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Psychological Science of Mental Health and Wellbeing in Education MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This MSc will consider mental health and wellbeing in education through a psychological science lens. With our world-leading, research-active team, you will critically consider theoretical and empirical psychological approaches to understanding the unique and complex context of education for mental health and wellbeing.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£14,200
£7,100
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£35,400
£17,700
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 academic year
2 academic years
5 academic years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an equivalent overseas qualification, either in Psychology or a related subject. Alternatively, a minimum of a second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university or an equivalent overseas qualification, which contains at least 60 credits of Psychology and provides some training in research design and methods, or related methodologies. A minimum understanding of probability, hypothesis testing, comparison of means and ANOVA designs, correlations and linear regression is required.

The English language level for this course is: Level 4

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 course aims to provide you with a depth of critical scientific understanding of mental health and wellbeing in education. Key theoretical and empirical grounding in developmental and educational psychology will be used. Together, we will examine specific aspects of educational contexts (e.g., classrooms, playgrounds, teacher-student relationships) and their interaction with individual characteristics, home, community, and services for the development and maintenance of mental health and wellbeing. The course will stimulate evidence-based and critical understanding through taught content, facilitated discussion and group work, conducting research, and independent learning. Optional modules allow you to explore psychological and educational issues of pertinence to the field, including specific educational needs, literacy, positive psychology, and applied work and practice. 

Who this course is for

The course is suitable for psychology graduates (or graduates from related fields, see entry requirements) who wish to progress to PhD studies, academic, practical or policy-making careers in this emerging field, or those wanting to improve their understanding of theory and empirical evidence that will underpin and inform future policy and education. It is well-suited to those with a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited undergraduate or Master's degree who wish to improve their chances of success when applying for one of the professional psychology doctorates which are often over-subscribed, and highly competitive. (In itself, this course does not lead to Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the BPS and is therefore not suitable for those aiming to embark on a career in educational or clinical psychology unless they already hold a GBC).

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

What this course will give you

Exploring seminal and cutting-edge research, theories and practice, you will develop a strong scientific foundation in the psychology of mental health and wellbeing in education. The course will provide you with academic and transferable skills pertinent to working in this burgeoning field.

UCL Institute of Education (IOE) is second-to-none in provision of this MSc. We are one of the world's leading centres for education and related areas of social science, and our diverse students are able to learn from prominent researchers in the field. For the twelfth year in succession IOE has been ranked number one for education (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025). Our alumni include government ministers; heads of schools, other educational institutions and NGOs; Olympians and prize-winning authors.

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

The foundation of your career

Graduates of the course will be provided with opportunities to develop skills pertinent to a range of roles, including, but not limited to: researcher in public and private sectors, academic or professional doctoral studentship, assistant psychologist, as well as, depending on appropriate additional qualifications, teachers and policy makers. There are a range of departmental and university-wide resources available to help students explore and develop their career pathways.

Employability

This course is suitable for those wishing to progress to academic (including PhD studies), practical or policy-making careers, providing an understanding of theory and empirical evidence that will underpin and inform future policy and education in this field. As such, graduates of this Master's degree may become researchers in the public and private sectors, PhD students, as well as working for the Civil Service, charities and other policy or practice relevant positions.

Further, those with a British Psychological Society Accredited Psychology degree at undergraduate or previous Master's level may become assistant psychologists, clinical and educational doctorate students or clinical and educational psychologists (following professional doctoral training).

Networking

Students will have opportunities to attend research seminars, journal clubs and research talks.

Teaching and learning

The course will be delivered in line with the exemplary practices employed within the host department, through a range of lectures, workshops, research projects, tutorials, seminars, and student-led, tutor-facilitated discussions. This will enable students to engage with experts in the field as well as each other, to experience a genuinely multidisciplinary and diverse learning community.

Summative assessments are varied to widen transferable skills and to ensure equality. Examples of summative assessments depend on options taken, but include, in-person exam, annotated bibliography, presentation, essay, e-video, lay summary, multiple choice, poster, reflective account, research report, scientific communication. In addition, all students will conduct research for analysis and write up for a dissertation. Formative work aligned with summative assessments will be embedded throughout each module to facilitate your learning (e.g., lecturer-led in-class exercises, scaffolded group/peer work and discussion feedback loops).

A 30-credit module is estimated as 300 learning hours. This includes contact time of 30 lecture/tutorial/seminar hours (three hours a week) as well as numerous online resources, and additional contact available through Module Leader office hours as needed. Personal study time (reading, preparing activities for class, completing assignments) is anticipated across UCL as around 270 hours per module. The Dissertation module is 60-credits and has an expected 600 hours personal study time alongside around 15 hours contact time with your supervisor. Overall, depending on the term and the student's mode of study, students will have around 3-8 hours contact hours including lectures and additional contact possibilities per study week.

Modules

The course consists of completing three compulsory modules, one optional module and a compulsory dissertation module. 
 
Full-time students complete this course within one academic year: 

  • two 30-credit modules in the Autumn Term,
  • two 30-credit modules in the Spring/Summer Terms, 
  • and 60-credit dissertation throughout the year to be submitted in the Summer Term

The course consists of completing three compulsory modules, one optional module and a compulsory dissertation module. 

Part-time students complete this course within two academic years: 

  • three 30-credit modules (90 credits) in Year 1 and
  • one 30-credit module and the 60-credit dissertation (90 credits) in Year 2

The course consists of completing three compulsory modules, one optional module and a compulsory dissertation module. 

Modular Flexible students complete four 30-credit modules plus a 60-credit dissertation over a period of up to five academic years.

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 Psychological Science of Mental Health and Wellbeing in Education.

Fieldwork

Students may undertake fieldwork for their dissertation if they wish but this is not a requirement and funding is not provided.

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 Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £14,200 £7,100
Tuition fees (2026/27) £35,400 £17,700

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

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.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 deposit will be charged.

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

Students should take into account any travel, accommodation and expenses involved in their dissertation. If students undertake fieldwork it must be self-funded. Note that a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check may be required depending on the type of research undertaken for the dissertation module. The DBS application cost will be covered by UCL, but offer holders will also need to have their ID checked and verified at a Post Office, for which they will incur a charge of £15 (note, this was the fee for 2025 but may change). The offer holder is also required to arrange and pay for any overseas police check that may be necessary; costs vary by country. For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the 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

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.

This course has essential academic requirements. Together with this information, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether and how your background and reasons for applying to this course match what the course has to offer. When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

  • why you are interested in mental health and wellbeing in the education context from a psychological science viewpoint
  • why you want to complete studies in this area at graduate level and how you plan to use this degree for your future plans
  • why you feel this is the course for you and what particularly attracts you to the course
  • why you want to study at UCL
  • how your academic and/or professional background are likely to meet the demands of this challenging course.

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

Psychology and Human Development
Psychology and Human Development

ioe.msc.mentalhealth@ucl.ac.uk

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