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King's College London
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Postgraduate degree

Master of Science in International Addiction Studies (IPAS) MSc

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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.

Key benefits

  • A unique programme that focuses on the similar international trends in policy, global epidemiology of substance-related morbidity and mortality, and evidence-based treatment and prevention practices.
  • Exclusive online access to lectures produced exclusively for the course by International experts in the addictions field.
  • Course members are considered students of all three universities concurrently with access to all online resources available from each of the partners.
  • You will receive personalised support from our dedicated module leaders throughout the course.
  • Course graduates will receive a triple-badge diploma jointly conferred by the three teaching institutions.

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.

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

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Teaching methods - what to expect

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 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.

 

Assessment

    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.

    Structure

    Required modules

    You are required to take:

    Full time: Required Modules You are required to take the following modules

    Biological Basis of Addictions (20 Credits)
    Public Health Issues and Approaches to Addiction (20 credits)
    Treatment of Addiction: Pharmacotherapies (20 credits)
    Treatment of Addiction: Psychosocial Interventions (20 credits)
    Treatment of Addiction: Critical Issues (20 credits)
    Addiction Policy (20 Credits)
    Research Project (60 credits)

    Part Time Year 1: Required Modules You are required to take the following in your first year

    Public Health Issues and Approaches to Addiction (20 credits)
    Treatment of Addiction: Pharmacotherapies (20 credits)
    Treatment of Addiction: Psychosocial Interventions (20 credits)
    Addiction Policy (20 Credits)

    Part Time Year 2: Required Modules You are required to take the following in your 2nd year

    Biological Basis of Addictions (20 Credits)
    Treatment of Addiction: Pharmacotherapies (20 credits)
    Research Project (60 credits)

    Optional modules

    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.

    Employability

    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.

    Tuition Fees

    UK:

    Full time: USD $32,400

    Part time: MSc USD $14,000 (first year) USD $18,000 (2nd year) | PG Certificate USD $10,800 | PG Diploma USD $21,600

    International:

    Full time: USD $32,400

    Part time: MSc USD $14,000 (first year) USD $18,000 (2nd year) | PG Certificate USD $10,800 | PG Diploma USD $21,600

    Deposit

    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 International Scholars in Addiction Studies (ISAS) scholarship programme, which offers half-tuition scholarships, has been available to IAS students over the last seven years. Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, although geographic distribution is also considered.  As the scholarship only covers part of tuition fees, qualifying students are required to pay any outstanding tuition charges, and must indicate their understanding of this responsibility upon acceptance of the scholarship. Information about scholarships will be updated on this page as new information becomes available. 

    Please visit the VCU website for further information:

    http://ipas.vcu.edu/program-options/master-of-science-in-addiction-studies/scholarships/

    Additional Costs

    In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

    • Books if you choose to buy your own copies library fees and fines
    • Library fees and fines
    • Personal photocopies
    • Printing course handouts
    • Society membership fees
    • Stationery
    • Graduation costs

    Funding

    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.

    Regulating bodies

    King's is regulated by the Office for Students

    Loading...

    Teaching methods - what to expect

    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 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.

     

    Assessment

      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.

      Structure

      Required modules

      You are required to take:

      Full time: Required Modules You are required to take the following modules

      Biological Basis of Addictions (20 Credits)
      Public Health Issues and Approaches to Addiction (20 credits)
      Treatment of Addiction: Pharmacotherapies (20 credits)
      Treatment of Addiction: Psychosocial Interventions (20 credits)
      Treatment of Addiction: Critical Issues (20 credits)
      Addiction Policy (20 Credits)
      Research Project (60 credits)

      Part Time Year 1: Required Modules You are required to take the following in your first year

      Public Health Issues and Approaches to Addiction (20 credits)
      Treatment of Addiction: Pharmacotherapies (20 credits)
      Treatment of Addiction: Psychosocial Interventions (20 credits)
      Addiction Policy (20 Credits)

      Part Time Year 2: Required Modules You are required to take the following in your 2nd year

      Biological Basis of Addictions (20 Credits)
      Treatment of Addiction: Pharmacotherapies (20 credits)
      Research Project (60 credits)

      Optional modules

      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.

      Employability

      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.

      Tuition Fees

      UK:

      Full time: USD $32,400

      Part time: MSc USD $14,000 (first year) USD $18,000 (2nd year) | PG Certificate USD $10,800 | PG Diploma USD $21,600

      International:

      Full time: USD $32,400

      Part time: MSc USD $14,000 (first year) USD $18,000 (2nd year) | PG Certificate USD $10,800 | PG Diploma USD $21,600

      Deposit

      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 International Scholars in Addiction Studies (ISAS) scholarship programme, which offers half-tuition scholarships, has been available to IAS students over the last seven years. Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, although geographic distribution is also considered.  As the scholarship only covers part of tuition fees, qualifying students are required to pay any outstanding tuition charges, and must indicate their understanding of this responsibility upon acceptance of the scholarship. Information about scholarships will be updated on this page as new information becomes available. 

      Please visit the VCU website for further information:

      http://ipas.vcu.edu/program-options/master-of-science-in-addiction-studies/scholarships/

      Additional Costs

      In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

      • Books if you choose to buy your own copies library fees and fines
      • Library fees and fines
      • Personal photocopies
      • Printing course handouts
      • Society membership fees
      • Stationery
      • Graduation costs

      Funding

      Application closing date guidance

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