book a one-to-one, 15-minute online session with Professor Leonie Brose, the programme lead for MSc International Addiction Studies (IPAS). 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 every Friday between 1 and 1:45 until 4 July. Book your place here.
The Master of Science in International Addiction Studies (IPAS) course offers students cross‐cultural exposure to critical prevention and treatment practices, as well as research and policy issues in the field of addiction. This programme provides unique opportunities to study addiction in its broadest sense and examine key issues from an international perspective.
The Master of Science in International Addiction Studies (IPAS) course is a unique collaboration of three of the world's leading research universities in the field of Addiction Science: • The Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, • the University of Adelaide, and • Virginia Commonwealth University. This partnership offers three nested graduate programme options available to graduates around the globe via distance learning. You will have access to the latest information on topics ranging from the biological basis of addiction and treatment as well as prevention and policy. The course will help you to compare global perspectives and translate this knowledge into more effective prevention and treatment practices and evidence‐based policies worldwide. Applications should be submitted to Virginia Commonwealth University, as they are the host university.
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
|
Module name |
Lectures (hours) |
Discussion Boards and Live discussions (hours) |
Field/lab/ studio/ supervised learning (hours) |
Self-directed study (hours) |
Total (hours) |
|
Biological Basis of Addictions |
20 |
30 |
- |
80 |
130 |
|
Public Health Issues and Approaches to Addiction |
25 |
30 |
- |
80 |
135 |
|
Treatment of Addiction: Pharmacotherapies |
25 |
30 |
- |
80 |
135 |
|
Treatment of Addiction: Psychosocial Interventions |
20 |
30 |
- |
80 |
130 |
|
Treatment of Addiction: Critical Issues |
20 |
30 |
- |
80 |
130 |
|
Addiction Policy |
25 |
30 |
- |
80 |
135 |
|
Research Project |
30 |
100 |
|
300 |
430 |
Contact time is based on 24 academic weeks.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
The primary methods of assessment for this course are written examinations, coursework and practical individual/ projects. 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.
You are required to take:
Full time: You are required to take the following modules
Part Time Year 1: You are required to take the following in your first year
Part Time Year 2: Required Modules You are required to take the following in your 2nd year
There are no optional modules for this programme. 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.
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.
Graduates from this programme have taken leadership roles in clinical settings, working as drug workers, substance misuse nurse specialists, psychologists, addiction psychiatrists and managers of addiction services.
Our graduates have also taken policy positions in national and international organisations, while others have undertaken further academic research and gone on to complete a PhD or a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Full time: USD $32,400
Part time: MSc USD $14,400 (first year) USD $18,000 (2nd year) | PG Certificate USD $10,800 | PG Diploma USD $21,600
Full time: USD $32,400
Part time: MSc USD $14,400 (first year) USD $18,000 (2nd year) | PG Certificate USD $10,800 | PG Diploma USD $21,600
Students are self-funded or funded by their employer or home government. If you are looking for additional funding, please visit our student funding database found at http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/funding/sources/pgt.aspx
The Robert L. Balster Scholarship, endowed by Virginia Commonwealth University IPAS founder Robert Balster, is available to support one or two qualified students each year for up to half of their tuition costs. Students admitted prior to June 1 and who complete a scholarship application will be considered, and award announcements will be made no later than August 1.
Scholarship criteria and application instructions will be available after November 1, 2024 on the IPAS website at https://ipas.vcu.edu/programme-options/master-of-science-in-addiction-studies/scholarships/
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.
The Master of Science in International Addiction Studies (IPAS) course is a unique collaboration of three of the world's leading research universities in the field of Addiction Science: • The Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, • the University of Adelaide, and • Virginia Commonwealth University. This partnership offers three nested graduate programme options available to graduates around the globe via distance learning. You will have access to the latest information on topics ranging from the biological basis of addiction and treatment as well as prevention and policy. The course will help you to compare global perspectives and translate this knowledge into more effective prevention and treatment practices and evidence‐based policies worldwide. Applications should be submitted to Virginia Commonwealth University, as they are the host university.
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
|
Module name |
Lectures (hours) |
Discussion Boards and Live discussions (hours) |
Field/lab/ studio/ supervised learning (hours) |
Self-directed study (hours) |
Total (hours) |
|
Biological Basis of Addictions |
20 |
30 |
- |
80 |
130 |
|
Public Health Issues and Approaches to Addiction |
25 |
30 |
- |
80 |
135 |
|
Treatment of Addiction: Pharmacotherapies |
25 |
30 |
- |
80 |
135 |
|
Treatment of Addiction: Psychosocial Interventions |
20 |
30 |
- |
80 |
130 |
|
Treatment of Addiction: Critical Issues |
20 |
30 |
- |
80 |
130 |
|
Addiction Policy |
25 |
30 |
- |
80 |
135 |
|
Research Project |
30 |
100 |
|
300 |
430 |
Contact time is based on 24 academic weeks.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
The primary methods of assessment for this course are written examinations, coursework and practical individual/ projects. 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.
You are required to take:
Full time: You are required to take the following modules
Part Time Year 1: You are required to take the following in your first year
Part Time Year 2: Required Modules You are required to take the following in your 2nd year
There are no optional modules for this programme. 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.
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.
Graduates from this programme have taken leadership roles in clinical settings, working as drug workers, substance misuse nurse specialists, psychologists, addiction psychiatrists and managers of addiction services.
Our graduates have also taken policy positions in national and international organisations, while others have undertaken further academic research and gone on to complete a PhD or a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Full time: USD $32,400
Part time: MSc USD $14,400 (first year) USD $18,000 (2nd year) | PG Certificate USD $10,800 | PG Diploma USD $21,600
Full time: USD $32,400
Part time: MSc USD $14,400 (first year) USD $18,000 (2nd year) | PG Certificate USD $10,800 | PG Diploma USD $21,600
Students are self-funded or funded by their employer or home government. If you are looking for additional funding, please visit our student funding database found at http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/funding/sources/pgt.aspx
The Robert L. Balster Scholarship, endowed by Virginia Commonwealth University IPAS founder Robert Balster, is available to support one or two qualified students each year for up to half of their tuition costs. Students admitted prior to June 1 and who complete a scholarship application will be considered, and award announcements will be made no later than August 1.
Scholarship criteria and application instructions will be available after November 1, 2024 on the IPAS website at https://ipas.vcu.edu/programme-options/master-of-science-in-addiction-studies/scholarships/
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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