Why study this course?
This MSc degree offers an opportunity for comprehensive study in the field of mental health and educational issues of children and adolescents. You'll consider theoretical and practical issues relating to the main factors influencing paediatric mental health from biological, social, cultural and psychological perspectives. It will enable you to pursue or advance your career in teaching or mental health.
More about this course
This Child and Adolescent Mental Health MSc course will provide you with an up-to-date scientific and academic knowledge that will allow you to pursue a career in children's mental health across health, social care, education and youth justice.
The course will guide you to develop an understanding of recent developments in the child and adolescent mental health field and help you to acquire skills useful in identifying and managing a wide range of mental health problems.
You'll develop the ability to conduct research and scholarly analysis focused on children and adolescent mental health. You'll also learn about psychological and developmental processes that contribute to children's positive and negative mental health and explore ways in which your knowledge can contribute to policy making in this field.
The course will be taught by practitioners, researchers and scholars in the child psychology and mental health fields. The teaching will contribute to your training needs and help you develop skills relating to the assessment, management and treatment of child and adolescent disorders.
Assessment
The course is assessed through a variety of tasks that will allow you to demonstrate your academic knowledge through mechanisms that support career-ready skills.
You'll be assessed through essays, case studies, oral presentations, critical and systematic reviews, qualitative and quantitative research reports.
Fees and key information
Apply nowEntry requirements
You will be required to have:
- a minimum of a lower second-class (2.2) honours degree in the area of social sciences, health, education and human sciences.
Students from other disciplines who have extensive relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis.
Accelerated study
Students can be accepted on the basis of relevant education and experience. Accredited prior learning can also be accepted for modules in a relevant subject.
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course at London Met. Find out more about applying for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).
English language requirements
To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. This course requires you to meet our standard requirements
If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 1 modules include:
- This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Thursday afternoon
The first aim of this module is to develop your systematic understanding of theories of cognitive and social development throughout the lifespan. The second aim is to facilitate your ability to think critically about these theories, especially in the context of empirical evidence. A third aim is to develop your skills in locating primary sources, and to read, understand, critically evaluate and accurately communicate the relevant information.
- This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Thursday afternoon
This module allows students to explore the relationship between key aspects of the law, rights and code of professionals’ ethics within mental health. This module will look at the science base behind legal and policy developments across a range of mental health problems.
- This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Thursday morning
This introductory module will focus on the theoretical explanations of psychopathology from a biological, social, behavioural and cognitive perspective across the lifespan. Using formal classification systems including the DSM-5, it will provide an eclectic and multidisciplinary approach to understanding psychopathology. Various theoretical frameworks in both understanding and management of psychological problems will be explored.
- This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Wednesday morning
You will be introduced to methods of psychological investigation and develop your ability to design such investigations, to understand the ethical implications of the methods used, and to assess the data collected. Each of these aims is associated with general competencies that are highly valued in employment settings (e.g., communication, numeracy, critical thinking). The module also aims to facilitate integration of students’ knowledge and understanding of research methods with their knowledge and understanding in core areas of psychology, e.g. cognitive or developmental psychology) and to provide students with a firm foundation for their Master’s level project.
- This module currently runs:
- all year (September start)
This module supports the process of planning and executing a research project.
- This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Thursday morning
This module will focus on the importance of integrating resilience and mindfulness into healthcare practices to support and develop clients skills necessary for coping with problems and set- backs. It will integrate resilience and mindfulness across the lifespan in the context of mental health, special needs, the care system, at risk families and end of life issues from a cultural and systemic perspective. This module will further employ a family systems approach and explore the assessment of families, resilience, mental health promotion and empowering families towards making positive changes towards mental wellbeing. Theoretical models such as attachment theory, epigenetics, family and bio-ecological systems approach will be also covered.
- This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Wednesday morning
This module will introduce students to a range of Specific Learning Differences (also known as Specific Learning Difficulties, Developmental Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Neurodiversity). Specific Learning Differences (SLDs) is an umbrella term that covers a range of conditions, including:
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Dyslexia
The module focuses on how these learning differences are diagnosed and how they impact cognition, behaviour and education. You will learn some key theories and research evidence that underly the diagnosis, treatments and interventions of Specific Learning Differences.
We will consider the lived experience of individuals with SLDs and their families and teachers, recognising that an individual’s strengths and difficulties will present differently and may change depending on the task or the environment.
Where this course can take you
Our Child and Adolescent Mental Health MSc will provide you with opportunities to enter or progress within a diverse range of occupations, including psychology, social work, nursing and teaching.
The course will also allow you to pursue further study in clinical and educational psychology.
Additional costs
Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees.
Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.
Important information for international applicants
Due to unprecedented demand for our courses for the autumn 2023 intake, international admissions are now closed for this postgraduate course. Please check back at a later date to view future available intakes.
How to apply
Use the apply button to begin your application.
If you require a Student visa and wish to study a postgraduate course on a part-time basis, please read our how to apply information for international students to ensure you have all the details you need about the application process.
When to apply
You are advised to apply as early as possible as applications will only be considered if there are places available on the course.
To find out when teaching for this degree will begin, as well as welcome week and any induction activities, view our academic term dates.
