Mental Health Sciences Research MSc

Full Job Description

Course starts: September 2027

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Location: London, Bloomsbury

This course 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 course that closely fits their needs.

Key Information

Full-time Full-time

Part-time Part-time

Flexible Flexible

English Language Requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages and International Education.

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 Course

This course will equip you with the research skills needed to undertake doctoral-level research 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:

• Student publications based on Research Projects and Research Placements
• FAQs for Mental Health Sciences Research MSc
• Student testimonials

Who This Course Is For

The course 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.

Course Structure

Full-time Full-time

Part-time Part-time

Flexible Flexible

Duration: 1 calendar year

Full-time students should choose 180 credits to make up their MSc. This will be through a mix of three compulsory modules which account for 105 credits. The remaining 75 credits can be obtained from optional modules. You should choose at least 45 credits and max 75 credits from our optional home modules and any remaining credits from elective modules outside the Division of Psychiatry max. 30 credits.

Duration: 2 calendar years

Part-time students should choose 90 credits in their first year and 90 credits in their second year (180 credits in 2 years). This will be through a mix of three compulsory modules which account for 105 credits. You must undertake the Core Principles of Mental Health Research in the first year and the final research project worth 60 credits can only be chosen in the second year. The remaining 75 credits can be obtained from optional modules. You should choose at least 45 credits and max 75 credits from our optional home modules and any remaining credits from elective modules outside the Division of Psychiatry (max. 30 credits).

Duration: 5 calendar years

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 `Core Principles of Mental Health Research must be taken at the beginning of the course as it forms the basis of the course. The second core module can be taken in any year of the course and in the last year students must take their final research project.

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 .

Modules

Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme. Module content and availability is subject to change.

Please note that the list of compulsory modules given here is indicative. Up to 10 optional modules per year are displayed for this course: this may not be the full range of optional modules available for selection. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is 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. For more detail regarding module availability, please contact the department.

Year 1 Year 1

Compulsory Modules

Core Principles of Mental Health Research (PSBS0002)

Practical Statistics for Mental Health Research (PSBS0008)

Final Project (Research Project) (PSBS0015)

Optional Modules

Current Research in Dementia (PSBS0003)

Current Research in Depression and Anxiety (PSBS0004)

Current Research in Psychosis and Bipolar (PSBS0005)

Neuroscience of Mental Health (PSBS0006)

Mental Health Care: Evaluation and Policy (PSBS0007)

Current Research in Neurodevelopmental Conditions (PSBS0009)

Culture and the Clinic (PSBS0010)

Advanced Treatment and Management of Dementia (PSBS0011)

Mental Health in a Social and Global Context (PSBS0012)

Epidemiological Research Methods in Mental Health (PSBS0013)

Teaching And Learning Methods

The course is delivered through lectures, seminars and workshops, with considerable use of supporting online learning.

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.

Typical Contact Hours And Hours Of Self Directed Study

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students will also display a level of independent study (25–30 hours per week), for example, by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions promoted in the course.

For part-time students, typical contact hours are around 6 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students will also display a level of independent study (13–15 hours per week), for example, by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions promoted in the course.

Types Of Assessment

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.

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 are 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

Tuition fees by study mode for UK and international students.

Study mode

UK students

International students

— Full-time

— To be confirmed.

— To be confirmed.

— Part-time

— To be confirmed.

— To be confirmed.

Course also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Home postgraduate fees are subject to change. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions.

International postgraduate students benefit from a cohort guarantee unless indicated below, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

International fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2027/28 entrants.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

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.

Additional Costs

There are no additional costs associated with this course.

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 2026. 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. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Further Funding

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.

Why Study This Course At Ucl?

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. We are ranked first for research power in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience by the UK’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), with more than two thirds of our research in these areas rated as world-leading (4*).

The course 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 course 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.

Graduate Attributes

As a graduate of this course 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 course 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.

Graduate Destinations

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. 100% of our graduates were in work or further study within 15 months of completing their studies (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023-2024).

Open Days

Find out more about our in-person Open Days, online events and courses and subjects that interest you.

Register Your Interest

Register your interest in postgraduate study and become part of the UCL community.

How to apply

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 course.
• how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging course.
• 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 course match what the course will deliver.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

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.

This course requires 1 reference. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Apply For This Course

You are applying for the Mental Health Sciences Research MSc course. For application guidance please visit Application guidelines.

The course application dates are to be confirmed.

Got Questions? Get In Touch

We are here to help. Get in touch with us for more information about our courses.

Division of Psychiatry

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages and International Education.

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.

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