Home

Mental Health Sciences Research MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This programme is designed for clinicians and those with experience in clinical or clinical research settings. It offers a stimulating and practical training in mental health research. The UCL Division of Psychiatry offers teaching and supervision from leaders in international research from fields in neuroscientific and psychological to social and epidemiological. This diversity of options allows students to tailor a programme that closely fits their needs.

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 – 27 Jun 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.

Additionally at least six months’ full-time work experience (or the equivalent) in a mental health service setting or in clinical mental health research is required.

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 equip you with the research skills needed to undertake doctoral-level research and/or to collaborate in major research projects. You will produce a piece of original research ready to submit for publication, and will acquire current knowledge of cutting-edge research in mental health.

All students undertake a final research project. This is reported as a research 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.

Find out more by visiting:

Who this course is for

The programme is designed for academically inclined mental health professionals, including trainees, and for graduates with excellent degrees in psychology and other relevant disciplines who have already obtained some post-graduation experience in mental health. A high-level of interest in the principles and practicalities of carrying out research is needed.

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 research leaders in mental health in fields including genetics, epidemiology, and applied clinical research. Optional modules provide an entrance to other renowned departments at UCL e.g. in neuroscience and epidemiology.

The programme is strongly focused on student participation and acquisition of the practical skills needed to embark on a career in research. The wide range of research interests within our division allows us to offer a programme that integrates biological and psychosocial approaches.

We offer opportunities to get involved in the work of internationally significant research groups in a stimulating, friendly and supportive atmosphere.

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

The foundation of your career

Our clinician MSc graduates have often entered academic training pathways, including Academic Clinical Fellowships and clinical PhD fellowships such as those funded by the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research). Many have gone on to become clinical academics who combine teaching and research, including some notable clinical professors. Others are NHS clinicians with strong research skills and understanding, and play a substantial part in carrying out research in the NHS. 

Non-clinician graduates of this MSc have often also gone on to research pathways, including research assistant posts and PhD studentships. 

Employability

As a graduate of this programme you will be equipped with strong practical research skills and understanding of the current status and direction of mental health research in your area of interest, preparing you to pursue doctoral studies, including through applications for nationally funded fellowships.

Clinicians will be equipped to participate fully in collaborative studies and to begin to function as independent investigators. For those without clinical qualifications, the programme is likely to assist you in embarking on a career in mental health research by obtaining research posts and opportunities for PhD places.

You will be taught by and carry out projects with leading researchers at the cutting-edge of their fields, learning about research directly from experts rather than from textbooks. Previous Division of Psychiatry MSc graduates have had a strong track record of publishing papers based on their research projects in peer-reviewed journals, and of going on to further academic posts and to doctoral studies.

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 exams, coursework including designing questionnaires and systematic review strategies, developing protocols, analysing data, giving talks and presenting posters. There is a strong emphasis on developing practical research skills.

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)
  • PSBS0008 Practical Statistics for Mental Health Research (15 credits)
  • PSBS0015 Final Project (Research Project) (60 credits)

Remaining credits can be obtained from optional modules.

You can choose the remaining credits from our home modules. You should choose at least 45 credits (and max 75 credits) from our optional home modules.

You can also choose from elective modules outside the Division of Psychiatry (max. 30 credits).

Part-time students should choose 90 credits in their first year and 90 credits in their second year (180 credits in 2 years).

The compulsory modules are:

  • PSBS0002 Core Principles of Mental Health Research (30 credits) – to be selected in the first year
  • PSBS0008 Practical Statistics for Mental Health Research (15 credits)
  • PSBS0015 Final Project (Research Project) (60 credits) – To be selected in the second year

Remaining credits can be obtained from optional modules.

You can choose the remaining credits from our home modules. You should choose at least 45 credits (and max 75 credits) from our optional home modules.

You can also choose from elective modules outside the Division of Psychiatry (max. 30 credits).

Modular Flexible students can take between 1 to 5 years to complete their MSc which is made up of 180 credits. The main core module must be taken at the beginning of the course as it forms the basis of the course.

The compulsory modules are:

  • PSBS0002 Core Principles of Mental Health Research (30 credits) - compulsory to all, should be taken at the beginning of the course.
  • PSBS0008 Practical Statistics for Mental Health Research (15 credits) - compulsory to all, can be taken in any year of the course.

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.

You can choose the remaining credits from our home modules. You should choose at least 45 credits (and max 75 credits) from our optional home modules.

You can also choose from elective modules outside the Division of Psychiatry (max. 30 credits).

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 Mental Health Sciences Research.

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.

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.

There are no additional costs for this programme.

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

Division of Psychiatry bursaries and small scholarships are available each year.

NOCLOR research services funds awards every year for staff of North London mental health Trusts, as does the North London Mental Health Partnership. 

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 Mental Health Sciences Research at graduate level.
  • why you want to study Mental Health Sciences Research 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

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.