The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) Youth Awards allow young people (aged 15-18) from schools in the local area to have direct experience of research at the IoPPN.
Launched in 2013, the Youth Awards aim to encourage young people to remain in science and maths education, and go on to study these subjects at university. The awards cover a number of science-based subjects including genetics, economics, psychology, health, neuroimaging and computer science.
These awards are an excellent and exciting opportunity to gain practical experience and make valuable contacts. Each award involves attending a placement at the relevant university department to learn about each subject.
The awards include a £50 book voucher and certificate of attendance. They are a great addition to a CV and/or UCAS application, and they provide a real opportunity to experience a university environment first-hand, while developing skills to understand, evaluate and communicate research.
Any student aged 15-18 attending a school in Greater London, within accessible distance of our Denmark Hill campus is invited to apply. You must be studying GCSEs, A-levels or equivalent qualifications in at least one subject relevant to an award that we offer.
The application form will ask you for the following information:
- Contact details
- Demographic information (for example, your age)
- What school you go to
- Your GSCE and/or A-level subjects and predicted grades
- Which IoPPN Youth Award you wish to apply for?
- Why have you applied for the IoPPN Youth awards?
- What do you hope to gain/learn from the IoPPN Youth Awards?
- What is your dream job and why?
- How do your parents/carers view your aspirations?
65 students recieved an award in 2024. Read feedback from the 2024 award winners.
75 students received an award in 2023. Read feedback from the 2023 award winners.
44 students recieved an award in 2022. Read feedback from the 2022 award winners.
47 students received an award in 2021. Read feedback from the 2021 award winners.
Applications are now closed for the 2025 awards
Applicants are invited to apply for one of the following awards, in line with their specific interests. You will also be asked if you are interested in any of the other awards at the end of your application. Applicants can only be selected for one award.
Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry
This award will provide insight into the wide ranging expertise within our department, including: psychiatry, developmental and social psychology, psychopathology, personality and cognitive traits, statistical genetics, epigenetics, molecular genetics, behavioural genetics, and neuroimaging.
You will have tours of our cutting-edge research laboratories, test out EEG experiments, and learn how to administer clinical interviews and assessments. You will hear from a variety of researchers and academics at different career levels and disciplines, and have the chance to conduct your own project. If you have any questions about this award you can contact: celestine.lockhart@kcl.ac.uk
Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging is the research and clinical field that enables us to study the anatomy, chemistry and function of the live brain. Neuroimaging is really multidisciplinary, involving all professions from doctors and nurses, to engineers and physicists.
Through this award, you will briefly join our department and become familiar with the work we do, both in research and in patients, and discover the techniques and equipment we have to image the brain at King’s College London. If you have any questions about this award you can contact: vincent.giampietro@kcl.ac.uk
Psychology
The Department of Psychology is one of the largest departments in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. We research mental health disorders and physical health problems, and much of our past work has informed national psychological and physical health guidelines. If you have any questions about this award you can contact: sumeyra.yalcintas@kcl.ac.uk
Biostatistics and Health Informatics
The Department of Biostatistics & Health Informatics invites A-level students in London to join our Youth Awards programme to gain hands-on experience in health data science. This exciting award will provide:
- A practical introduction to programming in R and Python, two widely used languages for statistical computing;
- Hands-on experience with prediction modelling and machine learning, including their applications in clinical settings;
- Sessions on the principles of randomisation and what makes an effective clinical trial;
- An introduction to AI and natural language processing to extract insights from electronic hospital records;
- A panel discussion on careers in academia and industry.
The engaging and accessible sessions will be delivered by leading experts from across the department. They are ideal for anyone interested in data, statistics, computing, AI, and their application to health topics.
The department has been a major force in the development of quantitative methodology for mental health research, gaining international recognition for its expertise in areas such as trials, causal inference, bioinformatics, public health, remote data collection, wearable technologies, and software development.
If you have any questions or would like more information about this award, please email ewan.carr@kcl.ac.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!
Women’s Mental Health (Department of Health Service and Population Research)
The women’s mental health research and policy award will be hosted by The Section of Women’s Mental Health (SWMH). We carry out global research into the gendered determinants of mental health problems and the needs of women with mental health problems. You will have the chance to explore our research on mental health services and policy research, with a primary focus on women’s mental health. If you have any questions about this award you can contact: sian.oram@kcl.ac.uk