University College London (UCL)
Clinical Mental Health Sciences MSc
London, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
5 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
The MSc in Clinical Mental Health Sciences focuses on understanding and improving mental health through evidence-based approaches. The program covers key topics such as psychological theories, mental health assessment, intervention techniques, and research methods. Students gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to work effectively with diverse populations facing mental health challenges. The course emphasizes the importance of applying research findings to real-world settings, preparing students for careers in clinical practice, research, or policy development.
This program also encourages students to critically analyze current mental health issues and treatments. It provides opportunities for hands-on learning through placements and collaborative projects, helping students develop essential skills for their future roles. The curriculum is designed to be flexible, accommodating those who may want to balance study with work commitments. Overall, it's aimed at individuals passionate about making a difference in mental health care, fostering a strong foundation for a variety of professional paths in this growing field.
UCL Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students, including our UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. You can click the link below to search via the scholarships finder for awards that you might be eligible for. Your academic department will also be able to provide you with more information about funding.
External Scholarships
Online aggregators like Postgraduate Studentships, Scholarship Search, Postgraduate Funding and International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search contain information on a variety of external schemes.
If you have specific circumstances or ethnic or religious background it is worth searching for scholarships/bursaries/grants that relate to those things. Some schemes are very specific.
Funding for disabled students
Master's students who have a disability may be able to get extra funding for additional costs they incur to study.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars and workshops, with considerable use of supporting online learning.
Assessment methods include unseen examinations, 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.
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
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)
- PSBS0001 Clinical Mental Health(30 credits) *only compulsory for students that do not have at least six months’ full-time experience, or the equivalent, of working in mental health settings
- PSBS0015 Final Project (Research Project) (60 credits)
Remaining credits can be obtained from 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.
Part-time
Part-time students should choose 90 credits in their first year and 90 credits in their second year (180 credits in two years).
The compulsory modules are:
- PSBS0002 Core Principles of Mental Health Research (30 credits) – to be selected in the first year
- PSBS0001 Clinical Mental Health (30 credits) *only compulsory for students that do not have at least six months’ full-time experience, or the equivalent, of working in mental health settings
- PSBS0015 Final Project (Research Project) (60 credits) – to be selected in the second year
Remaining credits can be obtained from 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.
Flexible
Modular Flexible students can take between one to five years to complete their MSc which is made up of 180 credits. The main core modules must be taken at the beginning of the course as they form the basis of the course:
The compulsory modules are:
- PSBS0002 Core Principles of Mental Health Research - 30 credits compulsory to all.
- PSBS0001 Clinical Mental Health (30 credits) *only compulsory for students that do not have at least six months’ full-time experience, or the equivalent, of working in mental health settings
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. 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.
Compulsory modules
- Core Principles of Mental Health Research
- Final Project (Research Project)
Optional modules
- Clinical Mental Health
- Current Research in Dementia
- Current Research in Depression and Anxiety
- Current Research in Psychosis and Bipolar
- Neuroscience of Mental Health
- Mental Health Care: Evaluation and Policy
- Practical Statistics for Mental Health Research
- Current Research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Culture and the Clinic
- Advanced Treatment and Management of Dementia
- Mental Health in a Social and Global Context
- Current Research in Psychological Trauma and PTSD
- Current Research in Childrens and Young People's Mental Health
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.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Clinical Mental Health Sciences.
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.
What this course will give you
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.
The foundation of your career
This programme can equip you with the skills to follow varied career paths including as psychologists, and research assistants and we expect many of our graduates to go onto further study.
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.
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.