Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology MSc is currently the only paediatric programme in the UK that is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and students who successfully complete the programme are deemed to have met the requirements of the Knowledge and Research dimensions of the BPS Training in Clinical Neuropsychology (TiCN).

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£15,100
£7,550
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£34,400
£17,200
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 28 Jun 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to be qualified Clinical or Educational Psychologists as recognised by the Health and Care Professions Council. Qualified counselling psychologist applicants should contact the Programme to discuss eligibility.

Applicants with a Psychology BSc but who are not yet clinical or educational psychologists, or applicants who are internationally-qualified clinicians ineligible for HCPC registration should apply for Applied Paediatric Neuropsychology MSc.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3

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

You will develop an understanding of the techniques, methods and contemporary findings in the field. You will be trained to interpret clinical case presentations within the context of current scientific findings of developmental brain-behaviour relationships and gain knowledge of the major professional, ethical and service delivery issues in assessment and rehabilitative work.

Who this course is for

The clinical route is open to qualified clinical and educational psychologists on the Health and Care Professions Council Register. Counselling Psychologists are encouraged to contact the Programme Directors to discuss an application.

What this course will give you

This programme covers all key areas of the syllabus recommended by the BPS Division of Neuropsychology and draws on the wealth of specialist expertise in neuropsychology within Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (UCL GOS ICH) and other related neuroscience and psychology departments within UCL. We also invite external speakers who are international experts within their area of specialism.

UCL GOS ICH has a very close relationship with the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and much of the research and teaching is carried out on a joint basis.

The foundation of your career

The programme satisfies the Knowledge dimension requirement of the TiCN, which facilitates formal qualification and professional registration in clinical paediatric neuropsychology in the UK. The Research dimension requirements may also be satisfied by the completion of this MSc.

Employability

The programme meets the requirements of the Knowledge dimension of Training in Clinical Neuropsychology (TiCN; both the BPS QiCN and non-BPS programmes), which confers eligibility for entry onto the BPS Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists. It may also meet the requirements of the Research dimension of these programmes; candidates are advised to speak with TiCN providers to confirm this.

Networking

The Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health offers seven MSc programmes as well as an MRes in Child Health 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 programmes. We hold social events throughout the year for the whole student cohort to enable networking between students. Students on the master's programmes have the opportunity to join GOS ICH events such as the Otto Woolf 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.  

Accreditation

The British Psychological Society (BPS) views entry onto the Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists (SRCN) as the 'gold standard' for practitioners in clinical neuropsychology and considers that graduates of this MSc have successfully completed the academic components (Knowledge and Research Dimensions) of Training in Clinical Neuropsychology (TiCN).

The third component of TiCN is the Practice dimension, which is examined by the BPS or by other University-based courses.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through lectures, group seminars, video demonstrations, and directed self-study time (reading, essay, seminar preparations). 

Assessment is by two essay journal papers (up to 3,000 words each), two scientific commentary papers (up to 1,500 words each) and four unseen examinations. Students on the MSc in Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology will also be assessed by a research portfolio and a research portfolio presentation. 

On average, students spend approximately 30 hours per month attending lectures, 3 hours in tutorials and workshops, and 140 hours studying independently for their assignments and research projects.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time 1 year, or part-time over 2 years) is also offered, consisting of the 8 core compulsory taught modules. The Postgraduate Diploma route of the programme satisfies the Knowledge dimension of the TiCN.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time 1 year, or part-time over 2 years) is also offered, consisting of the 8 core compulsory taught modules. The Postgraduate Diploma route of the programme satisfies the Knowledge dimension of the TiCN.

Modules

The MSc in Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology focuses on the relationship between brain health and behaviour in developing children.

In Term 1 you will study Introduction to Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Professional Issues for Paediatric Neuropsychologists, and Development of the Sensory, Motor and Cognitive Systems. These modules set the foundation for the whole MSc preparing you for further topics by introducing the fundamental principles behind a range of methodologies, describing issues associated with the practice of paediatric neuropsychology in a range of settings, and by providing background on normal development in various domains as a basis for understanding atypical development.

In Term 2 you will study Developmental Disorders and Neuropsychological Profiles, Infant and Neurodevelopmental Assessment, and Assessment of Neuropsychological Disorders and their Functional Implications. These modules further develop key concepts learnt in Term 1 and apply this knowledge to understand neuropsychological assessment in a range of paediatric populations. During Term 2, you will also submit your research project proposal.

In Term 3, you will study Advanced Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience and Developing Clinical Formulations and Interventions. These modules build on those on the previous two terms and cover more advanced methods for studying brain-behaviour relations to provide an evidence base for clinical practice and describe different settings and systems for intervention and support. Following these two modules, the research project is submitted in early September. 

This programme is available in a part-time mode of two years with the first four modules being taken in the first year of study. The final four modules, plus the Research Project will be taken in the second and final year of study. All modules must be taken in order.

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. All modules in this programme are non-condonable, requiring a pass mark of at least 50%. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology.

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.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £15,100 £7,550
Tuition fees (2024/25) £34,400 £17,200

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

There are no additional costs for this programme.

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

Visit the funding and studentship pages of the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute for Child Health (GOS ICH) website for details of funding available to students, including the 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.

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/research Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology at graduate level; why you want to study Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology 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

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