Clinical Mental Health Sciences MSc (2023)

UK students International students

Entry requirements

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. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

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

• PSBS0002 Core Principles of Mental Health Research (double module) - 30 credits
• PSBS0001 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). - 30 credits

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:
• PSBS0003 Current Research in Dementia - 15 credits
• PSBS0004 Current Research in Depression and Anxiety -
• PSBS0005 Current Research in Psychosis and Bipolar -
• PSBS0006 Neuroscience of Mental Health -
• PSBS0007 Mental Health Care: Policy and Evaluation -
• PSBS0008 Practical Statistics for Mental Health Research - 15 credits
• PSBS0009 Current Research in Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities -
• PSBS0010 Culture in the Clinic -
• PSBS0011 Advanced treatment and management of Dementia -
• PSBS0012 Mental Health in Social and Global Context -
• PSBS0013 Epidemiological Research Methods in Mental Health -
• PSBS0020 Current Research in Psychological Trauma and PTSD -
• PSBS0021 Current Research in Children's and Young People's Mental Health -
• 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. Such modules are:
• Ethnicity, Migration and Health (Department of Epidemiological and Social Methods in Public Health)
• Higher Functions of the Brain (Institute of Neurology)
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Child Mental Health (UCL Institute of Child Health)
• Treatment in Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Psychological Therapies (UCL Institute of Child Health)
• Quality Improvements in Health (UCL Medical School)

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.

Student publications based on Research Projects and Research Placements

FAQs for MSc Clinical Mental Health Sciences

Student testimonials

The foundation of your career

Employability

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.

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.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

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

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.

Funding 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 and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

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.

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.