This is a joint programme provided by LSHTM and King’s College London. It gives participants the knowledge and skills to initiate, develop and oversee mental health programmes in low-resource settings, and to conduct and critically evaluate research on global mental health. These skills will equip students to make valuable contributions in research, public health, policy and practice.
By the end of the programme, students will able to:
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the mental health challenges facing low resource settings
- devise locally appropriate and feasible strategies to reduce the burden of mental disorders
- develop research protocols to investigate key issues in global mental health including epidemiological, intervention- and policy-related questions
- apply research skills to monitor and evaluate mental health programmes
Career prospects
Graduates enter careers in national mental health policy and planning, epidemiological and mental health services research, and advisory and advocacy roles in governments, international agencies and non-governmental organisations. Find out more about our graduate careers and destinations.
Applications for this course are processed by King's College London, not by LSHTM. Further details, programme information, and how to apply.
Duration: one year full-time. Ways to study explained.
Find out about intercalating this programme.
Global Mental Health
Watch Programme Director, Alex Cohen, and students talk about the programme.
The below structure outlines the proposed modules for this programme. Module specifications provide full details about the aims and objectives of each module, what you will study and how the module is assessed.
- Structure of the year
Term 1 (September - December) consists of ten teaching weeks plus one Reading Week* in the middle of the term. Followed by the Winter break.
Term 2 (January - March) consists of a further ten weeks of teaching plus a Reading Week in the middle of the term. Followed by the Spring break.
Term 3 (April - September) consists of five weeks of teaching for the final module, and the project report.
*Reading Week is a week during term where no formal teaching takes place. It is a time for private study, preparing for assessments or attending study/computer skills workshops. There are two Reading Weeks at LSHTM: one in November and the other in February.
- Term 1
Students take the following compulsory modules:
- Introduction to Global Mental Health (LSHTM)
- Evidence Synthesis in Global Mental Health (King’s)
- Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health (LSHTM)
- Epidemiology for Mental Health Research (King's)
- Term 2
Students take the following compulsory module:
- Design & Evaluation of Mental Health Programmes (LSHTM)
Students choose three other modules from LSHTM and/or King's. Elective modules include:
- Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (LSHTM)
- Applied Statistical Methods in Psychiatric Epidemiology (King’s)
- Conflict & Health (LSHTM)
- Design & Analysis of Epidemiological Studies (LSHTM)
- Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases (LSHTM)
- Geographies of Trauma: Memory, Emotion & Place (King’s)
- Health Care Evaluation (LSHTM)
- Health Promotion Approaches and Methods (LSHTM)
- Health Systems (LSHTM)
- Medical Anthropology and Public Health (LSHTM)
- Mental Health Economic Evaluation (King’s)
- Qualitative Methodologies (LSHTM)
- Qualitative Research: Theory, Methods & Practice (King’s)
- Research Design & Analysis (LSHTM)
- Social Epidemiology (LSHTM)
- Society and Mental Health (King’s)
- Statistical Methods in Epidemiology (LSHTM)
- Term 3
Students take the following compulsory module:
- Theory to Practice in Global Mental Health (King's)
- Project report
Students prepare a project report of a maximum of 10,000 words during the summer months (July - August), for submission by early September.
Please note: Should it be the case that you are unable to travel overseas or access laboratories in order to complete your project, you will be able to complete an alternative desk-based project allowing you to obtain your qualification within the original time frame. Alternatively, you will be able to defer your project to the following year.
Changes to the programme
LSHTM will seek to deliver this programme in accordance with the description set out on this programme page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for LSHTM to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.
The normal minimum entrance qualification for the MSc Global Mental Health is a first degree at Upper Second Class Honours (2:1) standard from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard; or a registerable qualification in medicine, appropriate to the programme. A background (study, work or volunteer activities) in a mental health-related field is desirable but not essential. Applications with an appropriate technical qualification, or equivalent qualification and experience from overseas, are also welcomed.
Given the cross-cutting nature of mental health, the programme caters to a range of disciplinary backgrounds so a psychiatry or psychology background is not mandatory. However, in the absence of a typical disciplinary background for this MSc, applicants will need to use their personal statement to highlight their relevant experience to strengthen their application.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum entry requirement, but who have relevant professional experience may still be eligible for admission. Qualifications and experience will be assessed from the application.
Intercalating students
You will need the equivalent of a bachelor's degree to undertake an MSc. This will usually require you to have a BSc degree or have completed the first three years of your medical degree. More information on intercalating an MSc at LSHTM.
| Fees 2024/25 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Home | Full-time | £15,840 |
| EU/Overseas | Full-time | £37,368 |
*Mobile users, scroll right to view fees
Funding available for this programme:
- 2024-25 Commonwealth Shared Scholarships (Global Mental Health) (application deadline: 14 December 2023)
Please note: this funding is only to citizens of the following eligible Commonwealth countries: Bangladesh. Belize. Botswana. Cameroon. Dominica. Eswatini. Fiji. Gabon. The Gambia. Ghana. Grenada. Guyana. India. Jamaica. Kenya. Kiribati. Lesotho. Malawi. Malaysia. Maldives. Mauritius. Montserrat. Mozambique. Namibia. Nauru. Nigeria. Pakistan. Papua New Guinea. Rwanda. St. Helena. St. Lucia. St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Samoa. Sierra Leone. Solomon Islands. South Africa. Sri Lanka. Tanzania. Togo. Tonga. Tuvalu. Uganda. Vanuatu and Zambia
Sources of funding:
Applications should be made through the King's College London online application system.
Early applications are encouraged.