Careers in Mental Health
Postgraduate study at the Institute of Psychiatry can lead to a range of career paths, depending on which programme you choose to study. Some graduates from our MSc programmes choose to stay at the Institute to pursue PhD research. Others choose a clinical career path, so we work closely with SLaM NHS Trust to provide work experience placements for these students during their MSc studies. Some programmes even run Career Development Days which provide advice about PhD research and how to pursue a clinical career.
The Careers Service at King's provides general information on the employment prospects of King's graduates and the services they offer to current students and alumni, for instance finding internships and relevant work experience, work to help fund your study, or help and support in finding the right job when you graduate.
Here is an idea of the career routes our past students have taken after graduating from some of our MSc programmes:
Clinical Forensic Psychiatry/Psychology
Overseas students tend to study full-time for a year and then return to their posts. UK-based students often study part-time alongside a clinical post in psychiatry, clinical psychology, occupational health or mental health nursing. Some students have progressed to clinical psychology training and posts as assistant psychologists, research assistants and accelerated training in the Metropolitan Police.
Forensic Mental Health
Students from a psychology/neuroscience/criminology background have progressed to PhD programmes, clinical psychology training and research assistant posts.
Neuroscience
Past students have obtained PhD positions both in the UK and overseas, entered medical school, the pharmaceutical industry, or trained as clinical psychologists; clinicians have obtained clinical research positions.
Mental Health Studies/ Mental Health in Learning Disabilities/ Organisational Psychiatry & Psychology
Here are some examples of jobs alumni from these three programmes had before and after completing an MSc:
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Job before
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Job after
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Actor
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Accreditation of In-Patient Wards
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Administrator
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Assistant Clinical Psychologist
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Banking Executive
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Assistant Psychologist
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Care Home Manager
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Clinical Psychologist
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Full-Time Student
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Director of Occupational Health
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Nursing & Research Assistant
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Lead Clinician
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Physiotherapist
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Management Consultant
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Residential Mental Health Worker
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Psychologist
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Staff Nurse
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Same Job - Higher Salary/Promotion
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