Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology

This unique two-year international programme is offered in collaboration with Yale University. There is a focus on developmental psychopathology drawing on multidisciplinary perspectives, with a specific emphasis on neuroscience. Students spend year one in London, primarily based at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families and year two at Yale.

The programme provides students with an excellent foundation in developmental psychopathology and neuroscience, with a focus on:

• The emergence of childhood clinical disorders (e.g. autism, depression and PTSD)
• Multiple theoretical frameworks of disorder
• Research practice, including science communication
• The translational issues around research and psychological treatments

This two-year MRes has a total value of 330 credits. 135 credits of taught modules are taken in the first year and in the second year, the research portfolio, comprising an oral presentation, proposal, dissertation and research poster, comprises a total of 195 credits.

Year one core modules

• An Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theory
• The Clinical Theory of Psychoanalysis
• Research Methods I: Research Skills
• Research Methods II: Introduction to Statistical Analysis
• Research Methods III: Evaluating Research Literature (formative)
• Introduction to Neuroscience Methods
• Affective Neuroscience
• Multiple Perspectives on Development and Psychopathology I
• Multiple Perspectives on Development and Psychopathology II

Year two core modules

• Series of formative workshops (e.g. fMRI; EEG; Advanced research design; Integrating cross-disciplinary models)
• Research Portfolio (see below)

Dissertation/research project

The research portfolio comprises a project presentation – made up of an oral presentation, slides and a written proposal, a written dissertation and a research poster. All students undertake a research project supervised by a faculty member while at Yale, completing a dissertation of 15,000–17,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programme comprises lectures, research classes, tutorials, small-group seminars, and computer-based practical classes. Assessment is predominantly through essays, statistical assignments, a piece of science communication and unseen examinations. In the second year assessment will be based on the research portfolio - comprising an oral presentation, written research proposal, the dissertation and a poster. Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website.

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.