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The UCL Division of Psychiatry is pleased to offer this programme focused on clinical practice in mental health and its evidence base. The Clinical Mental Health Sciences MSc integrates biological, psychological and social perspectives on mental health and caters both for psychology graduates and for clinicians wishing to undertake a broad-based, rigorous and flexible higher degree.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
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. Fees for flexible, modular study are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session.
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.
Candidates who do not have at least six months’ full-time work experience (or the equivalent) in a mental health service setting or in clinical mental health research are required to take the Clinical Mental Health double module.
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
Students will develop an in-depth understanding of current evidence regarding mental health problems and the interventions provided to address them, as well as enhancing their research skills. A wide range of options from across the School of Life and Medical Sciences at UCL allows students to tailor a programme that fully fits their needs.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of 1–2 core double modules (30–60 credits), 4–6 optional modules (60–90 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).
Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MSc in Clinical Mental Health Sciences.
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
- Core Principles of Mental Health Research (double module)
- Clinical Mental Health (double module; compulsory only for those who do not have at least six months’ full-time experience, or the equivalent, of working in mental health settings).
Students who are unsure whether they should take Clinical Mental Health should discuss it with the course team. It is in general unnecessary for those who are already qualified clinicians.
Optional modules
Students who take the Clinical Mental Health module will take four optional modules, including at least one from the Division of Psychiatry. Students who do not take this module will take six optional modules, including at least three from the Division of Psychiatry.
- Students who take the Clinical Mental Health module will choose at least one option (15 credits) from the following:
- Current Research in Depression and Anxiety
- Current Research in Dementia
- Current Research in Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
- Current Research in Psychosis and Bipolar
- Current Research in Children's and Young People's Mental Health
- Current Research in Psychological Trauma and PTSD
- Mental Health Care: Policy and Evaluation
- Culture in the Clinic
- Advanced treatment and management of Dementia (appropriateness to be discussed with Module Lead if Current Research in Dementia not also taken
- Please note: Students who do not take the Clinical Mental Health module will select at least three modules (45 credits) from the above list. Any UCL modules approved by the Programme staff and not resulting in timetable clashes may be added. Other modules available in the Division are Mental Health in Social & Global Context, Epidemiologic
- Ethnicity, Migration and Health (Department of Epidemiological and Social Methods in Public Health)
- Social Determinants of Health (Department of Epidemiology and Public Health)
- Higher Functions of the Brain (Institute of Neurology)
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Child Mental Health (UCL Institute of Child Health)
- Interventions in Child and Adolescent Mental Health – Psychological (UCL Institute of Child Health)
- Quality Improvements in Health (UCL CHIME)
- Neuroimaging: Introductory Science and Methods (Institute of Neurology)
- Neuroimaging: Imaging Modalities (Institute of Neurology)
- Interventions in Child and Adolescent Mental Health - Pharmacological (UCL Institute of Child Health)
NB: due to timetable clashes only one UCL Institute of Child Health module may be taken by each student.
Research project/report
All students undertake a final research project, to be reported as a 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.
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.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars and workshops, with considerable use of supporting online learning. Assessment methods include one unseen examination, coursework including designing questionnaires and protocols and analysing data, giving talks and presenting posters, and a final report in the format of a journal paper or brief for clinicians or service planners.
Additional costs
The programme team support students in obtaining volunteer placements in relevant mental health care and research settings, but this is not a formal part of the course and is entirely optional. Small costs may be associated with these placements, especially for travel around London, and need to be met by the student.
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
The Division of Psychiatry offers five to six awards worth up to £2,000 towards fees to students who show great promise as mental health researchers.
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
For non-clinicians, the programme will be an excellent grounding for clinical training, such as in clinical psychology, or for embarking on a research career in mental health. Many graduates go on to research assistant, clinical support worker or assistant psychologist posts as a first destination. The programme is also intended to prepare students for PhD studies, also a major onward route. For clinicians, this is a great opportunity to gain a higher qualification through a programme based in a leading university department which can be closely tailored to your interests across clinical, research and management fields.
Employability
Students will gain a strong clinical understanding of mental health, and will be able to develop their skills in research, service design and evaluation, as well as writing and presenting. Previous Division of Psychiatry graduates have been enthusiastic about their career enhancement, both through their programme and the connections they have made through it. We offer to find all students a placement (if they wish) for one day a week for them to obtain relevant clinical and/or research experience. A large proportion of our previous graduates have gone on to paid employment in relevant areas of mental health, especially research assistant, clinical support worker, psychological wellbeing practitioner and assistant psychologist posts. Substantial numbers of our earlier cohorts have also now embarked on PhD or DClinPsych studies.
Why study this degree at UCL?
UCL has a cluster of international experts in mental health, including in genetics, epidemiology, and applied clinical research, and most are also clinicians. We are able to offer a broad programme encompassing both cutting-edge research and a clinical perspective.
The programme is strongly focused on student participation, with much use of small-group learning, and the environment in the Division of Psychiatry is stimulating, friendly and supportive.
A wide range of options at UCL allows programmes to be tailored to students’ needs and interests in clinical, research and management domains.
Department: Division of Psychiatry
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.
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: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.
Who can apply?
The programme is designed both for graduates in psychology and other related subjects who wish to develop their clinically relevant knowledge and skills in the area of mental health, and for mental health practitioners, including trainees, who wish to enhance their advanced knowledge and skills.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 22 March 2021
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 Clinical Mental Health Sciences at graduate level
- why you want to study Clinical Mental Health Sciences 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.
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.
Page last modified on 28 August 2021
