book a one-to-one, 10-minute online session with Professor Alice Egerton, the programme lead for our MSc in Psychiatric Research. These exclusive sessions are the perfect opportunity to learn more about the course, ask any questions you have, and gain expert advice tailored to your academic or career goals.
Sessions run across the day on 28 April. Book your place here.
Scholarships available, see Fees & Funding section for more information. The MSc in Psychiatric Research provides in-depth training in conducting and evaluating research in mental health. Based at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), the course has an emphasis on clinical scientific research conducted in patient populations, the biological and environmental processes that underpin psychiatric disorders, and how well-performed research can improve the lives of patients. During the MSc students are supported in building their academic skills, independent thinking, and ability to take an evidence-based approach to mental health research.
“Completing the MSc. in Psychiatric Research has been an invaluable experience, and has been crucial to achieving my long term goal of enrolling in a PhD. Program in Clinical Psychology. ”
Research into mental health disorders combines expertise from a vast number of areas, so we welcome students from psychology, neuroscience, pharmacology, medicine and other disciplines. Our experts will give you a unique insight into the complex world of mental health. The teaching team are active researchers uncovering the causes of disorders and finding treatments, and many also work in clinical settings. In our Research Methods, Ethics and Statistics in Mental Health module, students gain an advanced understanding of ethical and methodological principles in designing and conducting research and become proficient in the associated statistical techniques. The Biological Psychiatry module explores the biological basis of psychiatric disorders. Using current examples, students learn about how research can reveal the processes that lead to poor mental health and how this knowledge can be used to improve treatments. In the Therapeutic Research in Psychiatry module students gain a deep understanding of how new therapies are developed ‘bench to bedside’ - from basic science, biological psychiatry, or epidemiological research into clinical practice and treating patients. During the Dissertation module, students carry out their own original research project, supervised by a member of IoPPN staff. This provides an opportunity to apply your knowledge and study an area that interests you in greater detail. Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, and practical sessions. This is a relatively small and friendly course and students are well-supported throughout their studies. “As a world-leading centre for mental health research, the IoPPN provides a superb environment for studying the MSc Psychiatric Research and developing your future career working in this important area.” Professor Alice Egerton, Course Leader
Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).
Bachelor’s degree with 2:1 honours in a relevant subject such as Psychology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Social Science or Health Science; or a registrable qualification appropriate to the programme in Medicine; or a professional mental health qualification. A 2:2 degree will be considered only where applicants also offer a Masters with Merit in a related subject.
NON ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
A Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check (formerly known as a criminal records bureau check) may be required during your programme, depending on project work.
To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.
Selection is made on the basis of application and references. Potential students are welcome to visit the department: please arrange a suitable time in advance.
You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:
| Personal Statement | Yes |
Question 1: Why are you applying for this specific programme, and how does it fit in with your future plans? Question 2: How does your experience and education make you a suitable candidate for this programme? |
|---|---|---|
| Research Proposal | No | A Research Proposal is not required as part of the application. |
| Previous Academic Study | Yes | A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents. |
| References | Yes | One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. |
| Other | Yes | Please also include a CV with details of your clinical experience. |
You will be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars and tutorials.
Research Methods, Ethics & Statistics in Mental Health
Lectures (66 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (66 hours) | Self-Study time (468 hours)
Biological Psychiatry
Lectures (40 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (20 hours) | Self-Study time (240 hours)
Therapeutic Research in Psychiatry
Lectures (40 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (20 hours) | Self-Study time (240 hours)
Research Dissertation - Psychiatric Research
Lectures (0 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (10 hours) | Self-Study time (590 hours)
Big Data in Mental Health Research
Lectures (20 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (8 hours) | Self-Study time (122 hours)
The Lived Experience Perspective
Lectures (10 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (0 hours) | Self-Study time (140 hours)
Contact time is based on 28 academic weeks. Full-time students (completing the course in one year) receive lectures two days per week for 23 weeks. The remainder of the time is spent on self-study, course-work, and the dissertation project.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Teaching
To help you get the most out of this course, we make your learning interactive. Not only will you join us at lectures, you’ll explore ideas and discuss research at seminars, tutorials and computer lab sessions too.
Our small class sizes might seem intimidating at first. But with a friendly community around you, you’ll quickly realise that everyone is open to hearing different opinions and learning from others' experiences.
We’re confident this style of teaching works because our students consistently rate the course highly.
The primary methods of assessment for this course are written examinations, coursework essays and poster. The study time and assessment methods typically give an indication of what to expect. However, these may vary depending upon the modules.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Courses are divided into modules. You are required to take:
Required Modules
In addition, you have a range of optional modules with no credit rating that may typically include:
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
The training and transferrable skills developed during the MSc Psychiatric Research support a range of careers. These include an academic or research career - a number of current IoPPN staff and PhD students are graduates from this MSc. Other career pathways include training as a clinical psychologist, specialising in psychiatry training (for those students with a medical degree), working in pharmaceutical or other healthcare industries, big data analytics or scientific writing.
Recent graduates have found employment within the following job roles and companies:
Full time: £16,950 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £8,475 per year (2025/26)
Full time: £40,000 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £20,000 per year (2025/26)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.
If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.
The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.
If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.
Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.
IOPPN Postgraduate Taught Scholarships
Scholarships of £5000 are available for this programme for 2025/26 entry, to support students with the financial commitments of postgraduate study. the scholarships are available for all full-time Home and International fee status students, with a deadline to apply of Friday 21 February 2025 click here to find out more.
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
Research into mental health disorders combines expertise from a vast number of areas, so we welcome students from psychology, neuroscience, pharmacology, medicine and other disciplines. Our experts will give you a unique insight into the complex world of mental health. The teaching team are active researchers uncovering the causes of disorders and finding treatments, and many also work in clinical settings. In our Research Methods, Ethics and Statistics in Mental Health module, students gain an advanced understanding of ethical and methodological principles in designing and conducting research and become proficient in the associated statistical techniques. The Biological Psychiatry module explores the biological basis of psychiatric disorders. Using current examples, students learn about how research can reveal the processes that lead to poor mental health and how this knowledge can be used to improve treatments. In the Therapeutic Research in Psychiatry module students gain a deep understanding of how new therapies are developed ‘bench to bedside’ - from basic science, biological psychiatry, or epidemiological research into clinical practice and treating patients. During the Dissertation module, students carry out their own original research project, supervised by a member of IoPPN staff. This provides an opportunity to apply your knowledge and study an area that interests you in greater detail. Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, and practical sessions. This is a relatively small and friendly course and students are well-supported throughout their studies. “As a world-leading centre for mental health research, the IoPPN provides a superb environment for studying the MSc Psychiatric Research and developing your future career working in this important area.” Professor Alice Egerton, Course Leader
Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).
Bachelor’s degree with 2:1 honours in a relevant subject such as Psychology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Social Science or Health Science; or a registrable qualification appropriate to the programme in Medicine; or a professional mental health qualification. A 2:2 degree will be considered only where applicants also offer a Masters with Merit in a related subject.
NON ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
A Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check (formerly known as a criminal records bureau check) may be required during your programme, depending on project work.
To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.
Selection is made on the basis of application and references. Potential students are welcome to visit the department: please arrange a suitable time in advance.
You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:
| Personal Statement | Yes |
Question 1: Why are you applying for this specific programme, and how does it fit in with your future plans? Question 2: How does your experience and education make you a suitable candidate for this programme? |
|---|---|---|
| Research Proposal | No | A Research Proposal is not required as part of the application. |
| Previous Academic Study | Yes | A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents. |
| References | Yes | One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. |
| Other | Yes | Please also include a CV with details of your clinical experience. |
You will be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars and tutorials.
Research Methods, Ethics & Statistics in Mental Health
Lectures (66 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (66 hours) | Self-Study time (468 hours)
Biological Psychiatry
Lectures (40 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (20 hours) | Self-Study time (240 hours)
Therapeutic Research in Psychiatry
Lectures (40 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (20 hours) | Self-Study time (240 hours)
Research Dissertation - Psychiatric Research
Lectures (0 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (10 hours) | Self-Study time (590 hours)
Big Data in Mental Health Research
Lectures (20 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (8 hours) | Self-Study time (122 hours)
The Lived Experience Perspective
Lectures (10 hours) | Seminars/Tutorials (0 hours) | Self-Study time (140 hours)
Contact time is based on 28 academic weeks. Full-time students (completing the course in one year) receive lectures two days per week for 23 weeks. The remainder of the time is spent on self-study, course-work, and the dissertation project.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Teaching
To help you get the most out of this course, we make your learning interactive. Not only will you join us at lectures, you’ll explore ideas and discuss research at seminars, tutorials and computer lab sessions too.
Our small class sizes might seem intimidating at first. But with a friendly community around you, you’ll quickly realise that everyone is open to hearing different opinions and learning from others' experiences.
We’re confident this style of teaching works because our students consistently rate the course highly.
The primary methods of assessment for this course are written examinations, coursework essays and poster. The study time and assessment methods typically give an indication of what to expect. However, these may vary depending upon the modules.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Courses are divided into modules. You are required to take:
Required Modules
In addition, you have a range of optional modules with no credit rating that may typically include:
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
The training and transferrable skills developed during the MSc Psychiatric Research support a range of careers. These include an academic or research career - a number of current IoPPN staff and PhD students are graduates from this MSc. Other career pathways include training as a clinical psychologist, specialising in psychiatry training (for those students with a medical degree), working in pharmaceutical or other healthcare industries, big data analytics or scientific writing.
Recent graduates have found employment within the following job roles and companies:
Full time: £16,950 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £8,475 per year (2025/26)
Full time: £40,000 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £20,000 per year (2025/26)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.
If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.
The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.
If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.
Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.
IOPPN Postgraduate Taught Scholarships
Scholarships of £5000 are available for this programme for 2025/26 entry, to support students with the financial commitments of postgraduate study. the scholarships are available for all full-time Home and International fee status students, with a deadline to apply of Friday 21 February 2025 click here to find out more.
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed and we may need to request further information from you during the application process.
The final application deadlines for this programme are:
· Overseas (international) fee status: 25 July 2025 (23:59 UK time)
· Home fee status: 25 August 2025 (23:59 UK time)
If the programme becomes full before the final application deadlines stated above, we will close the programme to further applications. Please note, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if we are unable to process further offers because places are filled and we close the course before the final application deadline.
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