evidence-based practice. It brings together psychological, developmental, neurobiological and clinical perspectives - including systemic, cognitive and psychoanalytic approaches. You will learn about how and why mental health problems can emerge, how they impact children and young people, and you will be introduced to a range of clinical and non-clinical approaches to both prevention and intervention. The course intentionally brings together multiple perspectives in understanding emotional development and the role of relationships and the systems around a child or young person. There is a particular emphasis on the impact of trauma and adversity, and how such experiences can impact children.

You will develop a core understanding of common mental health difficulties as well as controversies and challenges around classification and diagnosis. You will also learn about the child and young person within their social world and the role played by parents/caregivers, family, peers and community and how the brain is shaped and influenced by experience.

You will further have an opportunity to undertake optional modules in: (i) clinical intervention approaches (including CBT, Mentalisation and Psychoanalytic approaches); (ii) mental health within education settings; and (iii) the impact of trauma and adversity. These latter modules will be likely of particular interest to teachers and those working within social care settings respectively.

This programme is specifically aimed at those professionals engaged in direct work with young people, particularly within non mental health settings.

Examples might include social workers, teachers, community and health professionals. The material comprising evidence-based theory and practice is relevant for a global audience. The course has been designed so that you will be able to learn flexibly via an online, distance learning mode.

Who this course is for

This course is specifically aimed at professionals working with children and young people, who wish to develop and advance their knowledge of child mental health. Examples might include professionals within the social care, education, community, or health sectors.

What this course will give you

Students will learn how neuroscientific, systemic, cognitive, and psychoanalytic approaches can be applied to understanding psychopathology in childhood, and delve into the causes and impacts of mental health problems in children and young people. Additionally, students will be introduced to a variety of clinical and non-clinical methods for preventing mental health issues in young people. The programme is delivered online, offering our students maximum flexibility while still fostering a stimulating and engaging global learning community.

This programme will enable graduates from the programme to develop an understanding of core mental health concepts in relation to working with children and young people. This includes an understanding of pathways to both risk and resilience and prevention and intervention strategies from multiple perspectives. A particular focus of learning is on the influence of trauma and adversity on child development and mental health.

The programme will build your confidence in understanding and supporting child mental health within your current area of work. For interested candidates, it could also lead to further training and development opportunities with the Anna Freud.

UCL Psychology and Language Sciences undertakes world-leading research and teaching in mind, behaviour, and language. We are ranked first for research power in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience by the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), with more than two thirds of our research in these areas rated as world-leading (4*).

Our work attracts staff and students from around the world. Together they create an outstanding and vibrant environment, taking advantage of cutting-edge resources, including state-of-the art neuroimaging equipment.

The foundation of your career

Graduates of the CAPNiP programme will be experienced in applying their newly developed learning to their professional roles, including the dissemination of research and increased confidence in understanding clinical work. The course itself also provides an excellent foundation for further training, in both academic and clinical spheres. As a newly-developed course, we do not yet have alumni information, but will update this page when we can share the ways in which our initial cohort have used their CAPNiP qualifications to develop their careers.

Employability

This programme is aimed at professionals working with children, who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in supporting child mental health. This could be anyone who works with children, such as those in the social care or health field, youth or community sector, early childhood or education sector, amongst many others.

The programme also holds significant interest for individuals who do not currently have experience in working with children and young people, but who would like to expand their skills in this area. The course is designed to meet the needs of those with no prior study in Psychology, with dynamic and interesting content which supports the development of a depth and breadth of knowledge in the field. The specific focus on the impacts of trauma and adversity on children is likely to be of interest to a wide range of potential students. 

The skills and knowledge developed through the course will benefit students within their current roles, as well as evidence commitment and expertise in the area for those individuals who are looking to develop their careers.

Networking

We are very aware that one of the challenges people face with distance learning is the perceived restriction in networking opportunities. This course is designed to mitigate against this in a number of ways. It is a cohort-based programme, with multiple opportunities for formal and informal connections within the global community of students, sharing expertise, experience and knowledge. You will have regular personal tutoring sessions, enabling you to reflect upon your personal learning and networking goals and identifying routes to relationship building at distance. This is supplemented by virtual office hours from the programme leads, who will build relationships with all students. The content of the course is provided by a wide range of skilled clinicians, academics and experts by experience, thereby providing multiple opportunities to benefit from and connect with individuals and organisations of relevance to each student.

Teaching and learning

The programme consists of:

  • Remote delivered workshop and lecture content;
  • An interactive online learning platform complete with short video and audio recordings, quizzes, tasks and summarised core teaching;
  • Synchronous (livestreamed) online tutorials/seminars;
  • Opportunities for live virtual networking and learning events.

Each module includes a formative assessment, which is not graded, to allow students to practice and develop their skills around that particular assessment.

Assessments will cover multiple formats, including:

  • Essays
  • Non-academic outputs (e.g., leaflets, blogs)
  • Pre-recorded presentations with slides

You will have a weekly 1.5hour seminar per module, which provides opportunities to apply and extend your learning. There are also regular peer tutorials, in which you will be able to network and work together to develop your learning. These activities are the core ‘synchronous’ elements of the course and are scheduled to ensure they can be accessed across various time zones and working patterns.

Outside of this synchronous activity, you will have access to a wide range of self-paced activities, including core lectures on the topic, essential and additional reading, podcasts and interviews from a range of experts, online exercises such as quizzes and forum discussions, and reflective exercises. This content is therefore amendable according to personal need and interests and will vary in the time required.

Modules

PG Dip, Full-time (one year)

Term One

  • M1 - Child Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Developmental Perspective (optional module)
  • M2 – Common Mental Health Difficulties in Childhood and Adolescence (optional module)

Term Two

  • M3 – An Introduction to CBT, Mentalisation and Psychoanalytic Approaches (optional module)
  • M4 – Working with the Impact of Childhood Trauma and Adversity (optional module)

Term Three

  • M5 – Trauma Informed Care in Education Settings (optional module)

Full-time students may take all 120 credits in Terms One and Two.

PG Dip, Part-time (two years)

Year One

Term One

  • M1 - Child Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Developmental Perspective (optional module)
  • M2 – Common Mental Health Difficulties in Childhood and Adolescence (optional module)

Term Two

  • M3 – An Introduction to CBT, Mentalisation and Psychoanalytic Approaches (optional module)
  • M4 – Working with the Impact of Childhood Trauma and Adversity (optional module)

Term Three

  • M5 – Trauma Informed Care in Education Setting (optional module)

In Year One, part-time students may take up to 90 credits in Terms One to Three but no fewer than 60 credits across the entire academic year. By Year Two, part-time students will have completed a combined total of 120 credits.

Year Two

Term One

  • M1 - Child Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Developmental Perspective (optional module)
  • M2 – Common Mental Health Difficulties in Childhood and Adolescence (optional module)

Term Two

  • M3 – An Introduction to CBT, Mentalisation and Psychoanalytic Approaches (optional module)
  • M4 – Working with the Impact of Childhood Trauma and Adversity (optional module)

Term Three

  • M5 – Trauma Informed Care in Education Settings (optional module)

In Year Two, part-time students may take a minimum of 30 credits in Terms One to Three but no more than 60 credits across the entire academic year. By the end of Year 2, part-time students will have completed a combined total of 120 credits.

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 120 credits. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Child and Adolescent Psychology and Neuroscience in Practice.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

Online - Open day

Child and Adolescent Psychology and Neuroscience PG Dip - taster session

Join us on Zoom for a timely taster session on "Transforming Practice" as we examine how high-quality neuroscientific research evidence can be leveraged to inform clinical work with children, adolescents, and their families.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £10,100 £5,050
Tuition fees (2024/25) £23,000 £11,500

Additional costs

Students will need to be able to engage in online learning and therefore will require access to relevant IT equipment (including AV) and a secure and strong internet connection.

Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

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

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 programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper 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 Psychology and Neuroscience in Practice at graduate level
  • Why you want to study Child and Adolescent Psychology and Neuroscience in Practice at UCL
  • What particularly attracts you to this programme
  • How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • 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 programme match what the programme will deliver.

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.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.