Institute of Psychiatry

The Institute of Psychiatry (IoP), King’s College London, is one of the world’s largest postgraduate centres for research and teaching in psychiatry, psychology, and allied disciplines, including basic and clinical neurosciences. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, the IoP was judged to have the highest research power of any UK institution within the areas of clinical psychology, neuroscience and psychiatry.

World renowned for the quality of our research, for psychiatry and psychology, we are the most cited research centre outside the US, and the second most cited in the world as ranked by Thomson ISI Essential Science Indicators.

Our international impact is strong across psychology; neuroscience; addictions; child and adolescent psychiatry; clinical neuroscience; forensic and neurodevelopmental sciences; health service and population research; old age psychiatry; psychological medicine; psychosis studies; and social, genetic and developmental psychiatry. Our students enjoy unrivalled learning opportunities, supported by strong partnerships with NHS Trusts, industry and healthcare organisations. Our partnerships with the NHS means that students benefit from a range of clinical placements as part of their MSc/PG Dip programme and our research students have access to a large clinical population. Students are able to network with international leaders in the field and have the opportunity to attend a wide range of symposia, workshops and conferences as part of their studies. Students who have set their sights on future careers as practitioners within mental health services, or as researchers, have the chance not only to learn from international opinion leaders, but also to network with influential collaborators of the future.

There is an induction day for all new students on the first day of term. An induction programme for research students is held during the first week of term and subsequent training sessions are run to support research students during their studies. A variety of training courses are held throughout the year.

The Institute shares the same site as the worldfamous Maudsley Hospital, which is part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) – one of the largest mental health providers in Europe. Research Centres at the Institute include the Medical Research Council Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre; the Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences (includes three of the latest functional magnetic resonance imaging machines); the Centre for Cellular Basis of Behaviour; the MRC Centre for Neurodegeneration Research and the Psychosis Centre (which brings together experts in the fields of schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Alzheimers Disease and Motor Neurone Disease). King’s is committed to translational research and is proud to be the only university in the country to host three National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) and six Medical Research Council centres. At the IoP we partner with SLaM to host the only specialist BRC for Mental Health in the UK working towards better treatment, earlier diagnosis and individualised healthcare. The IoP is also part of King’s Health Partners, a pioneering collaboration between King’s College London, Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and SLaM. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the extensive range of training courses available at the IoP and across King’s. Students have access to the largest library in Europe dedicated to psychiatry and related disciplines, and are also entitled to use facilities and libraries at the other King’s campuses. Group study areas are available for interactive/peer-led learning and flexible revision space is available for peak study periods. There is a dedicated suite for imaging research and one-way mirror rooms for clinical case presentations. Other resources include a refurbished self-service restaurant and coffee area for informal meetings, shared by both students and staff.

PhD Studentships advertised at: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/iop/research/pgr/phdstudentships/index.aspx Graduate School: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/gradfunding