About Forensic Mental Health Msc in Kings College London

We are proud to have been awarded an IoPPN Excellence Award in 2018 for student satisfaction in the Postgraduate Taught Education Survey (PTES).

Unravel the complex relationship between mental disorders and criminal behaviour. At the same time, develop the skills to establish, manage and evaluate programmes designed to reduce antisocial behaviour. 

You’ll have a choice of two pathways: clinical forensic psychology or forensic mental health research. With different entry criteria, you’ll need to pick the one that suits your interests and matches your level of experience. 

Key benefits 

• Explore the neuroscientific understanding of the development of prosocial and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan 

• Learn from a multi-disciplinary team of clinical academics who specialise in a range of forensic mental health areas 

• Observe evidence-based practice in secure units, magistrates courts, prisons and more 

• Take your first step towards clinical psychology training, a PhD or MD degree with British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited pathway, clinical forensic psychology

• Study surrounded by the expertise and facilities of the Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, MRC Social & Genetic Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Maurice Wohl Neuroscience Centre, and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre

Teaching  

You’ll be taught by clinicians who split their time between King’s and running specialist services in the community. They might work with sexual offenders, in prisons, or at threat services monitoring risk to politicians.  

At King’s, not only are we building knowledge in the field, we’re also discovering innovative ways to apply research to clinical practice. By the time you graduate, you’ll have the skills to make an impact in the area that interests you.  

Description

Students join this course from a range of backgrounds – you might be a psychologist or psychiatrist, work as nurse or occupational therapist or have a background in criminology. Being part of this multidisciplinary community gives you a real flavour of working in this field.  

You’ll take a developmental approach to understanding why people develop prosocial or antisocial behaviour. Then we’ll help you explore the relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, and offending.  

An important element of this course is looking at how forensic services are set up. You’ll think about different ways to effectively manage offenders in the community and explore the journey through the criminal justice system – from the point of arrest to sentencing.  

As a student on this course, you’ll have access to highly specialist services including prisons, secure units and the courts. The amount of time you spend in practice depends on your pathway – the clinical pathway has a 60 day placement whereas the research and forensic psychology pathways have ten days of observation.  

Career prospects

Most graduates from this course apply their knowledge to their career in the forensic mental health field. Other students continue their training, take on roles as research assistants or apply for a PhD.  

Career destinations

King’s graduates have gone on to work in a variety of organisations including:  

• St Mungo's Broadway 
• The Priory Hospital  
• Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust  
• Metropolitan Police Service  
• Edgware Community Hospital  
• West London Mental Health NHS Trust  
• Early Intervention Service NHS

Academic qualification equivalents

• A baccalaureate degree from a recognized degree granting institution

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS   :    6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each skill
• TOEFL :    92 overall with a minimum of 23 in writing and 20 in each of the other skills
• PTE      :    62 overall with a minimum of 59 in each communicative skill

Kings College London Highlights

King's College London The Average Tuition Fees And Other Expenses

UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) requires students to have a budget of at least £1,265 per month in addition to tuition fees.