Course summary

The MSc in Psychiatry at Cardiff University aims to offer students from all backgrounds a well-rounded masters level postgraduate education. Psychiatry is a fascinating and important area of medicine. Due to the nature of psychiatric illness (which may often be present/co-morbid with other conditions and/or affect the way people behave in a variety of situations), improved knowledge of Psychiatry would benefit professionals working in fields supplementary to Psychiatry and/or likely to come into contact with psychiatric illness on a regular basis. The programme will be of benefit to such professionals and also to medical doctors training to be Psychiatrists or Psychiatric Specialists. The programme aims to provide students with: • An in-depth knowledge of the basic science, characteristics and presentation of psychiatric illness. • An understanding of how psychiatric illness is managed and the appropriateness of specific management plans. • The ability to critically appraise, synthesise and evaluate research relating to psychiatric illness. • A developing critical independence and intellectual integrity with specific reference to Psychiatry. The programme is a valuable and detailed introduction to the main types of psychiatric illness but does not at any stage entitle anyone enrolled or graduating from it to call themselves a Psychiatrist or Psychologist or to prescribe drugs or to otherwise manage psychiatric illness (if they could not previously do so as specified by their specific registration or licence to practice). Distinctive features

• The course material is specially prepared and supported by dedicated academic and technical staff. Teaching includes over 380 online presentations and additional resources including simulated patient interviews, expert academic interviews, live tutorials, novel eLearning presentations, quizzes, coursework, discussion groups, short projects and access to eBooks

• There are a number of online presentations in addition to the MSc course which go into more detail than is required for the MSc and are suitable for students studying for the Royal College exams

• The course covers UK specific topics such as the Mental Health Act and sub-specialties of psychiatry