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Clinical Mental Health Sciences MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The UCL Division of Psychiatry is pleased to offer this programme focused on clinical practice in mental health and its evidence base. The Clinical Mental Health Sciences MSc integrates biological, psychological and social perspectives on mental health and caters both for psychology graduates and for clinicians wishing to undertake a broad-based, rigorous and flexible higher degree.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£16,000
£8,000
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£39,800
£19,900
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

An upper second-class Bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related scientific or social science discipline, or a professional health qualification (medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, social work) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

Candidates who do not have at least six months’ full-time work experience (or the equivalent) in a mental health service setting or in clinical mental health research are required to take the Clinical Mental Health double module.

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

Students will develop an in-depth understanding of current evidence regarding mental health problems and the interventions provided to address them, as well as enhancing their research skills. A wide range of options from across the School of Life and Medical Sciences at UCL allows students to tailor a programme that fully fits their needs.

All students undertake a final research project, to be reported as a paper of up to 7,000 words ready for submission to a specified journal, a blog of 1,000 words and a 20-minute talk. 

For more information, please visit:

Who this course is for

The programme is designed both for graduates in psychology and other related subjects who wish to develop their clinically relevant knowledge and skills in the area of mental health, and for mental health practitioners, including trainees, who wish to enhance their advanced knowledge and skills.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

UCL has a cluster of international experts in mental health, including in genetics, epidemiology, and applied clinical research, and most are also clinicians. We are able to offer a broad programme encompassing both cutting-edge research and a clinical perspective.

The programme is strongly focused on student participation, with much use of small-group learning, and the environment in the Division of Psychiatry is stimulating, friendly and supportive.

A wide range of options at UCL allows programmes to be tailored to students’ needs and interests in clinical, research and management domains.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This programme can equip you with the skills to follow varied career paths including as psychologists, and research assistants and we expect many of our graduates to go onto further study.

Employability

For non-clinicians, the programme will be an excellent grounding for clinical training, such as in clinical psychology, or for embarking on a research career in mental health. Many graduates go on to research assistant, clinical support worker or assistant psychologist posts as a first destination. The programme is also intended to prepare students for PhD studies, also a major onward route. For clinicians, this is a great opportunity to gain a higher qualification through a programme based in a leading university department which can be closely tailored to your interests across clinical, research and management fields.

Networking

You will work with other students and tutors drawn from across the Faculty and University. Also, there is an alumni network for the Division of Psychiatry MSc graduates.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars and workshops, with considerable use of supporting online learning.

Assessment methods include unseen examinations, coursework including designing questionnaires and protocols and analysing data, giving talks and presenting posters, and a final report in the format of a journal paper or brief for clinicians or service planners.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

Modules

Full-time students should choose 180 credits to make up their MSc. 
The compulsory modules are:

  • PSBS0002 Core Principles of Mental Health Research (30 credits)
  • PSBS0001 Clinical Mental Health(30 credits) *only compulsory for students that do not have at least six months’ full-time experience, or the equivalent, of working in mental health settings
  • PSBS0015 Final Project (Research Project) (60 credits)

Remaining credits can be obtained from optional modules. Students who take the Clinical Mental Health module will take four optional modules, including at least one from the Division of Psychiatry. Students who do not take this module will take six optional modules, including at least three from the Division of Psychiatry.

Part-time students should choose 90 credits in their first year and 90 credits in their second year (180 credits in two years).

The compulsory modules are:

  • PSBS0002 Core Principles of Mental Health Research (30 credits) – to be selected in the first year
  • PSBS0001 Clinical Mental Health (30 credits) *only compulsory for students that do not have at least six months’ full-time experience, or the equivalent, of working in mental health settings
  • PSBS0015 Final Project (Research Project) (60 credits) – to be selected in the second year

Remaining credits can be obtained from optional modules. Students who take the Clinical Mental Health module will take four optional modules, including at least one from the Division of Psychiatry. Students who do not take this module will take six optional modules, including at least three from the Division of Psychiatry.

Modular Flexible students can take between one to five years to complete their MSc which is made up of 180 credits. The main core modules must be taken at the beginning of the course as they form the basis of the course:

The compulsory modules are:

  • PSBS0002 Core Principles of Mental Health Research - 30 credits compulsory to all.
  • PSBS0001 Clinical Mental Health (30 credits) *only compulsory for students that do not have at least six months’ full-time experience, or the equivalent, of working in mental health settings

In the last year, students must take their final project.

  • PSBS0015 Final Project (Research Project) - 60 Credits

During the five years students can choose from optional and elective modules to make up the 180 credits required for the MSc.

Remaining credits can be obtained from optional modules. Students who take the Clinical Mental Health module will take four optional modules, including at least one from the Division of Psychiatry. Students who do not take this module will take six optional modules, including at least three from the Division of Psychiatry.

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 Clinical Mental Health Sciences.

Placement

We do not have formal assessed placements as part of the course, but many students spend a day a week volunteering in NHS or clinical research settings for all or part of the course, and we are happy to help people find suitable settings in which to undertake this voluntary experience.

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.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Introduction to the Division of Psychiatry and the Mental Health Sciences MSc

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The UCL Division of Psychiatry is a world-leading interdisciplinary centre for research and teaching into mental health and illness. During the session you'll get to hear from the programme Directorship and current students about the Division of Psychiatry and our suite of Masters programmes. We will also be doing a special feature on the Mental Health Sciences MSc. We'll discuss the course structure, modules, career outcomes and life as a student in the department, UCL and London more widely.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £16,000 £8,000
Tuition fees (2025/26) £39,800 £19,900

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

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

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

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

The programme team support students in obtaining volunteer placements in relevant mental health care and research settings, but this is not a formal part of the programme and is entirely optional. Small costs may be associated with these placements, especially for travel around London, and need to be met by the student. 

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 Division of Psychiatry offers bursaries and small scholarships each year to students who show great promise as mental health researchers. Please visit our webpage to find out more.

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

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. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study Clinical Mental Health Sciences at graduate level.
  • Why you want to study Clinical Mental Health Sciences at UCL.
  • What particularly attracts you to this programme.
  • How your personal, 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: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Division of Psychiatry
Division of Psychiatry

dop.msc.enquiries@ucl.ac.uk

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