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Early Child Development and Clinical Applications MSc

London, King's Cross (Anna Freud Centre)

This programme, based at Anna Freud, provides a unique foundation for individuals interested in a clinical/psychotherapy training or a research/academic career in child development. The MSc combines a comprehensive multi-perspective understanding of development and clinical practice in the early years with a supervised clinical placement, a two-year observation of infants in a family setting, and a research project.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£16,800
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£39,200
Duration
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
All applicants: 20 Oct 2025 – 03 Feb 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

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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.

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


This programme has a predominant psychoanalytic approach but focuses on giving a comprehensive multi-perspective understanding of development and clinical practice in the early years (i.e. prenatal to 5 years), considering biological and environmental influences. This is provided through teaching of psychoanalytic theories, developmental and neuroscience research, and current clinical practice, as well as a naturalistic observation of an infant in their family home.

Students are able to apply this understanding in a supervised clinical placement usually in the NHS, the Anna Freud clinical services or external charities/organisations, as well as conducting an Anna Freud-led research project or alternatively in collaboration with external partners.

This two-year full-time MSc programme (formerly known as MSc in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology) has undergone changes to bring it up to date with current research and clinical practice.

Who this course is for

Usually, prospective students have an undergraduate degree in psychology or another relevant social, clinical or life science discipline and have obtained some prior experience of related research. However, we also welcome applicants from other academic backgrounds and mature students already working with children or families. Some experience of working with children is also desirable if possible.

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

What this course will give you

The MSc is based within the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, one of the world's leading integrated departments of research and teaching in mind, behaviour and language. UCL is ranked first for research power in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience by the UK’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), with more than two thirds of our research in these areas rated as world-leading (4*). This programme is also based at Anna Freud, a world renowned centre for research, training and clinical practice in the field of child mental health.

This MSc integrates different theoretical and clinical perspectives and gives students the opportunity to develop skills necessary to work with babies, children under the age of five and families. While the MSc has a predominantly psychoanalytic approach, it integrates current research from developmental psychology and neuroscience.

The programme envisages its graduates as being able to translate concepts across these domains and therefore develop an appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of each domain itself and areas of overlap between domains. As such, it forms an excellent basis for careers in academia, clinical work and research.

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

The foundation of your career

Students who successfully complete the MSc can apply their degree in a variety of settings and we anticipate that they will go into roles such as child mental health workers or assistant psychologists/ psychotherapists, or take up posts as research assistants. They may also be admitted onto professional doctorates or PhD programmes. The programme has strong links with Independent Psychoanalytic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Association (IPCAPA) at the British Psychotherapy Foundation (bpf), and with the UCL Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, and is a recognised pre-clinical course for this training. 

Employability

By completing this programme, students will gain the following skills to support them with their future employability and careers:

  • Multi-perspective thinking about early child development and clinical practice.
  • Practical observational and clinical skills for working with children and parents in the early years.
  • Research skills required for conducting reliable and valid mixed-methods research.
  • Science communication skills to translate science into accessible language.

Networking

Students will have an opportunity to attend the Academic Skills Seminar Series which will be hosted by a variety of guest lecturers from different fields. Students will also be able to attend careers events with a specific focus on clinical careers and research focused careers.

Students will also have contact with previous alumni through career events and workshops, and will be paired with a Year two student as part of our buddy system.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, small group observation seminars, a clinical placement and supervision, and research supervision. The clinical placement is supervised by an experienced clinician in early years. Observation and work discussion seminar groups are small, and led by psychoanalytic clinicians and allow plenty of opportunity for discussion and reflection. Research work is supported by an individual supervisor and by workshops throughout the year.

There are various types of assessments such as essay, exam, case report, oral presentation, podcast, science communication article and leaflet, observation paper and a journal-type research paper. Assessment occurs throughout the programme (usually at the end of the relevant module).

In Year 1, typical timetabled contact hours for the degree programme can range between approximately 10-14 hours per week.

In Year 2, typically a student is expected to spend between 14-21 hours per week in a relevant placement setting. Teaching continues in the second year of the course with typical timetabled contact hours for the degree programme ranging between 3-6.5 hours per week.

Teaching is mainly carried out through lectures and seminars to support discussion across both Years 1 and 2. Additionally, students are expected to undertake independent study per week through the duration of their course (around 25-30 hours per week). Termly meetings with the personal academic tutor are also facilitated for students by their programme team and can be expected to last normally around 20-30 minutes.

Modules

In the first year, students are introduced to core theoretical foundations of psychoanalysis, child development and research methods. Teaching takes place primarily at Anna Freud, with occasional sessions held at the UCL campus. Theoretical modules are taught through a combination of lectures and workshops. Moreover, the Parent-Infant Observation module provides students with the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of human development through direct observation of an infant in their home environment. Students will need to find a family to observe for the duration of the course, but there is no expectation to begin the search before the course begins. The Parent-Infant Observation module will be supported by weekly small-group seminars. Lastly, students start working on their individually supervised research projects carried out across the two years. 

In the second year, students spend 2-3 days per week in their clinical placement, alongside at least one day per week of teaching. This includes infant observation seminars, work discussion groups focused on placement experiences, and clinical competencies masterclasses. Both the infant observation and the supervised research project continue throughout the year.

The various theoretical and practical modules of the MSc are complemented by Integration and Development seminars, which run across the two years and help students integrate the knowledge and skills taught.

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.

Students undertake modules to the value of 270 credits. Upon successful completion of 270 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Early Child Development and Clinical Applications.

Placement

During year two, all students undertake a supervised clinical placement in an early years setting (for example NHS services such as CAMHS under 5s and perinatal services, or charities) and attend weekly work discussion groups.

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.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

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

Full-time = 2 years

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.

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

Students are recommended to sign up to the DBS update service, which will incur a cost of £16 per year, as this is a requirement of clinical placements. However, students can cancel their subscription after completing the Master's programme.

This course requires a completed DBS check for some compulsory modules. You will receive more information from UCL on how to complete the check once you have firmly accepted an unconditional offer for the programme. A charge for Post Office ID verification (£15.00) needed for an application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is payable by the student. The cost of the DBS check itself is paid for by UCL.

If you have lived, worked, studied or travelled in any single country outside of the UK for six continuous months or more, in the last five years, you will be required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct/Police Check from the relevant country/countries. The cost of this check varies by country and is payable by the student. More information on how to obtain these can be found on gov.uk.

For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the UCL Graduate Admissions team.

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

Anna Freud has a number of bursaries and scholarships which are awarded based on academic ability and potential, as well as on financial need.  Applicants should apply to the bursaries and scholarships alongside when submitting their application for the master's programme . The bursary is administered by Anna Freud and not by UCL. Please check the Anna Freud website for the deadlines of the bursary and scholarship applications. You can find more information about this funding here.

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

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 Early Child Development and Clinical Applications at graduate level
  • Why you want to study Early Child Development and Clinical Applications at UCL
  • What particularly attracts you to this programme
  • How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this rigorous 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 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

Division of Psychology and Language Sciences
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences

ecdca@annafreud.org

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