Early Child Development and Clinical Applications, MSc

About this programme

This programme provides a comprehensive understanding of early child (i.e. prenatal to 5 years) and later development through a range of theoretical and clinical perspectives. While the MSc has a predominantly psychoanalytic approach, it integrates current research from developmental psychology and neuroscience.

Students can apply this understanding in:

• a supervised clinical placement usually within the NHS, Anna Freud, or external charities/organisations,

• a two-year observation of a baby in their home, and,

• a substantial research project.

This two-year full-time MSc programme (formerly known as MSc in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology) has undergone changes to bring it up to date with current research and clinical practice.

NHSE funding

NHSE Funding available to improve equity of access and inclusion for Black, Asian and minority ethnic entrants and financially disadvantaged candidates. For more information contact: earlydev@annafreud.org. 

Virtual information events

We will be hosting a virtual information event for this programme on Monday 2 December 2024, as well as an in-person open evening at Anna Freud on Thursday 28 November 2024.

More details can be found on our upcoming events page.

Career prospects

The MSc forms an excellent basis for careers in clinical work, research and academia. Graduates can apply their degree in a variety of settings.

Detailed knowledge of early child development and its impact on later stages of life, as well as supervised clinical practice, benefit graduates who wish to go on to work with children and families in therapeutic, clinical and educational settings. Learned skills in observation and self-reflection are essential for future careers in adult or child psychotherapy.

Graduates can be admitted onto professional doctorates, such as in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology or Educational Psychology. The programme is a recognised pre-clinical course which provides the theoretical and observational requirements to apply for the clinical training in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy at a training school of the Association of Child Psychotherapists. Mixed-methods research skills gained on the programme equip graduates for work as Research Officers or Assistants, or for further PhD studies.

Further information

For more information about this programme, please visit the UCL Website.

Contact

For all enquiries related to this programme, please contact the Programme Officer.