MPsych (Hons) Psychology with Clinical Psychology

The MPsych in Clinical Psychology provides an extension to the fundamental knowledge and competencies provided by our BSc programmes by providing the clinical training, experience, and skills that are valuable in the competitive career pathways to professional clinical practice. These provide practical insight to NHS service delivery in clinical practice, and an excellent foundation for practice or further clinical training.

Understanding where your degree subject could take you is an important first step in career planning. Due to the transferrable nature of the skills you gain from your studies, you may discover that there is a much wider range of opportunities open to you within this profession that you may first appreciate. Find out more about where your degree could take you.

• Four year integrated masters programme.
• Receive funding for your masters year with a student loan.
• Build a thorough knowledge of psychology through the first three years of our BSc course, and extend it with an additional year of masters level study. This will provide the specialist training for professional clinical practice, interventions and clinical skills that will prepare you for clinical professions.
• Practical insight into NHS service delivery in clinical practice an optional placement year.
• Hands-on learning in our psychology experiential learning lab. We embedded practical activities throughout the course, so you can put new knowledge into practice and build practical skills for future careers.

• Year 1

• Your first-year modules provide a foundation of knowledge and skills across the breadth of psychology. Immersive modules integrate theory and practical workshops to provide a deeper exploration and of the psychology of learning and relationships. You will learn about the current debates in psychology as well as how our knowledge informs other disciplines.

  Core modules

  • Learning (PSYC411)

    This module explores how we gather information, with an emphasis on the scientific method. The module will introduce students to different perspectives on learning, including how to learn effectively, the biological and cognitive basis of learning, and social learning.

  • Psychological Science (PSYC412)

    This module will provide an introduction into a broad range of fundamental topics in psychology. Across eight independent topics, from across the entire breadth of psychology, students will learn key theories. Students will also learn how those theories have been applied to real-world situations and will be asked to explore these theories in practice in Labplus activities.

  • Debates in Psychology (PSYC413)

    This module covers both current and historical debates in topics drawn from across the breadth of psychology, involving discussion of theoretical issues and application and practice. The module will involve independent study sessions exploring some of the empirical differences seen in the literature and practice, and tutorial sessions will support extended writing development.

  • Relationships (PSYC414)

    This immersive module focuses on the Psychology of Social Relationships across the lifespan. This topic is introduced and analysed from different disciplines in Psychology, including Developmental, Social, Biological, Clinical and Individual Differences perspectives. Lectures introduce methodologies, key findings and concepts for understanding Social Relationships. Lectures will be supported by workshops and tutorials.

  • Topics in Psychology (PSYC415)

    This module will provide an in-depth exploration of four topics from core areas of psychology. Each of the topics will run for four weeks with interspersed group-based linked Labplus activities. These will allow students to get involved in a continued project, within the scope of a particular topic, which might involve data collection and subsequent statistical analysis of that data.

  • Connecting Psychology (PSYC416)

    This module will link psychology to other disciplines by exploring how the study of human and animal behaviour is investigated in collaboration with scientists and practitioners in a variety of other fields. A series of topics will be interspersed with independent study activities that allow students to get involved in a continued project, involving data collection and analysis.

• Year 2

• With a focus on developing the research and practical skills clinical psychologists need to develop their practice. You will get hands-on experience in designing and testing your own experiments to explore a range of topics.

  Core modules

  • Career and Placement Planning (CPIE202)

  • Cognition and Biological Psychology (PSYC513)

    This module covers four core areas of psychology each with 2 sub-topics: Perception & Attention; Learning & Memory; Cognition & Language; Neuroscience & Comparative Psychology. The biology of cognition will be covered within each of the four core areas, integrating them. Each core area will be covered in 12 hours of lectures. The first hour will cover CHIP issues and the last hour integration within/between topics.

  • Individual Differences, Social and Developmental Psychology (PSYC514)

    This module covers three core areas of psychology - individual differences, social cognition, and human development. Each core area will be covered in 16 hours of lectures. The first hour will cover CHIP issues and the last hour will focus on integration within/between topics.

  • Health and Wellbeing (PSYC515)

    The module explores the multiple factors that determine health-related behaviours, introducing professional areas of health, clinical and forensic psychology.

  • Applied Psychology (PSYC516)

    This module explores the contribution of psychology to success in education and work. It considers different approaches to educational assessment, risk communication, and behaviour change.

  • Research Skills in Practice 1 (PSYC519)

    In this module students develop an understanding of the processes involved in undertaking and communicating research of increasing complexity. Students work in supervised groups to develop research questions on the association of factors and test them using empirical methods. Results are communicated via both oral presentation and written report. Methods workshops are also provided.

  • Research Skills in Practice 2 (PSYC520)

    In this module students develop an understanding of the processes involved in undertaking and communicating research of increasing complexity. Students work in supervised groups to develop research questions on group differences and test them using empirical methods. Results are communicated via both oral presentation and written report means. Methods workshops are also provided.

• Optional placement year

• You can take an optional work placement after your second year to acquire real-world experience of clinical practice through our partners in the NHS or other settings.

  Core modules

  • Placement: Psychology (CPIE501)

    During this 36 week placement, students will begin to apply their psychological knowledge in the workplace and develop the range of skills required to work within the specific placement setting. This zero-credit module is also home to timetabled careers talks and information for Stage 3 students who are away on placement.

• Year 3

• With complete freedom of choice from a wide range of current psychology topics, you can explore the areas of psychology that benefit you the most. A supervised research project also gives you the opportunity to work on a clinical research question, or learning how to use or improve a clinical assessment tool.

  Core modules

  • Careers Planning (PSYC600)

    This zero-credit module is home to careers talks.

  • Current Topics in Psychology 1 (PSYC601)

    This course allows students to develop an in depth and critical appreciation of two areas of psychological research (two topics drawn from the current research programmes of the School's staff).

  • Current Topics in Psychology 2 (PSYC602)

    This course allows students to develop an in depth and critical appreciation of two areas of psychological research (two topics drawn from the current research programmes of the School's staff).

  • Current Topics in Psychology 3 (PSYC603)

    This course allows students to develop an in depth and critical appreciation of two areas of psychological research (two topics drawn from the current research programmes of the School's staff).

  • Current Topics in Psychology 4 (PSYC604)

    This course allows students to develop an in depth and critical appreciation of two areas of psychological research (two topics drawn from the current research programmes of the School's staff).

  • Research Project (PSYC605)

    Students, supported by academic supervisors and specialist workshops, are required to conduct a complete piece of research, from establishing a research area, formulating a research question, conducting a literature search, designing and conducting a study that meets appropriate ethical standards, analysing the data and communicating the research verbally and in writing.

• Final year

• In your final year, having completed three years to at least a second-class degree standard, you will progress to master’s level training in clinical psychology. With the supervision and guidance of clinicians and clinical researchers, you will acquire specialist skills and knowledge that will prepare you for your clinical career pathway.

  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.

  • Core Competencies for Clinical Practice in Psychology (PSYC721)

    This module introduces students to core competencies in clinical practice. Practical and experiential learning help students develop these competencies, and reflective activities aid students in the process of taking control of their own professional development — identifying strengths, weaknesses and formulating a plan for treatment.

  • Applied Clinical Research (PSYC723)

    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.

  • Modules of Intervention in Psychology (PSYC762)

    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. 

  • Becoming a Practitioner Psychologist (PSYC766)

    This module provides foundational knowledge in the theory and practice of clinical psychology and other practitioner psychologist roles. The module introduces students to the social, cultural and legal context in which mental health professions operate. 

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

MPsych Hons Psychology with Clinical Psychology Programme Specification 7310

UCAS tariff

120-128

A Level: 120–128 points from a minimum of three A levels from any subjects (excluding General Studies).

BTEC 18 Unit National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma: DDM – any subject.

International Baccalaureate: 30 points overall.
English – Advanced 4+ (A1) or 5 (A2/B); Standard 5+ (A1) or 6 (A2/B). Maths – Standard 4.

Access courses: Pass Access to HE Science/Combined Science/Humanities/Social Sciences course with 60 credits overall, to include 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 credits must be at distinction and 15 credits at merit or higher.

T level
Distinction in any subjects.

GCSE
5 GCSE subjects at a pass are preferred and this does not necessarily need to be Mathematics and English subjects.

Extended entry requirements

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

Other international qualifications considered – please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.