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This programme is a shared initiative between the Department of Education and Department of Health and supports the government’s priority to increase access to mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people. The new Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) role is an exciting opportunity to deliver evidence-based early interventions for children and young people in educational settings such as schools and colleges in England.
Key information
Programme starts
January 2022
Modes and duration
Full-time programme (as part of full-time employment training programme).
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees. Places on this programme are funded by Health Education England and open to UK students only.
Entry requirements
Normally a minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is required (in any academic subject). Evidence of prior experience working with children and young people is preferred.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Good
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. International Preparation Courses
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
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.
Select your country:
About this degree
This is a full-time employment training programme. On completion of this year-long programme, trainees will qualify as an Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP). This is a new role where EMHPs will play a key role in promoting emotional wellbeing in educational settings. They will work as part of the new Mental Health Support Teams as outlined in Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision: a Green Paper.
The EMHP programme trains wellbeing practitioners to offer low intensity evidence-based interventions for mild to moderate mental health difficulties in educational settings. This includes group interventions and psychoeducation workshops.
The programme is divided into six compulsory modules which are delivered across the year.
Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Educational Mental Health Practitioner.
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 is subject to change.
Compulsory modules
The programme is divided into six compulsory modules which are delivered across the year.
- EMHP Fundamental Skills: Children and Young People's Mental Health Settings: Content and Values (15 credits)
- EMHP Fundamental Skills: Assessment and Engagement (15 credits)
- EMHP Evidence-based Interventions: Theory and Skills (30 credits)
- Working, Engaging and Assessing in Educational Settings (15 credits)
- Common Problems and Processes in Educational Settings (15 credits)
- Interventions for Emerging Mental Health Difficulties in Educational Settings (30 credits)
Optional modules
There are no optional modules for this programme.
Fieldwork
Site Learning
All trainees will undertake this programme alongside full-time employment in a Mental Health Support Team employing site.
Clinical Commissioning Groups are invited by NHS England to create Mental Health Support Teams as discussed in the Green Paper. These teams will be employed by emotional wellbeing and mental health services across London and the South East and will be working in educational settings with children and young people. The EMHP role will form part of the mental health support team.
Placement
As part of the training, the post-holder will work under supervision at their site to gain experience in educational settings. This will enable them to gain the level of competence required to deliver high-quality, evidence-based early interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems in schools.
N.B. Any students applying for this programme need to also secure a relevant EMHP post with a Mental Health Support Team site that is linked to UCL.
Teaching and learning
During university days, trainees will develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills in delivering low intensity evidence-based interventions for mild to moderate mental health difficulties in educational settings, this includes children and young people presenting with difficulties with anxiety, low mood and mild-moderate challenging behaviour The interventions taught on the programme focus primarily on working with adolescents and parents/ carer in an educational setting. Programme trainees will develop these skills further undertaking case work within the Mental Health Support Teams in which they are employed.
Trainees will be expected to attend teaching approximately three days a week for part of the year, and approximately 1-2 days for the remaining part (time for remote engagement in online teaching materials and self-directed study time may be included in this).
Additional costs
For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.
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 & Wellbeing team.
Funding
Places on this programme are funded by Health Education England. For further details, visit the https://www.annafreud.org/transforming-the-workforce/cyp-mh-workforce-development/emhp/ website.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
On successful completion of training, EMHPs will develop the necessary knowledge and skills to offer low intensity evidence-based interventions for mild to moderate mental health difficulties in educational settings.
Employability
Following completion of the programme, the expectation is that EMHPs will work in the new Mental Health Support Teams who will provide emotional wellbeing support directly to schools and colleges.
Why study this degree at UCL?
UCL has a formal partnership with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families (AFNCCF), a national charity with a worldwide reputation. This programme will be delivered by the AFNCCF where you will have the opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners in the field.
At the AFNCCF, we aim to equip trainees with the knowledge and skills to work effectively in promoting the resilience and wellbeing of children, young people and families.
Entry to this programme is through a training contract with a relevant Mental Health Support Team site.
Department: Division of Psychology & Language Sciences
Application and next steps
Applications
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.
This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.
For programmes commencing in the 2020/21 academic session, e.g. before 1 August 2021, there is an application processing fee of £80 for online applications and £105 for paper applications.
Who can apply?
Applicants are required to show evidence of ability to study successfully at postgraduate level and evidence of prior experience working with children and young people is preferred.
Although not essential, it would also be preferable if applicants could demonstrate a broad understanding of mental health and emotional wellbeing issues combined with an ability to form a good helping relationship with children and young people facing such problems.
Prior experience working in an educational setting such as a primary or secondary school or college is also desirable but not essential.
The programme is part of an initiative which requires trainees to be appointed to the role of Education Mental Health Practitioner, prospective trainees therefore need to be able to work in the UK.
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 15 December 2021
The date of the next cohort is awaiting confirmation. Application dates will be advertised as soon as these have been set.
Details of partner sites will be announced at the end of July/ early August. If you are interested in the EMHP role, you will need to apply to the sites of your choice in the first instance. Please be aware that you can only apply to the UCL EMHP programme following successful appointment at a partner Mental Health Support Team site.
For more information see our Applications page.
Apply nowWhat are we looking for?
When we assess your application we would like to learn:
- why you want to study Educational Mental Health Practitioner at graduate level
- why you want to study Educational Mental Health Practitioner at UCL
- what particularly attracts you to the chosen 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.
Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate your reasons for applying to this programme.
Additionally, your supporting statement should be tailored to the position of EMHP trainee and state clearly how you meet the person specification for this role.
Applicants are also required to show:
- Evidence of ability to study successfully at postgraduate level.
- Evidence of prior experience working with children and young people is preferred.
- Evidence that they have a broad understanding of mental health issues and the UK’s educational systems.
- The skills to form a good helping relationship with children and young people with mental health problems.
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.
Page last modified on 28 August 2021
