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War & Psychiatry MSc

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Join us for Mental Health in the 21st Century, a series of online lectures hosted by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.

Our MSc in War & Psychiatry will introduce you to ways of understanding how individuals, both members of the armed forces and civilians, prepare for and cope with psychological trauma. It is designed to develop the knowledge and skills required to explore the field of human conflict. Drawing on multidisciplinary expertise from history, psychology and epidemiology, you will have the opportunity to compare the experiences of different nations to explore both theoretical and practical aspects of the subject. The course is relevant for careers in military psychiatry and related NGOs, emergency response and anti-terrorist services.

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.

 


Key benefits 

  • You will gain an understanding of how people prepare themselves for war, cope during conflict and adjust to peacetime life.
  • You will be taught by internationally recognised researchers and clinicians.
  • You will learn not only about the psychological effects on soldiers fighting on the front line but also how civilians cope when subjected to the trauma of war or acts of terrorism.
  • You will examine the psychology of conflict through different cultures.
  • You will develop knowledge and skills not necessarily provided by clinical training.

 Teaching  

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

Key information

Application status Open

Duration One year FT, two years PT.

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Credit value UK 180/ECTS 90

Course intake 25

Course leaders Professor Edgar Jones

Further details

Course contact for further information

Email: AP-PGTsupport@kcl.ac.uk

Course contact form Postgraduate admissions

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

Department Department of Psychological Medicine Division of Academic Psychiatry

Locations

 

Explore campuses

War & Psychiatry - The Video

In the heart of London

How both soldiers and civilians prepare themselves, cope during times of conflict, and adjust to peacetime life are core issues of the MSc War & Psychiatry. Find out more from Professor Edgar Jones; Programme Leader of this ground-breaking programme at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London.

Watch more videos


Course detail

Description

How do members of the armed forces and civilians cope with the psychological trauma of war? To answer this complex question and more, you’ll explore existing literature, the latest research, and the development and practice of military psychiatry. 

We’ll help you compare the psychology of different nations and look at the subject from both a theoretical and practical point of view. Then you’ll reflect on how this relates to work in psychiatry, NGOs, emergency, or anti-terrorist services.  

You’ll complete a dissertation which gives you a chance to personalise the course to your own interests. This will also challenge you to identify, plan and propose solutions to problems at the forefront of the field.  

Read more about the course on our webpages. 

“Students hear from guest speakers throughout the year – we bring in a range of experts including counter-terrorism specialists, members of the armed forces, and clinical psychiatrists.” 

Professor Edgar Jones, Course Leader 

Course format and assessment

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

War and Psychiatry

Lectures (40 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (20 hours)  | Self-study time (340 hours) 

Advanced Concepts in Military Psychiatry

Lectures (10 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (15 hours) | Self-study time (375 hours) 

Civilians and Extreme Trauma: The Impact of Warfare, Disasters and Political Repression

Lectures (40 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (20 hours) | Self-study time (340 hours) 

Dissertation

Lectures (20 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (10 hours) Self-study time (570 hours) 

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 is through written coursework.  The study time and assessment methods typically give an indication of what to expect. However, these may vary depending upon the modules

Extra information

Regulating body

King’s College is regulated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England

Other related courses 

Structure

Year 1

Required Modules
Courses are divided into module. Each year you will normall take modules totalling 180 credits. 
Students on this course are required to take:
  • War & Psychiatry: An Introduction (40 credits)
  • Civilians & Extreme Trauma (40 credits)
  • Advanced Concepts in Military Psychiatry (40 credits)
  • Research Dissertation (60 credits)

Students are strongly encouraged to attend the following modules and will be required to give one presentation:

  • Seminar group 7PCPWCIV (no associated credits)
  • Student presentation group (no associated credits)
Optional Modules

There are no optional modules.

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.

Entry requirements & how to apply

War and Psychiatry Entry Requirements
Minimum requirements  

Applicants should have either:

  • A Bachelor's degree or equivalent in medicine or psychology

  • A Bachelor's degree in any subject

  • Other qualifications and experience which demonstrate an ability to undertake the programme
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 made on the basis of the application and references. Applications are normally processed within two weeks of receiving references. All applicants are welcome to visit the department by arrangement, and students from unusual, i.e. non-biological, backgrounds are normally interviewed.

Personal statement and supporting information

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

War&Psychiatry checklist
Personal Statement Yes Please detail your reasons for applying to the programme and your future goals. Please try and limit your personal statement to 500 words. 
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 Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application.

 

Application closing date

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. Our first application deadline is the 26th March 2021. After this date, the programme will remain open only if places are still available and will be closed as soon as it is full.
For programmes that remain open beyond this date, the final application deadlines for the following fee statuses are listed below:

  • EU or overseas (international) fee status: 30th July 2021

  • Home fee status: 27th August 2021

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

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 fees: £10,500 per year (2021/22)
  • Full time overseas fees: £31,350 per year (2021/22)
  • Part time Home fees: £5,520 per year (2021/22)
  • Part time overseas fees: £15,675 per year (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 deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000. 

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31st March, payment is due by 30th April 2021.

  • If you receive an offer between 1st April and 30th June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.

  • If you receive an offer between 1st July and 31st July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.

  • If you receive an offer on or after 1st August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.

  • If you receive an offer from late August onwards, 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
  • personal photocopies
  • printing course handouts
  • society membership fees
  • stationery
  • travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
  • graduation costs
  • printing one copy of the dissertation
  • £50 contribution to the weekend battlefield tour of Ypres
  • travel costs to Combat Stress near Leatherhead

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

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

Much of the course content is of a practical nature designed to inform the assessment and treatment of psychological casualties. In addition, our course has invited speakers from the armed forces, military charities and the emergency services. A presentation is given by the IoPPN’s Careers Consultant and individual meetings with students can be arranged to explore job opportunities.

Testimonials

Robert Densmore

Robert Densmore

Having left the US Navy in 2006, I entered the world of combat journalism and returned to the place I was deployed - Afghanistan. It was there that I came to see up close the psychological impact of modern conflict, both among NATO troops and among Afghan civilians. Of course, little was known then in mainstream media about such challenges and the peculiarities of how they played out in active theatres like Iraq and Afghanistan. The War and Psychiatry MSc was - and still is  the best medical, historical and psychiatric view into the lives of an entire generation of veterans. As I work towards completion of my Master of Divinity - and ultimately ordination in the priesthood - I bring with me a greater understanding of many of the psychological and spiritual needs of my parish, many of whom will be veterans.

Ruiko Asaba

Ruiko Asaba

For me, undertaking an MSc in War and Psychiatry has been one of the best choices I have ever made. I studied history as an undergraduate, and coming from Japan, An inter-disciplinary approach to the very important debate surrounding military psychiatry has meant that the course has allowed a level of intellectual creativity, fully nurturing my existing knowledge of history, without losing sight of various academic fields that contributes greatly to the study of military mental health.The MSc in War and Psychiatry is such a unique and distinguished programme that it often sets me apart from other people with postgraduate degrees. After graduating, I interned at the Embassy of Japan in the UK and am currently working for a strategic communications consultancy. 

Holly Hurn

Holly Hurn

Every lecture and seminar covered a unique fascinating topic, following the development of combat-related psychiatry from its inception to the present day. Whilst the course was certainly challenging, I felt inspired and supported every step of the way and encouraged to develop my own areas of interest; something which I have taken away with me and continue to use today. Having graduated in psychology a few years previously, the MSc gave me specialised insight into this fascinating, much needed and increasingly expanding area of mental health. As a direct result of the MSc I was offered an Assistant Psychologist position at Combat Stress (The Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society) and am thoroughly enjoying being able to apply what I learned and researched in practice.

Dr Alberta Engelbrecht

Dr Alberta Engelbrecht

The MSc War and Psychiatry course is an excellent choice for those thinking about undertaking a masters. It offers a rich, diverse and challenging programme of study exploring military history and combat related psychiatry from WWI through to current day.  The course is one of a kind and so offers a unique experience covering a wide range of topics, which made every lecture and seminar distinctive and interesting. Prof Edgar Jones and guest lecturers were dynamic and insightful and leading experts in their fields.

Blue box with King's College London rankings. Starting with, 7th in the UK for research quality. Followed by, 6th in the UK for research power. Concluding with, 4th among multi-faculty universities for research Impact. The source is research excellence framework 2014

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