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IoPPN

Key information

Award:
MPhil
PhD
MDRes
Study mode:
Full time
Part time
Campus:
Denmark Hill Campus

The Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences (FANS) in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) is one of the few leading teams in the world bringing together experts in brain development and antisocial behaviour. We offer prospective students supervision from internationally recognised academics with expertise in many areas of forensic and neurodevelopmental research. As one of Europe’s largest research groups focusing on the neuroscientific understanding of the development of prosocial and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan, we believe it is essential to investigate the determinants of normal development to understand abnormal behaviour (or illness).

With staff globally-recognised as innovators of high-quality translational research. we maintain strong links with our clinical and forensic partners ensuring our fundamental research and teaching efforts can be transferred for clinical improvements with ease and speed. The quality of our research is reflected by our academic contributions to the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework. Ranked 2nd in the country for power, the IoPPN achieved a 100% 4* ranking for our research environment, indicating our impact was judged to be ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. We currently hold approximately £20 million in research income from national (e.g. the Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust and National Institute of Health Research), international (e.g. European Commission) and charitable grant giving bodies (Autistica, Forces in Mind and The Simons Foundation).

Research methodologies employed within FANS included neuroimaging (in vivo brain imaging -MRI, fMRI, MRS, and PET), genomics, animal models, epidemiology, psychopathology, psychopharmacology, and measures of cognitive ability and behaviour in healthy individuals and those with psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders.

Key benefits

World leading experts

Our academic team members sit on National and International steering and advisory groups (including UK government task forces on ADHD, autism and offenders). With expertise from basic animal models through to the latest neuroimaging techniques, we are world leaders in brain imaging of infants, and in relating differences in brain structure and function to social and cognitive development. We also study the genetics, epidemiology, psychopathology, neurobiology and psychopharmacology of autistic spectrum disorders and ADHD across the lifespan, conduct disorder and callous unemotional behaviour in children, and offending and antisocial personality disorder in adulthood.

National and International Partnerships

Our work is funded by large scale grants from leading agencies including the Medical Research Council (UK), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), The Wellcome Trust, Autism Speaks, Autistica, The European Commission (the Innovative Medicines Initiative for EU AIMS, together with other funding for EU BRAINVIEW, EU TACTICS, and EU MATRICS), the Simons Foundation (USA) and Industry (GW Pharma).

Translational Research

Our unique collaboration between academics, researchers and clinicians provides you with an outstanding learning environment to become part of the next generation of world leaders in translational research.

Set within the world renowned Maudsley and Bethlem Royal hospitals, we join forces with leading experts in their field to provide high quality forensic and neurodevelopmental services via the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM) – provider of the widest range of mental health services in the UK.

As part of the Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Clinical Academic Group (CAG), we rapidly translate cutting-edge research into clinical practice, improving patient outcomes, training and clinical practice to create world-leading improvements in healthcare. Launched in 2013 under the chairmanship of Professor Declan Murphy, carries out multidisciplinary ‘translational’ studies of normal development, and how abnormalities in that process lead to high cost neurodevelopmental disorders. Our studies link the ‘basic’ sciences (e.g. in cellular mechanisms and circuits studied using stem cell and animal models) to clinical sciences.

Take a look at our recent publications

The Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences (FANS) offers prospective students supervision from internationally recognised academics with expertise in many areas of forensic and neurodevelopmental research.

Current Research Interests

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

  • European Autism Intervention A Multicentre Study (EU-AIMS)
  • Experimental Medicine studies in adult ASD: GABA, Glutamate, Endocannabinoid and Serotonin systems

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Research in the Forensic Environment

  • Fitness to Plead
  • Trauma in prison

Conduct Disorder

  • Brain Associates of Parent Training on Antisocial Behaviour in Children (MRC-ABC)

Infant Brain Development

  • Brain Imaging in Babies Study (BIBS)

UK Tuition Fees 2023/24

Full time tuition fees: £7,500 per year

Part time tuition fees: £3,750 per year

International Tuition Fees 2023/24

Full time tuition fees: £28,260 per year

Part time tuition fees: £14,130 per year

UK Tuition Fees 2024/25

Full time tuition fees: £7,950 per year

Part time tuition fees: £3,975 per year

International Tuition Fees 2024/25

Full time tuition fees: £30,240 per year

Part time tuition fees: £15,120 per year

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.

Base campus

Main building at the Denmark Hill campus
Denmark Hill Campus

Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

Working closely with their supervisors, our Graduate research students enjoy regular meetings to discuss their progress. We also foster student collaboration by encouraging networking with other members of staff within their research group along with participation in departmental research presentations and Institute seminars. At the start of their studies new graduate students are given a full induction and each full-time graduate research student is allocated their own workspace and computer. Facilities for part-time students can be arranged according to their needs. Students and supervisors are invited to participate in the thriving PhD student forum - a bi-monthly gathering for all all students and supervisors to discuss research methods and present on-going projects.

Fostering our PhD Researchers

We encourage our students to publish their research results. In addition to supporting PhD Theses incorporating publications we also champion student poster and oral presentations at national and international conferences including: International Society of Autism Research Meeting, Organisation of Human Brain Mapping, and Society for the Study of Behavioural Phenotypes Conference.

Postgraduate training

Training courses run by the department, the Institute or through the Graduate School can be utilised as required to provide training in a wide variety of topics, from transferable skills to academic areas directly relevant to the student's thesis.

Head of group/division

Professor Declan Murphy

Contact for information

For any additional queries regarding application and project approval procedures please contact

Education Support Team: ioppn.pgr@kcl.ac.uk

Admissions Tutor: Marija Petrinovic - marija-magdalena.petrinovic@kcl.ac.uk

Senior Business Manager: Anai Sarkis - soap-busops@kcl.ac.uk

Contact email

ioppn.pgr@kcl.ac.uk

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UK Tuition Fees 2023/24

Full time tuition fees: £7,500 per year

Part time tuition fees: £3,750 per year

International Tuition Fees 2023/24

Full time tuition fees: £28,260 per year

Part time tuition fees: £14,130 per year

UK Tuition Fees 2024/25

Full time tuition fees: £7,950 per year

Part time tuition fees: £3,975 per year

International Tuition Fees 2024/25

Full time tuition fees: £30,240 per year

Part time tuition fees: £15,120 per year

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.

Base campus

Main building at the Denmark Hill campus
Denmark Hill Campus

Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

Working closely with their supervisors, our Graduate research students enjoy regular meetings to discuss their progress. We also foster student collaboration by encouraging networking with other members of staff within their research group along with participation in departmental research presentations and Institute seminars. At the start of their studies new graduate students are given a full induction and each full-time graduate research student is allocated their own workspace and computer. Facilities for part-time students can be arranged according to their needs. Students and supervisors are invited to participate in the thriving PhD student forum - a bi-monthly gathering for all all students and supervisors to discuss research methods and present on-going projects.

Fostering our PhD Researchers

We encourage our students to publish their research results. In addition to supporting PhD Theses incorporating publications we also champion student poster and oral presentations at national and international conferences including: International Society of Autism Research Meeting, Organisation of Human Brain Mapping, and Society for the Study of Behavioural Phenotypes Conference.

Postgraduate training

Training courses run by the department, the Institute or through the Graduate School can be utilised as required to provide training in a wide variety of topics, from transferable skills to academic areas directly relevant to the student's thesis.

Head of group/division

Professor Declan Murphy

Contact for information

For any additional queries regarding application and project approval procedures please contact

Education Support Team: ioppn.pgr@kcl.ac.uk

Admissions Tutor: Marija Petrinovic - marija-magdalena.petrinovic@kcl.ac.uk

Senior Business Manager: Anai Sarkis - soap-busops@kcl.ac.uk

Contact email

ioppn.pgr@kcl.ac.uk

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Key information

Award:
MPhil
PhD
MDRes
Study mode:
Full time
Part time
Campus:
Denmark Hill Campus

Contact us

For any additional queries regarding application and project approval procedures please contact Education Support Team: ioppn.pgr@kcl.ac.uk Admissions Tutor: Marija Petrinovic - marija-magdalena.petrinovic@kcl.ac.uk Senior Business Manager: Anai Sarkis - soap-busops@kcl.ac.uk