Mental Health Sciences Research

This programme offers a stimulating and practical training in mental health research. The UCL Division of Psychiatry offers teaching and supervision from leaders in international research in fields from neuroscientific to social and epidemiological, along with a range of relevant options from other leading UCL departments. This diversity of options allows students to tailor a programme that closely fits their needs.

This programme will equip students with the research skills needed to undertake doctoral-level research and/or to collaborate in major research projects. They will produce a piece of original research ready to submit for publication, and will acquire current knowledge of cutting-edge research in mental health.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of two core modules (45 credits), five optional modules (75 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).

Core modules

• Core Principles of Mental Health Research (double module)
• Statistical Methods in Mental Health

Optional modules

Students will select at least 60 credits from the following modules of which at least 30 credits must be from the Division of Psychiatry’s own modules:

• Division of Psychiatry modules
• Culture in the Clinic
• Current Research in Depression and Anxiety
• Current Research in Dementia
• Current Research in Learning Disability
• Current Research in Psychosis
• Epidemiological and Social Methods in Mental Health (double module)
• Introduction to Biological Research in Mental Health
• Mental Health Services – Policy, Design and Evaluation
• Other approved modules
• Cellular and Molecular Modules of Disease (Institute of Neurology)
• Ethnicity, Migration and Health (Department of Epidemiology & Public Health)
• Health Inequalities across the Lifecourse (Department of Epidemiology and Public Health)
• Higher Functions of the Brain (Institute of Neurology)
• Neuroimaging: Introductory Science and Methods (Institute of Neurology)
• Neuroimaging: Imaging Modalities (Institute of Neurology)
• Social Determinants of Global Health (Department of Epidemiology and Public Health)
• Or any other module approved by the Programme Director as having a large research component relevant to mental health.
• The final 15 credits may be obtained from any available module at UCL, subject to the Programme Director approving the overall selection for each student.

The final 15 credits may be obtained from any available module at UCL, subject to the Programme Director approving the overall selection for each student.

Final report

All students undertake a final research project. This is reported as a research paper of 6,000-8,000 words ready for submission to a specified journal, a blog of 1,000 words and a 20-minute talk.

Teaching and learning

This programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and practical workshops, with considerable use of supporting online learning. 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.

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.
Additionally at least six months’ full-time work experience (or the equivalent) in a mental health service setting or in clinical mental health research is required.