phd in clinical psychology in uk

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (ClinPsyD) at The University of Manchester

Attend an open day

ClinPsyD Doctorate in Clinical Psychology / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

View full page

A degree (minimum Upper Second (2:1)) in single honours Psychology, or joint honours where psychology constitutes at least fifty per cent of the course, is required.

The degree must have already been awarded at the time of application; candidates who are currently undergraduates will not be short-listed for interview.

For candidates with degrees that do not constitute at least 50% psychology, a BPS accredited Psychology conversion course must be obtained (original award grade will remain the same therefore the minimum of a 2.1 award remains applicable).

Candidates must establish their eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society before making an application.

A minimum of 12 months of paid FTE clinically relevant experience such as work in a healthcare setting or a background in clinical research involving direct contact with patients delivering assessments and/or treatments and/or service development work at the time of submitting an application is considered essential.

Formal consent to participate as service users in practical and clinical teaching will be required as a condition of entry to the programme.

Full entry requirements

Overseas applicants who do not meet the criteria for home fee status should also apply through the clearing house system.

Programme options

Programme overview.

Learn from some of Europe's leading researchers while undertaking your own project.
Access some of the best research facilities in the world at both the University and in hospitals around Greater Manchester.
Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme.
Conduct research at a university ranked 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2023).

To be announced.

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE Currently, trainees are fully funded by NHS England and are full-time employees of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. They have annual leave and other benefits in line with usual NHS entitlements and are subject to the normal policies and procedures of the employing Trust. On entry to the programme all trainees commence on the first spine point of Band 6 of the Agenda for Change pay scales.

Additional expenses

Contact details, programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

Recommended pages

Undergraduate open days
Postgraduate open days
Accommodation
Information for teachers
Maps and directions
Sport and fitness

Join our Postgraduate Open Day - Saturday 22 June

Clinical Psychology Doctorate (ClinPsyD)

Visit an Open Day
Request a prospectus
Course details
Entry Requirements
Teaching and assessment
Employability

Our Clinical Psychology Doctorate (ClinPsyD) leads to a professional qualification in Clinical Psychology and eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. It is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and confers Chartered status with the BPS.

This programme comprises a combination of academic teaching, research and research training, and professional training during clinical placements.

The programme will enable you to deliver psychology-based treatments by drawing upon a range of models, tailoring interventions to client needs within a range of service contexts.

Our staff have expertise across a range of specialisms, skills and models. Like all similar courses, we give special consideration to cognitive-behavioural approaches but we also equip trainees with knowledge and skills in systemic practice and in psychodynamic and behavioural approaches. In year two, you will be able to choose which of these approaches you wish to specialise in. We will also prepare you for the wider organisational demands of the NHS by providing opportunities for you to understand, appraise and develop your own leadership behaviours.

In the Centre for Applied Psychology, we are committed to involving experts by experience in all the different aspects relevant to our teaching and research. The Experts by Experience Steering Committee (EBESC) is a group that meets regularly to discuss, organise and support the work of experts by experience linked to the Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programme. We comprise members from various backgrounds, including local experts by experience who contribute to the course and staff from the Centre for Applied Psychology.

We contribute to our different courses in various ways:

Contributing to teaching, including training workshops
Reviewing, supporting, designing and contributing to research projects
Contributing to the course at a strategic level through feeding into course management committees
Involvement in the course admissions process

This programme comprises a combination of academic teaching, research and research training, and professional training during clinical placements. You complete five placements in a range of health settings in the West Midlands.

You will spend approximately 50% of your time in clinical practice, with the remainder divided between teaching, research and academic workshops. Workshops are delivered by experienced local clinicians and experts in the relevant clinical area. Time is scheduled for private study, academic assignments and research. Although there are some longer teaching blocks, a typical week consists of one day teaching, one day study and three days placement throughout the year. The programme is examined by continuous assessment, with students completing a series of assignments and projects over the three years.

Research, which is conducted in the second and third years of the programme, is written up for examination in the form of two papers for publication. The programme is organised on a collaborative basis with local NHS psychologists, and many local clinicians are involved in teaching.

The programme has a long and distinguished history, producing over 500 qualified Clinical Psychologists since 1967. It leads to a professional qualification in Clinical Psychology and eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. It is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and confers Chartered status with the BPS.

Our location in the West Midlands, which has a large and diverse population, means you will have access to a broad range of clinical placements and research opportunities. The course is also well integrated with clinical psychology services in the local area.

Birmingham is one of the major centres for clinical psychology training in the UK and most graduates take up posts in NHS departments. At present UK/EU trainees are hosted by a local NHS Trust and paid a salary. University fees are paid by the NHS.

This programme is subject to a Code of Professional Conduct and Fitness to Practise regulations, to which trainees are required to sign up.

How To Apply

Uk applications for 2024 entry (via the clearing house and directly) are now closed. interviews will take place between 20 - 26 may 2024 inclusive..

For those assessed as being ‘home for fees’, applications to the ClinPsyD for NHS funded places should be made through the Clearing House in Clinical Psychology . Home applications close at 13:00 on 22 November 2023.

International/Overseas self-funding applicants

International applications for 2024 entry are now closed (26 January 2024). We are unable to accept late applications.

If you have any queries, please contact [email protected] for further information.

The application process for overseas applicants has three stages:

The application form is screened when received through the University Application Portal.
Candidates meeting the admission requirements are invited to complete an online ‘written exercise’ between 26 February to 8 March 2024.
Successful candidates will be invited to interview with us (via Zoom) week commencing 6 May 2024.

Our Standard Requirements

You must have at least a 2:1 degree or recognised equivalent at undergraduate level and you will need to provide a certificate or transcript showing your degree level at the time of applying. We welcome applicants with higher degrees which should ideally be in a clinically relevant area. Unfortunately, we do not accept applicants with a 2:2 at undergraduate level, even if they have a Master's or PhD. Whilst people who have taken conversion courses are not at a disadvantage in our process, we do require their original degree to be 2:1 or above.

We also require evidence of competence in research methods as evidenced by a score/rating of at least 60% on the undergraduate research dissertation – noted on the undergraduate transcript. Applicants who do not yet have an undergraduate transcript, or who have completed a conversion course without a detailed transcript, would need to provide formal evidence of research competence from the awarding University. This could take the form of an academic referee commenting specifically upon these competences, including explicit reference to the applicant's scores on research and statistics modules.

Candidates must have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society. For guidance on the kinds of experience considered to be relevant when applying for the Clinical Psychology Doctorate, please visit the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology’s website .

Selection Procedure

We operate our selection procedures in line with NHS Values Based Recruitment .

Our selection process is as follows:

NHS funded applications are initially made via the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology’s website (for international applications please see below).
Applications are screened to ensure that candidates meet our minimum academic entry criteria (as described above).
Applicants who meet our minimum academic criteria are short-listed according to information presented on the application form. This includes elements such as academic/research competence and relevant experience. Seventy five short-listed candidates are invited to attend the University of Birmingham for half a day (morning or afternoon), which includes a series of interviews and a written exercise designed to assess competence in research. Experts by experience and local clinicians are involved in the interview process. After the final interview date, offers are made to the most suitable candidates subject to satisfactory DBS disclosure and Health and Immunisation checks . Please note : the offer process at the University of Birmingham has several steps, and the final formal offer will be made by the University of Birmingham Admissions Team.

Equal opportunities

We are very conscious of being situated in an area of rich ethnic and cultural diversity, and the course particularly welcomes applications from people from ethnic minority groups. We take measures to ensure that no applicant is discriminated against on the grounds of age, social class, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

We are actively addressing issues of race and diversity in the curriculum and in all aspects of the course. We do not currently use equal opportunities data during the selection process and we do not currently subscribe to the " Disability Confident Scheme " (also known as "double tick"). However, we are actively considering how best to include contextual admissions values in our selection procedures, and although we don’t yet have a formal position on this, we will update this webpage with any developments.

Please note that if you have given your consent, we may use equal opportunities data collected by the Clearing House during selection to inform future selection strategies.

Work experience

Applicants must demonstrate that they have been engaged in work experience that allows them to understand the profession of clinical psychology, and to demonstrate skills that can be enhanced through training, that are relevant to the role. We require applicants to have completed at least one year's full-time clinically relevant experience (which can include placement experience from a clinically relevant Master's degree) at the time of applying. This experience could come from a variety of roles, including Assistant Psychology and research posts, and graduate roles within IAPT services. However, this is not an exhaustive list of potential relevant experience. Applicants need to demonstrate that they have been applying psychological principles in a clinical setting, preferably under the supervision of a psychologist, or have been engaged in research that is relevant to a clinical population (eg as a research assistant or as part of a 3-year PhD). The experience could be spread across more than one year but must equate to one year full-time as a minimum requirement. Candidates are required to describe this experience clearly on the application form. Candidates who have previously pursued relevant professional careers will be considered on an individual basis; however, all applicants must meet our minimum academic requirements and requirements for GBC (see above for details).

Please ensure when detailing Clinical Experience gained, that you are clear how many hours you worked per calendar week if this role is part time. In addition, it is helpful to detail the tasks / role carried out and the profession of the person supervising or overseeing that work. This information could be within your supporting information or an uploaded CV.

Please note that for applications for the ClinPsyD, a research proposal and names of proposed research supervisors are not required as research projects are developed during the first year of training in collaboration with staff and local clinicians.

International students

We welcome applications from international self-funding candidates. Such applicants must meet the same entry criteria as those applying for NHS funded places (see above) and also have overseas fees status. This is assessed by the University Admissions team. Applications for overseas candidates are made directly to the University of Birmingham and not through the Clearing House .

Standard English language requirements apply

For candidates whose first language is not English or whose first degree was not taught in English the minimum requirements are IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any band.

International Requirements

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 14/20 from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Argentinian university, with a promedio of at least 7.5, may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent

Applicants who hold a Masters degree will be considered for admission to PhD study.

Holders of a good four-year Diplomstudium/Magister or a Masters degree from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a good 5-year Specialist Diploma or 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan, with a minimum GPA of 4/5 or 80% will be considered for entry to postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Birmingham.

For postgraduate research programmes applicants should have a good 5-year Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991), with a minimum grade point average of 4/5 or 80%, from a recognised higher education institution or a Masters or “Magistr Diplomu” or “Kandidat Nauk” from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0-3.3/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold a Masters degree from the University of Botswana with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (70%/B/'very good') will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Please note 4-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a Diploma of Higher Education. 5-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) degree.

Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

A Licenciatura or Bacharelado degree from a recognised Brazilian university:

A grade of 7.5/10 for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement
A grade of 6.5/10for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement

Holders of a good Bachelors degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good post-2001 Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a minimum average of 14 out of 20 (or 70%) on a 4-year Licence, Bachelor degree or Diplôme d'Etudes Superieures de Commerce (DESC) or Diplôme d'Ingénieur or a Maîtrise will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Holders of a bachelor degree with honours from a recognised Canadian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A GPA of 3.0/4, 7.0/9 or 75% is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1.

Holders of the Licenciado or equivalent Professional Title from a recognised Chilean university will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD study will preferably hold a Magister degree or equivalent.

Students with a bachelor’s degree (4 years minimum) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. However please note that we will only consider students who meet the entry guidance below. Please note: for the subject areas below we use the Shanghai Ranking 2022 (full table) , Shanghai Ranking 2023 (full table) , and Shanghai Ranking of Chinese Art Universities 2023 .

需要具备学士学位（4年制）的申请人可申请研究生课程。请根据所申请的课程查看相应的入学要求。请注意，中国院校名单参考软科中国大学排名2022（总榜），软科中国大学排名2023（总榜），以及软科中国艺术类高校名单2023 。

Business School - MSc programmes (excluding MBA)

商学院硕士课程（MBA除外）入学要求

School of Computer Science – all MSc programmes 计算机学院硕士课程入学要求

College of Social Sciences – courses listed below 社会科学学院部分硕士课程入学要求 MA Education (including all pathways) MSc TESOL Education MSc Public Management MA Global Public Policy MA Social Policy MA Sociology Department of Political Science and International Studies 全部硕士课程 International Development Department 全部硕士课程

All other programmes (including MBA) 所有其他硕士课程（包括 MBA）入学要求

Please note:

Borderline cases: We may consider students with lower average score (within 5%) on a case-by-case basis if you have a relevant degree and very excellent grades in relevant subjects and/or relevant work experience. 如申请人均分低于相应录取要求（5%以内），但具有出色学术背景，优异的专业成绩，以及（或）相关的工作经验，部分课程将有可能单独酌情考虑。
Please contact the China Recruitment Team for any questions on the above entry requirements. 如果您对录取要求有疑问，请联系伯明翰大学中国办公室 [email protected]

Holders of the Licenciado/Professional Title from a recognised Colombian university will be considered for our Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent.

Holders of a good bachelor degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Bacclaureus (Bachelors) from a recognised Croatian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 4.0 out of 5.0, vrlo dobar ‘very good’, or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree(from the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A Class II Upper Division degree is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1. For further details on particular institutions please refer to the list below. Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Masters degree or Mphil from the University of the West Indies.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, or a GPA of 3 out of 4, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalár from a recognised Czech Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, velmi dobre ‘very good’ (post-2004) or 2, velmi dobre ‘good’ (pre-2004), or a good post-2002 Magistr (Masters), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 7-10 out of 12 (or 8 out of 13) or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters/ Magisterkonfereus/Magister Artium degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Ecuadorian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 70% or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent. Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Magister/Masterado or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Licenciado with excellent grades can be considered.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalaurusekraad from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 4/5 or B, or a good one- or two-year Magistrikraad from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with very good grades (grade B, 3.5/4 GPA or 85%) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Holders of a good Kandidaatti / Kandidat (old system), a professional title such as Ekonomi, Diplomi-insinööri, Arkkitehti, Lisensiaatti (in Medicine, Dentistry and Vetinary Medicine), or a Maisteri / Magister (new system), Lisensiaatti / Licenciat, Oikeustieteen Kandidaatti / Juris Kandidat (new system) or Proviisori / Provisor from a recognised Finnish Higher Education institution, with a minimum overall grade of 2/3 or 4/5, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters/Maîtrise with a minimum overall grade of 13 out of 20, or a Magistère / Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies / Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Specialisées / Mastère Specialis, from a recognised French university or Grande École to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Magister Artium, a Diplom or an Erstes Staatsexamen from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5, or a good two-year Lizentiat / Aufbaustudium / Zweites Staatsexamen or a Masters degree from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good four-year Ptychio (Bachelor degree) with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, from a recognised Greek university (AEI), and will usually be required to have completed a good Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis (Masters degree) from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

4-year Licenciado is deemed equivalent to a UK bachelors degree. A score of 75 or higher from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) can be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 60 is comparable to a UK 2.2. Private universities have a higher pass mark, so 80 or higher should be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 70 is comparable to a UK 2.2

The Hong Kong Bachelor degree is considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard. Students with bachelor degrees awarded by universities in Hong Kong may be considered for entry to one of our postgraduate degree programmes.

Students with Masters degrees may be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Alapfokozat / Alapképzés or Egyetemi Oklevel from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 3.5, or a good Mesterfokozat (Masters degree) or Egyetemi Doktor (university doctorate), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a 60% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the 4 year Sarjana (S1) from a recognised Indonesian institution will be considered for postgraduate study. Entry requirements vary with a minimum requirement of a GPA of 2.8.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution, with 100 out of 110 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold the Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Students with a Bachelor degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for entry to a postgraduate Masters degree provided they achieve a sufficiently high overall score in their first (Bachelor) degree. A GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a B average from a good Japanese university is usually considered equivalent to a UK 2:1.

Students with a Masters degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for PhD study. A high overall grade will be necessary to be considered.

Students who have completed their Specialist Diploma Мамаң дипломы/Диплом специалиста) or "Magistr" (Магистр дипломы/Диплом магистра) degree (completed after 1991) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate Masters degrees and, occasionally, directly for PhD degrees. Holders of a Bachelor "Bakalavr" degree (Бакалавр дипломы/Диплом бакалавра) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, may also be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Holders of a good Postgraduate Diploma (professional programme) from a recognised university or institution of Higher Education, with a minimum overall grade of 7.5 out of 10, or a post-2000 Magistrs, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 16/20 or 80% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Libya will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 70% for 2:1 equivalency or 65% for 2:2 equivalency. Alternatively students will require a minimum of 3.0/4.0 or BB to be considered.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magistras from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, or a good post-2001 Magistras, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, or a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées (comparable to a UK PGDip) or Masters degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (70-74% or A or Marginal Distinction from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 60-69% or B or Bare Distinction/Credit is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Malaysian institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum of 3.0) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from the University of Malta with a minimum grade of 2:1 (Hons), and/or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (Honours) from a recognised institution (including the University of Mauritius) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2:1).

Students who hold the Licenciado/Professional Titulo from a recognised Mexican university with a promedio of at least 8 will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who have completed a Maestria from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree, licence or Maîtrise and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students with a good four year honours degree from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. PhD applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Doctoraal from a recognised Dutch university with a minimum overall grade of 7 out of 10, and/or a good Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (minimum 4 years and/or level 400) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of B/Very Good or 1.6-2.5 for a 2.1 equivalency, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters, Mastergrad, Magister. Artium, Sivilingeniør, Candidatus realium or Candidatus philologiae degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0/4 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in the Palestinian Territories will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3/4 or 80% for 2:1 equivalency or a GPA of 2.5/4 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.

Holders of the Título de Licenciado /Título de (4-6 years) or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Paraguayan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 4/5 or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent. The Título Intermedio is a 2-3 year degree and is equivalent to a HNC, it is not suitable for postgraduate entry but holders of this award could be considered for second year undergraduate entry or pre-Masters. Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría / Magister or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Título/Grado de Licenciado/a with excellent grades can be considered.

Holders of the Licenciado, with at least 13/20 may be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent. The Grado de Bachiller is equivalent to an ordinary degree, so grades of 15+/20 are required. Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría or equivalent qualification.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4 out of 5, dobry ‘good’, and/or a good Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Studiów Podyplomowych (Certificate of Postgraduate Study) or post-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4.5/4+ out of 5, dobry plus 'better than good', will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Licenciado from a recognised university, or a Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) from a recognised Polytechnic Institution, with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, and/or a good Mestrado / Mestre (Masters) from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Romanian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree/Diploma de Master/Diploma de Studii Academice Postuniversitare (Postgraduate Diploma - Academic Studies) or Diploma de Studii Postuniversitare de Specializare (Postgraduate Diploma - Specialised Studies) to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Диплом Специалиста (Specialist Diploma) or Диплом Магистра (Magistr) degree from recognised universities in Russia (minimum GPA of 4.0) will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes/PhD study.

Students who hold a 4-year Bachelor degree with at least 16/20 or 70% will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who hold a Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies,Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. A score of 14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2

Students who hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (or a score of 60-69% or B+) from a well ranked institution will be considered for most our Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees with a 2:1 requirement.

Students holding a good Bachelors Honours degree will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good three-year Bakalár or pre-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, Vel’mi dobrý ‘very good’, and/or a good Inžinier or a post-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (Bachelors degree), Diplomant (Professionally oriented first degree), Univerzitetni diplomant (Academically oriented first degree) or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) from a recognised Slovenian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8.0 out of 10, and/or a good Diploma specializacija (Postgraduate Diploma) or Magister (Masters) will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor Honours degree (also known as Baccalaureus Honores / Baccalaureus Cum Honoribus) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (70%) or a distinction (75%).

Holders of a Masters degree will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelor degree from a recognised South Korean institution (usually with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.5) will be considered for Masters programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 7 out of 10 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or a CGPA 3.30/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Kandidatexamen (Bachelors degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelors degree) from a recognised Swedish Higher Education institution with the majority of subjects with a grade of VG (Val godkänd), and/or a good Magisterexamen (Masters degree), International Masters degree or Licentiatexamen (comparable to a UK Mphil), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good "PostGraduate Certificate" or "PostGraduate Diploma" or a Masters degree from a recognised Swiss higher education institution (with a minimum GPA of 5/6 or 8/10 or 2/5 (gut-bien-bene/good) for a 2.1 equivalence) may be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0, 3.5/5 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bachelor degree (from 75% to 85% depending upon the university in Taiwan) from a recognised institution will be considered for postgraduate Masters study. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for entry to our postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree or Mphil from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a Bachelors degree from the following universities may be considered for entry to postgraduate programmes:

Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City
De La Salle University - Manila
University of Santo Tomas
University of the Philippines - Diliman

Students from all other institutions with a Bachelors and a Masters degree or relevant work experience may be considered for postgraduate programmes.

Grading Schemes

1-5 where 1 is the highest 2.1 = 1.75 2.2 = 2.25

Out of 4.0 where 4 is the highest 2.1 = 3.0 2.2 = 2.5

Letter grades and percentages 2.1 = B / 3.00 / 83% 2.2 = C+ / 2.5 / 77%

Holders of a postdoctoral qualification from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study. Students may be considered for PhD study if they have a Masters from one of the above listed universities.

Holders of a Lisans Diplomasi with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a Yuksek Diplomasi from a recognised university will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (2.1) or GPA of 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree / Диплом бакалавра (Dyplom Bakalavra), Диплом спеціаліста (Specialist Diploma) or a Dyplom Magistra from a recognised Ukrainian higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0, 3.5/4, 8/12 or 80% or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

The University will consider students who hold an Honours degree from a recognised institution in the USA with a GPA of:

2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement
3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement

Please note that some subjects which are studied at postgraduate level in the USA, eg. Medicine and Law, are traditionally studied at undergraduate level in the UK.

Holders of the Magistr Diplomi (Master's degree) or Diplomi (Specialist Diploma), awarded by prestigious universities, who have attained high grades in their studies will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of the Fanlari Nomzodi (Candidate of Science), where appropriate, will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of the Licenciatura/Título or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Venezuelan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Scales of 1-5, 1-10 and 1-20 are used, an overall score of 70% or equivalent can be considered equivalent to a UK 2.1. Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Maestria or equivalent qualification

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Vietnamese institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum GPA of 7.0 and above) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level. Holders of a Masters degree (thac si) will be considered for entry to PhD programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5/5.0 or a mark of 2.0/2.5 (A) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who hold a good Bachelor Honours degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

International Students

How to apply
Online chat events

Postgraduate Research

Clinical Psychology PhD / MPhil

Part time available: yes

Studying in:

institute-of-population-health
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Clinical Psychology registers postgraduate students for both MPhil and PhD degrees, both full-time and part-time. In recent years, up to 24 students have been registered for a higher research degree at any one time.

Why study with us?

(joint) in the UK for our 'world leading' (4*) environment in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)

leading academics.

annual support to extend the impact of our studies.

The Institute of Psychology, Health and Society conducts conducts internationally acclaimed research into many aspects of psychology and human behaviour, including perception, language development, pain, addiction, appetite, and offending behaviour.

We have a long and successful history of research links with NHS services, including a nationally unique psychology service for people in Liverpool who are affected by cancer, which is provided in partnership with the University. Therefore we are extremely well placed to help develop students’ clinical research expertise across a range of settings in mental and physical health care. Our experience is that people undertake research degrees within Clinical Psychology at different stages in their careers and for different reasons.

Our research students include those with first degrees in Psychology, those who already have professional qualifications in Psychology, graduates of disciplines other than Psychology and professionals in other, related disciplines. This reflects the commitment to multidisciplinary approaches, but makes it difficult to make generalisations about the career paths of graduates from research degrees in this area.

Some research students will go on to an academic career in research and teaching. Some students go on to undertake further training in an area of applied psychology (eg Forensic, Clinical) and to careers in, for example, the NHS. Some students are already working in the NHS and undertake a research degree part-time as part of their continuing professional development. For students who have BPS Graduate Basis for Registration, undertaking a research degree may fulfil some of the requirements for gaining Chartered Psychologist status.

The Institute of Psychology, Health and Society conducts world-leading research into the effectiveness of health services, the social origins of health and social inequalities in healthcare, mental health and well-being, including the evaluation of a wide range of psychosocial interventions and therapies and conduct internationally acclaimed research into many aspects of psychology and human behaviour, including perception, language development, pain, addiction, appetite, and offending behaviour. We work collaboratively; the Institute employs academic GPs, public health professionals, psychologists from a range of professional backgrounds, psychiatrists, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and social scientists.

Our research groups work with colleagues from hugely diverse backgrounds; from academic colleagues from many Universities across the world, with industrial partners, with the NHS and other healthcare providers, politicians and political administrators, the police and partners across civil society.

We work across the world - from investigating respiratory disease in central America, through promoting the psychological well-being of young mothers in the middle east to studying attitudes towards epilepsy in Asia - and across widely different aspects of human behaviour - from innovative therapies for many different psychological problems, managing substance use and obesity, through helping people return to work after periods of ill-health and innovative food policies through to the policing of terrorist incidents. In all these areas, our work is characterised by a focus on research excellence and by attention to the real world impact of our scholarship.

In addition to our large and active programme of postgraduate research, we contribute substantially to undergraduate teaching in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, and many of us provide clinical services through local NHS Trusts.

Research groups

Mental Health in Context
Forensic and Investigative
Psychology of Healthcare

Study options and fees

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.

Entry requirements

A good (2:1 or first class or equivalent) degree in a relevant subject is normally required. Potential students should be aware that for certain projects criminal record checks may be necessary. Projects will always be subject to appropriate ethical approval and in some cases collaborating NHS Trusts may require health checks before permitting access to patients. Prospective applicants are advised to contact potential supervisors in their area of interest before submitting a formal application.

English language requirements

How to apply.

Research degree applications can be made online. You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.

Applications are open all year round .

More about applying for research degrees

Apply online

Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal

Find a supervisor

Need help finding a supervisor contact us.

IPH PGR Administrator
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0)151 794 8293

Related studentships: self-funded and funded PhD projects

Find a scholarship.

We offer a range of scholarships to help you meet the costs of studying a research degree.

See scholarships

Find a course

A-Z of courses /
Studentship vacancies

Undergraduate enquiries

International enquiries

Postgraduate taught enquiries

Postgraduate research enquiries

Ask the University of Liverpool a question

Undergraduate
Postgraduate Taught
Online programmes
Welcome to Liverpool

Learn about...

Visits and Open Days
Accommodation
Student support
Careers and Employability
Continuing Education
Continuing Professional Development

Information for...

International students
Mature students and access courses
Parents and supporters
School and careers advisors

Clinical Psychology DClinPsy

Most students complete this programme in 3 years full-time.

The aim of the programme is to train clinical psychologists skilled in evidence-based psychological assessment, intervention and research.

The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) at the University of Bath is a professional training course for Clinical Psychologists in the United Kingdom, leading to a doctoral qualification approved by the UK Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP: Level 2), and Association for Family Therapy (AFT: Foundation Level).

The programme provides a comprehensive range of placement and research opportunities. In all aspects of the programme there is a strong emphasis on integration of theory, research and practice, and on equality, diversity and inclusion, supporting trainees to become reflective scientist-practitioners. People with personal experience (PPE) are involved in and shape all aspects of the programme.

There are opportunities for trainees to join active research programmes in: Adult Lifespan Mental Health; Clinical Health Psychology; Children and Young People’s Mental Health; Autism & Intellectual Disabilities; Anxiety & Depression; Trauma; Addictions; Pain; Psychosis; Mindfulness; Environmental Psychology.

Find out about the department's research activities.

Programme structure

Most students complete this programme in 3 years. You cannot take less than 3 years to finish your research and the maximum time you are allowed is normally 3 years.

Throughout the three years, three days per week are spent completing six clinical placements, with the remaining two days per week dedicated to teaching (mostly on the University of Bath campus), study time and research.

Occasionally, trainees are unable complete the programme within the three years, which may be due to difficulties with meeting the programme requirements or personal circumstances. The programme works collaboratively with trainees in finding solutions in these cases. If programme registration does extend beyond three years where there are exceptional circumstances, then a funded extension may be possible; if there is no funded extension, then a trainee may incur tuition fee costs (we stress this is exceptionally rare).

There are compulsory taught elements throughout the three-year programme. The focus of teaching, assessment and clinical placements are aligned to support integration of theory and practice and support placement work.

You may start this programme at any time. Most students start in September.

There is no part-time option for this programme. For each new intake there is a single start date, which falls in late September or the first week of October.

Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Your academic progress and general welfare will be monitored by your supervisor.

Academic milestones

Registration
Taught phase
Give notice of intention to submit a thesis / portfolio
Submission for examination
Examination (Viva Voce)
Examiners report
Final submission of thesis / portfolio
Case Studies 1 and 2
Placements 1 and 2
Identification of research projects and initiation
Case studies 3 and 4
Placements 3 and 4
Continuing research projects
Case study 5
Placements 5 and 6
Finalising research project
Portfolio Submission and Viva Examination
Final Submission
Programme content
Clinical experience
Interaction and networking
Online resources
Practical sessions
Real-life case studies
Research project
Supervisory team
Video materials

Taught content

Teaching attendance is mandatory. The academic teaching works in tandem with clinical placements.

Year one will cover core competencies and the knowledge required for clinical practice with adults of working age and later life.

Year two will cover working with children and young people, people with learning disabilities and neuropsychology.

Year three will focus on specialist areas of clinical psychology, and emphasise the development of higher-level competencies and meta-competencies including supervisory, management and leadership abilities.

There is a progressive shift from first to third year from supervision towards mentoring, peer supervision and supervising others.

Throughout the course trainees will also receive specialist teaching on our primary therapeutic models, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Systemic Family Therapy.

The course emphasises the integration of university-based theoretical and clinical skills training using a range of research led teaching and learning strategies. This includes traditional lectures using blended learning, flipping, workshop-based training, problem-based learning, small group sessions, and debates, matching the topics to be taught to the methods of teaching. Teaching is enhanced through the common use of interactive learning methods to ensure an engaging learning experience.

The clinical/research/academic integration is enhanced by teaching which is delivered both by course staff and clinical psychologists from across the region with respective expertise in their fields, as well as teaching by national experts. During the programme occasional teaching days take place in NHS settings as "Away Days". These sessions are also an opportunity for trainees to familiarise themselves with the range of NHS and social care services across the region.

You will usually complete six placements, normally of six-months duration, during the programme. The first two years focus on: core placement experiences. This involves working with adults of working age and adults with issues relating to later life in the first year, and; in the second year with people with intellectual disability and neurodevelopmental disorders and children, adolescents and young people. The first placement is mostly observational at first with only one day per week in placement. This, increases to two and then three days per week placement, as the trainee takes on more clinical responsibility. At this point they then have two days per week at the University. In April trainees will begin their second placement. Some first-year placements are within lifespan services, and in such cases, trainees may remain in the same setting for the whole of the first year.

In the final year, trainees can choose their ‘elective placements’. As the course has a strong commitment to Clinical Health Psychology training, trainees who have not yet had a placement of this kind will be strongly encouraged to choose one in their final year. However, trainees who wish to gain experience in other specialist areas can choose to do so.

Most placements are six months in duration, but in some instances it is possible to have extended, 12-month placements. This may involve ageless services in the first year (covering competencies for working age adults and later life), or specialist services in the third year, where certain therapeutic models (e.g. DBT) or client groups (people who are harder to engage or have more severe and complex needs) require more extended contact.

There may be some flexibility however in timings and placement arrangements according to training needs and interests, provided competencies in the core areas have been attained.

The aim is to arrange placements that meet the requirements of clinical psychology training whilst offering some flexibility to account for the particular needs, interests and career aspirations of the trainee. There is a personal planning and training needs assessment process which is central to making such arrangements work.

A range of other specialisations may also be developed, based on trainee career aspirations and NHS requirements, availability of appropriate expertise and supervisory capacity. Such specialisation can begin relatively early in the course. Assuming sufficient development of core professional competencies, specialisation can be emphasised during the third year of the course through elective placements.

Our training programme works in close partnership with NHS trusts in the South West region. This includes Avon and Wiltshire Partnership, Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Mental Health, North Bristol NHS Trust, Sirona and HCRG. We also work with other providers including charities and Student Services. Together, these services provide a range of excellent training placements.

To access the opportunities across the wide region, and meet their training needs, trainees will need to travel over the course of training. It is the responsibility of the trainee to be able to get to their placement and to fulfil the need of work associated with that placement. You are therefore expected to drive your own car or to provide your own transport means and given the rural localities please note public transport is not always available.

Reasonable adjustments are made as required for those trainees with a disability that may prevent them from driving. If you think this applies to you please contact [email protected].

Currently, candidates do not need a full licence at the point of applying. However any offer made to you would be conditional upon you confirming that you will have a valid driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle (or that you will be able to organise suitable independent transport links) for any placements.

Research content

Consistent with the aim to train competent scientist-practitioners, the course has a strong emphasis on research and service-evaluation. The thesis assessed at viva comprises three projects:

service-related project
literature review
main research project

all to be completed by May of the third year.

Trainees are supported in their research activities by a primary and secondary research supervisor. Research supervisors are drawn from the DClin programme team and wider university departments, as well as the pool of clinical psychologists working within the region. All trainees involve people with personal experience in one or more of the three projects.

The research projects are presented in a portfolio in a style suitable for publication in an appropriate journal, with at least one being of a publishable standard, rather than as a thesis which must then be rewritten for publication. This will help trainees develop skills in writing for publication and ensure that much of the high- quality work conducted by trainees finds its way into journals.

See a list of trainee publications .

Professional Development

Professional development is a crucial element of doctoral study, not only in supporting your research but also as part of your longer term career development. Our DoctoralSkills workshops and courses will help you build your skills and help you succeed in your doctorate.

Read more about professional development support

Assessment methods

Work-based placement

Assessment description

Assessment of academic, clinical and research competence takes place across the course of the three years. This will take the form of:

Five case studies. Each case study is an academic report based on a piece of clinical work undertaken on placement. Case studies demonstrate skills in psychological practice and knowledge of the wider theory and research base, as well as evidence of self-reflection and cultural awareness.
Clinical competencies will be regularly assessed by your placement supervisor(s). Your clinical supervisor will offer regular supervision and observation of your clinical work. You will complete formal direct assessments of clinical competency twice in each placement, with additional informal observations from your supervisor(s). Your clinical tutor will attend a Mid Placement Review meeting half-way through each placement with you and your supervisor(s), and if there are outstanding training needs or essential competencies to be met in order to pass placement these will be identified, and a plan put in place to ensure these are met. There will be a final End of Placement Review meeting towards the end of each placement and at this point all relevant competencies must be passed in order to pass the placement and proceed onto the next placement.
Annual appraisal
Reflective narrative
Research conference presentation
Developmentally appropriate cognitive assessments
Research Project Proposals – you will write a proposal for each of the projects which makes up your portfolio
Research portfolio/Viva – your research portfolio will be examined in a viva towards the end of the final year of the programme.
Entry requirements

Academic requirements

You must meet a range of essential criteria to be considered for a place on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology course.

Academic qualifications - you must hold either a 1st class or 2:1 in an undergraduate psychology degree, or an undergraduate degree in another subject, with a master's level conversion course (at merit or distinction).

Research experience - Research experience in addition to an undergraduate project. This can be an undergraduate placement year, if additional to the degree requirement. Other suitable experience includes service audit/evaluation and development, PhD, MSc or other research posts.

Professional requirements

Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) from the British Psychological Society (BPS) - Candidates from non-GBC accredited courses need to have applied and gained membership themselves.

Clinical experience - a minimum of nine months (full time equivalent) relevant clinical experience of working with people with psychological needs (see ‘desirable criteria’ below for examples).

Personal qualities and values consistent with the NHS constitution - you must demonstrate that you can give the highest standards of professional care. You must demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice.

Other requirements

Desirable criteria:

Appropriate research experience - research development, co-ordination, co-production of research with people with personal experience (PPE) and stakeholders, ethics-approval and dissemination (for example) are rated more highly than data collection/entry. Research development, co-ordination, ethics-approval and dissemination (for example) are rated more highly than data collection/entry.

Appropriate clinical work experience - we give credit for the following types of relevant clinical experience:

the NHS or a health or social care setting (such as those commissioned by Clinical Commissioning Groups)
experience with a wider range of client groups or variety of settings and over longer periods of time
experience that indicates a candidate has shown development in their skills and competencies
direct experience of delivering psychological intervention under appropriate supervision (such as an assistant psychologist or psychological wellbeing practitioner)
structured clinical or neuropsychological assessments

We value voluntary work and commitment to social change and environmental issues.

Publications - we give credit for authorship of publications in peer-reviewed journals where the candidate has evidenced their contribution to the work. We also give credit for oral and poster presentations at national conferences and contribution to substantive health service publications.

Additional skills and competencies - we value a range of additional activities, skills and training (such as postgraduate certificate level training and counselling courses). Valued indirect skills include:

leadership skills
teaching qualifications
community involvement projects
drama skills
competency in different languages
media experience

All places are NHS funded. We do not currently offer any self-funded places. 

We operate an equal opportunities policy and you will not be disadvantaged in the selection process or through training because of race, religion, age, gender, social class or sexual orientation. We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds including mature or second career applicants. We encourage applications from candidates who have a disability, and are committed to making all reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of interviewees and trainees with disabilities.

Eligibility for Home/EU fee status - find out more about eligibility and fee status .

Eligibility for Funding - Health Education England South West commissions the course and provides trainees with financial support. You must ensure before applying that you are eligible for both home fees status and have the right to work in the UK. For any queries regarding eligibility, general immigration and residence requirements, see the Clearing House website and the HEE funding for psychological professions training programmes FAQs .

Ability to transport yourself to placement locations - You are therefore expected to drive your own car or to provide your own transport means and given the rural localities please note public transport is not always available. Reasonable adjustments are made as required for those trainees with a disability that may prevent them from driving. If you think this applies to you please contact [email protected].

English Language requirements

You need either of the following:

IELTS: a minimum score of 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each element
TOEFL IBT: a score of 600 paper-based or 250 computer-based
a completed degree in an English-speaking country studied for at least three years

You need to have gained your English language qualification within 12 months before you apply for the course.

Two strong references from appropriate referees. One of these must be from an academic referee who has taught or supervised you in an academic setting. One of these must be from an experience referee who has knowledge and experience of you working in a relevant clinical setting.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding information for Clinical Psychology DClinPsy

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on whether you are a Home or Overseas student.

Learn how we decide fee status

Tuition fees are liable to increase annually for all University of Bath students. If you aren't paying your fees in British pounds, you should also budget for possible fluctuations in your own currency.

Find out more about student fees

Payment options

You can pay your tuition fees by Direct Debit, debit card, credit card or bank transfer.

Selection process

We will review all applications received and compile a short-list. If you are to be considered for this course then you will be invited for an interview.

All correspondence regarding the selection process will be sent via email, using the email address on the Clearing House application form. Successful candidates are notified by telephone as soon as possible after the interviews. Reserve list and unsuccessful candidates are notified by email in the first instance and general interview feedback is provided by email.

Formal offers will be sent out after the interviews by email. Reserve list candidates will be kept informed of any significant changes regarding their place on the reserve list.

If you are accepted on to the course you will be an employee of the NHS for the duration of your training. Trainees on our course will be employed by  Somerset NHS Foundation Trust .

You will receive salary support paid at  Band 6 of the Agenda for Change pay scale .

Any offer of a place will be conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and an Occupational Health check, both carried out by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

Any offer of a place will be conditional upon you confirming that you are able to organise suitable independent transport links for any placements. Ideally this would be a valid driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) publication,  a disabled person’s guide to becoming a health professional .

Find out more about pre-employment checks for candidates with EU nationalities, including settled status .

Programme enquiries

DclinPsy Programme Team

Apply for this programme

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East

Postgraduate Study - PhD and Research Degrees

Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)
Postgraduate Research home

Research topics and degrees

Over 40 years' experience in providing clinical psychology training
Emphasis on adult lifelong learning exemplified in our problem-based learning approach
Strong commitment to offer a broad theoretical base in the three major evidence-based approaches (CBT, CAT and systemic)
Expertise in clinical neuropsychology and mood disorders
Commitment to equity, inclusion and promoting diversity
Active involvement by Experts by Experience in designing and delivering teaching, committee membership and recruitment of staff and trainees
Excellent range of research opportunities

View 2024 Entry

How to apply

Apply online

Ask a question

Clinical doctorates website

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

DClin PGR support team: [email protected]

Top 75 in the world for Psychology

QS World University Rankings 2022

11th in the UK for internationally excellent research in Psychology

REF 2021 based on 4* and 3* research, submitted to UoA4 Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Top 10 for Psychology

The Complete University Guide 2023

Internationally respected and fast developing social, environmental and organisational psychology research group, and a major centre for cognitive, clinical and neuroscience research

Accreditations

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society and has been approved by the Health and Care Professions Council .

BPS Accreditation

Our latest BPS Accreditation visit in June 2022 highlighted these areas of good practice for our programme:

The range of therapy modalities and potential opportunities for dual accreditation that the programme provides for trainees.
The programme team offers great support and engagement for Experts by Experience (EbE).
There is a positive relationship between placement supervisors and trainees.
The programme is highly regarded by the University stakeholders.

Expand text

Applications are made through the clearing house website . Overseas applicants who do not meet criteria for home fee status should also apply through the Clearing House system.

All applications must be sent to the Clearing House by the beginning of December the year prior to entry. Visit the Clearing House website for precise deadline dates each year.

Potential applicants are advised to attend our online open day that will take place on the 4th October 2023, 1-3pm.

Our approach to selection:

We are looking for trainees ready to embrace learning, with an existing commitment to inclusion, reflection and developing high levels of competence in research, clinical work, academic assignments and socio-cultural competence. We also want to attract trainees who are able to demonstrate that their values and behaviours align with the values of the NHS Constitution and who meet the requirements of the Clinical Psychology Trainee Job Description and Person Specification (.pdf)

Our selection process:

Minimum requirements for application.

All applications that meet the minimum academic and clinical requirements for the course will go through our shortlisting process. In order to apply you must have:

Graduate Basis for Registration (GBC) confirmed at time of application;

Plus one of the following

1st class or 2:1 psychology degree
1st class or 2:1 non-psychology degree plus completion of an accredited psychology conversion course, awarded at a Merit or Distinction
2:2 undergraduate psychology degree plus a research Masters (a course that requires completion of a research dissertation), awarded at Merit or Distinction, a DPhil or a PhD
2:2 without a Masters if one of the Contextual Admissions criteria (on the Clearing House Contextual survey) is met Plus a minimum of 1 year (full time equivalent) of clinically relevant experience

Shortlisting

All applications that meet the minimum academic and clinical requirements for the course will go through our shortlisting process. This year we are trailing the use of psychometric testing in selection. After the initial minimum criteria screen, all applicants will be sent some psychometric tests to complete. These tests have been thoroughly checked to ensure that they can be used with diverse and international populations.

We are trailing whether we use the results of these tests as a next screen, so we will be carefully checking whether any diversity in our applications is lost by using them. This diversity includes racialised identities, socio-economic status, disability, ‘non-traditional’ routes to DClinPsy, etc. We will be checking every application to ensure that this does not happen. If we are confident that it does not, then we will use these tests as a screen. Please note, these psychometric tests are not intelligence tests but are based on values.

The next stage is shortlisting and we ensure that there is diversity within our shortlisting pairs. The top 84 candidates will be put through to interview. We apply positive action by checking the shortlisting scores of all those from a UK ethnic minority and those who meet minimum interview criteria will but put through to interview. Please note that the minimum interview criteria is not the same as our minimum entry criteria – we do not disclose what the minimum interview criteria is in order to remove any chance that people might tailor their forms to meet it.

Candidates and panels do not know whether those they are interviewing came from the initial shortlisting phase or from positive action. Because the positive action interviews are ‘additional’ interviews, you can be assure that no one has ‘missed out’ of an interview at Exeter because we do this work. We do not do any positive action at interview, as the evidence base is clear that bias happens at shortlisting and not at interview.

Application data

The data you provide in your application is used in the following areas:

for processing your application and for the selection processes we use as a programme;
for audit, research and service enhancement, which may include making anonymised data public;
for producing and reporting monitoring statistics, which may include making anonymised data public.

Please note that when making anonymised data public, this will always be reporting data as a group and never for individuals.

Following shortlisting, applicants will be notified whether they are being invited for interview, on the reserve list for interview, or have been unsuccessful. Applicants who are invited for interview will be able to take advantage of our buddy system, enabling them to meet with a current trainee prior to interview to find out more about the lived experience of the course and trainee life at Exeter. Applicants who require adaptations to interview processes due to disability / additional needs should contact us.

Interviews will be held in the spring of each year. Candidates will be given tasks to undertake prior to the interview in preparation for the day, such as a video/roleplay/research design. We intend the time you spend with us to be respectful, constructive and supportive, and all candidates will be given a clear brief about what to expect when they are invited for interview. All selection tasks are designed to give candidates the opportunity to demonstrate the required competencies and values for entry into the programme. We are working hard to ensure that our panels are diverse in terms of race, gender, disability and class.

Applicants should consult the Clearing House website to find out the dates for interview for the relevant year and whether interviews will be online or in person. In exceptional circumstances, alternative interview dates are available, please contact the course team to find out if your circumstances apply.

Once interview days have concluded, applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application (offer, reserve offer or unsuccessful). Unsuccessful and reserve list applicants will be given the opportunity to meet with the chair of their interview panel to get feedback on their interview.

All offers of a place on a course are dependent on satisfactory criminal record and health checks and compliance with health checks will be acted upon.

International Trainees

We hold our international interviews a month before our ‘home student’ interviews. Shortlisting for international interviews is done by programme staff and the interview panel is made up of a member of the programme senior management team and a Psychology Head of Service from one of our local NHS Trusts. Like the home students, unsuccessful international trainees are offered a chance to talk to the course staff that interviewed them for feedback.

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile F : view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country .

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The programme is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across all aspects of the course, not only from a social justice standpoint, but because we recognise the immense value that a broad range of experiences and backgrounds bring to the profession of Clinical Psychology. We are committed to diversifying the profession so that clinical psychologists also reflect the diversity within the client groups we serve.

We welcome applicants from diverse cultural and personal contexts, mature applicants with extensive life experience, and applicants with disabilities. Candidates with disabilities are welcome to contact us to discuss the programme's capacity to meet their training needs. Please contact the Programme Administrator or the University AccessAbility department for further details.

Our selection procedures are designed to be fair, and informed by current thinking on broadening access, thereby enabling the Exeter programme to select the strongest candidates. We use positive action for people from racially minoritised groups and contextual admissions processes for those who have faced socio-economic disadvantage. We do not require candidates to have a driving licence; however, because of the remoteness of some of the placements this is advised.

We run two mentoring schemes for those from racially minoritised backgrounds: Breaking Through (PDF), for those considering applying for DClinPsy training, and Amplify, for those currently on training. We also have active ‘Anti-racism’ and ‘Addressing Disability’ working groups on the course so that we can continuously review and refine our processes.

DClinPsy training at Exeter is informed and enriched by input from our Lived Experience Group. Experts by experience are involved in the design and delivery of the course including selection, the curriculum and teaching, and research consultation, and we are committed to continued involvement. We encourage those with experience of using clinical psychology and mental health services to apply.

DClinPsy Open Day resources

Welcome to DClinPsy Open Day 2023
Academic Overview
Clinical Module Overview
Research Module Overview

Fees and funding

Fees are paid by HEE for students who have obtained a commissioned place. Trainees are appointed at Agenda for change band 6 at the first point on this scale.

International fees for 2023/24 are: £30,000 per annum

My favourite aspect of training at Exeter is the plurality of perspectives that are encouraged across the academic, clinical, and research strands.

As someone who tends to think about psychological distress in terms of relationship and community connection, I loved the fact I was exposed to ideas and approaches that reinforced my perspective but also added new layers and sometimes even challenged my assumptions. This has enabled me to think much more broadly and deeply about clinical work, research, and my own self-concept as a psychologist.

Course content

Teaching, research and placements.

We place an emphasis on core competencies across clinical specialisms and theoretical orientations. The academic content is enriched and informed by the experiential learning gained on clinical placements.

The programme works in partnership with local NHS providers and has strong links with the region’s clinical psychologists who contribute to teaching and are able to offer a wide range of clinical experience in a variety of settings. We offer training to supervisors on having a trainee and on anti-racism and inclusion.

Progression through the doctorate requires successful completion of continuously assessed tasks which are coordinated across the three modules to ensure a reasonable workload. These are supplemented with a number of formatively assessed assignments.

Feedback is regularly sought from trainees on the quality of teaching, placements and all other aspects of the programme.

The views of our stakeholders are valued highly and all stakeholders, including trainees, are key members of decision-making committees that influence programme development (e.g. placement, curriculum, selection, joint training committee, etc.)

Course Handbooks

DClinPsy Programme Handbook
DClinPsy Academic Handbook
DClinPsy Research Handbook
DClinPsy Clinical Handbook
DClin Systemic foundation level handbook
DClin Systemic Intermediate level handbook
BABCP Level 1 Handbook
BABCP Level 2 Handbook
DclinPsy Map Raising Complaints and Accessing Support
CAT foundation level handbook

As a marginalised person, I had my concerns about relocating to the South West of England. However, placement supervisors, clinical tutors, and management, including my appraiser, have been extremely supportive and considerate of my needs, social positioning and both personal and professional goals

I have also found the faculty overall to be genuine, and I have had enjoyable conversations with them about clinical psychology and how it relates to our lives.

Placement supervisors have also appropriately and genuinely initiated conversations about race, neurodiversity, gender, sexuality, and other social graces. I also admire the course's dedication to diversity and inclusion. The course has plans and will continue to explore ways to make the profession more diverse and inclusive.

There were so many interesting topics to learn about on the course, including and not limited to systemic practice, leadership and organisational influence, dynamic models of working, neuropsychology and cognitive analytic therapy. Overall, my time here has been truly a life-changing experience.

Cohort 2019

Our selection procedures are designed to be fair, and informed by current thinking on broadening access, thereby enabling the Exeter programme to select the strongest candidates. To address socio-economic inequality and contextual admissions, we have a slightly different selection criteria for those with contextual admissions. You do not need a driving license to study at Exeter; however, because of the remoteness of some of the placements this is advised.

We run two mentoring schemes for those from racialised minority backgrounds: Breaking Through (PDF) , for those considering applying for DClinPsy training, and Amplify, for those currently on training. These mentoring schemes are to try to overcome the barriers that structural and systemic racism create. We also have active ‘Anti-racism’ and ‘Addressing Disability’ working groups on the course. We choose to have working groups rather than an EDI committee so that we can stay task focused and put our energy into making changes for the better.

Once such change is that if applicants from a racialised minority ethnic group meet a minimum shortlisting criteria (which is not detailed on this website), then we will put people through to interview. The minimum criteria is there because all candidates must fulfil this in relation to research, clinical skills and readiness. We will put this in place for all applicants who have given the Clearing House permission for us to know your racialised identity, and if this falls into a racialised minority because of this underrepresentation in Clinical Psychology.

We encourage those with experience of using clinical psychology and mental health services to apply: [email protected]

Supervision

As well as senior and experienced trained clinicians who are also working in various clinical settings, teaching on the programme, students also have access to senior, research active supervisors and teachers in a range of research methodologies, qualitative and quantitative, with a wide spectrum of research interests. For more information about the course team and their clinical and research interests, see our Staff Profiles.

You can expect:

High-quality research supervision to develop and nurture your potential
A tailored supervision approach to help best suit your requirements
Accessible supervisors who are enthusiastic about working directly with postgraduate research students
Regular timetabled meetings with your supervisor
Regular meetings with your supervisory team, other members of your research group, and mentors

Why Exeter?

Our campuses

Student life

International students

Connect with us

Information for:

Current students
New students
Alumni and supporters

Quick links

Streatham Campus

St Luke's Campus

Penryn Campus

Truro Campus

Using our site
Accessibility
Freedom of Information
Modern Slavery Act Statement
Data Protection
Copyright & disclaimer
Privacy & cookies

Streatham Campus in Exeter

The majority of students are based at our Streatham Campus in Exeter. The campus is one of the most beautiful in the country and offers a unique environment in which to study, with lakes, parkland, woodland and gardens as well as modern and historical buildings.

Find out more about Streatham Campus.

St Luke's Campus in Exeter

Located on the eastern edge of the city centre, St Luke's is home to Sport and Health Sciences, the Medical School, the Academy of Nursing, the Department of Allied Health Professions, and PGCE students.

Find out more about St Luke's Campus.

Penryn Campus near Falmouth, Cornwall

Our Penryn Campus is located near Falmouth in Cornwall. It is consistently ranked highly for satisfaction: students report having a highly personal experience that is intellectually stretching but great fun, providing plenty of opportunities to quickly get to know everyone.

Find out more about Penryn Campus.

Doctorate Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych) (4886)

This three-year programme leading to a Clinical Psychology doctorate (DClinPsych), has been established for over 30 years at the University of Southampton. It involves a mix of taught and research activities. Trainees join a thriving academic group which also offers postgraduate qualifications in Health Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Cognitive Therapy. On successful completion (the length of the programme cannot be reduced through the accreditation of prior learning or experience (AP(E)L), they are eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in order to use the protected title 'Clinical Psychologist', and to apply to become a Chartered Psychologist (C Psychol), with the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Introducing your degree

Are you committed to being a ‘scientist-practitioner’ in order to deliver high quality services across a range of clinical settings and to further the field of clinical psychology? Our programme is firmly rooted in the core values of the NHS Constitution and has over 30 years' experience in clinical training in partnership with our local NHS Trusts and related organisations. Our graduates make a real difference to people's lives. The programme is full-time for three years and fulfils the standards of education and training required by the Health & Care Professions Council . It is also accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Programme Overview

The overall aim of this doctorate in clinical psychology programme is to ensure that high quality clinical psychology services are made available to the public. The DClinPsych advocates the use of good case formulation and effective clinical methods with no adherence to a particular theoretical orientation. We value the concept of evidence-based practice; a large part of the teaching is cognitive-behavioural in orientation. We also value the use of evidence-generating practice. Trainees will recognise the value of the research and clinical literatures in determining the optimal treatment for the individual client, but will also acknowledge the use of psychological theory in generating new ideas when the research and clinical literatures are insufficient.

The DClinPsych Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme is currently funded by Health Education England (HEE). Please note that as part of this funding, HEE funded students on this programme are salaried employees of the Somerset NHS Trust. For further information and recent update please visit the Clearing House webpage on Funding .

View the Course Description Document

Applications for this Clinical Psychology doctorate are made 'online' through The Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology, 15 Hyde Terrace, Leeds, LS2 9LT, www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp

Closing date: Early December

The programme at Southampton equips you with the knowledge and skills to work with clients across the lifespan, ranging from children to older adults, in a variety of settings and contexts. Your research teaching will enable you to be a reflective-scientist practitioner, capable of adding to the development of Clinical Psychology knowledge and practice.

Other University of Southampton sites

DClinPsych eHandbook

Useful Downloads

Thesis Titles

Entry Requirements

Typical entry requirements.

Applicants are selected on the basis of their potential to train successfully as Clinical Psychologists. There are a number of criteria which must be met in order for an applicant to be considered. These are:

Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership ( GBC ).
Applicants must also hold, or be expected to attain, a 1st class honours or a 2:1. An applicant with a 2:2 would be considered if they have successfully completed a relevant higher degree, for example an academically demanding MSc. Unfortunately, to meet this criterion we would not accept a 2:2 and a postgraduate diploma. In regard to conversion courses, we similarly require a 2:1 grade.
Applicants must have at least one year’s (full time equivalent), experience of paid or voluntary work in clinical, community, or clinical/academic settings directly relevant to clinical psychology at the closing date for applying, and we do not specify a particular way in which this experience may be gained. Rather, we would suggest that a key point for applicants to consider is whether their experience has been sufficient to develop a good working knowledge of the role of the Clinical Psychologist within the NHS and sufficient clinical experience to be able to discuss in depth a clinical case in which a key therapeutic role has been held. Exceptionally, applicants who do not meet this criterion may be considered if they can demonstrate that they have gained equivalent experience whilst completing a PhD in a clinically relevant area.
We require evidence of competence in Statistics and Research methods as evidenced by a score/rating of 60% or equivalent on Undergraduate Transcripts, or the attainment of a postgraduate qualification in research/statistics, e.g. an MSc or diploma in research. Applicants who do not yet have an undergraduate transcript, or who have completed a conversion course without a detailed transcript, would need to provide formal evidence of statistical/research competence from their University. This could take the form of an academic referee commenting specifically upon these competences on the basis of exam results, or direct involvement in a research study.
If English is not an applicant's first language, they must be able to evidence a good standard of written and spoken English (100 for internet-based TOEFL, 250 for computer-based TOEFL, 600 for paper-based TOEFL or 7.0 for IELTS with no element below 6.5).
The application form must be well written and presented to a professional standard, as it is a key document in the application process.
International applicants must ensure that their degree gives them GBC, that they are ordinarily resident and entitled to work and reside in the UK without restriction. As noted above, they must also provide formal evidence of statistical/research competences.
Being ‘Fit to Practise’ is a requirement of all professions registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and is considered as part of the selection process (see also: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp/checks.html ).
Please note that following a direction from our NHS Commissioners, we are now only able to offer a place on the Programme to applicants in line with the principles used for awarding full NHS bursaries. This legislation will mostly affect applicants from outside the EEA, but full details can be found at: NHS Bursaries , and there is an "eligibility calculator" at: Personal Eligibility Calculator .
Please also note that as the Programme is NHS funded, we are obliged to only recruit individuals who will remain in the UK NHS workforce after training.
We anticipate offering 19 places for the 2020 intake, and expect to shortlist 44 candidates.
The Southampton DClinPsych programme covers a wide and rural geographical area. Hence, all applicants to Southampton must possess a full valid driving licence at application (subject to reasonable adjustments for disability). All applicants must submit their full driving licence one week before interview date. If applicants cannot submit their driving licence documents they might be ineligible for interview. All candidates must undertake to meet the travel requirements of the programme.

The programme is fully committed to equal opportunities for all students and follows the principles set out in the University of Southampton's Equal Opportunities Policy Statement. All individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. We welcome applications from students with disabilities and have experience of making adjustments necessary for disabled students to complete the programme. However, please note that we do not currently invite applicants for interview on the basis of the "Two Ticks" (disability guaranteed interview), scheme.

Finally, it should be noted that the length of the programme cannot be reduced through the accreditation of prior learning or experience (AP(E)L).

Selection process

There are two stages to our selection procedure:

Applications are screened to make sure they meet the minimum standards in research, statistics, and work experience. They are then rated using a competency based rating procedure based on the Trainee Clinical Psychologist person specification. The competencies cover four key areas: academic/research competence, clinical competence, reflective practice/resilience. Our selection team is managed by our Admissions Tutor and comprises members of the programme team, as well as local NHS Clinical Psychologists, who teach and/or supervise on the programme.

We invite short-listed applicants for two interviews (Clinical and Academic/Research), plus a clinically-relevant role-play.

This page contains specific entry requirements for this course. Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country.

Programme Structure

Typical course content.

Given the philosophy of evidence-based and evidence-generating practice, this clinical psychology doctorate programme structure and content are designed with the aims of developing explicit theory-practice links. It is split between academic study, Clinical Experience, research and private study.

Further details, including support and welfare, and evaluation, are given in the DClinPsych programme eHandbook .

Some placements on the Clinical Psychology doctorate call for a large amount of travelling, and it is a great advantage if you possess your own means of transport. Placements are visited and monitored in line with accreditation guidelines. On average, placements are of three and a half days per week (outside of the teaching blocks).

The curriculum is based on the standards of proficiency specified by the HCPC and the core competencies outlined by the BPS. The programme content is arranged in 24 modules which in total attract the 540 credit points required for Doctoral (D) level study in Higher Education. Each module has a separate credit rating which indicates the notional amount of study effort required through attendance at University teaching sessions, on related clinical placement activity or in independent study. The level of assessment is indicated by M (Master’s) or D (Doctoral), with D level implying that a higher level of original work, advanced scholarship, critical analysis and reflection will be expected. Doctoral trainees must demonstrate that they have acquired and understood the systematic knowledge base of the profession, and that they have developed relevant skills to carry out research which will generate relevant new knowledge.

The programme is organised over three full time years and trainees are expected to complete all elements. There is no alternate exit award. In terms of student effort the three years each include 180 credit points (1800 hours). The structure of the programme is as follows:

There are thirteen modules in Year 1:

Module name Module Co-ordinator

Foundations of Clinical Psychology Practice - Angharad Rudkin Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy - Lusia Stopa Systemic Theory and Practice 1 - Kate Willoughby Neuropsychology - Alison Gold Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 2: Advanced Intervention Skills - Lusia Stopa Evidence-Based Practice - Matt Garner and Tess Maguire Practitioner Training Placement 1 - Alison Gold Practitioner Training Placement 2 - Alison Gold ARM: Qualitative Methods - Felicity Bishop ARM: Group Comparisons - Catherine Brignell ARM: Correlational Methods - Sarah Kirby ARM: Designing Research - Catherine Brignell Small Scale Research Project - Catherine Brignell and Tess Maguire

There are six modules in Year 2:

Systemic Theory and Practice 2 - Kate Willoughby Child and Adolescence - Angharad Rudkin Clinical Practice in relation to People with Learning Disabilities - Mel Hodgkinson Practitioner Training Placement 3 - Alison Gold Practitioner Training Placement 4 - Alison Gold Dissertation Proposal and Thesis - Matt Garner Small Scale Research Project - Catherine Brignell and Tess Maguire

There are five modules in Year 3:

Practitioner Training Placement 5 - Alison Gold Professional Development and Leadership - Nick Maguire Specialist Skills - Margo Ononaiye Dissertation Proposal and Thesis - Matt Garner Transdiagnostic Processes - Lusia Stopa

Each module is assessed by at least one summative assignment. The programme uses a variety of assessment methods including (but not limited to) written and oral case reports, practical demonstration of clinical skills, written research reports, peer review of a journal article, administration of a WAIS, and group and individual presentations of clinical material.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees.

Fees for postgraduate research degrees vary across the University. All fees are listed for UK, EU and international full-time and part-time students alphabetically by course name.

Scholarships, bursaries, sponsorships or grants may be available to support you through your course. Funding opportunities available to you are linked to your subject area and/or your country of origin. These can be from the University of Southampton or other sources.

Learning & Teaching

Psychology, and the University of Southampton as a whole, have excellent research facilities. There are opportunities for MClinPsych Clinical Psychology doctorate students to conduct their research theses in conjunction with specialist academic staff, or in areas of special interest of other programme team members.

Study locations

Highfield Campus, Shackleton Building (B44)

This is Psychology's main base. It is also known as Building 44, and i... Find out more

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

Course type

Qualification, university name, doctorate degrees in clinical psychology.

36 degrees at 29 universities in the UK.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

About Postgraduate Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology which uses both theory and practical knowledge to better understand how people think and behave. Clinical psychologists perform the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses, and address emotional difficulties in people of all ages and backgrounds.

To study a doctorate in clinical psychology, you’ll need a minimum of a second-class honours undergraduate degree in psychology or an equivalent postgraduate qualification if your undergraduate degree is not in psychology. Work experience is also usually required in order to have a realistic chance of being selected, and this can include work in a healthcare setting or a background in clinical research involving direct contact with patients.

There are more than 50 doctorate courses available in the UK, and around 550 funded places on this type of programme. Completing a PhD in clinical psychology allows you to work at the highest levels within the profession.

What to expect

A doctorate in clinical psychology is a three-year degree course, combining academic study and clinical training. Specific modules will vary between universities; however, it is recognised that the majority of graduates will go on to work in the NHS, and the programming is designed to ensure that graduates will be able to meet the client needs and organisational requirements of the public health service.

You’ll be trained to the standards of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and your course should carry the accreditation credentials of the British Psychological Society so that you can achieve chartered status and enter professional practice.

As an interdisciplinary field which includes both practical and research work, clinical psychology is a versatile PhD option that can lead to careers as researchers, practitioners, educators, policymakers and many more.

Related subjects:

Doctorate Clinical Psychology
Doctorate Applied Psychology
Doctorate Behavioural Psychology
Doctorate Child Psychology
Doctorate Cognitive Psychology
Doctorate Criminal Psychology
Doctorate Developmental Psychology
Doctorate Educational Psychology
Doctorate Forensic Psychology
Doctorate General Psychology
Doctorate Human Sexuality
Doctorate Occupational Psychology
Doctorate Organisational Behaviour
Doctorate Organisational Psychology
Doctorate Psychological Counselling
Doctorate Psychology
Doctorate Psychology Specialisations
Doctorate Social Psychology
Doctorate Sports Psychology

Course title (A-Z)
Course title (Z-A)
Price: high - low
Price: low - high

Health Psychology DHealthPsy

Bristol, university of the west of england.

This part-time programme provides BPS-accredited Stage 2 training, a doctoral-level education and a professional Health Care Professions Read more...

3 years Part time degree

Postgraduate Research in Clinical Psychology

University of east anglia uea.

We are a top tier, research-led university and are committed to making a substantial impact on the global challenges facing society. Our Read more...

3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
6 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Clinical Psychology DClinPsy

Ucl (university college london).

The DClinPsy at UCL offers a uniquely broad range of clinical and research opportunities to trainees. Current research specialities Read more...

3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)

North Wales Clinical Psychology DClinPsy

Bangor university.

Hello and welcome to the website for the North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme. The aim of this website is to give you a flavor of Read more...

Clinical Psychology Doctorate

Coventry university.

This is a 3-year full time course which upon successful completion leads to a professional qualification in Clinical Psychology Read more...

3 years Full time degree

Prof Doc Clinical Psychology

University of east london.

The Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych) course provides a comprehensive training programme comprising concurrent Read more...

Clinical Psychology DClinPsych

University of glasgow.

This Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is collaboratively funded through NHS Education for Scotland and the University of Glasgow. You will Read more...

36 months Full time degree

Clinical Psychology Doctor of (DClinPsy)

Newcastle university.

Our course integrates research and clinical practice. It will prepare you for practice as a professional clinical psychologist. The Read more...

University of Nottingham

Become a skilled, clinical psychologist, who'll be eligible to register with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) .The course Read more...

DClinPsych Clinical Psychology

University of plymouth.

Become a competent and capable clinical psychologist. Receive training which emphasises psychotherapy, reflective practice, complex Read more...

Health Psychology PhD

University of surrey.

Why choose this programme Contribute to a rapidly evolving area of/ practice and research that is becoming increasingly relevant to modern Read more...

4 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
8 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

DHealthPsych Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology

Liverpool john moores university.

LJMU's Prof Doc in Health Psychology meets the requirements for BPS Stage Two training in Health Psychology and leads to eligibility for Read more...

27 months Full time degree: £7,450 per year (UK)
4 years Part time degree: £3,725 per year (UK)

Doctorate Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych)

University of southampton.

Join a global top 100 research-intensive university and study a mixture of taught and research components on this Clinical Psychology Read more...

Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) Doctorate

Teesside university, middlesbrough.

The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology course is an innovative, creative and contemporary training course to develop clinical psychologists Read more...

Forensic Clinical Psychology Doctorate (ForenClinPsyD)

University of birmingham.

Our Forensic Clinical Psychology Doctorate (ForenClinPsyD) offers broad comprehension in two varying branches of Applied Psychology. Upon Read more...

4 years Full time degree: £15,030 per year (UK)

Health Psychology, PhD

Swansea university.

The importance of psychological factors in promoting good health and managing illness and health risks is an increasingly important Read more...

Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology MPhil/PhD

We are the world's leading integrated department of applied psychology, focusing on the implementation of groundbreaking research to Read more...

5 years Part time degree: £2,930 per year (UK)

Clinical Psychology PsychD

Why choose this programme Our professional clinical psychology training is based on a unique combination of psychological theory, research Read more...

4 years Full time degree

Clinical Psychology Doctorate (ClinPsyD)

Our Clinical Psychology Doctorate (ClinPsyD) leads to a professional qualification in Clinical Psychology and eligibility to apply for Read more...

Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

University of hertfordshire.

Our programme is striving towards embedding social justice and anti-racist principles into practice, and we welcome applicants from Read more...

3 years Full time degree: £27,800 per year (UK)

1-20 of 36 courses

Course type:

Distance learning Doctorate
Full time Doctorate
Part time Doctorate

Qualification:

Universities:.

Cardiff University
Glasgow Caledonian University
The University of Edinburgh
King's College London, University of London
University of Stirling
University of Manchester
University of Oxford
Lancaster University
Queen's University Belfast
University of Liverpool
University of Exeter
Staffordshire University

Related Subjects:

Cookies on our website

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We'd like to set additional cookies to understand how you use our site. And we'd like to serve you some cookies set by other services to show you relevant content.

Psychology PhD

Key information.

Top 20 in the UK for our research overall in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience in REF 2021 (Times Higher Education)

From crowd behaviour to perception and studies of the brain – you’ll work with experts who will guide and support you through your research project.

Sussex is one of the largest and most diverse centres for the study of psychology in the UK. You’ll work in an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment, within a community of postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers and field-leading faculty.

Our research spans the full spectrum of psychology and has significant societal impact through our close engagement with policymakers and practitioners .” Robin Banerjee Head of the School of Psychology

Find out more about research in the School of Psychology

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Masters and P h D events

Meet us on campus or online

Book your place

Entry requirements

UK requirements
International requirements

Please select your country from the list.

Philippines

Saudi arabia, south africa, south korea, switzerland, united arab emirates, my country is not listed.

If your country is not listed, you need to contact us and find out the qualification level you should have for this course. Contact us

English language requirements

Ielts (academic).

Advanced level (7.0 overall, including at least 6.5 in each component).

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about IELTS

We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

We do not accept IELTS Online.

Check full details of our English Language requirements and find out more about some of the alternative English language qualifications listed below

Alternative English language qualifications

Proficiency tests, cambridge advanced certificate in english (cae).

176 overall, including at least 169 in each skill.

We would normally expect the CAE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Advanced

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

We would normally expect the CPE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Proficiency

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT

Advanced level (International ESOL SELT C1 with a minimum of 33 in each component)

LanguageCert International ESOL scores are valid for two years from the test date. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about LanguageCert SELT

We only accept LanguageCert when taken at SELT Test Centres. We do not accept the online version.

Pearson PTE Academic

Advanced level (67 overall, including at least 62 in all four skills)

PTE (Academic) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about Pearson (PTE Academic)

We do not accept the PTE Academic Online test.

TOEFL (iBT)

Advanced level 95 overall, including at least 22 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking, 24 in Writing.

TOEFL (iBT) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about TOEFL (iBT)

We do not accept TOEFL (iBT) Home Edition.

The TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Sussex is 9166.

English language qualifications

As/a-level (gce).

Grade C or above in English Language.

Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)/ AS or A Level: grade C or above in Use of English.

GCE O-level

Grade C or above in English.

Brunei/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

Singapore/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

GCSE or IGCSE

Grade C or above in English as a First Language (Grade 4 or above in GCSE from 2017).

Grade B or above in English as a Second Language.

Ghana Senior Secondary School Certificate

If awarded before 1993: grades 1-6 in English language.

If awarded between 1993 and 2005: grades A-D in English language

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

Level 4, including at least 3 in each component in English Language.

Indian School Certificate (Standard XII)

The Indian School Certificate is accepted at the grades below when awarded by the following examination boards:

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) – English Core only: 70%

Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) - English: 70%

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

English A or English B at grade 5 or above.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

Grades A - C in English language

Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) 1119/GCE O-level

If taken before the end of 2008: grades 1-6 in English Language.

If taken from 2009 onwards: grade C or above in English Language.

The qualification must be jointly awarded by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).

West African Senior School Certificate

Grades A1-C6 (1-6) in English language when awarded by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Country exceptions

Select to see the list of exempt english-speaking countries.

If you are a national of one of the countries below, or if you have recently completed a qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree or higher in one of these countries, you will normally meet our English requirement. Note that qualifications obtained by distance learning or awarded by studying outside these countries cannot be accepted for English language purposes.

You will normally be expected to have completed the qualification within two years before starting your course at Sussex. If the qualification was obtained earlier than this, we would expect you to be able to demonstrate that you have maintained a good level of English, for example by living in an English-speaking country or working in an occupation that required you to use English regularly and to a high level.

Please note that this list is determined by the UK’s Home Office, not by the University of Sussex.

List of exempt countries:

Antigua and Barbuda
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Vincent and the Grenadines
The British Overseas Territories
Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom

** Canada: you must be a national of Canada; other nationals not on this list who have a degree from a Canadian institution will not normally be exempt from needing to provide evidence of English.

English language support

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for your degree, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course

Visas and immigration

Admissions information for applicants

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

How to apply

If you’d like to join us as a research student, there are two main routes:

browse funded projects in this subject area
browse our potential supervisors and propose your own research project.

Find out how to apply for a PhD at Sussex

Full-time and part-time study

Choose to work on your research full time or part time, to fit around your work and personal life. For details about part-time study, contact us at [email protected]

PhD or MPhil?

You can choose to study for a PhD or an MPhil. PhD and MPhil degrees differ in duration and in the extent of your research work.

For a PhD, your research work makes a substantial original contribution to knowledge or understanding in your chosen field.
For an MPhil, your work is an independent piece of research but in less depth than for a PhD. You’ll graduate with the degree title Master of Philosophy. You might be able to change to a PhD while you study for an MPhil.

Sussex PhD student Becky Heaver talks about her experiences of research in Psychology

Our supervisors

I’m passionate about engaging the public in my work and have taken part in ‘soapbox science’ events, given many interviews on TV and radio programmes, and hosted talks at festivals.” Gilly Forrester Professor of Comparative Cognition Read Gilly’s story

Explore our research interests and find potential supervisors.

This research group has interests in:

neurobiology of learning
social learning and cognition
decision-making
effects of drugs on human cognition
ageing and dementia
appetite and obesity.

Dr Daniel Campbell-Meiklejohn

Senior Lecturer in Psychology

ClinPsyD Doctorate in Clinical Psychology / Overview

Programme options

Additional expenses

Regulated by the Office for Students

Recommended pages

Clinical Psychology Doctorate (ClinPsyD)

Related links

How To Apply

International/Overseas self-funding applicants

Our Standard Requirements

Selection Procedure

Equal opportunities

Work experience

International students

International Requirements

International Students

Clinical Psychology PhD / MPhil

Studying in:

Why study with us?

Research groups

Study options and fees

Entry requirements

English language requirements

Find a supervisor

Related studentships: self-funded and funded PhD projects

Find a course

Learn about...

Information for...

Clinical Psychology DClinPsy

Academic milestones

Taught content

Research content

Professional Development

Assessment methods

Assessment description

Academic requirements

Professional requirements

Other requirements

English Language requirements

Payment options

Selection process

DclinPsy Programme Team

On this page

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Accreditations

BPS Accreditation

Our approach to selection:

Our selection process:

Shortlisting

Application data

International Trainees

English language requirements

Equality, diversity and inclusion

DClinPsy Open Day resources

Course content

Course Handbooks

Supervision

Streatham Campus in Exeter

St Luke's Campus in Exeter

Penryn Campus near Falmouth, Cornwall

Doctorate Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych) (4886)

Introducing your degree

Programme Overview

Other University of Southampton sites

Useful Downloads

Entry Requirements

Selection process

Programme Structure

Fees & funding

Learning & Teaching

Study locations

Highfield Campus, Shackleton Building (B44)

Our cookies

Privacy overview

Manage consent preferences

Course type

Customise your search

About Postgraduate Clinical Psychology

What to expect

Related subjects: