Program Overview

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Global Mental Health MSc

Key Information

Delivery mode: In person, Classroom & Online Study mode: Full time Duration: 12 months full-time, September to September Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent): UK 180/ECTS 90 Application status: Open Start date: September 2025

Course Description

The Global Mental Health MSc is jointly run by King’s College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, providing a unique course of study for students who wish to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issues surrounding the discipline of global mental health. You will acquire the knowledge and skills required to design, implement and evaluate mental health programmes in low resource settings as well as learning how to conduct and critically evaluate research. Our course constitutes an excellent preparation for careers in policy, research and work in international agencies.

Key Benefits

• Wide range of modules available
• Teaching and supervision delivered by leading researchers from the Centre for Global Mental Health at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
• Welcomes applications from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds, including: clinicians, researchers, development workers and those working in policy and planning

Course Essentials

Across the world, and especially in low and middle-income countries, most people who have mental health problems are not supported by trained professionals, or able to access evidence-based treatments. Global mental health is about changing that situation – investigating the needs of people in different settings and formulating the most locally appropriate and feasible way to better support them. You will learn how to develop policies, systems, services and clinical interventions as well as epidemiological and other research methods used to evaluate services and interventions. The course will prepare you for work in the governmental and non-governmental sectors, as a policy advisor, global mental health researcher or clinical academic. 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.

Base Campus

Denmark Hill Campus, 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.

Regulating Bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students.

Entry Requirements

UK Applicants

• Standard requirements: A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
• Programme-Specific Requirements: 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.

International Applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications: Select a country to view equivalent qualifications
• English language requirements: English language band D. To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment.

Selection Process

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 generally made on the basis of application and references. Your application will be assessed by two academics.

Personal Statement and Supporting Information

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

• Personal Statement: Yes, answer three questions (maximum 1800 characters per answer)
• Academic Transcripts: Yes, a copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained
• 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

Teaching Methods

• Introduction to Global Mental Health (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 (37 hours), Seminars / Tutorials (17 hours), Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning/Self-study time (102 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)

Assessment

• Written examinations
• Course Work
• Projects

The primary methods of assessment for this course are written examinations, coursework and individual/ projects.

Location

This course is primarily taught at the King’s College London Denmark Hill Campus and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London (WC1E 7HT). Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select.

Structure

Required Modules

• Introduction to Global Mental Health (15 credits, LSHTM)
• Evidence synthesis in global mental health (15 credits)
• Epidemiology for Mental Health Research (15 credits)
• Statistics for Epidemiology & Public Health (15 credits, LSHTM)
• Design & 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

• Applied Statistical Methods in Psychiatric Epidemiology (15 credits)
• Qualitative Research Methods (15 credits)
• Social Psychiatry: Theory, Research & Methods (15 credits)
• Geographies of trauma: Memory, emotion and place (15 credits)
• Mental Health Economic Evaluation (15 credits)
• Conflict & Health (15 credits, LSHTM)
• Health Promotion Approaches & Methods (15 credits, LSHTM)
• Health Systems (15 credits, LSHTM)
• Epidemiology of Non-communicable Diseases (15 credits, LSHTM)
• Statistical Methods in Epidemiology (15 credits, LSHTM)
• Social Epidemiology (15 credits, LSHTM)
• Design & 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)

Employability

Our graduates will be well-equipped to enter careers in national mental health policy and planning, epidemiological and mental health services research, and advisory and advocacy roles in government, international agencies and non-governmental organisations.

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

Tuition Fees

UK

• Full time: £16,394 per year (2025/26)

International

• Full time: £37,800 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.

Deposit

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.

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
• Personal photocopies
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

Funding

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.

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.