PgDip Clinical Psychology

The programme is designed to provide the clinical training that will place you at a competitive advantage in the career pathways to clinical practice. Providing an advanced level of instruction, this course will deepen your knowledge and skills in the core competencies required in mental health service delivery, and provide insight to service provision in NHS and third-sector organisations. This provides an excellent preparation for careers in assistant psychologist roles, applied clinical work, or can also be invaluable in other applications, such as nursing, education or working with vulnerable or marginalised groups.

• Learn through experience: activities that teach key clinical skills are embedded throughout the course, allowing you to put your new knowledge directly into practice.
  
• Obtain accreditation for clinical skills and competencies, with the option to study part-time alongside clinical practice.
  
• Extensive access to service users provide a competitive advantage for the acquisition of real-world skills and experience.
  
• Gain insights on further training by working alongside trainees and tutors on our clinical doctoral training programme (DClinPsy).
  

• Year 1

• With the supervision and guidance of clinicians you will acquire specialist skills and knowledge that will prepare you for clinical practice, with a focus on training related to the core concepts and techniques of you’ll need to work with patients in a rapidly changing workplace.

  Core modules

  • PSYC791 Foundations of clinical psychology
    This module provides foundational knowledge in the theory and practice of clinical psychology, and the social, cultural and legal context in which mental health professions operate.
  • PSYC792 Understanding clinical interventions
    Learn the fundamental principles and techniques of the cognitive behaviour approach, and the contemporary developments that address individual psychological difficulties within a biopsychosocial framework. Core clinical skills are introduced, including frameworks for listening, building a therapeutic alliance, communication, group-work, techniques for working with families, collaborative working, and monitoring change.
  • PSYC793 Core Competencies for Clinical Practice in Psychology
    With an introduction to the core competencies of clinical practice, the combination of experiential and reflective learning approaches used in this module will help you develop these competencies, and take control of your own professional development - identifying strengths, weaknesses and formulating plans for patient treatment.
  • PSYC774 Supporting behaviour change
    What makes a psychologically based intervention effective? Covering a range of contemporary interventions for clinical psychological and behavioural problems, you will learn to critically analyse the psychological mechanisms that underlie them, and the role that research plays in developing new interventions. 
  • PSYC753 Data fluency
    Become fluent with numerical and textual data and learn the practical skills to visualise and communicate your insights, using best practices for reproducibility and transparency.
  • PSYC755 Advanced Interpretative methods
    Extending basic thematic analyses, this module provides an advanced treatment of interpretive and discursive techniques in psychology, introducing interpretative phenomenological, narrative, discourse and conversation analyses.
  • PSYC772 Issues in behaviour change
    Focusing on topical problem behaviours, this module examines contemporary issues in behaviour change, as well as the theoretical and ethical issues the approach raises.
  • PSYC783 Applied Clinical Research
    Conducting research with service users in clinical settings poses a unique set of challenges. This module supports students to tackle a small-scale clinical research project and to analyse and report results.
  
  

  Core modules

  • Personal and Professional Development (PSYC750)

    This module will enhance students awareness of the transferable skills they possess, focus thinking about future employment, spur reflection on recent learning, and promote the effective use of feedback to enhance academic performance.

  • Advanced Interpretative Methods (PSYC755)

    Advanced treatment of interpretative and discursive techniques in psychology, extending students knowledge beyond basic thematic analyses and introducing interpretative phenomenological analysis, narrative analysis, discourse analysis and conversation analysis.

  • Supporting Behaviour Change (PSYC774)

    What makes a psychologically based intervention effective? This module covers a range of contemporary interventions for clinical psychological and behavioural problems, focusing on a critical analysis of the psychological mechanisms underlying interventions and explores how laboratory research can be translated into new interventions.

  • Foundations of Clinical Psychology (PSYC791)

    This module provides foundational knowledge in the theory and practice of clinical psychology, and the social, cultural and legal context in which mental health professions operate.

  • Understanding Clinical Interventions: Principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Systemic Family Therapy (PSYC792)

    This module introduces students to fundamental principles and techniques of the cognitive behavioural approach, and contemporary developments which address individual psychological difficulties within a biopsychosocial framework. Students will be introduced to the importance of understanding individual difficulties within the systemic context of relationship dynamics, family, communities, and wider society, including the impact of social inequalities on mental health outcomes. Core clinical skills, are introduced, including listening, building a therapeutic alliance, communication, group-work, techniques for working with families, collaborative working, and monitoring change.

Most students will hold an honours degree, usually a 2:1 or higher. There is no requirement that the degree is in psychology, and the programme is open to medical and other professionals who wish to update or augment their knowledge and skills in applied clinical psychology. Applicants that can also demonstrate their ability to thrive on this course through current or previous professional experience will also be taken into consideration. Please note, this programme does not confer graduate basis for recognition by the British Psychological Society, applicants seeking this recognition should apply to our MSc Psychology programme.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English then evidence of English proficiency is required, with a normal minimum IELTS score for acceptable English proficiency of 6.5. For further advice on the appropriateness of overseas qualification and proficiency in the use of English, please contact our International Office.

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

Within your online application please attach a copy of your current CV in the section entitled ‘work experience’, outlining your academic progress and/or work experience.

In addition, within the section ‘personal statement/proposal’ please type or attach a reflective report of no more than 1000 words that includes the following details:

• Your personal experiences and reflections on mental health.
  
• Demonstration of your potential to adhere to the NHS’ values, and to acquire the skills and aptitudes of a professional psychologist.
  
• Your reflections on what you consider to be the opportunities and challenges of undertaking further study in the field of mental health and clinically related psychology.
• Reflections on your own resilience and preparedness for a challenging course.
• Your experiences of working, volunteering or research in fields related to mental health (if this applies; it is not a requirement that you have this experience to access the programme).

Please also note that if your application is approved, your place will be provisional on the results of an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) statement.