Mental Health in Children and Young People: Psychological Approaches MSc

This programme offers the unique perspective that children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is influenced by developmental processes at multiple levels, from individual to sociocultural, and that our approaches to working should be informed by this dynamic, interactional system.

The programme aims to support students in developing a nuanced and critical appreciation of mental health in children and young people, by taking a developmental approach to the etiology of mental health issues.

Programme courses draw upon cognitive, developmental and relational theories, as well as models of risk and resilience to enhance deeper understanding of the development and maintenance of wellbeing and mental health.

The programme staff comprise of clinical and academic psychologists with a broad range of research expertise in areas of:

• psychological interventions
• neurodevelopmental disorders
• child trauma and maltreatment
• parenting

The programme promotes excellence in research with the aim of preparing students for future progression into further academic, research, and clinical training. Examples of student pathways following the programme include:

• PhD in Clinical Psychology
• Doctorate in Educational Psychology
• MSc in Applied Psychology (Healthcare) For Children and Young People

For students interested in these pathways, it’s about improving their knowledge, skills, and competencies to enhance their applications into these types of programmes. For students already working in the field, it’s about enabling them to improve their knowledge of child and adolescent mental health.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent in psychology or a related subject.

We will also consider applicants with a UK 2:2 honours degree in psychology and Merit in a related UK masters degree, or their international equivalents.

Experience of working or volunteering with children and/or young people is highly desirable.

We may also consider your application if you have other professional qualifications or experience; please contact us to check before you apply

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 7 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

The programme fosters transferable skills such as:

• critical evaluation
• research competence
• teamworking
• communication

The programme is suitable for further PhD-level study, research or practitioner study. It will enhance the employability of those wishing to work with children and adolescents in mental health-relevant settings.

Previous students work in a range of professions including clinical practice and voluntary sector organisations, and, with appropriate additional training, in nursing, social work and social care, and teaching.