Global Mental Health MSc

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Across the globe, there’s a huge gap between the need for mental health treatment and the resource to provide it. Whether you want to create mental health programmes, guide policy, or conduct research, this course is the ideal way to work towards solving this major problem.

Our jointly run course with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) ensures you will have access to the latest research innovation and facilities of both institutions. The two organisations are leading the field in mental health and public health research so you’ll be taught by researchers at the cutting-edge of knowledge.

Key benefits

Learn from the experts at King’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Choose from a wide range of optional modules and develop your own research interests with our summer project
Get the latest insight directly from researchers at the Global Mental Health Centre
Take your career to the next level – whether you’re a clinician, researcher, development worker, or work in policy and planning
Develop the skills you need to create effective policies, systems, services and clinical interventions

Teaching

All our teaching staff are active researchers so you’ll have access to the latest knowledge in the subject. Many also come from a clinical background, so their experience helps inform your classes.

Teaching and support is split between King’s and LSHTM. This means you’ll get one seamless course with access to two universities worth of expertise behind it.

Key information

Application status Open

Duration One year FT

Study mode Full-time

Credit value UK 180/ECTS 90

Course leaders

Dr Mark Pennington (King's College London)

Dr Ritsuko Kakuma (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)

King's College London e: gmh-msc@kcl.ac.uk

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine e: mscgmh@lshtm.ac.uk

Further details

Course contact for further information

Postgraduate Admissions Team, Admissions Office tel: +44 (0) 20 7848 7000 fax: +44 (0) 20 7848 7200

Course contact form Postgraduate admissions

Awarding institution King's College London and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Faculty Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

Department Division of Psychology & Systems Sciences Health Service & Population Research Department

Locations

Select location

Explore campuses

Study Global Mental Health at King's

The Global Mental Health MSc provides a unique understanding of the issues surrounding the new discipline of global mental health.

Hear from Dr Rosie Mayston who talks about what it's like to study the Global Mental Health MSc at The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London

Watch more videos

Course detail

Description

People with mental health problems deserve access to trained professionals and evidence-based treatment. But getting appropriate support is unlikely in many countries across the world.

Studying our Global Mental Health MSc gives you the chance to change things. You’ll discover what people need in different settings and how to provide it for them. Then we’ll show you how to develop policies, systems and clinical interventions, and use epidemiological and other research methods to evaluate services.

You could be working in a clinical background or in development. Or you might be coming straight from your undergraduate degree. Whatever your background, the wide scope of the course will prepare you for the next step in your career.

Througout the year, your modules will include a mix of theory and practical topics across epidemiology and policy. You’ll also have the opportunity to personalise the course to your own interests with our wide range of optional modules. And, over the summer, your research project is a great opportunity to explore your interests in more depth.

“We have quite a diverse student body; people who come straight from undergraduate study in the social science, some from a clinical background and some with a medical or scientific background. The course caters for this diverse audience.”

- Dr Rosie Mayston

Further literature

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/enquiry-form.aspx

For information on open events visit http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/study/prospective-students/opendays.aspx

Course format and assessment

Format

You will be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Fundamentals of Global Mental Health 1 (LSHTM)

Lectures (55 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (10 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (95 hours)

Evidence synthesis in global mental health (IoPPN)

Lectures (35 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (15 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (100 hours)

Statistics for Epidemiology & Public Health (LSHTM)

Lectures (70 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (80 hours)

Epidemiology for Mental Health Research (IoPPN)

Lectures (35 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (15 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (100 hours)

Design & Evaluation of Mental Health Programmes (LSHTM)

Lectures (59 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (6 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (85 hours)

Theory to Practice in Global Mental Health (IoPPN)

Lectures (34 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (26 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (90 hours)

Global Mental Health Dissertation (IoPPN & LSHTM)

Seminars / Tutorials (3 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (447 hours)

Applied Statistical Methods in Psychiatric Epidemiology (IoPPN)

Lectures (26 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (2 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (122 hours)

Measurement in Mental Health (IoPPN)

Lectures (12 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (18 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (120 hours)

Mental Health Economic Evaluation (IoPPN)

Lectures (27 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (8 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (115 hours)

Qualitative Research Methods (IoPPN)

Lectures (28 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (8 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (114 hours)

Social Psychiatry: Theory, Research & Methods (IoPPN)

Lectures (28 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (8 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (124 hours)

Conflict & Health (LSHTM)

Lectures (37 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (113 hours)

Health Promotion Approaches & Methods (LSHTM)

Lectures (27 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (123 hours)

Health Systems (LSHTM)

Lectures (32 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (118 hours)

Epidemiology of Non-communicable Diseases (LSHTM)

Lectures (30 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (35 hours) |Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (85 hours)

Social Epidemiology (LSHTM)

Lectures (40 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (110 hours)

Statistical Methods in Epidemiology (LSHTM)

Lectures (38.5 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (111.5 hours)

Design and Analysis of Epidemiological Studies (LSHTM)

Lectures (37 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (113 hours)

Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs (LSHTM)

Lectures (35 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (115 hours)

Health Care Evaluation (LSHTM)

Lectures (22 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (128 hours)

Qualitative Methodologies (LSHTM)

Lectures (30 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (120 hours)

Medical Anthropology and Public Health (LSHTM)

Lectures (40 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (110 hours)

Research Design and Analysis (LSHTM)

Lectures (34 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (116 hours)

Contact time is based on 24 academic weeks.

Students will have 3-4 teaching days per week and 1-2 days self-study depending on the term.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Extra information

King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

Structure

Year 1

Required Modules

Fundamentals in Global Mental Health 1 (15 credits, LSHTM)
Evidence synthesis in Global Mental Health(15 credits)
Statistics for Epidemiology and Public Health (15 credits, LSHTM)
Epidemiology for Mental Health Research (15 credits)
Design and Evaluation of Mental Health Programmes (15 credits, LSHTM)

Theory to Practice in Global Mental Health (15 credits)

Global Mental Health Dissertation (45 credits)

Optional Modules

In addition, you will take 45 credits from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:

Applied Statistical Methods in Psychiatric Epidemiology (15 credits)
Measurement in Mental Health (15 credits)
Qualitative Research Methods (15 credits)
Social Psychiatry: Theory, Research and Methods (15 credits)
Mental Health Economic Evaluation (15 credit)
Conflict and Health (15 credits, LSHTM )
Health Promotion Approaches and Methods (15 credits, LSHTM)

Health Systems (15 credits, LSHTM)

Epidemiology of non-communicable diseases 15 credits, (LSHTM)

Social Epidemiology (15 credits , LSHTM)
Statistical Methods in Epidemiology (15 credits , LSHTM)
Design and Analysis of Epidemiological Studies (15 credits , LSHTM)
Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs (15 credits, LSHTM)
Health Care Evaluation (15 credits, LSHTM)
Qualitative Methodologies (15 credits, LSHTM)
Medical Anthropology and Public Health (15 credits, LSHTM)
Research Design & Analysis (15 credits, LSHTM)

Entry requirements & how to apply

Global Mental Health Entry Requirements
Minimum requirements	2:1	An upper second-class honours degree of a UK university or a registerable qualification in medicine, appropriate to the programme. A background in a mental health-related field is desirable but not essential. Applications with an appropriate technical qualification or equivalent qualification and experience from overseas are also welcomed. Any student who does not meet the minimum entry requirement above but who has relevant professional experience may still be eligible for admission. They should contact the programme leader who can advise on their eligibility to apply. In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.
International requirements		Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements	Band D	Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

Application procedure

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £70 applies.

Selection is generally made on the basis of application and references. Your application will be assessed by two academics. You are welcome to contact the Programme Leader to arrange a site visit.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Global Mental Health checklist
Personal Statement	Yes	Please upload your personal statement (word limit: 1000) during online application. Please ensure you pay careful attention to the content of your personal statement. We do not normally invite applicants for interview and so the clarity and relevance of the information you provide in your personal statement is of considerable importance to us. In particular, we would like you to describe your academic background and any relevant clinical or research interests, your reasons for applying to our particular postgraduate programme and what you hope to gain from the training we offer, and how you intend to use the knowledge and skills you acquire to further your clinical or research ambitions.
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	Optional	You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application

Application closing date

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. Our first application deadline is the 31 March 2020. After this date, applications will remain open if places are available, but programmes will be closed as soon as they are full. For programmes with spaces remaining, no further applications will be accepted from non-EU (Overseas) nationals after 31July 2020 or from UK/EU nationals after 28 August 2020.

Please note you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if you apply after the first application deadline and places are filled before the final deadlines above and we are unable to process more offers.

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

Full time Home/EU fees: £12,750 per year (2020/21)
Full time overseas fees: £29,850 per year (2020/21)
Part time Home/EU fees: N/A
Part time overseas fees: N/A

Students starting their programme in 2020/21 who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2021/22.

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK/EU deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000.

If you receive an offer on or before 31 March 2020, payment is due by 30 April 2020.
If you receive an offer between 1 April 2020 and 30 June 2020, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
If you receive an offer between 1 July 2020 and 31 July 2020, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
If you receive an offer on or after 1 August 2020, payment is due within 2 days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary 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.

Additional costs/expenses

In addition to the costs above, you can also expect to pay for:

books if you choose to buy your own copies
clothing for optional course related events and competitions
library fees and fines 5
personal photocopies
printing course handouts
society membership fees
stationery
travel costs for travel around London and between campuses.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme

Applicants from eligible developing Commonwealth Countries who are applying to start in September 2019 may wish to apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme (CSSS). The CSSS covers full tuition fees, a maintenance allowance, airfare to and from the UK, and an additional thesis grant and a travel allowance. Further information about the scholarship and eligibility criteria can be found here.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Career prospects

Many of our students join us to progress their existing career so you may already have a good idea of where you want to end up. A master’s degree at King’s is a great way to get specialist experience and formal recognition to help you take the next step.

If you’re looking for a change of direction, the course gives you the skills for a wide range of careers. You could move into policy and planning, research, or advisory and advocacy roles. Our past students work in government, international agencies and non-governmental organisations around the world.

Career destinations

Our graduates have gone on to work in a variety of organisations including:

World Health Organisation (WHO)
South London & Maudsley Hospital (SLaM)
Princeton University
Lagos State University
Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital: Yaba Lagos Nigeria
Japan International Cooperation Agency

Testimonials

Rodolphe

I chose King's College London because I wanted to study at a top university. It offers a world-class education as you are taught by renowned teachers in fantastic facilities and this explains its international reputation.