king's college london phd french

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Entry requirements

A 2:1 first degree, usually in French (or in a combined honours degree including French) and a taught master's degree with an overall grade of at least Merit.

Months of entry

January, April, September

Course content

Our department offers research strengths in all periods of French literature, modern French history and politics, Francophone literature and French thought. There are several active research seminars and reading groups in which staff and research students participate. We provide formal, subject-specific training and individual guidance on research methods, writing research proposals, applying for funding and presenting research papers.

Current students are working on topics across the whole range of French literary studies, and many of our recent PhD graduates have gone on successfully to academic posts or postdoctoral fellowships.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

Program Overview

The Department of Foreign Languages offers courses designed to help the student develop skills in speaking, writing, reading, and understanding a foreign language. In doing so, this may enhance the student’s employment opportunities in a variety of ways, in addition to contributing to the student’s broad humanistic education.

The main objectives of the French major are to increase the student’s communication skills in French and enhance their understanding and appreciation for the French culture. This instruction and preparation provides the necessary background needed for careers in foreign language teaching, bilingual education, teaching English as a second language, and areas of graduate study. Pursuing a French major, in conjunction with another specialization, can not only aid the student when traveling, but also open up career opportunities fields such as government, international business/commerce, accounting, law, and communications.

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• Foreign service
• Travel and tourism
• International business and commerce
• Print and electronic media
• Human resources, etc.
• U.S. Secret Service analyst
• International accountant
• International business executive
• French Embassy public relations officer
• Travel agent
• Middlebury College
• State University of New York, Binghamton
• American University Law School
• Ohio Northern Law School
• College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium
• George Washington University School of International Affairs
• Rutgers University
• New York University
• Penn State University

Program Details

A student may begin studying French at the beginner’s level if necessary, but FREN  is the first course that counts for the major. If taken, lower level courses then count as electives. Students are assisted through the placement process by a faculty member from the Department. French majors will plan their program in consultation with their major advisor in the Department of Foreign Languages. All decisions will be subject to the Chairperson’s approval. A French minor is also available.

Alpha Mu Gamma is a national collegiate foreign language honor society, sponsored by the Department, to recognize superior achievements of the student.

Study Abroad Option

Although it is not a requirement, French majors are encouraged to study abroad in a French-speaking country for a summer, semester, or academic year in order to more fully immerse themselves in the language and culture. Interested students may choose from numerous accredited programs sponsored by both American and foreign countries, with approval from King’s College officials. Students should consult the Office of Study Abroad and their major-advisor in the Department of Foreign Languages for assistance.

Degree Offered: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Compatible Second Major or Minor

A French major can be combined with any other major. Many of the combinations are possible within the 120 credit graduation requirement. Others may require additional credits which can be acquired through summer study or a course overload during the regular semester. The following are examples of second majors which can be completed by French majors. Minors, which require fewer courses, are also available in many of these areas:

• Business Administration
• Computers and Information Systems
• Elementary Education
• Environmental and Ecological Sciences
• Health Care Administration
• Human Resources
• International Business
• Mass Communications
• Political Science

Special Features

• Second major option
• Small classes conducted entirely in French

Additional Info

Student resources.

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• How French is Viewed Globally

Student Organizations

• Foreign Languages Club
• Alpha Mu Gamma
• Academic Planners
• Course Descriptions
• Degree Requirements

We welcome all potential students and their families to visit our beautiful campus and get a taste of the King’s College experience. Feel free to schedule a personal visit or register for one of our upcoming admission events.

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Still looking for the perfect fit to your interests and goals? Here are some similar programs to explore:

English – Professional Writing

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Home > Academics > International and National Dual Degrees > Dual degree with King's College London

Dual degree with King's College London

Two-Year Dual-Degree

Programme in French and English

France & United Kingdom

King's College London and Sciences Po have expanded their historic partnership by initiating a joint Graduate Programme in International Affairs. This programme allows participating students to obtain in two years of studies with a year each in Paris and London, both a Master's degree offered by the Paris School of International Affairs of Sciences Po (PSIA) and a Master's degree offered by one of a number of schools and departments within the Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy at King's College London.

Spanning a wide range of disciplines and bilingual teaching (in French and English), this selective programme will allow students to customise their training at both universities, and also to benefit from the numerous opportunities, networks and services offered on both sides of the Channel.

Programme of studies

With this collaboration, King's and Sciences Po are inaugurating a new and flexible dual degree which bridges seven programmes on the Sciences Po side with over 30 degree programmes on the King's side. As a result, students can design their own path of study from the many potential degree combinations in international affairs in both Paris and London.

This dual degree program is aimed at graduate students planning careers in diplomacy and other areas of social and public policy at the national, European and global level. 

Year 1 at Sciences Po

During the first year of the Dual Degree, students may join any one of the  seven Master's programs  offered by the Paris School of International Affairs.

Students will take 60 credits at Sciences Po. 

For more information on the Dual Degree structure at PSIA please  visit the website .

Year 2 at King's College London

The second year runs from October until September of the following year. 

Students will enrol in degree programs offered at King's College London within the following schools and departments (to be confirmed by King's) :

Russia 

• MSc Russian and Eurasian Politics & Economics

Department of Political Economy

• MA Politics and Economics of the Middle East 
• MA Political Economy
• MA Public Policy

Department of European & International Studies

• MA European Studies
• MA International Political Economy

Department of War Studies

• MA Conflict Resolution in Divided Societies
• MA Conflict, Security & Development
• MA Intelligence & International Security
• MA International Conflict Studies
• MA International Peace & Security
• MA International Relations
• MA Terrorism, Security & Society
• MA Strategic Communications
• MA National Security
• MA War Studies
• MSc China and Globalisation 
• MSc Emerging Economies and International Development  
• MSc Leadership and Development    
• MSc Political Economy of Emerging Markets  
• MSc Global Leadership and Peacebuilding
• MSc Global Affairs
• MA Development Studies

Application process

Candidates to the dual degree apply through Sciences Po’s website .

An estimated maximum of 25 students is expected to be admitted and enrolled per academic year. Prospective students must meet admission criteria for the chosen Master's programmes at both schools. 

Eligibility

The dual degree is open to all candidates worldwide.

Applicants do not have to be already enrolled at Sciences Po or King's to apply for the dual degree. 

Tuition fees

Students must pay the tuition fees applicable in their host institution (Sciences Po for Year 1 and King's for Year 2).

For further information, please visit the following links:

• Sciences Po for Year 1
• King's College for Year 2

At Sciences Po

Questions regarding admission procedures (application, requirements, etc.): Admissions contact form

Catarina Laranjeira , Assistant Dean for Admissions, Paris School of International Affairs -  Email

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Study at King’s College London

A prestigious university right at the heart of London

Founded in 1829, King’s College London is one of the most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom, and part of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of research-intensive universities, along with Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, and LSE.

King’s was ranked 42nd worldwide for reputation in the Times World Reputation Rankings 2018, and 7th in the UK by the QS University Ranking 2019, and 4th in the UK for employability after graduation according to the Times Graduate Employability Rankings 2018. It has many illustrious alumni, including Desmond Tutu, Virginia Woolf, the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, as well as twelve Nobel Laureates, including  Frederick Hopkins (the discoverer of vitamins), and numerous politicians.

King’s has five campuses: its historic campus on the Strand, which is situated on the banks of the river Thames, is located close to the iconic Trafalgar Square, many respected think tanks such as the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Adam Smith Institute and the Royal United Services Institute, and is a short walk from the Houses of Parliament.

Student Life

King’s College London’s prime location in the heart of London makes it a fantastic (albeit rather expensive) place to be. Although there are five campuses , each maintains an inviting environment. Indeed, King’s is reputed to be a friendly university with a thriving student union, the KCLSU, and student ambassadors to help students if they have questions or concerns. There are also 2 student bars that host regular social events.

Within the University, there are frequent public lectures, including the King’s Think Tank , Europe’s largest student policy institute. There is a large selection of clubs and societies to join: from 3 gyms and over 60 competitive sports clubs, to student media (including photography, film, journalism), to volunteering opportunities.

If that’s not enough, King’s hosts many events to help students make the most of their time in London through initiatives such as the ‘Unlocking London’ programme, which organises group tours and visits to cultural venues and historic sites.

Academic matters

King’s College London has a wide variety of course options from sciences to management to nursing, to the flagship War Studies programme.

Students at King’s also have the opportunity to spend a semester or a year abroad at institutions across the world, whether in continental Europe, the United States, or Asia. This exciting opportunity is open to students of many subjects (click here for the list of programmes by department). Students who spend time abroad (except for those studying Modern Languages) must pass at least 60 credits for a semester or 120 credits for a year abroad.

To view the 2022 undergraduate prospectus, please click here.

How do I apply?

As with all British universities, applications are submitted online through the platform UCAS.

Undergraduate candidates apply via the British online platform UCAS , and upload a letter of motivation ( Personal Statement ), predicted grades for the Baccalaureate in each subject, and a letter of recommendation from one of their teachers. For help and advice on how to complete a successful UCAS application please see here .

Note that students send only 1 Personal Statement for all the universities they apply to (maximum of 5 choices).

The Personal Statement, maximum 4,000 characters, should explain why students want to study a chosen course, what aspects particularly interest them, what steps they have already taken to engage with the subject (reading, conferences, internships etc), and, if possible, what aspects they are looking forward to studying.

Different courses may request different grades. For those studying the International Baccalaureate (IB), the general required score is 34-35/45.

For French students : King’s webpage has a chart demonstrating the equivalent of A-Levels, which can be used to determine the grades needed on the French Baccalaureate (or other international equivalent) in order to meet the eligibility requirements. An A* is 16, A is 14, B is 13

For general advice and information on the application process for international students, please click here .

International students from non-English speaking backgrounds or countries will be required to provide proof of knowledge of the English language through a certificate of a recognised standardised English proficiency test. The score is dependent on the course but generally ranges between 6.0 and 7.0 on the IELTS.

King’s College London also runs pre-sessional English-language programmes lasting between 6 and 15 weeks to help candidates improve their proficiency in English.

Can I visit King’s College London ?

There are several specialised open days, depending on the campus and area of study. King’s have been running a series of online events to allow everyone to visit from your computer. To watch the series click here .

Students from the European Union will no longer be eligible for home fee status and student loans in England from the 2021-22 academic year, the government has confirmed.

European students are seen as international students and their fees depends on the type of studies they want to join: undergraduate or postgraduate .

Some countries offer scholarships to their students who want to study in the UK. Check our  your region  pages to find out more information.

For more informations see this page .

Are you ready to study at King’s College London?

We’re here to help you

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• ENLIGHTEN THE FUTURE

A strategic partnership with King’s College London

Institution , International

King’s College London and Université Paris Cité signed an agreement of strategic partnership in the presence of French Embassy officials at Somerset House.

Professor ‘Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President & Vice-Principal International at King’s, and Professor Christine Clerici, President of Université Paris Cité signing the agreement of strategic partnership

This follows a Letter of Intent signed in  October 2018 to combine the strengths of both institutions and work together in addressing global issues through establishing joint academic opportunities, facilitating staff and student exchange opportunities. They also pledged to  build upon joint academic research projects across health, law, social sciences and the humanities, and those which contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Professor ‘Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President & Vice-Principal International at King’s, said: “I am delighted that King’s continues to strengthen our relationship with our colleagues at Université Paris Cité. This agreement will enable our two universities to build a new epicentre of research and policy engagement that will be in service to people of both cities.”

Professor Christine Clerici, President of Université Paris Cité, added: “With the official launch we’re implementing actions to work towards the challenges of today and tomorrow.” 

One of the first joint research projects between the two universities has been developed by the King’s Policy Institute,  in partnership with Ipsos MORI in London and Ipsos in Paris.  It will involve a parallel survey of around 1,000 residents in each city, launched at major events in London and Paris in November 2019. The survey will focus on people’s perceptions of their respective cities, the current issues they face as well as actions being taken to tackle those challenges. The results will enable King’s to learn more about London as well as Paris and will help inform future joint research.

Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of The Policy Institute at King’s, speaking at the signing of the collaboration agreement

This is our chance to find out what Londoners and Parisians think of their cities, and compare their priorities now and for the future. The study will look as much for similarity as difference between these two global cities and will help each learn about themselves from the comparison. The findings will also help inform the focus of innovative future research programmes between King’s and Université Paris Cité, as well as provide important context for the Mayoral elections that are being held in both cities in 2020. – Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of The Policy Institute at King’s

Professor Duffy added that the research would identity areas of shared challenges that need to be addressed and help foster a common sense of purpose between the two global cities post-Brexit. 

Other joint projects include cardiovascular imaging and liver transplantation in children. Additionally, there will be a continued focus on air pollution, for which Professor Frank Kelly, Chair of Environmental Health at King’s, was awarded funding to run a workshop with the Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA) in France. 

Find Student theses

Filters for student theses.

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Essays on panel data prediction models.

Supervisor: Fosten, J. (Supervisor) & Weale, M. (Supervisor)

Student thesis : Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy

Picture this: an investigation of the neural and behavioural correlates of mental imagery in childhood and adulthood with implications for children with ADHD

Supervisor: Farran, E. (External person) (Supervisor) & Smith, M. (External person) (Supervisor)

Aggression and Unity: Impacts of the First World War on German Protestant Missions in Hong Kong

Supervisor: Stockwell, S. (Supervisor)

Can Civil Disobedience be Justified through a Kantian Theory?

Supervisor: Callanan, J. J. (Supervisor) & Mameli, G. (Supervisor)

Re-engineering the Global Antitrust Network

Supervisor: Biondi, A. (Supervisor) & Nazzini, R. (Supervisor)

Student thesis : Master's Thesis › Master of Philosophy

Roman Military Finds from Non-Military Contexts in South-East England and the Role of the Roman Army in Romano-British Society

Supervisor: Pearce, J. (Supervisor)

Effectiveness of Iron Therapy During Pregnancy and Early Childhood on Infant Developmental Outcomes

Supervisor: Moore, S. E. (Supervisor) & Edmond, K. M. (Supervisor)

In vitro studies combining [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE with metronomic chemotherapy to improve neuroendocrine tumour therapy

Supervisor: Terry, S. Y. A. (Supervisor) & Livieratos, L. (Supervisor)

Pan-tropical modelling of the effects of tree cover growth on water quantity and regulation services

Supervisor: Catford, J. A. (Supervisor) & Mulligan, M. (Supervisor)

Examining the role of structural dynamics in the assembly and function of the multidrug efflux pump AcrAB-TolC

Supervisor: Reading, E. (Supervisor) & Booth, P. J. (Supervisor)

Object Constraint Language Based Test Case Optimisation

Supervisor: Lano, K. C. (Supervisor) & Chockler, H. (Supervisor)

Shifting Tides of Power: The Evolution of China's Naval Strategy in the South China Sea from Defensive Offence to Defensive Defence, 1974–2018

Supervisor: Patalano, A. (Supervisor) & Brown, K. (Supervisor)

Creating outside the lines? Idea work targeting innovation outside formalized corporate structures: experimentation, networking and feedback

Supervisor: Gutierrez Huerter O, G. (Supervisor) & Miozzo, M. M. (Supervisor)

THE CONCEPT OF עיר AND המקדש עיר IN THE TEMPLE SCROLL: A SPATIAL EXAMINATION OF COLUMNS 45-47

Supervisor: Joyce, P. M. (Supervisor) & Taylor, J. E. (Supervisor)

Modelling the Mechanisms of Ice Crystal Growth at the Molecular Scale

Supervisor: Molteni, C. (Supervisor) & academic, A. (Supervisor)

Pluripotent Stem Cells and Dynamic Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering

Supervisor: Grigoriadis, A. E. (Supervisor), Liu, K. J. (Supervisor) & Mendes Pereira da Silva, M. R. (Supervisor)

Identifying Candidate Biomarkers of Clinical Response to Ustekinumab in Psoriasis

Supervisor: Barker, J. N. W. N. (Supervisor) & Di Meglio, P. (Supervisor)

The Nationalisation of the People. Nationalist Articulations in Western European Right-Wing Populist Parties: A Comparative Analysis

Supervisor: Calvo Mendizabal, N. (Supervisor) & Foster, R. D. (Supervisor)

Immune responses to lipids in the skin

Supervisor: Barral Catoira, P. (Supervisor) & Hawrylowicz, C. M. (Supervisor)

Divergent roles of type I and III Interferons in Shigella and Salmonella Infection

Supervisor: Odendall, C. M. (Supervisor) & academic, A. (Supervisor)

The Russian Way of Regular Land Warfare: A Comparative Case Study of Four Major Russian Operations after the Cold War

Supervisor: German, T. C. (Supervisor)

The impact of exercise on cardiac repair by eliciting macrophages

Supervisor: Ellison, G. M. (Supervisor) & Dazzi, F. M. (Supervisor)

Enhancing Structural Refinement of Macromolecules obtained from Neutron Crystallography

Supervisor: Steiner, R. (Supervisor) & Murshudov, G. N. (External person) (Supervisor)

A lifespan perspective on brain-behavioural heterogeneity following very preterm birth

Supervisor: Batalle Bolano, D. D. (Supervisor) & Nosarti, C. (Supervisor)

Aggression in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder: the effect of mutations in Nrxn1α and Nlgn3 genes

Supervisor: Blackwood, N. J. (Supervisor), McAlonan, G. M. (Supervisor) & Petrinovic, M. (Supervisor)

Modelling the effects of cortisol and inflammation on neuronal progenitors and microglia in vitro: relevance for depression

Supervisor: Pariante, C. (Supervisor) & Srivastava, D. (Supervisor)

Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Novel Clinical Pathway for People with Co-occurring Eating Disorders and Autism

Supervisor: Tchanturia, K. (Supervisor) & Byford, S. (Supervisor)

Design and synthesis of novel pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBDs) for use as payloads for antibody-drug conjugates

Supervisor: Rahman, K. M. (Supervisor) & Al-Jamal, K. (Supervisor)

Development of glycosyltransferase inhibitors for the glycoengineering of therapeutic antibodies

Supervisor: Karagiannis, S. (Supervisor) & Wagner, G. K. (Supervisor)

Network Optimisation for Robotic Aerial Base Stations

Supervisor: Friderikos, V. (Supervisor) & Deng, Y. (Supervisor)

Anticholinergics, Antipsychotics and Associated Risks in Dementia Seeking to improve the Safety of Prescribing

Supervisor: Stewart, R. J. (Supervisor) & Taylor, D. M. (Supervisor)

Political Economy of Rural Self-governance: the Case of the Village Communities in the Russian Empire after the Emancipation

Supervisor: Leon Ablan, G. J. (Supervisor) & Pennington, M. (Supervisor)

Between the Classical and the Biopolitical: the Authority of Antiquity in the Articulation of a Modern Paradigm

Supervisor: Orrells, D. J. (Supervisor) & academic, A. (Supervisor)

Detection of Swallowing Events to Quantify Fluid Intake in Older Adults Based on Wearable Sensors

Supervisor: Kamavuako, E. (Supervisor) & Harris, R. (Supervisor)

Synthesis of Model Transformations from Metamodels and Examples

Supervisor: Lano, K. (Supervisor) & Zschaler, S. (Supervisor)

Psychosis and Apathy in Parkinson’s disease

Supervisor: Ray Chaudhuri, K. (Supervisor) & Tan, E. K. (External person) (Supervisor)

Contributing to smoke-free: How can the provision and uptake of smoking cessation support be improved, including for those with mental health conditions?

Supervisor: Brose, L. S. (Supervisor) & McNeill, A. D. (Supervisor)

Assessment of Healthy Tissue Metabolism to Predict Outcomes in Oncologic [18F]FDG PET/CT

Supervisor: Fischer, M. (Supervisor) & Barrington, S. (Supervisor)

Characterisation and modulation of mutant ARPP21 aggregation in ALS

Supervisor: Lieberam, I. (Supervisor), Cocks, G. (Supervisor) & Shaw, C. (Supervisor)

How do resilient communities protect people with severe mental illnesses from death?

Supervisor: Das-Munshi, J. (Supervisor), Wykes, T. H. (Supervisor) & Morgan, C. (Supervisor)

Ontology, Ethics and Economics: Comparing Critical Ethical Naturalism and Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach

Supervisor: Pratten, S. (Supervisor) & Slade-Caffarel, Y. (Supervisor)

Examining school absence as a predictor of mental health problems and self-harm in adolescents: A series of longitudinal studies using linked mental health and education data

Supervisor: Dutta, R. (Supervisor), Morgan, C. (Supervisor), Downs, J. (Supervisor) & Ford, T. (External person) (Supervisor)

Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Risk Stratification for Implanted Defibrillators in Ischaemic Cardiomyopathy Patients

Supervisor: Bishop, M. (Supervisor) & Lamata de la Orden, P. (Supervisor)

Mental Wellbeing in Prostate Cancer Treatment and Survivorship: Outcome Definition, Prognostic Factors, and Prognostic Model Development

Supervisor: Ahmed, K. (Supervisor), Dasgupta, P. (Supervisor) & Stewart, R. J. (Supervisor)

THE ROLE OF SKELETAL MUSCLE RYANODINE RECEPTOR TYPE 1 (RYR1) IN UTERINE VASCULAR AND MYOMETRIAL SMOOTH MUSCLE FUNCTION DURING PREGNANCY

Supervisor: Tribe, R. (Supervisor) & Jungbluth, H. (Supervisor)

German defence procurement policy formulation between 2010 and 2020: Studying military innovation’s emergence & effectiveness

Supervisor: Dorman, A. M. (Supervisor) & Nemeth, B. (Supervisor)

Multiomics integration for biomarker discovery in a preclinical model of colorectal cancer

Supervisor: academic, A. (Supervisor) & Pereira das Neves, J. F. (Supervisor)

Targeting the architecture of pathological extracellular matrix in keloid scars

Supervisor: Shaw, T. (Supervisor) & Logan, M. (Supervisor)

Development of Novel Radiohalogen Based Multifunctional Bioconjugation Reagents for Cancer Imaging

Supervisor: Yan, R. (Supervisor) & Maher, J. (Supervisor)

Transcultural Tales, Political Agendas? The Contribution of Karoline von Woltmann, Carmen Sylva, and Laura Gonzenbach to the German-Language Fairy Tale Tradition of the Nineteenth Century

Supervisor: Schofield, B. (Supervisor) & Smale, C. (Supervisor)

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A Morning at The Bethlem with PhD Students: Art, History and Coffee

Phoebe wallman.

PhD Student, Psychosis Studies

17 May 2024

This spring, PhD students, researchers and clinicians from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience visited the oldest psychiatric institution in the world, The Royal Bethlem Hospital, thanks to the generous support of the PGR Student Wellbeing Communities Fund.

The Royal Bethlem Hospital started as a Priory of St Mary of Bethlehem (pronounced both “Bethlem” and “Bedlam” by Londoners) in 1247 with the intention of giving refuge to the poor. Over time, the monks accepted more people who were unable to care for themselves, the majority of whom were people in mental distress. In 1547, King Henry VIII designated it a royal hospital (his picture still hangs in the boardroom today) and in 1676, it was moved to Moorfields (now the site of Liverpool Street Station) and became the first purpose-built hospital for mentally unwell people.

Although during the 17th Century the building had an opulent façade, inside, the treatment was far from luxurious. At the time, it was considered religious duty to be compassionate and care for the mentally unwell, and the hospital relied on charitable donations. There were also paid tours for the public to observe patients which ran up until 1770. As the building began to crumble and patient numbers increased, the hospital moved to Southwark (now home to the Imperial War Museum) in 1815.

As David, the Museum of the Mind’s archivist, told our group, we were able to see Bethlem at its worst through artefacts from its turbulent past in the permanent exhibition but also at its best, as we toured 200 acres of green space that the hospital is now spread across in Beckenham.

Jill, a museum volunteer, gave us a tour of the hospital's modern history since its relocation in 1930, pointing out everything from the William Morris stained glassed chapel, which was preserved during WW2 when Bromley was part of the “bomb” alley, to the Mother and Baby Unit, one of just a few in the country, as featured by Louis Theroux’s documentary, Mothers on the Edge .

As well as honouring artists such as Louis Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch portrayed him in the 2021 film, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain ) and Richard Dadd, who spent time at the hospital, the Bethlem Gallery displays and sells service-user artwork. The Museum of the Mind, whilst not shying away from the past, focuses on exploring experiences, confronting stigma, and hearing first-hand from people with mental health conditions and experiences today.

The Bethlem today also has strong a focus on occupational health. We met Ben, who runs GUTS café which is staffed by residents of the Anxiety Disorders Residential Unit. Here residents can practise Exposure and Response Prevention, an important treatment for anxiety, and develop vocational skills such as barista training and baking. The homemade sourdough toasties, spiced lentil soup, banana bread and Brazilian speciality coffee were amazing! What’s more, the café serves whole food that promotes good gut health and explores the relationship between the gut and the mind. Fittingly, it is in the former garage of Dr George Porter Phillips, a physician working at The Bethlem in the early 20th century, who noticed those who had struggled with mental health often struggled with digestive issues.

The fresh food doesn’t stop there, The Walled Garden is open to the public at lunchtimes and enables patients and staff to connect with nature, grow vegetables and engage with wildlife. l left with two delicious jams from the gift shop!

The Bethlem may be further out of central London than some of its previous sites, but its current more peaceful location is arguably more connected through community as the grounds are open to the public with downloadable nature trails and even a parkrun every Saturday! I highly recommend you consider it if you are looking for an interesting day out.

With special thanks to The PGR Wellbeing Communities Fund and Ali and Michelle at the Museum of the Mind for making this memorable event happen.

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