Mental Health in Children and Young People: Psychological Approaches (Online Learning) MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Clinical Psychology

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

Online learning

Part-time intermittent study
  • MSc | 4 years | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

School of Health in Social Science

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme website
Accreditation

Not available

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About the degree programme

The MSc Mental Health in Children and Young People: Psychological Approaches (Online Learning) offers a unique perspective. It highlights that developmental processes at multiple levels, from individual to sociocultural, influence children and young people’s mental health and well-being. It also emphasises the need for this dynamic and interactional system to inform approaches to working with mental health and well-being.

By drawing on the knowledge and clinical experience of a world-class department of clinical and health psychology, the programme aims to equip students with the knowledge necessary for understanding children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing from this unique perspective. 

The programme will also draw upon many other theoretical areas, including:

  • early intervention
  • health promotion
  • public health
  • health and social inequalities
  • critical psychology
  • developmental psychopathology and resilience

The programme is part-time, fully online, and designed with professionals in mind. The online delivery format and part-time study options allow for professionals from a range of disciplinary backgrounds to develop knowledge and practice while continuing to meet individual life and work demands.

Distinctive features of the programme include:

  • the integration of clinical and professional practice with current theoretical and empirical developments in the evidence base for, and delivery of, mental health programmes for children and young people
  • flexibility of delivery
  • opportunities for knowledge exchange between a range of graduates and practitioners from multi-professional backgrounds
  • many opportunities for the synthesis of theory, evidence and practice

Study options

There are a number of qualification routes available. You will enrol on the MSc programme pathway and can exit at any of the following qualification points:

  • Postgraduate Certificate
  • Postgraduate Diploma
  • MSc

It takes between 2 to 4 years to complete the programme to MSc level. At least 20 credits of courses must be taken each year.

Proposed new programme

We would like to hear your views on a potential new online postgraduate opportunity in Psychology of Mental Health (Conversion).

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Part-time intermittent study

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

UK Government loan funding

When studied part-time intermittently over 2 to 4 years this programme is "invoiced at course level" (ICL). This means that you only pay fees each time a course is registered on your student record.

There is also a fixed 2-year, part-time study option which means you will pay fees per academic year, not per course.

When studied over 2 to 4 years, this programme is not eligible for UK government loan funding. However, the fixed 2-year, part-time study option should be eligible for most UK government loans.

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent in psychology, social science, or a related subject. We may also consider your application if you have a UK 2:2 honours degree, or its international equivalent, if you also have a postgraduate qualification.

You must have experience of working or volunteering with children and/or young people.

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

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • 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.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We 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

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

The core elements of the programme include both conceptual and applied courses. 

At the conceptual level, the programme will review different theories of children and young people’s mental health involved in the complex structure of typical and atypical development. 

At the applied level it will include the application of psychological knowledge to difficulties experienced by children and young people and the critical appraisal of psychological knowledge and practice.

Courses offered as part of the programme include:

  • Social Inequality and Child and Adolescent Mental Health
  • Research Methods in Applied Psychology (OL)
  • Applied Developmental Psychopathology (OL)
  • Child Migration and Mental Health
  • Typical and Atypical Child Development
  • Trauma and Resilience in a Developmental Context

The dissertation project takes the form of a systematic review or meta-analysis, or empirical research, relating to an aspect of psychological theory or a psychological model, with relevance to clinical practice in the field of child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing.

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Part-time intermittent study

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Teaching and assessment

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

How online learning works

All of the teaching on the MSc is delivered entirely online, allowing for flexible and responsive approaches to learning, assessment and support of our students and to reach a wide range of graduates and professionals from all over the world.

This programme has been developed with an approach to online learning that allows students from around the world to apply.

The online teaching methods include:

  • video lectures
  • online tutorials
  • wikis
  • discussion boards
  • online conferences
  • films and videos
  • independent study and research

The University's full range of online learning resources will be available to students; for example:

  • Blackboard Collaborate web conferencing software
  • e-books and online academic journals
  • Searcher (a unified platform to access all bibliographic databases available at the University)

This degree programme is taught entirely online. There is no need to come to the city or University campus. 

All learning and teaching takes place within our virtual learning environment (VLE). Through the VLE, you can: 

  • access all your learning materials and study resources, including e-books and library resources
  • interact with your tutors and classmates 

An online degree from the University of Edinburgh is academically equivalent to an on-campus postgraduate degree and involves the same level of work overall. The qualification you get is of equal value. Your degree certificate will not mention that you studied the programme online.

Watch our video to see how online learning works.

Time commitment

The programme is designed to be completed part-time. The minimum period the programme can be completed is two years, with a maximum completion time of four years. At least 20 credits of courses must be taken each year.

The approximate time commitment per 20 credit course is 10 to 15 study hours per week. Each course involves 8 to 12 sessions. 

The amount of study time you need will depend on how many modules you take at one time.

Equipment and software needs

To study this online programme, you will need access to:   

  • a computer or laptop  
  • the internet  
  • the latest version of a web browser  

As an online student, you will have access to a range of software you can download to help you complete your coursework, including Microsoft Office 365. 

IT support is available if you have technical difficulties.  

IT and computing help

Opportunities to attend in person

As well as our online courses, students are welcome to enrol on a course of the campus-based MSc Mental Health in Children and Young People: Psychological Approaches (up to 20 credits), if it is possible for them to attend the University for teaching, thus increasing flexibility and choice.

However, enrolment on this programme does not make you eligible to apply for a Student/Tier 4 visa.

Support for online students

Career opportunities

The programme has been designed to enhance the career development of a range of professions involved in the provision of psychological health and care by improving awareness and application of psychological theory to clinical practice and by broadening the theoretical base from which professions practice.

Previous students have continued to work in, or entered, a range of professions including:

  • clinical practice
  • nursing
  • social work and social care
  • teaching
  • voluntary sector organisations

Recent graduates interested in working in the area of child and adolescent mental health would also benefit from this programme. The degree demonstrates a high level of commitment to working with children and young people.

Graduates of the programme can expect to develop key skills and abilities which are transferable to a number of professional domains, including:

  • knowledge and understanding of the developmental and well-being literature
  • research and enquiry skills
  • personal and intellectual autonomy skills
  • technical and practical skills
  • communication skills

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

If you are hoping to apply for UK government loan funding, you should apply to the 2-year fixed part-time study option, as this is eligible for most UK government loans.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
14 September 2026 30 July 2026

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have enough time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts.

If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete. 

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You do not need to provide a reference when you submit your application for this programme.

There may be certain circumstances when a reference will be required, for example if we need to verify work experience. If that is the case, we will contact you after we have reviewed your application to request a reference.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

General enquiries

For entry requirements or application questions, contact the Admissions Office.

Contact us
Phone:+44 (0)131 650 4086

For general programme queries, contact the Programme Administrator.

Contact the Programme Administrator
Phone:+44 (0)131 651 3969

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